Chapter 2
Clove's POV
It's quiet on the train, except for Daphne's annoying voice.
"Dinner is in one hour. You two go freshen up and prepare for dinner."
Trying to avoid Cato's eyes, I quickly make my way to my room.
I'm about to open the door to my room when Cato says my name "Clove. I-" he starts to say.
I know he's not good with words so I save him the trouble of trying to explain himself. "I know. It's fi--" I start to say, but then I realize that it's not fine. It will never be fine.
"Clove, I'm so sorry." he whispers.
I just nod and stare at the ground. I go into my room and plop down on the bed. I want to cry, but nothing comes out. Instead I do as Daphne said and take a shower. The shower is different then the one back home. It has so many different buttons. It takes me about five minutes to figure out how to turn on the warm water without burning my toes.When I get out of the shower I put on a pair of black skinny jeans and a loose, dark blue tank top. It's almost time for dinner, so I just put my hair into a messy bun.
As if on cue, Daphne knocks on my door and says, "Dinner is in ten minutes."
When I get to the dinning room Daphne, Brutus, and Enobaria are already sitting a the table. Cato isn't there yet, I'm guessing he's still in his room. Brutus and Enobaria are our mentors. Brutus being my uncle makes this whole situation even more awkward.
I take a seat next to Daphne. I don't want to speak, but I really want him here with me, so I ask "Where's Cato?"
"He said he was going to eat in his room." Daphne replies. Great. So I'm stuck with an annoying capitol lady, my uncle slash mentor, and an angry looking chick that I've never met before. Thanks, Cato.
Cato's POV
I know it probably seems like I'm weak or that I'm a wimp for not going to eat dinner with everyone else, but Clove is my weak spot. I'm not a softie or a wishy-washy kind of guy, but when it comes to Clove everything is different. No one else can make me feel the way she does. When I'm around her I feel warm inside. She makes me feel like a better person, even though I could never be a good person. I've been training to kill since I was able walk. I couldn't face Clove at dinner because I knew she would bring out the soft part of me and I can't afford to be weak right now. I need to be strong. For Cameron. For Caleb. For District 2. Especially, for Clove.
I lay on my new bed wishing for sleep that never comes. It's hard to believe that just a few hours ago I was kissing Clove on the sidewalk in District 2. I wonder what it's like without me. Normally before dinner, Caleb and I have contest on who can throw spears the farthest: Seven out of ten times I usually win. Then after dinner, I help Cameron with her homework and occasionally tell her a few stories about our mom. I wonder what they're doing without me. Gosh, Cato, stop thinking about them and start thinking about how you are going to keep Clove safe. I think to myself. How am I supposed to win and keep Clove safe at the same time? I guess there's only one answer to that. I don't win.
Clove's POV
When I get back to my room I take of my clothes off and slip into a slik night gown. There's no use in trying to go to sleep, so I try to think about District 2. My mom and dad probably couldn't care less that their only daughter is about to risk her life in the Hunger Games. They have never paid attention to me. If it wasn't for Uncle Brutus then I probably wouldn't know how to throw knives or use weapons.
I give up on thinking about District 2 and decide to go watch tv. There's not much to watch, so I just settle on Capitol's Got Talent. It's just an other stupid reality show for the capitol, except know one dies. It makes me wonder why they have to have the Hunger Games. Why do people have to die? Why do they have to ruin families and friendships? Why do we have to suffer? Why us?
A few minutes later Cato comes and sits on the couch next to me.
"Can't sleep?" he asks.
I just shake my head.
"Me either."
I really don't want to talk to him. I might say something stupid like ask him why he volunteered, even though I already know the answer.
"Clove." I hate it when people say my name like that. Like they feel sorry for me. People say my name like that when they find out my dad is a drunk and my mom is having an affair with the mayor. People say my name like that when they realize I practically raise myself. People say my name like that when they find out the reason I have bags under my eyes sometimes: When my mom is actually home, my parents fight day and night. Cato has never said my name like that. Cato is the only person that actually understands. Well at least he was.
"Don't." I snap at him. "Don't say my name like that. Don't feel sorry for me. Just don't." I get up and run to my room before he can say anything else.
Cato's POV
I know she hates it when people feel sorry for her. Lying and saying I don't care about her would probably be worse. Then I really would be a horrible person. If it weren't for Clove I would be heartless. My my mom left when I was ten and my dad never acts like he loves me, so why should I be a happy kid? If I never met Clove I wouldn't feel anything right now. I wouldn't feel the pain it causes me to know that she's hurting. I wouldn't feel the anger I have against the Capitol for doing this to us. I wouldn't feel the love I have for Clove.
I go back to my room and try to go to sleep. A few hours later I wake up to Daphne's annoying voice.
I get up and go take a shower, get dressed, and go to the dining room for breakfast. Enobaria and Daphne are the only people there. I'm amazed by how much food is on the table: bacon, eggs, muffins, pancakes, sausage, waffles, juice, fruit, and some things I've never even seen before. In District 2 we always have enough to eat, but never this much. I'm not very hungry, so I just take a waffle and a few piecess of bacon.
"So how did you sleep?" Daphne asks. I know she's just trying to be polite, but I really don't feel like talking to this lady.
"Fine," I answer.
"We should be at the Capitol in about an hour."
"Uh-huh," I say taking a bite of my waffle. Where is Clove?
Clove's Pov
I'm on my way to the dining room when I see Uncle Brutus.
"Uncle Brutus?"
"Yeah, Clove?"
I don't really know why I stoppped him in the first place, so I just ask,"What's going to happen when we get to the Capitol?"
"Your stylists will get you ready for the opening cerimony."
"Oh."
"Cato. He looks familiar. Have I met him before?"
"I don't think so, but....um.." How exactly do you tell your uncle that he killed someone's aunt in the Hunger Games? If there is a right way, I don't think I found it. "Um......I think you've met his aunt......Klara Newsome?"
His happy expression fades away. "Oh. That's it." Then he walks down the hall. Well, that went well. I think to myself.
When I get to the dining room Cato, Daphne, and Enobaria are already sitting at the table. I take a seat across from Cato and try to avoid his eyes. That's all I've been doing every time I see him: I try to avoid his eyes because if I don't then I'll do something stupid like blurt out everything that's on my mind about him.
"How did you sleep?" Daphne says, interrupting my thoughts.
"Fine." I reply.
"Good. I was just telling Cato that we should be at the Capitol in about an hour."
"Okay." I really don't feel like talking to her, or to anyone else for that matter.
"When we get there you two will be put into your stylist's hands for the opening cerimony."
"Okay." Can she just stop talking now?
"So, have you two met before?" she asks. I pause with my fork in midair. I wasn't expecting that.
Cato drops his fork onto his plate making a loud noise. "Excuse me," He mutters and leaves the room.
Once again I'm left with an annoying, Capitol lady and an angry looking chick that I've never met before. Thanks, Cato, you're the best.