Clato: Cuts Beneath the Surface

Chapter 6

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The next morning I spend a full hour scrubbing myself clean in the shower. By the time I get out, Favian has left and I am finally, gloriously alone. I feel sick as I walk into the kitchen and forgo breakfast altogether. Stealing my heart, I head to the academy to face both Cato and Favian. Oh God, what have I gotten myself into?

When I get there, Cato is already running through the ropes course. Practice hasn't officially started yet so Favian doesn't yell at me. At least not from the start. I hold the ropes for Cato as he climbs, shifting his muscular body up the ladder bit by bit. He's not the best climber and far too heavy for most trees to support him. At least I know where to hide if he ever decides to kill me.

When Cato gets down, blonde hair slicked back with sweat, he grabs the rope and tosses me a harness. I sinch it around my waist and wait as Cato untangles the ropes. He comes towards me, head towering above mine, and moves to clip the harness in. I jerk back reflexively. Cato narrows his eyebrows. "I can do it myself," I snap, careful not to touch his hand as I attach myself to the ropes.

We spend all morning on climbing, which is fine with me. There's only one other incident where Cato tries to catch me and I promptly throw myself out of his arms. "I'm not mad about the Ralae thing, okay Clover?" he says. 

"Oh, well that's good." I am taken completely by surprise. Cato just seems like the type to hold a grudge.

Then he lowers his voice to a whisper, "You know I'd never hurt you, Clove."

"Until the arena," I joke but even still it is nice to know. I've never had someone promise this before. I wonder how long it will take for him to break it. If there's one thing I've learned in district 2, it's that people always break their promises.

That night we resume extra training together as if nothing has happened. Which is good. I don't like to be pitied. This time I show Cato how to throw knives. I start with a demonstration including some tumbling just for show. Even though Cato says nothing I can tell he's impressed. Unfortunately, learning to revere me is all the progress Cato makes. His hands are just too big and meaty to hold a knife comfortably.  

I'm not exactly proud to admit that I bust out laughing when he misses three targets in a row and falls on his butt trying to spin and aim simultaneously. He just looks at me and says, "You sound like a dying chicken when you laugh." Which quiets both of us because I stop laughing and he gets punched. When we clear out for the night I stall a bit, trying to avoid going home. If Cato notices he doesn't say a thing. At around midnight we both head out of the academy. He turns right, I turn left. This time I'm sure he calls out ,"Night Clover!" because I yell back,"Don't call me Clover!" He just grins.

I have to admit, I am smiling too.

Things go on that way for a while. And it isn't bad, not really. Cato gets annoying sometimes and I threaten to knife him. Ralae has a conniption when she finds out about our after hours training and nearly tells Favian. Then Cato makes out with her and they are a "happy couple" again. What can I say, people in love are downright stupid.

I slowly get better at sword fighting, but Cato is still eons ahead of me. Me being me, I'm not exactly the best teacher and Cato quickly quits practicing knives. Instead, we spar when I get tired of being stabbed with a plastic sword.

Favian remains Favian and I stay silent.

Then one day, things change. I was eating dinner in the academy dining hall alone as usual when Cato set his tray down next to me. He's changed out of his practice clothes for the day and is wearing a blue shirt and simple black pants. Still, one can't help noticing how attractive he is.

Did I just think that?

Cato slides into the seat next to me and whispers spread across the room. "You know you could always come sit with me instead of eating by myself."

"I like it by myself." I shoot back. Still, it's pretty obvious I have no friends whatsoever.

"Guess you'll just have to get used to my imposition," he says and reaches over to steal one of my fries. I slap his hand away and he makes a sad excuse for a puppy dog face. I can't help from laughing out loud. Which buys me another grin from Cato and more whispers from the popular table.

"What about Ralae?" I ask.

"What about her?"

"Won't she mind you sitting with me?"

"Nah, it's cool, she knows we're friends."

"Humph," I say. Inside I think, we're friends? And I guess we are. It is a new experience for me, having a friend.

"Don't deny our BFF-ness now Cloverly," he grins again and I try hard not to laugh.

"I can already tell this is going to be the worst part of my day."

"Admit it, I've grown on you Clover." He brushes back his blond hair and reaches for my tray again.

"Don't call me Clover." I pout. He smiles and steals another one of my fries.