Authors note:
It's been confirmed by Suzanne Collins that Clove wore an engagement ring round her neck. It's also been confirmed that said ring was from Cato. Or at least that's what I read somewhere,
I was heavily inspired by The Fault In Our Stars and Romeo and Juliet for this chapter. It's the themes of fate and destiny, and the stars and the odds being against you. And the romance.
Cato pov
Clove seems relieved. My promise not to volunteer has calmed her, and she smiles. She must be the most beautiful girl in the world. Every time she smiles, my love for her grows. That should be impossible by now. I would never volunteer, because there's a chance that I might never come home. That I would die with her not by my side. She should know that, but with the Reaping only a day away, I understand why she's worrying.
"I promised you I would try to find a way for both of us to come out of the Area." I say. "And the best way for both of us to come out is for neither of us to go in."
Clove tightens her grip on our already linked hands.
"I love you." She says, and my heart swells. I know I want to spend eternity with her. I decide to do what I've wanted to do for my whole life, right here, right now. Why not now?
"I love you too Clove." I feel in my pocket for the ring I've been carrying around for years, wanting to propose, but never having the guts to do it. Afraid she'd say no. That she'd break my heart. But I don't think she will.
I bend down on one knee, and pour my heart out.
"I love you more than words can express. I have more love for you than stars in the sky. I need you like I need oxygen. Without you, I'd suffocate. You are the only person I care about, and I want to spend my life with you, however long or short it may be."
I watch as tears of joy spring from her eyes as she realises what's coming next. I take a deep breath, muster up all my courage, and say the words Ive wanted to say for years. The words I wanted to say ever since I first laid eyes on her.
"Will you marry me?"
Clove takes a deep breath, and then exhales. She pauses for so long, she could be mentally preparing a monologue, but when she finally responds, she only says:
"Well duh."
And when I put the ring on her finger, and we kiss for what must be the millionth time, it feels different. Better somehow. It feels like we were born for this exact moment, like this was meant to be.
And I believe it is.
When we finally break apart, Clove looks overjoyed.
"Proposing the day before the Reaping? Very ambitious." She says wryly.
"Well," I reply, "After tomorrow, we'll be free."
"Yeah, we will." Clove says, although she still looks troubled.
" it's just... What if one of us is reaped and nobody volunteers?" She asks worriedly. My proposal was supposed to calm her, but instead, it's just added to her worries,
"That won't happen." I assure her. " there are always volunteers at the Reaping in this district. People are eager to volunteer, even. I don't get why. Maybe almost everyone in Districts one and two were born with a deathwish."
"You're right." Says Clove doubtfully. "You are right. We'll be fine." She says again, a bit more forcefully this time.
"Yeah. We will you and I, we were meant to be together. I just know it. It was written in the stars, and the stars are never wrong." I say.
"But what if the stars are faulty?" Says Clove.
"Clove." I say. "Stop. Catastrophising. We'll. Be. Fine."
"Catastrophising is what I do best." She replies. And it's the truth. Well, that, and just being all round gloomy sometimes. She never used to be like this, but then something changed. I genuinely think that she's depressed. Just mildly, but depressed all the same. Well, her thoughts are definitely depressing sometimes.
"it is, and don't I know it." I say dryly. " But, I love you for who you are, and believe it or not, I wouldn't take you any other way."
" I wouldn't take you any other way either. No matter how annoying you can be sometimes." She says.
" Hey! I'm not that annoying." I say, mock-indignantly.
"That's not what I think." She says.
"At least I'm not boring. If I wasn't so annoying, I might be boring." I say matter of factly.
Clove laughs. "That's fuzzy logic." She says.
"But it's true."I reply.
"Well..." she starts, and all our teasing continues for quite a long time, until me and Clove both agree it's time to part ways again.
"See you tomorrow!" I say, trying for a comfortingly optimistic tone, but overshooting a little.
"See you tomorrow..." Says Clove uncertainly. It's clear she still worried. But I know that everything will be okay. As long as Clove doesn't go into theGames. Because I haven't told the entire truth. I told her I would never volunteer, but that's not entirely true. if for any reason Clove went into the Games, i'd have to volunteer. So I could be with her. So I could protect her.
But that won't happen.
It can't happen.
Clove P:O:V
When I get home, my parents bombard me at the second I get inside. They've been trying to convince me to volunteer at the Reaping for ages. And since this is my last year of eligibility, they're more determined than ever. And as said Reaping is tomorrow, this really is the last chance to convince me to volunteer. My father grabs my wrist and I try to pull away, but he's too strong.
"Now you listen to me, Clove." he starts, but before he can continue. I interrupt him.
"Whatever you say, you won't convince me to volunteer tomorrow." I warn.
His look of rage turns into one of fury.
"I'll tell you what. Volunteer tomorrow, or I'll make sure that you can't be with that fool you always seem to spend time with."
I flush red with anger. I know he's talking about Cato, but Cato's no fool.
"I've been lenient with you so far. I've been letting you make your own choices. What to do, where to go, who to marry. But I don't have to let you choose. That's not how things work in this district, and I'm going to use that to my advantage."
I realise what he's saying. And the fact that Cato and I are engaged won't make any difference. He could overthrow our engagement. If I don't volunteer, , that's exactly what he'll do. I realise I don't have a choice anymore. Because a long life without Cato is a lot worse than the possibility of death when it comes to my other option. I know exactly what I have to do, and I'm going to do it.
I'm going to volunteer for the Games.
YOU ARE READING
Cato and Clove: Scared
حركة (أكشن)Cato and Clove are not villains. They're just trying to survive the Games like everyone else. After all, they were scared too. Scared of dying, scared of letting their friends and family down, scared of letting their district down. But most of al...
