Stay With Me - A Clato Hunger Games FanFic

Chapter 10~ Reaping

~A/N~ Here's a short one to tide ya'll over until I can get a longer one finished!

Chapter 10~ Reaping

I lay in bed, just thinking. It seems that's all I've been doing for these past weeks. I have come to the decision to forgive Cato. He did the wrong things, for the wrong reasons, but I still love him. I've finally admitted that to myself. I love Cato Letterman. I can't let him go into those Games today, without letting him know how I feel. It must be done.

I roll out of bed and go to my closet for my reaping-day dress. It's the same one I wore last year, but I love it all the same. One of the perks of living in District 2, is we don't have to wear the drab reaping clothes the other districts do. We feel it's a privilege to be chosen, so we want to look good for our strut onto stage. My dress is a long formal. It's a strapless black gown, big shock, with a silver waistband. I brush my hair out, and then head downstairs. There's a note on the counter from my mom.

"Clove, your father and I have some business to attend to in the Capitol, so we won't make it to the reaping with you. We'll see you tonight. Love, Mom."

Okay, that's not a big deal. I head out the door and down the path towards the town square.

As I enter the square, I realize there aren't very many people here yet. Of the people who are here early, Cato and his entourage of Peacekeepers are among them. I rush over to see if I can talk to him. The Peacekeepers refuse to let me speak to him, though, saying I have to wait until the visiting hour.

Twenty minutes later, everyone was gathered, ready to start. The District Two escort made her way up onto stage, and tested the mic. "Welcome! Happy Hunger Games!" she says, in a raspy voice. She introduces herself as Lolatrix, even though everyone already knows that. She's been our escort for several years now. It's her dress that really captures the audiences' attention, though. One of the neat things about our district, is our outfits. What I mean is, the outfits our escorts wear. Instead of the ridiculous candy-colored confections the other district escorts wear, we get to dress semi-normal.

Today, she is wearing a floor-length greenish black gown. She has her straight black hair done in an elaborate updo, with curly tendrils framing her face. Behind her head, sticking up from the back of the dress, is a whole array of green, blue and black feathers. She looks like a peacock.

They make us watch the same boring video every year. It's about the Capitol and the rebels. I've practically got it memorized now. I don't pay any attention, instead, I keep glancing towards Cato and trying to figure a way to talk to him.

At the end of the film, Lolatrix walks back up to the microphone. "Well, wasn't that delightful?" she asks. "Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for, the drawing of the tributes! And may the odds be ever in your favor! We'll start with the ladies, yes?" she makes her way over to the large glass bowl, with all the girl's names. She sticks her hand in and digs around for a moment before pulling it out. She goes back to the mic and loudly reads, "Sara McCallister". She looks out expectantly to the crowd. The crowd parts to reveal a young girl, no older than twelve, fighting back a sob, as she makes her way to the stage.

I don't even think about it before I say, "I volunteer!" Wow. This was not part of the plan. I think I surprised even myself. But that little girl just looked so helpless, if she went in there she would surely face sudden death.

I hold my head high as I stride up to the podium confidently, even though inside I am freaking out. You shouldn't have done that, Clove, you had a couple more years before this. Why? Why did I do something so stupid? Well, it's too late now, I'm in this, and I'm in it to win it.

Lolatrix helps me up onto stage, "Now, what's your name?" I stare out at the crowd, suddenly speechless. The cameras and lights are giving me a headache and causing a glare. "Uh, um, Clove Sirenia." "Very good, very good," she says. "Well, now we're off with a bang, let's get to the boys. Now, this year we have a very special situation." Then it hits me, Cato. I had completely forgotten about him. He will be in the Games with me now. Now there's no chance of the two of us ever being together. Why didn't I remember that before I volunteered? I almost miss her next statement. "This year, we had a young man come to us before today, and request to be chosen. Isn't that nice? That way, none of you need to be scared that you will be picked," she smiles. That is such a lie. Cato did not request, they just don't want to announce to the entire District that a murderer is in their midst. "Cato Letterman! Please come forward!" she trills. I see the Peacekeepers part, and he makes his way towards us. Even from this distance, I can see the jail time has really taken its toll.

He climbs onto the stage and Lolatrix goes over and takes his hand. Even though she's at least 10 years his senior, she's still pretty. A pang of jealousy shoots through me, which is ridiculous, considering the situation I've gotten myself into. She walks him over to me and takes my hand in her free one. She holds them both high, "Presenting the tributes of District Two! Cato Letterman and Clove Sirenia!" And with that, a group of Peacekeepers swarm us and we're led into the Justice Building.

Before I can speak to Cato, we are separated and led into side rooms. These must be our visiting rooms, where our family and friends can come say their goodbyes. I really want to talk to my parents. Then I remember, they're not coming. They don't know what happened, since they're not even in the District. I'm on my own. I don't have any girlfriends to talk to either. These past few months, I've just been with Cato, so I'm surprised when the door opens. A little girl comes in, with a tall blonde woman behind her. These must be Cato's mother and sister. I've never met them, since Cato says they're always busy. The little girl comes up to me and wraps her tiny, frail arms around my waist. "Um, hi," I say, taken aback. "I'm Arie. You're much prettier than Cato said. He talked about you all the time. You'll bring him back to me, right?" she says, looking up at me with the same large, clear blue eyes as her older brother. My heart was breaking for her, knowing that I had no way of bringing him back to her, but for her sake I said, "I'll try, okay?" "Okay," she gives me another squeeze and then steps back. Her mother just gives me a sad smile and a short nod, and then they're gone. No one else comes to visit me.

~A/N~ Hope you liked! VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE since this is in the Watty Awards! 10 votes for next chapter!