games → CATO HADLEY ✓

s e v e n

| " P R O T E C T I V E . " |

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By the time that everyone arrived in the training center, I was feeling sick.

Could it really abandon Cato- ignore him? The answer still wasn't clear to me, even if I did tell Ceneca I would. But he's the gamemaker. Gamemakers know what they're doing.

Don't they?

"What's wrong, Tay?" Clove asks, standing in front of me. With our height being the same, I was able to look right into her eyes without having to look up or down.

"Nothing. Just thinking about the private sessions." I lie.

"Don't worry. You'll probably get the highest score, no need to worry." She sooths.

If only she really knew what is going on in my mind . . .

"Thanks." I decide to change the subject. "So who's on your kill list?"

As Clove rambles on about the people she wants to kill and how she wants to kill them, I find myself staring at Cato. I feel like I can't not talk to him, if that makes sense. I mean- he understands me. Am I really ready to just give up?

"... hopefully by then, she'll be dead." Clove finishes. "I just want to rip her to shreds right now." She hisses, staring at the girl from District eight.

"She looks pretty intimidating, but I'm sure you can take her on." I nod. "No way she has a chance against you."

"I know, right? I'll make sure she begs for me to end her life by the time I'm through with her." She twirls a knife around her fingers. "I can't wait for my knife to sink into her forehead."

I almost gag as I imagine it, the blood pouring from that girl's head. She doesn't deserve to die. None of these people do.

"Yeah . . . " I trail off.

"Why is he looking over here?" Clove growls, looking behind me. I furrow my eyebrows as I turn. To see Peeta.

"He's my friend." I say. He gives me a polite and warm smile before he looks at Clove, then looks away.

"You can't be friends with him, Taylor. He could turn on you in the games, and you wouldn't even have a second thought before he stabs you in the back. Literally." She says. I sigh, and answer, not wanting to argue.

"Okay. You're right." I say. She nods, and starts to talk about non-imporant topics as I act like I listen to her.

Tristan is across the room with Tamora and the guy from District seven, learning about edible foods. Cato along with the other careers and Zach are competing at who can throw a spear the best. Peeta is with Katniss, in a line to climb the ropes that are layed across the ceiling.