Victory - Cato Hadley

chapter fourteen

I get inside the train and sit down at the table. Brutus sits down next to me. We don't say anything to eachother. 
As Clove and Cato enter, they still have their devilish smirks on their faces. I meet Cato's eyes, but his smirk stays. 
"God, I need a fucking drink" I say, and leave them with Brutus. I walk to another Cart, hoping on seeing the bar. To my surprise, the bar is only to carts away. I sit down and order drink after drink. By the time I walk back, I'm tispy as hell. I can't even walk a straight line. My senses are blind. 
I stumble back into the cart, and all eyes shoot to me. I think I've seen a worried look on Cato's face but I must be wrong. They're watching the other reapings on TV. We've now come to district twelve. The name of a girl is being called out. She looks not older than twelve. Poor little girl. Suddenly, another girl sprints forward, volunteering to be a tribute. Twelve's first volunteer.
"That girl is fucking brave" I say.
"Why?" Brutus asks annoyed.
"Because she volunteered"
"They did too" he says pointing to Cato and Clove. 
I roll my eyes with disgust on my face.
"Yeah, no. You chose for them to be here. They didn't volunteer. She did" I say pointing to the TV.
"I'm going to sleep" I say, stumbling out of the cart again. I could care less for them to see me that way. The games aren't as fun as they think they are. 

I get woken up about three hours later by Alora. She taps onto my shoulder. 
"What do you want?" I ask annoyed.
"We're here" she says.
"Fuck" I mumble, and get up. About five minutes later the train comes to a stop. Cato and Clove exit the train, as the Capitol goes crazy for them. They're screaming their names. I even see a girl in the crowd faint, as Cato waves at her. I try to overplay my emotions with a smile and waving. 
"Be more convincing" Alora whispers into my ear.
"Yeah, no" I whisper back at her with gritted teeth. 

Cato and Clove get put away, while Brutus and I get put somewhere. They take us to another bulding. A crew comes and washes me down. They take about half an hour before they're finished. Then Velvette enters the room. 
"Are you going to dress them in the ugly gladiator skirts again?" I ask.
"They're not ugly. They let everyone know, to be aware of district two" she says, clearly a little offended.
"And you are drunk, huh?" she asks.
"Yeah" 
"Happens to all of us. Must hurt seeing him in the arena this year"
"Yeah it does. I could loose him and he plays this tuff, sociopath act"
"He needs to. They're going to crush him if he doesn't" she says.
I decide to not further speak with her. Maybe she's right about the act but maybe she's not. I have no clue what to believe anymore. All I know, is that I'm really annoyed. Velvette does my hair and makeup. It's a smokey eye makeup and a tight bun. The dress she gives me is silk and black. I quickly strap it on and out the high heels on. They're not very high.
Velvette then leaves the room. A few peacekeepers enter the room and take me with them. We enter a big hall and I can spot a few other mentors.

Johanna Mason, district seven. Very clever. There's also Haymitch, district twelve. He's always drunk. Also Brutus is here. I roll my eyes. I hate that guy.
"How are you?" I hear someone ask behind me. I turn around to see Finnick standing there. He's wearing a black suit with a black tie. He looks quite handsome.
"Hey Finnick," I say smiling and give him a hug. "I'm fine. You?"
"Could be better" he says, and we both laugh. 
"I saw that your boyfriend is a tribute this year" he says.
"No need to reming me of that," I say rolling my eyes. "Brutus wanted him in here. Not me. Cato is a good fighter and very skiller but..."
"But you're still worried about him" Finnick finishes, and I nod.
"I would love to promise you that he's going to be alright but you know I can't" he says.
"You don't need to be sorry. Snow does" I say, and roll my eyes.
"You need to be quiet. Snow has eyes and ears everywhere Athena" he says worried.
"I know but I could care less right now"
"Try to make the best out of it. I do too" he says with a comforting smile.
"I'll try" I say, and he pulls me in for a hug. Crazy that I've only met him two times now but we're already good friends. That doesn't happen too often for me. Normally the people don't really like me.
"I'll see you later" he says walking off to his tributes. I decide to search mine too. I turn around to see them already looking at me.

