Not The Plan

Chapter One: The Reaping

Clove would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous. It was reaping day, Cato's reaping day. The day that he was leaving for good. She forced herself out of bed, the familiar feeling of nausea overcoming her. Stupid baby. She knew her parents were probably rejoicing downstairs at the thought of another reaping, another District Two tribute to win the games. Normally this day would be a good one, a one of celebration. But right now all she wanted to do was go back to sleep. The place beside her on the bed was still warm, Cato probably hadn't left that long ago. He was probably getting ready right now, his parents were thrilled at the idea of him going to the games. She wouldn't be alone with him until after the games, and that was if he lived. The last few years the poorer districts had been winning more often, but everyone had faith in Cato this year. Yet Clove was hesitant. He was the love of her life, she should have had the most hope in him. But deep down she knew that his temper would get the better of him and he'd do something he'd regret. That was the problem with Cato. He was probably ten times stronger than any other tribute, but when you got him mad the little mental capacity he used when fighting went out the drain. That was usually how he'd end up getting himself hurt.

"Clove you're going to be late!" Her Mother shouted and she quickly put on her new navy dress, wanting something nice yet still able to blend in. Her parents were already planning the dress she'd wear next year. They wanted it to be silver, completely covered in jewels from District One, she'd already gone to a few fittings for it. She hardly had time to eat, she was too nauseous anyway. Once she got there, she searched the whole crowd for Cato, desperate to find him amongst all the other kids. She finally spotted him, wearing the silver suit that his Mom had spent weeks fussing over. He sent her a smile

"You look beautiful." He mouthed, and she felt herself blushing slightly.

"Welcome everyone to the 74th annual Hunger Games." An excited voice rang out across the crowd "I'm so happy to be here looking down at all you're smiling faces." The parents were giddy in the back, hoping it would be their child to be reaped.

"Did you hear Cayenne's injured?" The girl beside Clove whispered to her "Rumor has it she's not even going to volunteer."

"What!" Clove exclaimed softly. Cayenne was the female tribute chosen this year, but Clove knew she was levels above her ability. "Who's going to volunteer?" Clove asked and the girl shrugged

"I guess no one will." Clove felt her nausea increase, she wouldn't be chosen would she? The odds were that she wouldn't. There were tons of other girls. But Clove had to realize that by now the odds were never in her and Cato's favor.

"The female tribute for District Two is Clove Kentwell." Clove felt her heart drop, she waited for someone to volunteer. But they never did. Her heart shaking she went up on stage, she couldn't bear to look at her parent's disappointed faces. She knew her Mother would care more about the fact that she wasn't wearing a good dress than that she got reaped at only 15. Clove tried to meet Cato's gaze across the crowd, but he refused to even look at her. That's when she knew that he was still going to volunteer. And she knew that she had no chance of surviving against Cato Hadley. "And the male tribute is..."

"I volunteer," Cato shouted out before he even had a chance to finish his sentence. He practically ran up onstage, avoiding Clove's gaze.

"Shake hands." The two shook hands as the crowd erupted into applause, Clove ready to break down on the inside. As soon as they were taken away Clove dove into her private room, bursting into tears. This couldn't be real, this couldn't be happening. This wasn't how the reaping was supposed to go. Cayenne was supposed to be here, not her. She was supposed to be hugging Cato goodbye right now, not getting ready to fight him. And she was pregnant. Pregnant and about to go into the Hunger Games. Not only was she going to die but so was the baby.

"This is horrible!" Clove's Mother exclaimed as she came into the room "You were supposed to volunteer next year this just wasn't you're year Clove." "

She could still win." Her Father said, seemingly unbothered by the fact that this could be the last time he was going to see his only child.

"Not against Cato Hadley." Her Mother said with a huff "Why didn't anyone volunteer!"

"Cayenne was injured," Clove said, speaking up for the first time.

"You're going to be fine Clove." Her Father said dismissively "You have your knives, now I'm late for a meeting I have to go." He didn't even hug her goodbye. It was as if he was getting ready to go to work in the morning and was planning on seeing her in a few hours.

"Mom." Clove said through a choked sob "I'm pregnant." Clove's Mother's face darkened

"You better be joking Clove Kentwell." Clove shook her head

"I'm so sorry Mom."

"Please don't tell me it's his child Clove." She didn't even have to say his name for Clove to know who she was referring to.

"I'm sorry." Was all Clove could say as her Mother sighed disappointedly.

"Listen to me." She said her voice firm "You don't trust anyone, you live for you're baby and you fight even if that means that he has to die do you understand?"

"Mom." Clove pleaded weakly.

 "I said do you understand Clove!" Her Mother exclaimed, her voice rising.

"Yes, Mother," Clove said, her voice void of emotion.

"Goodbye Clove." Her Mother said with a disdained look.

"Goodbye Mother," Clove said, not even bothering to watch her leave. God how did she end up here? Pregnant. In the games at 15. Fighting against Cato, her baby's Father. She wished she could just die right here and now.