"W-What?" I ask, shocked. "I don't know, Cato."
"Please. Arriana, you know I'll never hurt you. We've lasted this long. Don't you think we can make it forever?'
"Cato, this is just too much right now. I need to think about it." I sigh. "Just, the games and Clove and we still need to find the other 3."
"Alright, I'll let you think about it. But I want an answer before we leave this place." He insists.
"And I promise I'll give you one." I tell him. I mean, it's so sudden. And we're kind of young. We wouldn't even be aloud to marry within the district limits until we're both 18. Which, he turns 18 in a month, but me? It's gonna be half a year before that can happen. Why's it so important that he asks now? We cuddle in the sleeping back for awhile. My eyes stay locked on the opening in the tent, making sure no ones coming in. Soon enough, Clove's up and telling us to get some rest. I don't argue, I'm exhausted from the day. So much has happened in just 24 hours. Marvel's gone, Luke's gone. The only people keeping me from going crazy are with me right now. I shut my eyes and my body doesn't argue, because I quickly drift off leaving the real world behind. Even if just a couple hours, I need it.
I wake up on my own this morning. Clove's grilling berries, a custom in District 2, and they actually taste quite well. Cato's still asleep and I really don't want to wake him. He's been through alot these last few days. We all have. "Good mornin', Clove." I smile, taking a seat next to her right outside the tent.
"Hey there!" She laughs. I can tell she's alot better than yesterday. "Sleep well?"
"Yeah, definately." I laugh along with her. "I really needed the sleep. I have to tell you something, and it's not really a secret since you know, we're filmed 24/7. So... Cato asked me to marry him."
"He what?!" Clove squeals excitedly. "What'd you say??" She smiles, nearly choking herself with happiness.
"I said I needed to think." I reply, hoping it would calm her down. Luckily, it worked. "So much has happened. And we wouldn't even be able to get legally married for 6 months. 6 MONTHS. That's a long time. I'm still 17 until then."
"And he's only 17 for 1 of those months." She adds.
"Exactly!" I say, frustrated. "I mean, can't he at least wait until we're out of the arena? So I don't stress out, like I'm doing now." I rest my forehead on my hand.
"It's okay, Arrie." Clove insists. "This is kinda weird, but Luke and I were talking about if two tributes could win, we'd run away together. Kinda the same thing here. It's not marriage but it's still a commitment. Cato, he'll let it go for a bit."
I think about telling her how 2 tributes can win, but that would just hurt her, so I decide on it as a bad idea. "Thanks. Let's eat." I laugh. We each eat maybe a dozen berries, and save a dozen for sleeping beauty over there. He's still not up.
"I think we should wake him." Clove recommends.
"Nah, he's fine." I laugh. She agrees and we go back to talking. We talk for awhile until we finally hear Cato waking up.
"Morning everyone." He smiles, stretching his arms. "Grilled berries?" He grabs and handful and pop one at a time in his mouth.
"It's not morning." I giggle. "Well, not for much longer. It's nearly noon. We didn't want to wake you."
"You guys are great!" He says, wrapping and arm around my waist.
