Time Has Brought Your Heart To Me (Clato)

Chapter 8 "Falling"

**1 year later**

Clove’s PoV

I stare out the glass window of the training centre, waiting for the bell to ring. I watch the snow fall gracefully to the ground, counting the millions of glittery snowflakes floating past like ghosts. I look at the mountains and valleys covered in a layer of snow. I check the time, two minutes. I was easily bored of training nowadays, I mean we did the same thing everyday for the past few years; the thing I looked forward to was spending time with Cato. I reminisce in all the great times we’ve shared together. Best friends since childhood and I was convinced nothing could ever change that. I walk to my backpack and pull out my beanie and loose-fitting, comfortable grey jacket out and put it on. I fit the beanie over my head and then stare at the clock as time goes by. I wait near Cato’s bag as he walks over to pick it up.

“Giving up, are we?” He taunts.

“No. It’s not like I need to train, I’m better than you at it.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“If you want to make it one.” I smile slyly.

“Yes!” He replies. With challenges these days, I barely won because Cato was a lot bigger and stronger but sometimes he went easy on me. I only won if I somehow ambushed him which rarely happens, like ever.

“Bye Clove.” Enobaria says friendlily. I nod in reply and walk out the door.

Cato’s PoV

I look at the snow fly on Clove’s gorgeous dark hair. I listen to the crunch of our footsteps on the blanket of snow on the ground. I stick my ice-cold hands into my pockets and breathe out heavily. I look at the fog rise up into the sky as we continue walking silence. I notice her lucky knife, the one I gave her two years ago, sticking out of her pocket in her jacket. I reach my hand in cunningly and pull the knife out. I slip my hand back in my pocket with the knife held tightly in it. I pick up my pace until I’m running at full speed. Clove shoots me a look of confusion and I begin to pull her knife out of my pocket.

“Missing something, Clover?” I tease with the knife held in front of me.

“I’m going to kill you for taking that!” She yells and begins chasing me. I throw my backpack down at the oak tree in our place. I prance around to annoy her. She jumps and falls right into my arms, the force causing me to hit the ground.

I succeed at dodging her attempts of taking the knife back.

“You never beat me in hand-to-hand combat.” I scoff. She shrugs and knocks her knife out of my hand. Clove runs after it and I try catching up but she gets there first. She clutches the knife in her hand while I pin her to the ground. I hold her arms above her head and smirk. She pants and gives me a smirk back.

“I think you won this one.” She admits in defeat.

“So you admit I’m better than you.” I laugh.

“I didn’t say that!” She cries out.

“I’m pretty sure I heard it.” I tease.

“God, you’re annoying.” Clove rolls her eyes.

“I’m annoying?”

“Yes, yes you are.”

“Well then, so are you.”

“I know.” She replies with a giggle. I hesitate for moment, thinking of what I would say next.

“You drive me crazy.” I say before I lean in to kiss her. I try stopping myself but I just couldn’t. I could feel my heart almost bursting out of my chest. I realise, I wasn’t the only one who was leaning in. My heartbeat starts ringing through my ears when our lips touch for the first time but only lightly.

“I have to go.” Clove says while taking a big gulp in and pulling away.

“Why?” I say in disappointment.

“I just have to.” She says almost in a whisper. Clove swings her bag over her shoulder and takes off in lightning speed. I stand up and start walking slowly back to my house. My thoughts flooded with a billion unanswered questions. You idiot! You tried to kiss your best friend who’s three years younger than you! I had to apologize. As I take each step, something kept bugging me, why did she lean in too?

Clove’s PoV

Tears overcame me as I burst through my front door. I should’ve stayed and kissed him. I love him. I hide my face as I run through the house and up the stairs. I need to tell him but I don’t know how I could face him now. I fall on my bed and cry onto my pillow. I clutch my lucky knife in my hand tightly. Blood starts seeping out, dropping on my bed sheets as I cry from the pain.

“Cato.” I whisper as I watch him pace back and forth around his room. I run to my window and slide it open. He looks at me and walks to his window. Cato slides it up and locks it into place.

“Sorry…” I say quietly with guilt.

“It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have tried to…you know.” He looks down to his feet.

“No. I wanted you to kiss me…because…” I pause and take a deep breath. This is it; I was going to tell him how I felt.

“Because…” He interrupts my thoughts.

“I-I” I tremble, “lo-“ My door slams open and my dad comes running in. He looks down at my hand and back to my face.

“Clove, your hand!” He yells in shock. I look down at my hand and realise the blood was dripping all over the windowsill and onto my floor. In surprise, I start getting dizzy and a black darkness floods my thoughts.