Never Coming Home

Chapter 1

A/N This is my first fanfic so give feedback! Hope you like it! A/N

The first time I saw him was at school. I'm so small and slight people always used to knock me over. I was kneeling on the floor trying to collect my work when I realised someone was kneeling beside me. He was big and muscular with a mop of blond hair on his head. Judging by the looks people gave him I was pretty sure he was already feared. His face was chiselled and unusually handsome for a boy his age but it was tough as if he could break your bones with just a glance. His big blue eyes had a certain innocence however, that shone through contradicting his nature and build. "Here let me help you." he said, looking concerned. Thinking back I probably looked like a clueless idiot but truth is I didn't know what to say. I was that weird girl, the one who'd stick a pencil in your hand if you even thought about getting too close. No one had ever even looked at me before without walking in the opposite direction as fast as they could and now here was this boy I'd just met being concerned about me! It seemed too good to be true...

I saw him again that day. I was sitting in an empty art classroom one lunchtime, in my favourite spot curled up on a table by the window. It didn't face the screaming kids and the yelling teachers but instead looked over a pretty patch of grass and a little brook. It was peaceful and quiet and I always went there when I needed to escape other people and be on my own. I was curled up, thinking about nothing in particular when I heard this voice behind me. "Nice view there." it said "one of the only pretty parts of our district, the rest is either houses or masonry stations." I turned round, startled by the interruption. "Who are you?" I mumbled quietly. "Cato." He replied. "And you?" "I'm Clove" I tryed to say, but it came out as a half whisper. "Clove?" He repeated. I nodded. "Why are you so afraid of me?" He asked perplexed. "Did I do something wrong?" I hated how people always assumed that. "No, I-I'm just shy I guess." I stammered. " nobody really talks to me, they're too scared, that's why I don't have many friends." I was worried that he might get scared himself and just make a break for it but instead he did the most unexpected thing. He threw back his head and roared with laughter. "Alright then Clove the scary!" he laughed "how would you like me to be your friend?" I was taken aback but his laughter was infectious, and soon we were both in hysterical fits of giggles. "Of course!" I said stifling a snort.

We sat there for the rest of lunch laughing till the tears rolled down our cheeks and our sides were aching. It was one of the first times I'd been truly happy in years and I loved it. Even though we had met about two hours ago I felt I could talk to him about anything. I told him about my pretty average life, my dad worked in masonry my mum stays at home and looks after me, all the important things. I didn't tell him everything however, some things aren't meant to be spoken about...

After a while I asked him some questions as well, like why had he never been at school before? And he told me how his mum had been ill with grief since his dad died in the depression. He had had to take care of his three year old sister on his own and just stayed at home with her. The depression happened when I was about six. District 2's job is masonry, and there was a huge accident at the main quarry, when a giant pile of boulders fell on the workmen, crushing them and killing many of them. My dad survived but a lot of men didn't and their wives were often so grief stricken that they couldn't care for their children. Cato's mum died last month but he and his sister were adopted by a couple who lost their son in the hunger games. He must have had a tough life. I guess you could say I was lucky during the depression. My father survived, our family was okay but honestly, we weren't. I didn't tell Cato at the time but the depression hit us harder than anyone. Many young men and boys had to look after their mothers, so didn't volunteer for the annual hunger games. Unluckily for us that was the year my brother was picked... and no one volunteered... He was only twelve. We watched on live television as he was hacked to death by his own district partner. I didn't tell Cato this till later. It was too personal.

That day was the start of a long lasting friendship between us, it was the reason we made a pact. I was twelve and he was thirteen. It was a couple of days before I were due to start my training for the hunger games. It's technically illegal but that's just what happens here in 2. The hunger games is our career. We are brought up to kill or be killed, but me and Cato made a pact. A pact that would change our lives forever.....