Melting Ice

Chapter 1

Clove

The moon is high up in the sky, not a sound to be heard, apart from the beating of my heart. I breath in the fresh evening air and I walk, the grass crunching beneath my feet. Work today was hard, so many new students at the training centre and, to add to all of the pressure, I have school and Cato. Cato, he plays a massive part of my life but, we are only 15- nearly 16. I don't know when however, some day soon, I'm suppose to be pregnant. We lied to the Capitol and said it was a miscarriage. Now, it's happening for real. I took the test last week: positive. Cato is happy and so am I.
As quietly as I can, I push open the front and take a step into the entrance hall. Underneath my feet is marble, white marble. We chose white to stand for innocence and purity. Everything we are not.
"Clove! Baby, how are you?", welcomes Cato. He brights up my day, everyday. I slip of my boots and run into his arms.
"Tired but, I'm okay. Do you want me to get started on dinner?", I ask.
"I made it. Your favourite-carbonara!". My mouth waters just thinking about how much I love carbonara. I follow him into our kitchen. He begins to serve up the food and I set the table with silver cutlery.
"Oh, and Kayla called by earlier asking how you were. She is extremely excited about the baby!", he adds after.
"I will call her in a bit. I know it's early but...name ideas?".
"Silver is unique for a girl, so is Avery. Boy names? Luke, maybe Xander?", he asks.
"I always like the name Brianna. It's sounds powerful. Xander is nice, so is your cooking".
"Just nice?", he jokes.
"Fabulous, sorry".
After dinner, we spend a few hours watching television. I sit down on of of the two cream sofas and Cato joins me.
Suddenly, a wave of fear washes over me, "Cato, I'm scared. People die during birth".
"Your not going to die, I promise. I will do everything possible to make you happy", he reassures.
"I feel the same way about you but we are still just children".
"We can get through this. Tomorrow, after school, I'm taking you out for the evening".
"Ooo! Where to?".
"It's a surprise Clovers".
Tiredness kicks in and we lock up and turn of the lights. I let Poppy outside in the garden. I see her run around playfully in the moonlight, barking at leaves. A pair of strong arms grab my waist.
"I remember when we were like that;careless and free", whispers Cato.
I sigh, "I just want our baby to have a better life than what I lived".
"I know you will be an amazing mother, I just know it".
Once everything has been sorted, we go upstairs; we pull on pyjamas and fall asleep in each other's arms, just like we did in the games.
I don't understand how I'm not asleep.
"And that, is why and how technology has changed. Be sure to read page 27 of your textbooks for tomorrow", informs our teacher, Mr Blakely. A few moans, grunts and whines escape my class mates mouth but, I keep mine shut. History always interested me;it is amazing how much technology has changed! Lunch follows on from history so, I pack my bag, go to my locker, shove my bag in and pull out my handbag. Today, Cato said he has lunch covered and I should meet him on the upper half of the field. I do exactly that; I find him laying on a blanket with a basket at this side.
"This looks nice", I say.
"Only the best for you Clovers", he says back. He gestures for me to come closer, I sit between his legs with my head leaning against his shoulder.
The next hour is spent cuddling, eating and yes, cloud watching.
"That one looks like the squirrel from the arena. Chubby but cute", I exclaim. He laughs and wraps his arms around me like he used to do. Sometimes, I feel like a different person now that the games are over. Much more mature however, I miss being a kid. I miss all the rules and regulations;the curfews, the telling offs.
A bell rings, signalling the end of our lunch break. I have art next. Throughout my life, I have always loved art. Not just looking at it but making art. Teachers at our school say I have a creative gift...I don't believe them. Anyway, I would never want to be an artist, it's only a hobby. Slightly like being a tribute, now victor, I never had the choice.

Cato
"No! Keep your eyes close!", I instruct. I have been planning this evening for so long now! Now it's here! We walk further until we come to where I want. "Take off the blindfold".
She takes it off and it reveals a meadow, not just any meadow. Our meadow- the meadow where we first met to be exact. Over to our left is a lake and on the right are Willow trees.
"Oh, Cato! It's wonderful!", she exclaims, "We have to go swimming". Luckily for her(and me), I brought swim wear and extra clothing.
"Don't look!", she squeals whilst running off behind a tree. I couldn't help but glance over to her. She sees me and giggles before walking out in a silky with swimming costume and matching sandals. My lower half is covered in dark blue swimming trunks.
"Nice abs Hadley", she says with her hand on my chest, pushing me backwards. Our hands intwine as we continue walking backwards until I feel the earth slip beneath my feet. I look around to see that we are now in the lake, the water gently swooshing around us.
"Oops", she jokes. Using all my power, I splash. Her face-I wish I had a photograph of her expression;it was priceless. We continue to splash each other until our arms ache and Clove wraps her arms around my bare neck, I do the same to her waist. Her head tilts up at me, I tilts mine downwards so our lips meet. Fireworks start inside of me, flying everywhere. Occasionally, we come up for air although, then it's straight back on each other. The kisses became more and more passionate;I start working my hands down to her hips, then placing them underneath her lower half. I lift her up to kiss her once more before bringing her back down.
"I...love you", she pants.
"I love you more", I reply.
"Not possible".
Next up was baby shopping. Clothes...bottles...the nursery. The whole lot!