Chapter 3 - Why?

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Clove's POV

As I walked to training I already heard rumors about Cato's fight with Dustin. When I didn't see him in training, thinks just got weird. The only reason Cato would ever miss training was if he was A. Dead, B. So injured he couldn't move, or C. Banned from the center. With the fight he presumably got into I'm imagining he got suspended. I guess I will find out after training. It will be weird not having him as my training partner for today. I walk into the center and put down my duffle in the locker room. As I walk out the trainer is gathering everyone for a brief meeting before we start.

"Today we will be doing things a little bit differently. We're going to put you with a different partner than you usually have and we're going to rotate stations throughout the day," Our training coach said. A grumble was heard from the crowd. As he began reading out partner assignments, I couldn't help but wonder what that fight was even about. Cato has some anger problems but he doesn't fight unless he has a reason to. I started listening again when I heard the trainer call out my name.

"Clove Sevina and Dustin Smith, you two will start off at the spears." I walk over to the spears station and see Dustin there, already to practice.

"Hey, what happened with Cato today?" I asked not trying to sound too concerned.

"Well the psycho, broke my nose obviously," he said pointing to his heavily bandaged nose.

"Haha, what did you do to get him so mad?"

"You could say he didn't want to help a friend out."

"Help a friend out with what?" I said.

"Clove, I really like you. That's what he wouldn't help me out with." I was in shock. Dustin likes me? And Cato, I don't know what to think about him. The rest of training goes by in a blur. Dustin tries to talk to me but I just have to much to think about right now.

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. Bullseye, every time. That's the nice thing about training, when your frustrated or don't know what's going on, sanity can come by hitting that target, dead center. Every time.

Training goes by and as I walk out the center, Cato is there, ready to greet me as always.

Cato's POV

Well here I am again. Poor Dustin gets sent to the nurse and I get sent to office. Coach comes in and motions for me to take a seat. I don't.

"Cato, I can't say that I'm surprised but, you know the deal. No fighting with other future tributes, no matter how useless they may be." Coach said. The usual speech, I'm not in here a lot but I am enough to know that I'm getting some kind of punishment.

"So what's the punishment?" I ask.

"Two days, suspension from the center." He said. "We need to make sure you have a day or two of training before the reaping."

"Thanks Coach, I can't promise this wont happen again but I'll try." I said walking out of the center. I let out a sigh of relief. I have two days after suspension to train. The reaping for the 73ed is only one week away. I wait outside the door. No doubt Clove will be wondering what happened, I'm sure the rumors spread like wildfire. As I wait for 3:00 to come I dose off and am awakened by the bell. I walk over by the door and see Clove walk out. Dustin is trying with no success to talk to her. When she catches my eye she walks over and we begin the journey home. Of course the moment Dustin saw me he turned around and went off in the other direction.

"Can we go to the waterfall?" I asked her. She just nodded her head as we began the hike around the village to get there. One day we were walking and we came upon this beautiful waterfall, surrounded by trees and a lake. Over the years it has become our secret place to talk and hang out. Just me and Clove. We arrive about 20 minutes later and sit down at our usual spot.

"It was weird without you there today. What happened?" She asked.

"Dustin took things a little bit too far and so he paid for it. I got two days of suspension." I replied.

"What was it all about?"I have always been honest with Clove but this kind if thing gets me feeling embarrassed.

"You. He wanted me to set you guys up. He said some stuff about you that wasn't good,"I said looking down. "He said some stuff and I got a little over protective."

"You know, you don't have to always defend me." She said. "I'm a big girl now, haha"

"I was just jealous."

"Cato, why would you be jealous of Dustin Smith of all people?"She said smiling.

"Because he likes you, but not for the right reasons. I just don't want you to get hurt." I said

"You know he told me he liked me today."

"Really? Just another reason to hate him"

"Why is that?" She asked.

"Because he had the courage to do what I could never do."

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Author's Note

Hey guys,

I'm trying to make chapters longer so bear with me if the chapter sizes are a bit weird. Thanks so much if you are reading! This is my first fanfic so any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Have a good day!

Just Remember Clato is forever!

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