Melting Ice

Chapter 21

Cato

Ugh, Finnicks here. I watch as he goes over to Clove to hug and kiss her before giving out present and...walking over to me!

"Hi Cato, how are you?", he greets with that sickly smile of his.

"Fine, just fine. Yourself?", I ask not really looking at him.

"Great actually. What's up with you and Clove?", he asks.

"None of your business Mr IamtotallynotflirtingwithClove", I hiss.

Finnick chuckles, "Cato, Cato, Cato, I am not interested in Clove. She is a lovely girl in so many ways but Annie is the one for me". Something about him, just how he approaches you, makes me want to be his best friend, like he has power over me. Despite this, I try to stay angry.

"You probably say that to all of the girls you have slept with", I snap not really thinking about how insulting it would be.

"Woah, Cato. At least Annie has some freedom, you keep Clove tied around your finger all day long", he hisses in a low voice, "Watch what you say, spear boy!", Finnick walks away after flicking his golden hair in my face and I can't help myself but run over to him and grab a handful of his hair.

"You listen up, you slut", I hiss right in his ear, "You shut the hell up about Clove and you never touch her again".

"Easy Cato, let Clove has some space. I wouldn't be surprised if she is board of you, your so overprotective. One hug and you think the worse of her", Finnick states back with sass. Could he be right? Is Clove board of me and wants a more exciting boyfriend.

"And don't call me that", Finnick says, turning back around to face me, "You don't know my story".

"Oh I think I do, you just use people, yeah that's right, your a user".

"Weren't you the one who used Glimmer to get sponsors? Didn't you also do that with Clove? You are Glimmer were pretty close in the arena, it wouldn't surprise me if-".

"That's it!", I say before connecting my fist to his face. Luckily for him, he caught me and pushed me back. So I try again, hitting his chest this time, making him fall wheezing.

"Cato stop it!", Clove yells, "Just stop all of it! It's Brianna's birthday and you can't just be happy? What the hell is wrong with you?", I try to run after her but Annie stops me.

"No", she whispers. Tears stream down Cloves face as she runs, Carla following her.

Clove

"What the hell I'd wrong with you?", I yell at Cato with tears running down my cheeks. It's Brianna's birthday! Why is he acting like this? Cato looks at me with pain and regret, I guess, in he eyes. Before I can stop myself, my legs go weak and I know I have to sit before I fall.

"Sh it's okay", whispers Carla into the back of my head as I continue sobbing into my pillow, "He loves you".

"No, he doesn't", I cry, "He has no heart, just ice".

Kayla

Yesterday was awful, Cato and Finnick fought, Clove was crying so Brianna never got the birthday she expected. Finnick and Annie have just arrived to help me make dinner along with Brianna helping. Luckily, she is very independent and probably won't annoy us like most toddlers, but them again, she can speak like a 4 year old despite the fact that she is only 2. We have 4 hours to prepare the meal, set the table and then we are going to Carla's parents overnight. Xander has taken Cato out for the day to do volleyball and frisbee; Carla and Clove are going shopping, without me!

As I'm not really the best cook, I leave that to Annie but I do help Finnick decorate the cupcakes. Each cupcake represents something special to them: the flower Cato gave Clove the first time they met, a promise ring given to each other before they went away training, a knife, a spear, the Clato bracelet(which was destroyed in the Capitol) and one which simply says, "Forever and Always". Annie brought over a vast selection of icing equipment in order for each cupcake to look good, or as good as a 13 year old girl can get it, with the help of a sassy killer.

"What colour was the flower?", asks Finnick, rolling out some icing.

"Bluey green- to match Cloves eyes", I say to distracted by making 2 3D rings with a red "gem". My hands shake as I do my best to make the ring, it's much a delicate procedure but I get there in the end.

"That's so cool!", exclaims Annie from the cooker, "How much time do we have left?".

I glance at the clock before saying, "Just over 3 hours, so we are doing great".

An hour later, the only cupcake left to do is the bracelet, which no one has spoken about in ages.

"Can you tell us about the bracelet Kayla?", Finnick asks during a break.

"Well,on the day of the reaping, Cato comes up to Clove, kisses her on the cheek and slips on this bracelet which says, "Forever", and Clove asked why and Cato said, "No matter what, Clato is forever", and then Clove said, "Forever and Always", then they kissed and I pulled a face. Apparently they got into an arguement because Clove tried to commit suicide and Cato got really upset and mad and they almost broke up, but luckily they didn't when Cato promised that he would help and save Clove. The bracelet later got broken because Cato was tricked into pretending to be in love with Glimmer so he could get more sponsors. Clove didn't know this so she smashed the bracelet in front of him and they didn't speak for ages until Cato literally held Clove down and made her listen to him. I think the bracelet was destroyed in the Capitol. So, yeah!".

"That's so sweet", cries Annie with tears in her eyes, "Come on, we need to get this finished".

Finnick helps my spell out "Forever and Always" on the last cupcake, then we put them all in the fridge to harden. Next up, I am going to write some notes, kinda like a treasure hunt, but the gift is each other.

By the front door I write, "Dear Clove and Cato, we don't like seeing you upset. Please follow the clues and all will be okay,

All of us x"

And stick it on the wall. The next is in the kitchen, "Your gift is near, follow the arrows and all will be revealed...". I place arrows around the kitchen, leading out to the garden where Annie and Finnick have laid out sterling sliver cutlery on a table with 2 chairs. In the middle is a vase of flowers and 2 candles scented like the forest and pine cones. The final note, which will be left on the table, says,"Dear Cato and Clove,

We love seeing both of you happy and cheerful, thank you very much for the lovely holiday, now it's time for you to relax!

Love from,

Kayla, Xander and Brianna x (With the help from Carla, Finnick and Annie)

P.s we are with Carla overnight

"Perfect!", exclaims Annie clasping her hands together, "We better get going to Carla's!".

Quickly, I grab 3 bags from upstairs: Xander's, Brianna's and mine. The contain just a spare change of clothes for tomorrow and pyjamas. I really do hope this works!