Just Tell Me You Love Me Already

Chapter 13: Waking Up

Cato's POV

The nightmares were horrible visions of death, pain, loss and sadness. I wake up shivering with my back to the Cornucopia. I have many Tracker Jacker stings; one is right under my left eye so I can barely see out of it. Looking around, I see Marvel and the boy from 3 sleeping fitfully on the ground. I don't see Clove anywhere.

I know for a fact that Glimmer and Sierra are dead; I saw their dead ruined bodies as I ran back to the clearing.

Flash back

"To the Lake! To the Lake!" Clove screams.

We all struggle to run to the lake, the angry wasps hot on our tail. Glimmer screams for help, obviously none of us turn back. I also hear Sierra's screams, she's crying out for someone I don't know, both the girls are behind us until one moment they aren't.

I run right behind Clove, with Marvel next to me and Peeta behind. The Tracker Jacker stings burn and I feel like we'll never make it out alive. Finally we make it to the lake; the four of us jump in. We have brought the wasps to our camp; do I care at the moment? No. A moment after we jump into the lake, 3 joins us, he already has some swelling begin to develop. Oops.

After the wasps have flown away, I climb out, running after Peeta. "I will kill her. I will kill her." I say repeatedly to myself.

I slash my way through a bush that is standing in my way. Peeta has a lowered spear and Katniss is scrambling away, holding the silver bow that was once Glimmer's. "Run!" Peeta screams.

Katniss is gone before I can catch her. "What the hell?!" I yell at Peeta. "You said you were on our side! You said you hated her!" I should have guessed; the way he looked at Katniss every time he saw her, it was the same way I look at Clove.

I never wanted him in the Alliance; it was Clove who voted him in. I now wonder if she knew his plan all along, they were in the woods together that one time. No, Clove wouldn't do that. I tell myself, she's on my side not some traitor from 12's.

Peeta looks nervous, but he holds his spear tightly. It is the same spear that Clove used during the bloodbath. I remember watching as Clove bandaged his wounds afterwards. I know right then I felt a spark of jealousy. It has been growing ever sinceClove went into the forest with Love Boy alone.... Clove cooking with Lover Boy, Clove getting helped by 3 with her jacket, Clove helping 3 up when I pushed him over. I haven't mentioned any of this to Clove, she hasn't really given me a chance anyway, she always seems to be with someone, and when she's not, she says she wants to be alone.

I love Clove; I remember telling her that, at the time I had been so relieved that she had forgiven me that I hadn't noticed she didn't say it back.

What if Clove didn't actually love me? What if she is just playing me? I've seen the way that 3 looks at her, it's the same way I do. Clove doesn't even realize that 3 is pining over her, but the rest of us do. I would kill 3, but it would upset Clove, she wouldn't want to break her end of the deal.

Out of my jealous rage more than my rage at Peeta betraying us, I lunge at Peeta, giving out a yell. I bring my sword down, to split open his head, but to my surprise, Peeta blocks my attempt with the spear. I keep aiming strikes at him, but every time he blocks. It's really starting to get on my nerves.

Finally I kick out his feet from under him, bringing my sword down to kill Peeta. Get rid of one of the many problems in my life. But Peeta moves, though, not fast enough. I slash him across the thigh, Peeta cries out in pain. I can tell that I made a deep cut, probably to the bone. Peeta throws his spear at me, I duck, and this gives Peeta a chance to drag himself away from me. I could chase him, but I made a deep cut, he'll be dead soon enough.

I stagger back to the camp; the venom is finally beginning to start giving me visions. Just as I get back to the camp and make my way to the Cornucopia, I see Marvel climbing from the lake before I completely black out.

Where is Clove? I'm worried, I've been asleep for, who knows how long and Clove is nowhere to be seen. If I slept through the Tribute-death-thing I wouldn't be able to know if she was dead. Clove is so small; with fewer stings that Glimmer received she could probably die from the venom. It is almost nine, I checked my watch. It's from the Cornucopia, a fancy one from the Capitol. I'm not sure if anyone besides Clove and I grabbed one, but we did. Clove was the one who forced me to wear it, but I'm glad she did since it's incredibly useful.

I'm really worried about her, I mean where is she? Then I see a dragged trail of dirt from the lake to the forest, maybe she ran into there before the hallucinations started. I run into the forest, hollering Clove's name at the top of my lungs. The only weapon I have is my sword, nothing else, "CLOVE!"

Clove turns around, seeing me she smiles. Clove's arms are swollen along with every other part of her body.

"Why are you out here?!" I demand.

"I just woke up out here, in the middle of nowhere. I faintly remember running here before I fainted from the venom."

"Oh," I don't know what else to say.

"Oh," she repeats, still smiling, she's mimicking my voice. "We should get back to camp."

I put out my hand; Clove raises her eyebrows at me. "What?" I ask her. "There'd no one else around right now."

Clove takes my hand, in an instant we're kissing. I've missed Clove's kisses, the softness of her lips, and the feel of her body so close to mine.

I'm sure the Capitol citizens are not expecting this. Clove's heartbeat is sped up, I'm sure mine is too. After a while we pull away from each other with difficulty, "Well that was... unexpected."

I smirk, "And enjoyable."

"And enjoyable," Clove agrees. "Now we actually have to get back before the others start to get suspicious."

Does she know? "Um, there's only Marvel and 3 left." I say.

Clove raises her eyebrows, "Sierra's dead?"

"Yeah, so is Glimmer."

Clove smirks, "I already know about Glimmer, but I didn't realize Sierra was dead. I guess that just means two less people towards home."

I shrug, "I guess."

"Well..." Clove says.

"Let's go," I say, though I'd be willing to stay here for years more with Clove.