Harmless

So Long, Good Bye

I am escorted back into a dimly lit room in the justice building.  I had never seen it except for in books.  I am sitting alone for some time now and beginning to wonder if anyone of my family will come to say goodbye to me?  I'm in serious doubt that my mother will actually show up to say goodbye.  

Eventually, Rory and my dad entered the room. 

"Oh, Clove, be safe in there.  We love you."  My dad says to me. 

"I love you too, and don't worry I'll come back."  I say hugging him.  Even though with Cato in there I doubt I will be coming home.  

"Where is mom and Maeve?"  I ask already knowing the answer. 

Rory looks at me saddened at my question. 

"Mom and Maeve couldn't bring them selves to come."  Rory states. 

I nod and give both of them a hug.  

After another minute a peace keeper comes in and announces that it time to leave.  They walk me to the train which I board and head straight back to my room in the train.  Before I can enter my room a sturdy hand pulls me into another one.  It's Cato.  

I look up into his clear blue eyes and he leans down and kisses me.  I quickly push him away.  He looks at me, hurt.  

"Cato we cannot do this.  We are about to go into the arena and one of us isn't coming back." 

He looks and me, brushes back my hair behind my ear and starts to whisper, 

"Clove, I'm harmless to you."

With that I hug him.  I never want to let him go.  I want nothing more than to protect him from anything that could possibly harm him in that arena.  I love him.  With spending every day with him for a month that is the one thing I realized.  I loved Cato.  I can't bare the thought of him not coming back.  I will make sure he is the one who will come back.  

"I know."  I whisper back.  

We are standing there, in silence, holding one another and I want to stay like this forever.  I'm safe here, Cato is safe here, lets just stay here.  

"Maybe we should go meet our mentors?" Cato asks.  

I shake my head.  There is no way I am letting go of him right now.  

"Can we just go to sleep?"  I ask. 

"Sure thing Clover."  Cato says as he picks me up and walks over to the bed.  We lay there until we both fall asleep.  

A knock on the door wakes us up.  "Cato!" It's Lavender.  Crap.  I look up at Cato and he is looking at me with the same look of horror on his face.  I quickly slide under the bed.  Cato goes and opens the door. 

"Morning Lavender."  He says. 

"Good morning Cato.  Breakfast is being served in the main cart. " Lavender tells him. 

Lavender starts to go to knock on my door.  Well this will be interesting.  

"Lavender!"  Cato interjects.  

"Why don't I wake Clove up?  She isn't really a morning person and I'd hate for you to be caught in that mess."  He finishes. 

Lavender nods looking great full that Cato had just saved her from dealing with a crabby teenager.  Once she leaves I slide out from underneath Cato's bed and look at him and start to giggle.  

"What?"  He asks.  

"Oh nothing, I'm just glad you saved Lavender from a crabby Clove this morning."  I say walking out of his room into mine to take a shower.  After I do I go meet them in the main cart.  

"Good morning Clove."  Lavender states.  

'Good morning."  I reply.  

"Were are our mentors?"  Cato asks. 

"They are meeting us at the Capitol."  Lavender replies.  

We both nod in reply and continue to eat our waffles that have been placed in front of us.  

"We will be at the Capitol within the hour, so go get some rest."  Lavender commands us.  

We listen to her and go back to Cato's room.  I plunk down on his bed and look at the ceiling.  I wonder what the arena will be like this year.  Will it be mountains, forests, mostly water?  I guess we will just have to wait and see.  But I don't like waiting and the idea of not knowing may drive me insane with wonder.  I feel the bed give way underneath and Cato's arms wrap around me.  

"What are you thinking about?" He asks. 

"Oh nothing."  I lie.  I don't want to worry Cato before I have to.  Plus it would be us less to worry this early on in the game so I don't understand why I would.  Before I know it I have fallen asleep on Cato's shoulder yet again.  But am woken up after about ten minutes by Cato. 

"Clove, look out the window.  We are at the Capitol."