Chapter 1 "First Sight"

5K 106 51
                                    

Clove’s PoV

I sit there in the corner of my room, dreading the moment for when my mum arrived. I rub the bruises of my arm and my heart starts thumping when I hear the door unlocking.

“Clove! Get your skinny little butt over here now!” She screams out. My mum was abusive ever since my dad left her for another girl but I think this is why he left her. I hated my family; they never cared about me. I walk to the kitchen with my head bowing down in shame. The hairs on my neck stand up when she was in my sights. I look up at her, knowing what was coming to me next. She starts shouting at me for no particular reason; it was an everyday thing. I blank out though, not hearing a word she says.

“Are you even listening to me?!” She says then her hand makes contact with my face rather harshly. I fall to the ground and place my hand on my face. I was expecting her to hit me again but this time she was going to do worse. She grabs a kitchen knife from the bench and strides towards me.

“Don’t do this please.” I beg with tears streaming down my face. As she continues walking I crawl away trying to escape. I reach up to get something, anything, which could help me. It was a small knife that I held in my hand. She lifts up her arm to strike me but I throw the knife towards her. She looks down at her bleeding stomach, where the knife pierced. I stare in horror as she falls on the ground in front of me.

I get up quickly and slam the door open. I run out and keep running until I had completely no energy whatsoever. I hold my thighs and pant. I felt dizzy and my legs fall to the ground to the point where I couldn’t get up again. I close my eyes and wish for some help for me.

*1 Week Later*

Cato’s PoV

My hands stayed in my pocket while I walk home from school. I had a pretty troubled life being different to everyone else; I didn’t fit in. My neighbours arrive home the same time I do but I realise they had a girl with them. I had a pretty good friendship with my neighbours. I look at the girl and she looks back at me. She gives me a cute smile and wave and I give one back. I needed to know her name. Suddenly, she approaches me and I got this feeling, something I’ve never felt before, when my palms were sweaty and my knees were weak.

“Hi, my name’s Clove. What’s yours?” She asks in a friendly way.

“Oh, um… my name’s Cato.” I answer nervously.

“Your neighbours just adopted me, I hope we can be friends.” She says sweetly.

“Yeah sure.” I answer with a smile.

“Oh, I have to go now, I’ll see you later.” She says while walking into her new home. I enter my own house and chuck my bag carelessly in my room. I pull out a few books and grab my pen to begin homework. I work for about half an hour and become bored and restless, I lie on my bed and rest my eyes for a minute. I hear a few loud sounds coming from the other side of my window. I peer through the window and find Clove unpacking her belongings into the room. Her head turns to me and our eyes meet.

I quickly look away and my cheeks start to feel hot. I look back at her and she smiles at me so I smile shyly back at her. I didn’t notice until now that, that room was empty and also very close to my window. I walk to the window, slide it up and lock it into place; Clove does the same for hers.

“Hey Clove.” I say, trying to hide my excitement.

“I can’t believe we live like so close to each other!” She exclaims happily.

“So uhh… what school are you going to?” I ask curiously.

“Wisteria, you?”

“Same!” I say while turning around when I heard footsteps approaching. The door creaks open and my mum walks in. She smiles at the sight of Clove.

“I see you’ve already met our new neighbour.” My mum says nicely while ruffling my hair. “Well, um… what’s your name?”

“Clove.”

“Cato needs to go to bed now, sorry and I think you need sleep too. It was nice meeting you. Good night.” She exits the room and closes the door behind her.

“Good night Cato. Sweet dreams.” She says with a grin.

“You too.”

I close my window and leap on my bed then close my eyes.

Clove’s PoV

My alarm goes off and I hit the button. I instantly jump out of bed and start to get ready for school. I bolt downstairs while swinging my bag on my back.

“Here’s your breakfast, darling.” My dad says while putting the plate in front of me, as I get comfortable in my sturdy chair.

“Thanks, dad.” I say politely while beginning to eat.

“Good morning Clove, how was your sleep?”

“It was fine.” I answer as I finish my meal.

“You can start walking to school now, it’ll only take you about fifteen minutes.” My dad says.

“Okay, I’ll go now. Bye dad, mum.”

“Good luck on your first day.” They say in unison.

I run out the door and see Cato a few metres ahead of me.

“Cato! Wait up!” I scream out and he turns around.

“Didn’t see you there.” He replies to me.

“Do you mind if I walk with you?” I ask with a sweet smile, hoping to convince him to say yes,

“Definitely.” He says while nodding. We walk together for about fifteen minutes talking about our lives. I would’ve loved to be in the same class as him but he was older by two years and a few months. When we arrive at school he walks me in and escorts me to a teacher so I can find my way to class.

Cato’s PoV

“Bye Clove.” I wave goodbye while going off to class when the bell rang. I ignore the taunts that everyone gave me while I walked through the hallway. I sit in the corner of the classroom alone and think about my one and only friend, Clove. She means everything to me now.

***

I walk out of the classroom and begin searching for Clove. I see her sitting on a bench, crowded by a bunch of girls teasing her for being “too smart for her age”. They all whisper something to each other when they see me. Clove runs up to me and gives me an unexpected hug.

“Is she your girlfriend, Cato?” One of the girls teases while the others laugh.

“Just leave us alone.” I say sternly. They roll their eyes and waltz away. I place my hand on the back of her head and brush through her dark hair.

“Ignore them.” I say calmly.

***

The bell rings one last time indicating the end of school. I walk quietly out of class, being pushed ad squished around by the stampede of students rushing to get home. I actually had to go to the District Two training academy. My biggest dream was to win the Hunger Games and no one was going to stop me.

“Hey Cato.” Clove says while tapping my shoulder.

“Are you going to the training academy?” I ask.

“Yup. Walk there with me?” She invites in a friendly manner. I nod eagerly at her without noticing it. She holds a laugh in and grabs my arm to run out of school.

“Hurry up then or we’re going to be late!” She screams when she’s ahead of me.

“Right behind you, Clove!” I pant. We arrive in front of the huge, modern glass building. She gasps when we enter, seeing all the different weapons but for some reason she took a special interest in the throwing knives.

Time Has Brought Your Heart To Me (Clato)Where stories live. Discover now