star crossed lovers ➸ cato hadley

xi. midnight talks

TEN...NINE...EIGHT...THE FAMILIAR COUNTDOWN BEGAN. Natalie was scared. It was the only time her nerves truly got the best of her. She couldn't see her brother due to the blinding light.

Before she knew it, she stepped off the platform and she blew up within a millisecond.

That was four hours ago.

Natalie tried to sleep but she could only vision the games. The summer heat beating down on her, the unfamiliar setting, the uncertainty whether her brother was going to live. These were all things that kept Natalie awake.

She couldn't imagine what it was going to be like trapped with twenty-three killers — give or take a few. They were all probably resting, sleeping like it was their last night. For some, it was.

Was Natalie kidding herself? Could you protect Peeta? She had no clue.

Everything Natalie did — angering both the tributes and the gamemakers, trying to get as much sponsors — was all for Peeta. It was a known fact she was going to die. She had accepted it. But the fear that lingered...she couldn't accept.

It could be for nothing. Peeta could die within the first twenty-four hours and she would only blame herself. That there was always something she could do.

Tiptoeing around the penthouse during the day was hard, but it was near impossible at four am.

Natalie could hear her heart beating, alongside the floorboards creaking. Just when she thought she was in the clear, she crashed into the dining table.

"Shit" she mumbled under her breath. However, silence wasn't her only companion. Haymitch Abnethay was sitting on the armchair, with a glass of whiskey in his hand.

The tribute debated whether to go back to her room or not, but decided against it. She sat down on the opposite armchair, turning her attention to the mute tv screen.

The 50th Hunger Games, also known as the 2nd Quarter Quell, was playing. Twice the amount of tributes, only one winner. Natalie didn't need to watch the games to know what happened.

Her mentor had won and his noble victory was rewarded with the death of his family. He manipulated his way to victory; he had used the forcefield as a weapon.

There was only a few Hunger Games that Natalie remembered. This was certainly one of them, along with the time Finnick Odair won.

The fourteen year old had captured the nine year olds heart. Like many other children in her district, Natalie had a crush on the District 4 victor.

"Can't sleep?"

Pulling her back to reality, Haymitch stared at the seventeen year old. The female shook her head and tore her attention away from the screen. "you'll probably lecture me in a minute, right?"

Haymitch let out a sigh before shaking his head. He placed his drink of the coffee table. "It's a miracle to be able to sleep tonight"

The words has shocked Natalie. She had honestly thought she was a walking disaster. Crossing her legs, she picked the glass of unfinished whiskey and took a small sip.

Afterall she would need it for the next moments.

"I'm going to make Cato fall in love with me..." Natalie started before telling her mentor her plan. From start to finish.

XXX

sorry it's so short but this was a filler chapter. hopefully the next one will be up soon.