Yours [Prim/Cato]

Chapter 15 - The Interview #4

No one guessed who was in the greenhouse correctly, but I predicted that so.. happy reading!

Cato's POV:

So Rose and I are on the roof, currently in a disagreement. This is not how I'd imagined the night would go. I'd spent the day hoping she got my note and imagining talking to her, holding her, kissing her... Instead, I'd let her in, and now here we are. She just won't stop asking so many questions, and I don't get why she can never accept what I say to her. I'd already opened up so much tonight. I'm trying not to admit that I would sacrifice myself for her, mostly because it was something I'd only realized today and I still can't seem to understand it yet, but here she is, not letting up. I'm just going to have to tell her because I don't want to upset her. I don't get why she wants me to open up like this.

"I don't want to win," I finally tell her, turning so that I wouldn't have to look her directly in the eye. I could see her expression from the corner of my eye, and it was too fucking cute.

"Why?" she asks me after a beat.

"Because," I sigh, combing through my hair with my hand, "that means that you will die. And.." Fuck, how do I come out and say this? My heart is hammering out of my chest. How can I admit this to her when I don't even know why myself? I've known her for all of a week.

"I don't want that to happen." There, I finally said it. It's out there. I feel like I'm whipped already.

Rose's face breaks out into the most beautiful smile I have ever seen, her eyes gleaming bright. Her cheeks flush red, my favorite sight these days, and she looks completely perplexed and, surprisingly, happy.

"But.. why?" she asks. I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

But the look in her eyes.. I give in. "I've never been one to oppose the Hunger Games, but then I met you and now none of it makes sense. You don't deserve to be here, and the fact that you are, all because of a wayward rebellion... It's like they're punishing you for something you had no control over. You should not have to die because of a mistake one District made 74 years ago," I explain, hoping that she would understand. I just want to kiss her again.

"Really?" Another fucking question.

I nod. "You said before that you think about me all the time, and it's the same for me. I should be focused on the Games, but instead, all I can think about is you. You're kind, sweet, and caring, even though I don't deserve it, and you see me in a way that no one else ever has. You've got this hold on me, and I wish that I could have you to myself forever, but I can't. And that hurts. I want to punish the Capitol, and I've never felt that way before now. Though there isn't much I can do, I'm going to take care of it, and you."

I pull her closer, glad that she knows how I feel, glad that I'd gotten it off of my chest. It had been on my mind since I left her last night, and I was freaking out about how I would tell her if I ever chose to.

"What do you mean, you're going to take care of it? What are you gonna do?" she asks worriedly.

"Nothing. Just know that I'm taking care of it," I answer. I'd been working on a plan to get her out, but ideally, hopefully, to get us out. I didn't know yet what getting us out means, but I'd rather avoid that for now. If it came down to one of us getting out, Rose getting out of the Hunger Games would be worth so much more for her than it would be for me. She would be winning a better life for her family, whereas I would just be fulfilling my dad's dream.

"Are you going to get hurt if you do whatever this is?" Rose, please don't worry. I don't want her to worry, not anymore, not ever. From what she told me yesterday, she's had so much to worry about in life already.