𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙁𝙄𝙁𝙏𝙀𝙀𝙉
—𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦—

     "𝙒𝙀 𝙉𝙀𝙀𝘿 𝙏𝙊 talk," Cato repeats himself, his grip more harsh this time as he grabs my arm. "Please. Just let me explain."

"What is it with everyone here?" I ask, pulling away from his touch. "You think you can just butter me up, only to leave me! What the hell is up with that?"

"It's not what you think," Cato tries to assure me, his blue eyes boring into mine. "I didn't-"

"What?" I ask, not caring about the attention on us. "You didn't intend to play me like you did? You didn't intend to trick me into falling for you? You didn't intend to completely betray me, and have the plan to kill me in the arena?"

He's speechless, his blue tux matching his exhausted eyes. It's then that I finally notice the dark bags under his eyes, from a lack of sleep.

"You made yourself clear," I murmer, moving back to River's side. "Who would want a broken girl, anyway?"

___♕___

I stand in line, in front of Aspen outside the doors of the stage. So far, only Glimmer and Marvel have finished their interviews, and done extremely well with wooing the crowd. And currently, Clove exits the stage and Caesar applauds.

A director steps forward to retrieve Cato, leading him towards the doors. Cato stops to look at me for a moment, regret hidden in his eyes, before he turns away and allows the director to help him on stage.

"And next, we have Cato Hadley!" Caesar cheers, laughing as the Capitol citizens go crazy.

Cato grins boyishly at them, marching over to sit next to Caesar.

"So, Cato, tell us about your training." Caesar says with a grin. "Any talents you'd like to expose?"

"I have a lot," Cato says cockily, leaning back into the chair. "And I think I've made an impression on the other tributes."

"Oh, is that so?" Caesar chuckles. "Any weapon in particular?"

"I'm good with a sword," Cato responds with a shrug.

"And what about the tributes?" Caesar presses. "Any competition?"

"None that I've saw," He smirks. I snort, rolling my eyes as Aspen nudges me with a small laugh.

"I see," Caesar nods, before changing the topic. "Now what about your love life, huh? Are there any girls you have your eye on recently?"

Cato hesitates for a moment, making my heart stop. Then he shakes his head, a distant expression falling onto his face.

"I don't believe it for a second! Look at that face. Tell us about her."

"She's perfect," Cato says with a genuine smile, making the crowd go wild. "And beautiful, and smart, and I'm completely in love with her."

I frown.

He's probably talking about Glimmer.

"You seem to be," Caesar pats his back. "Now, may we know who she is? Is it a girl back at District two?"

Cato seems to pause, looking from Caesar to the camera as he shakes his head. I almost feel as though he's staring into my soul as his smile doesn't seem to fade.

"No, no," Cato clears his throat. "She's not from District two. She's here, actually. A tribute."

Yep, definitely Glimmer.

"It's it Clove?" Caesar arches a brow, only earning the slight shake of Cato's head. "Then who is she?"

My heart pounds, sounding through my eardrums. My hands begin to shake as I lean on the wall next to me for support.

Glimmer.

"Casey," Cato says clearly. "From District seven."

Eyes are on me, heads turning to my direction. I let out a strangled cry, falling back into Aspen's chest as I cover my mouth.

Why couldn't it have been Glimmer? Everything would've been fine.

"Casey?" Aspen whispers from behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders. "You okay?"

"Get me out of here," My voice cracks, and I fan my face as tears threaten to spill. "Please. Get me to River."

Aspen doesn't question me, as he helps me out into the hall, grabbing River from the line of tributes. One of the directors nod at us, surprisingly okay with us leaving for the moment. In the background, I hear Caesar and Cato's conversation still going on. As my eyes meet River's, I pull him into an embrace.

"He tricked me," I say into his shoulder. I'm careful not to get any makeup on him, as he still has his interview. "We met on the roof every once in a while, and I fell for him, River. Even after Johanna warned me. He was only playing me. He planned to kill me in the arena, while my back was turned."

"That's what Aspen was talking about when he mentioned secrets," I pull away, staring up at him. "Please don't be mad. You're all I have right now, and I can't lose you, too."

"I'm not mad," He assures me, a weak smile playing on his lips. "Just disappointed that out of everyone, you'd choose an idiot like him."

Aspen snorts from beside us, earning a disapproving glare from River. "Come on, he can play any game he wants, Case. He's just trying for sponsors."

"But how am I supposed to react?" I ask, my hands beginning to shake again. "What if Caesar asks about it?"

"Then you brush it off," He replies steadily, rubbing the pad of his thumb across my cheek. "Play it off like it's nothing. You'll have to take more into consideration before your interview, okay? No matter what is thrown at you while you're backstage, you have to play it off for Caesar."

"What do you mean?" I question. "What else could there be?"

"Just do it, okay?" He steps away, placing a kiss on my forehead. "I have to go. It's almost time for my interview."

I watch as he walks away, before exiting the hallway, and going backstage. Aspen sighs, before placing his hand on the small of my back, and urging me back in line.

Cato stands to the side of the line, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his blue suit. He looks gorgeous, I must say- with his swiftly combed blonde hair, and his eyes as sparkly as always. But I don't pay that much attention to him, as the girl from District four steps onstage.

"Hey- Casey!" Cato spots me, walking over to Aspen and I. "Do you think we can talk?"

"She's been over this with you many times." Aspen states, pushing me behind him. "She doesn't want to look in your general direction, let alone talk with you after what you did."

"What you did wasn't much better," Cato acknowledges, his eyes not leaving me. "I owe her an apology, and I'd like to do it in private. So that I can explain."

"I don't want your apologies," I say stiffly, stepping back in line with Aspen in tow. "Or an explanation. Go away."

"Did any of that matter to you?" Cato asks, his anger flaring slightly- it was apparent in his tone. "What I said on stage? Did you not care?"

"I cared before, just like you told me you did," I bite my lip, holding back the urge to cry. "It's evident now that we both don't care anymore. You lied to that audience just like you did to me."

"That wasn't a lie, Case," He moves closer, a look of pain flashing across his face as I take a step back. "I meant every word I said."

I turn my head as River is announced onto the stage. Caesar and the crowd cheer for him as he sits, only for the first question to be asked.

"My, my. We seem to have some tributes this year, don't we?" Caesar asks. "Tell me, what do you think of them?"

"There are a lot of problems between them, I can tell you that," River replies with the hint of a laugh. "Some more than others."

"And were you aware of some of the feelings they have towards each other?"

"Apparently not, as I thought I was the only one," He says, biting his lip. I furrow my eyebrows, feeling Cato stiffen beside me.

"What do you mean?" Caesar asks, inching closer as a few people in the crowd gasp.

"Cato's not the only one in love here," River states mildly, a smile playing on his lips.

"Ah, so we have another set of lovers in our midst," Caesar says. "Do tell, who is the lovely lady who's stolen your heart?"

Since when did River fall in love?

"Cato's not the only one who's fallen for Casey."

"DAMN IT!" Cato yells, his fist connecting with the wall. I jump, before letting out a steady breath.

There's a hitch in my throat, and I can't seem to breathe any longer. I began to gasp, turning around to Aspen.

"H-he's kidding, right?" I ask, grabbing onto Aspen's bicep. "He has to be- he's lying."

Cato runs his fingers through his hair as the director watches warrily. The other tributes whisper between themselves, watching as I have a mental breakdown.

"No, no, no," I whisper. "I can't, Aspen. I can't."

And that's when River decides to step backstage, signaling the end of his interview.

_______