Melting Ice

Chapter 24

Cato

For lunch, we eat at a cafe right on the beach. Instead of us all have main meals, together we select a few smaller dishes such as: squid rings, fries, prawn salad and fish kebab.

"Oh my! You are Cato, and you are Clove!", exclaims the waiter bringing our food over, "What a honer!".

"Please, treat us like any other customer", I say laughing slightly. No one has ever smiled so much seeing us for the first time. It's kinda nice, in a way but could easily get annoying.

"Maria, Gloria!", he calls back to the kitchen, "Look who is here!". Two middle aged women strut out from behind a counter and join the male waiter.

"We are all big, big fans of your work!", says Maria, I could tell by her badge saying, "Hello! I'm Maria", that kind of helped.

"Our work?", snorts Clove. I lightly kick her under the table, making her flinch then kick back harder.

"How brave you are!", exclaims who Im guessing must be Gloria, "You saved Panem!".

"Just doing our job, aren't we Clovers?", I say squeezing her hand.

"Yep", she says popping the 'P'.

"Well, please enjoy your meal and let us know if there is anything we can do to make you any happier!", says the waiter who, according to his badge, is called Paulo.

"Thank you very much", I say smiling sickly until they all walk back, whispers probably about us, "We have fans!", I say throwing my hands up in the air celebrating.

Around 2, we leave the cafe after tipping and take a walk along the beach. Xander and Kayla run ahead holding hands laughing and beaming with smiles. We watch as Brianna does her best to catch up. She is pretty fast for a 2 year old! The midday sun is scorching, not a cloud in the sky.

"I love you so much", I say softly as I wrap my arms around her waist, "Words can't explain how beautiful you are", the gentle sea breeze pushes strands of hair in her eyes which is gently pull away, leaving her stunning face bare.

"I can't believe your my boyfriend", she says playing with my hair.

"You better believe it, and get used to it", I laugh then lean in closer so my breath runs along the soft skin of her neck, "Clato is forever", I whisper before kissing her neck gently.

"And always", she replies letting go of my hair to gaze into my eyes, "I have always envied your eyes".

"Why should you?", I ask not taking my eyes of the pool of melted chocolate in her eyes, surrounded by long lashes and dotted freckles. I take a deep breath, breath in the soft breeze and lean in, my arms wrapped around her waist, hers now draped around my neck. Slowly, our lips meet and move in sync as the world as we know it carries on. Despite this, I feel like it's just Clove and I standing here, sharing this treasurable moment. Sure, I have kissed her before, many actually, but this time felt different. I felt like I was capable of anything, as long as I was with Clove. I could run millions of miles, as long as I was with Clove. I could fly, maybe that's the butterflies-no, zoo- inside of me making my Knesset go weak and lightheaded at the touch of her lips. We come up, lack of oxygen. My forehead rested against hers as we pant slightly. Subtly, I kiss her forehead making her smile giddily, she always has loved that. Clove is mine and I am hers. Anything else is unthinkable.

Clove

I step out from the un-suite in my red/pink chiffon dress lined with silk, the same elegant colour, underneath. My shoes are plain white converses that match the bow in my softly curled hair, half of it up and twisted around. Gently, I run my hand down the side of the dress, straightening any remaining creases the take a quick glance in the mirror to check my light makeup. Eh, I don't look to ugly.

"There's my beautiful Clovers", says Cato pulling me into a hug.

"I'm not beautiful", I argue back crossing my arms.

"Your so much more and every morning, the first thing I want to see is you and your radiant beautiful-ness", he compliments hugging me again. My nose is filled with his scent; which I think is something to do with a forest. "Everyone is waiting downstairs, we better get going!".

Cato's hand finds mine as we walk to Carla's and I don't dare let go. Brianna refuses to walk, instead Xander gives her a piggyback whilst he and Kayla sometimes touch hands.

"This is killing me!", I say gesturing to Xander and Kayla's awkwardness, "They are so shy". Silently, I nudge Kayla closer to Xander as Cato does the same to Xander until finally their hands link together.

"Thanks", Kayla whispers almost silently to me as I walk back a bit to give them there space.