"You're talking to the enemy" Brutus says.
"Nope, just a friend. Are you guys ready?" I ask, and Clove nods. Cato though, looks at me with a weird look. It's not worry but nor is it anger. I can't really make out what it is. 
"Try to look strong, vicious and desireable. Cato, show them your muscles and how tall you are. They're going to love it. Clove, don't smile. Only one of these psychopath smirks, if you need to. Clear?" They both nod at me.
"Great, now get onto that chariot. Don't disappoint me" I say, and look as they step up. Cato looks at me again. Now, I can clearly see the worry in his eyes. I don't know if the worry is for me or for him though. I guess, I'm kind of a wreck right now. They only person I truly love, getting thrown into the arena. My fucking luck. The gates open, revealing screaming Capitolans. Cato's eyes go dark, and his frown turns into a smirk. I sigh.

Me and Brutus go to watch everything on the TV. I'm very proud of Clove and Cato but suddenly the people look back. The camera shows the district twelve tributes on fire. Cesar and his co-moderator go crazy, and so does the crowd. I look over at Haymitch, who raises his glass at the TV. They both hold their hands into the air, as the crowd goes even crazier. I can imagine how Cato is going to react. Maybe he's going to throw a tantrum, maybe he's going to be angry at me. Who knows? They stop infront of Snow, as he gets up to say something. 

"...May the odds be ever in your favor" he finishes, and the carts drive back to us. They all enter the hall one after one again. Clove and Cato look annoyed. Especially Cato.
"She stole the whole show" he says angry.
"She did" I say, and shrugg my shoulders.
"Annoying. They have one lousy volunteer and suddenly everything's about her" Brutus says.
"Come on, don't be so bitter. It's not going to help her in the arena, so what are you freaking out about?" I ask and roll my eyes. I notice Cato looking over my shoulder. I turn around to see Haymitch and Katniss, is her name I belive, looking at us.
"Stop staring like that. It gives me the goosebumps. Lets go" I say, and shove Clove and Cato away from the other tributes. 

We drive up the elevator to floor two. Nothing has changed since I've been here. Still the same ugly pictures and the same ugly furniture.
"If you'll excuse me. I need to get that dress off of me" I say with an sarcastic smile and walk off to my room. The room is huge. And it has a TV. I go over to the closet and take out some comfortable clothes before taking off the dress. I take off that stupid makeup and wash my face. 
A knock at the door.
"Come in" I shout, and the door opens.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Cato asks.
"Oh, now you wanna talk to me?" I ask annoyed. "Sure. Come in" I add, and he closes the door behind him.
"Are you mad at me?" he asks with a soft voice.
"Oh, no. Absolutely not" I say sarcastically.
"Okay, you are. Can I ask why?"
"What? So, you wanna tell me you have no clue why I'm angry at you. Okay, let me tell you. I hate that cocky attitude you have. Oh, and don't even get me speaking of you not even looking at me the whole day. You're walking around like the biggest sociopath, dreading on killing the other tributes. Especially twelve" I say.
"I'm sorry Athena. I just thought I need to act like that. After all I'm a career. They need to know that they made the right choice with me" he says trying to step closer but I step back.
"Cato, I don't even recognize you anymore. You're changing into this monster. Into the Cato I never thought I would have to meet" I say. His gaze goes from soft to angry now.
"A monster? Fuck, I thought you really liked me but I guess not" he says.
"You're so fuckin stupid Cato. Of course I like you but not that version of you. You're nice and caring, that Cato I've met today isn't. The Cato I've seen today only cares about himself" I say.
"Please, as if you're better. You got fucking drunk on the train, not caring about Clove and I"
"Of course I do but I can't put on with that stupid act of yours. Be normal, and I will be too"
"Deal" he says. I go to scream at him again, when I notice what he just said.
"Deal?" I ask in disbelief.
"Yup, deal. I act normal and you do too" he says coming closer.
"Deal" I say with a smirk on my face. He pulls me in by the waist. He kisses me softly, the warmth of his lips on mine.