Family is forever

Ch. 2 The parade

Cloves pov

I get up from the couch before they even have time to announce the boy tribute.  I make my way down the train hoping to find district 12's room.  I can hear my escort yell in complaint to come back and asking where I'm going, but I don't answer.  Cato gets the idea and follows close behind me. 

It takes a while but we eventually find the right door.  I knock three times.  By now I have stopped crying, but as soon as Katniss opened the door, they came right back.  Cato embraced her and I did the same, crying on her shoulder.  Eventually we pull away and she beckons for us to come inside.  As I do, I notice her drunk mentor and escort, what was her name, Ellie?  They watch me and Cato wearily, as if wondering why we were there.  We were careers after all.  I could also tell from their facial expressions that they saw what happened seconds ago.  I guess Katniss notices the tension in the air because she speaks up.

"Cato, Clove, this is Haymitch
And Effie.  Guys this is Clove and Cato from district 2."

"Sweetheart, can I talk to you for a minute."  The drunkard says. 

Katniss walks over to Haymitch and start whispering to each other.  By the way he keeps glancing over at us, I can tell it's about me and Cato.  They I hear him sigh and say ok.  We then talk to each other reassuring each other mostly until that boy Peeta interrupts and tells Katniss its dinner time.  He looks at me fearfully and runs off into another room.  I smirk.

When we get back, we are bombarded with questions.  They were all along the lines of Where were you Why were you gone so long Why did you run out like that What happened
To avoid all the questions I head straight to my room and flop onto my bed. 

Katniss pov
~~~next day~~~

We arrived in the capitol the next morning where we were taken to our prep team.  They waxed all he hair of my body leaving me raw and clean.  I didn't like it. I felt too... exposed. Especially since I was naked. Then they left and my stylist came in. He looked almost normal for a capital person. No fancy clothes or tattoos, only plain clothes and golden eyeliner. He put me in a black unitard that when from ankle to neck. It also had a cape and knee high boots. As I examined my clothing Cinna, my stylist did my hair. Cinna was starting to grow on me. He was nothing like those awful capitol people.

As I stood on my chariot preparing for the parade I took a look at the other tributes. Most of them weren't here yet though. The girl from eleven looked to be the youngest one. I remembered that was only twelve. She reminds me of Prim. I force myself to look away and get rid of the thought. I can't get a soft spot for any of the other tributes. I watch as Clove and Cato come and take their on their chariot. They turn and smile at me reassuringly and I return it.

Cinna lights us on fire right before our chariots start to move. The crowd is chanting Clove and Cato's names until they see us. The crowd goes silent. Then the capitol starts screaming my name. I hear Peeta's name too once and a while. I remember what Effie said and I wave and smile to the crowd.

Peeta takes my hand but I pull it away.  He leans in and whispers in my ear.

"Come on they'll love it."

I sigh and reluctantly take his hand.  He brings our hands up.  The crowd roars even louder.  I look over to Cato and see him staring at me with a slight smile.  I turn my head back to the crowd hoping he didn't see me blush.

Cato pov

As I get on my chariot I look back trying to find Katniss' face among the tributes. I find her at the back with the boy from her district. I didn't really like that boy. The way he looks at Katniss. He likes her. But I mean who couldn't she's gorgeous. I smile at her reassuringly and turn as we start to move.

I give the crowd my best cocky grin as they shout my name and Clove's. But then they all so silent. I start to wonder what's wrong and look frantically around. Then all of a sudden they're screaming again. But it's not my name or Clove's. It's Katniss. I turn to look at her and let out a small gasp. She's on fire. She sees me and I'm pretty sure she blushes. She looks stunning. But then that bread boy does something that ticks me off a little. He grabs her and and lifts it up. The crowd goes nuts. I smile at her and turn back around. I see Clove smiling happily at Katniss. She's happy for her. She's doesn't even look jealous that she has all the attention.

We come to the end where President Snow gives a long speech, but honestly I'm too busy looking at Katniss to hear a word he says.  After we get inside the training center/ building we will be staying in I look around for Katniss.

Clove and I find Katniss with her partner.  I eye him suspiciously. 

"Hey Kat, or should I say Girl on Fire."

"Hey guys," she looked around and moved a few steps away from Peeta so he wouldn't be able to hear us, "let's talk later.  Meet me on the roof after dinner."

We tell her yes and we go up the lift to our floor.  Clove and I go our separate ways to our new bedrooms.