018, nest of growth

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Chapter Eighteen, Nest Of Growth

❝ there's holy ground beneath them, ❞

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❝ there's holy ground beneath them, ❞

❝ and sparks fly when they kiss ❞

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I HAVE BEEN UP FOR AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR, waiting for the sleeping boy next to me to finally exit his somber. I pick at my nails, braid my hair, jump around the cave to try and cure my boredom, in vain. 

I reach into my bag, drinking a little of the water, relieving my constant and consuming thirst. I also insert a few bits of meat into my mouth, slowly chewing onto them, hoping for the taste to stay sitting on my tongue for a while.

I didn't want to leave the narrow space, dreading the sentiment of solitude I had faced too many times recently. Plus, I was supposed to be in love with Cato, leaving him would be a form of self sabotage, denying my supposed need to be close to him, to satisfy the watchers' emotions.

Instead, an idea forms in my mind and a mischievous smile accompanies my features. I suddenly leap onto the boy, violently extorting him out of his unconscious state. His frightened face and wide eyes is enough to send me into a fit of girlish giggles.

"God, I don't know why I didn't think of that earlier!" I say, clasping a hand over my mouth, trying to appease my continuous laughter.

"Very funny, Everdeen." Cato groans, loudly yawning. I roll my eyes at his response, wondering if he already forgot our winning strategy. My thoughts are directly answered by his arm swiftly snaking around my waist. 

I try to ignore the tingles that travel in my bones, reminding myself this was just for show. Instead, I lean closer to him, playing with his fingers. I could tell by the quivering of his bottom lip that I was managing to make him nervous under my touch, which definitely amused me.

The whole act was also definitely triggering some feelings to dance around my heart, but I force myself to push them down every time.

The boy from 2 smiles, before whispering "Remember we're madly in love, so it's alright to kiss me anytime you feel like it." 

I try not to let the shock at his unexpected bluntness appear on my expression, coking my head to the side and smirking instead.

"I'll kiss if I want to," I reply, playfully glaring at the blond. "Which might be in a very long time."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Cato and I had decided to leave the dark cave for a bit, determined to try and end the games as soon as possible.

"You have no idea at all where Clove is?" I ask, raising my eyebrows curiously at the boy. Perhaps he still felt the need to protect his district partner.

✓ Raw and Wild / Cato HadleyWhere stories live. Discover now