Promises, Goodbyes, and I'm sorrys

A Promise That Could Only Lead to Hurt

Click.

I remember shutting the front door with as much silence posible. My back hurt from sleeping on the ground but I didnt mind. I was with the girl I love. The girl who loves me. And mum could catch me sneaking in and beat my sorry ass as much as she liked. I didnt care. I was too happy.

I collapsed on my bed. The matress wass solid and uncomfortable but no more than the ground I slept on the night before. I closed my eyes and lay there. Trying to work out whether what had happened last night was real or not. Clove had kissed me. Clove had told me she loved me. Clove had slept in my arms. And now that I look back, it couldnt have been simpler. But still, I felt like everything was just a massive jumble in my head. Nothing made sense and I still couldnt get my head around the fact that she loved me. And there was a tiny ningling in the back of brain telling me something was wrong. Something bad would happen. But I pushed it away. I should have listened. If I had, I wouldnt be in this situation right now. And neither would Clove.

*FLASHBACK*

"Cato!" Mums awake. "Get your lazy ass in here right now!" I groaned and dragged myself off the bed and into the kitchen. I was greeted by an angry looking mum. Ugh! She reeks of alcohol.

"What!" I snap, not bothering to hide the cold voice behind my words.

"Take this out to the pigs!" She shoves the scraps bucket at me.

"Do it yourself," I grumble, setting it down in the tiled kitchen floor.

"Cato Hartfield! You will do as I say! And I know where you were last night! You were with that skank werent you?" How dare she!

"Her name is Clove! And she ks NOT a skank! Dont you dare talk about her like that!"

"Shes an ugly whore!"

"Shes beautiful!"

"Cato!" The disgust in her voice is clear. "Dont you start with your emotions! Theyll only weaken you."

"I dont care! Can I not be human?! Can I not love? Because you know what? I do love! Im in love! And I couldnt be stronger!"

"Oh god! What has happened?! You are not to go anywhere without my permission! And you are not to speak to that tramp EVER again!"

No! Thats bullshit!"

"Youll thank me later boy."

And with that she staggers off.

What am I going to do?! How am I going to  see my Clove?! I cant stay here! I have to leave. I can stay with Clove. In secret. Just for a week, until The Reaping. Then Ill volunteer, and Ill win. And I wont need my mother anymore, I can live in the Victors Village with Clove and we can live happily ever after just like the fairytales from hundreds of years ago. The ones mum used to tell me. Before dad was murdered. Before she turned to the drink. Before she became trapped in her fantasy world, where Idd win The Hunger Games and make her rich so she could buy all the booze she wanted.

Ugh! I have to see Clove! I have to tell her my plan. Mum will ne leaving for work soon. I can get out then...

The soft breeze ruffles my hair. The warm sun, reminds me of Clove, as it caresses my shoulders. The day is almost perfect. Like Clove. But only almost perfect. Like Clove. She has her flaws. But I love them too. Because every imperfection, every one of her insecurities, every flaw she wants to change about herself, are what build her, support her, complete her. And without them, she would never have captured my heart.

"Cato!" Cloves voice is filled with joy and excitement. So bright and bubbly.

"Clove!" I yelp as we embrace. "I need to talk to you baby."

"Sure, come inside," she smiles and my heart melts inside me. Cato! Thats not like you to be so... sappy. Eh, who cares!

Once inside, Clove and I take a seat on the couch. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Ok, umm... Is it alright if I stay with you until the weekend?"

"Yeah, of course... Why?" I was afraid she'd say that.

"Clove, I dont want you to freak out... But, Im volunteering. At The Reaping."

Silence. Deafening silence. Her eyes are screaming 'horror' but her mouth wont open. "Clo-"

"No. Cato no! You are not volunteering! NO WAY!"

"Clove, wait! Just hear me out okay. I-"

"No! There is no way youre doing this! No if I have ANYTHING to do with it!"

"Clove! Listen to me ok?"

She looks like shes about to open her mouth again, but she just nods and I take it as an oppurtunity to continue... "I cant see you. Mum wont let me. Im not even supposed to be here now. And nothings going to change. Itll be like this forever, so Im going to volunteer next week, and I can win, and we can live in the Victors Village and nothing will matter anymore because we can be toge-"

"No. Still no Cato."

"But Clove! Youre being ridiculous!"

"Im sorry Cato, and I wish you could understand why Im being this way. But you just need to trust me on this. You cant volunteer. Please Cato?"

Oh god.

"Ok. I promise I wont," I hate lying to her! But I have to do this, it will help her in the the long run. It will help us. And I know I promised, but Ill have to make an exception.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

Little did I know, it was a promise that could only lead to hurt...

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Heyyy my babies, not sure if anyone is actually reading this but if you are, how bout a vote or a comment?? Oh, and hi Rikansha! PUMPKIN MONKEY MAN LEMUR MOUSE LIFEGUARD!!!