Two days passed. The past days, the other tributes seemed to know their place. They avoid us. They're scared. In training, Clove and I manage to talk casually.
Back at headquarters, the wall between us rebuilds itself. Talking with Glimmer doesn't help either. Enobaria and Brutus takes away our chance talking again. Endless directions, strategies, techniques, that's what takes up most of my mind.
On the third day we were called for the private session with Gamemakers. District by District, boy first.
When it was my turn, I entered the room and picked the longest sword. I slit and cut the dummies as fast as I could. Good thing they were all focused on me. Then they dismissed me.
At dinner Brutus asked "How good did you two show?"
"9, I guess." It was Clove who spoke first.
"8 or 9"
"Cato, you should have aimed for 10." Enobaria's voice was hinted with disappointment.
"Never mind. We never know how the Gamemakers decide the scores." Benvolia said.
After dinner, we all sat in the room to watch the television.
Caesar Flickerman was on. He was the one to announce the scores.
Marvel got eight. Glimmer got eight.
"Cato Auburn, District 2" I feel everyone slowly breathing.
"Ten" A lot of weight in my shoulders were released. I looked at Brutus and seen him grin.
"Clove Eastwood, District 2"
Now it was Clove who was sweating her palms.
"Ten"
The room cheered for both of us.
"I guess we got a sure win!" Morai squeaked.
Most of the other tributes got 5. Surprisingly, even 4 got six.
11's boy got a seven. Same with the girl. She's tiny I expected a four from her.
12 also had something up their sleeve. The boy, he looked like a weakling but he managed an eight.
"He's like Johanna Mason." Enobaria said staring intently. Whatever I'm going to say vanished because of an eleven on the screen.
The girl on fire. Katniss Everdeen. She got eleven. She got a higher score than me. Than Clove. I can feel the tension in the air. What she showed must have been pretty impressive. The Gamemakers should have lost interest being her the last tribute. Now I'm seeing her as a potential threat.
We were released. I wanted to sleep. I'm tired. I'm scared. But there's one thing more.
"Hey!" I shouted for Clove. She turned.
"What?" The same cold voice.
"We need to talk." I slowly approached her.
"We're already talking."
"No. About-about us."
Her face hardened. Then she let out a cold, hollow laugh.
"There's no us Cato."
It took me a moment to undersrand her words. No us.
"What are you-"
"Come on Cato. I already know."
"Know what?"
"You used my trust, my feelings, to avoid me from volunteering. To avoid me to kill you. Isn't it? You want me out of your way of you being a Victor."
Her eyes are welling up with tears.
"What are you talking about? Clove I love you." I reached for her hand but she stepped away.
"I heard it. From the square."
The square. When I have to lie to my friends about what I feel.
"You were there?" I can't hide the shock in my voice.
"Forget it. It doesn't matter anymore."
She turned away but I blocked the door of her room.
"It does. Clove you matter to me. I love you-"
"Shut up!" It was a hushed but hard tone.
"No I won't. Listen to me. Yes. Maybe that's what I wanted back then. To get you out of the games. And yes, until now I want you out of this shit games but for a different reason."
"I said shut up!" It was louder now. But I don't care. She need to know. I don't care if Brutus or Enobaria hear us. She need to know.
"Before I saw you as a threat. I don't want a threat in my games. But now? Now I see you as my future. I don't want you in the Games because you're the only thing that gives me the reasonto survive. To come back. But now you're here. Clove -"
She kissed me. Tears were flowing from her eyes. Or maybe mine. I don't know anymore. All I wanted to do was escape from here, live outside the fence with her. She break away and stared at me.
"Cato. Please. Stop messing with my mind."
She entered her room and left me dumbfounded. She didn't believe me.
I lay down thinking of her last words. Stop messing with my mind.
I'm not. I let myself sleep in tears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2k reads. Thank you guys. Continue until the end. It's almost finish. Vote and comment. Thank you, thank you.
~CloveCullen
