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𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙏𝙒𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙔 —𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦—
𝙄 𝙎𝙃𝙊𝙑𝙀 𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙊 and Marvel into the trees, shooing them away as I turn back to River. Giving him a weak smile, he returns it with the shake of a head. I sigh as he turns, placing my hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort his disappointment.
"Look, River," I start, trying to find a way to speak my mind. "Cato and I talked last night, and I realized—"
"That you love him," He finishes, releasing a loud breath. "I know, it's not hard to tell."
"Earlier— that wasn't supposed to happen." I state, ignoring his words. "I already told him to leave the two of you out of this, and he agreed. But because you hit him, he retaliated. I don't want you two fighting again."
"Yeah, it shouldn't have happened— you shouldn't have been there. He should be dead right now for all of the things he's done to you, Casey! Why can't you just understand that I'm trying to protect you here?"
"Because I trust him!" I scoff. "I know him—"
"You've known him for five days, Casey. And not even that." River states rather harshly, his jaw clenching as his anger flares. Aspen stands beside of me, his eyes darting between the two of us as we argue.
"That's just a number! It doesn't affect how I feel about him, River! I understand that you're trying to protect me, but judging the people I care about is most definitely not helping our situation," I snap, narrowing my eyes. "If you care, you'll let this go."
"Are you forgetting what he's done to you?" River questions, his voice growing quiet as his eyes soften. "That he planned to kill you? And that you hated him two days ago? Does that not matter to you?"
"People make mistakes, and I learn to forgive," I murmer. "The whole thing was staged for Clove and Glimmer. If they found out, I would've—"
"Been on their kill list?" He raises an eyebrow. "Make it all the way to the top? I think we both know that they want to kill you either way. What reason did Cato have to be scared of Clove and Glimmer?"
"He wasn't scared, he was trying to protect me—"
"Protect you from them? Casey, I don't trust him! He could've just told them that he loved you if he really did, instead of lying and staging all of this bullshit!"
"And what would his mentors have said, huh?" I glare. "They would've dropped him as soon as they heard. They are his gateway to sponsors."
"Like he'd need them," River snorts. "You and I both know that he can handle himself without the sponsors. He's just using you . . . and you're letting him."
