Fault

Cato lead me out going down the long hallway to the elevator.

I was so enraged along with being so wrapped up in my thoughts t even noticed I walked infront of Cato slamming the elevator button.

We'll see where time takes us...

What does that even mean? The only time I'll see this kid is maybe at tour and mentoring.

If I even decide to give him the time of day. Which I'm not.

The elevator dings letting us off at our floor, I waste no time getting off.

I rip the elastic from my hair, I'm got going to forgive him or anything like that..ever.

I kick off my shoes as soon as we get into the door.

" You ok?" Cato asks.

I turn around, " What do you think?"

" I'm guessing no?"

I roll my eyes brushing through my hair, I reach around myself trying to get the zipper of my dress, but failing miserably.

" Need help?" Cato asks amused with me thrashing around like a idiot.

" NO!" I yell annoyed.

I try reaching it before a muscle pulls, making me wince.

He rolls his eyes, " Turn around."

" I can get it."

He goes behind me, his hand brushes against my back making me go still. He undoes the zipper really slow, was it intentional?

He reaches for my hand putting it on the zipper.

" I'm going to bed." He says walking out of the room unbuttoning his shirt as he walks.

It takes me a second, I shudder from his touch. Get yourself together Kay.

The first thing I'm doing when I get home is drinking and getting this..tension out of my system.

I go into my room shutting and locking the door. I slip off the dress going in to shower. I scrub, especially where he touched my back, why did he do it so slow? Was it intentional?

Why am I thinking into it so much?

I roll my eyes finishing up, grabbing a crop and sweats throwing it on. As soon as my head hit the pillow I was asleep.

I sleep good for a couple hours before waking up again. I wake up just not tired, I toss and turn thinking about what River said, the interview and the games.

It makes me feel sick. All of it, and he just brushed it off.

I roll over looking at the clock, 2:47 AM.

I sigh throwing the blankets off of me, I decide to take a walk.

Minus well, no one else is here, by now they'd be back at their districts. I need new scenery to look at, and to distract myself for awhile.

I walk slowly to the door opening it, before sneaking down the halls to the door. I close the door walking to the elevators.

The doors open, which floor do I want to go to? I see " 13-balcony"

I decide to hit that one, I didn't know there was a balcony, minus well see what it is. The door closes, springing the elevator to life.

The doors open, I look around shocked. This was here the whole time?

I wish I knew about this, I would've spent a lot of my time up here.

There were multicolored bulb lights everywhere, there were a couple seats along with a fire place on one side, on the other side a pool.

A pool with.. River in.

He was looking at me, " Hi."

I give the balcony one more look before going back to the elevator.

" No, wait!" He says jumping out of the pool grabbing my arm.

I look at his hand on my forearm before looking back at him with a glare.

" Please let me talk." He pleads.

" I'd let go."

He let go instantly, " Sorry."

" You have a minute."

" I just want to say sorry-"

I narrow my eyes at him " -For what exactly? You seemed to know exactly what you were doing."

" Why would I pick him over my own life? I didn't know or like him."

I scoff walking away. " Whatever."

' Kaylaya..." he says a little more stern.

I spin back around. " What?"

" You can't tell me you'd do the same, what if it was Lilli or Prim? What if Aspen was the boy to win, you'd do the same."

I would. No doubt I would.

I shake my head taking a step back. " It's not even all what happened in the games River.. it's what you said tonight. What you just dropped."

He pauses before he scrapes up a half smile " I didn't mean it like that, I meant like maybe we can become friends."

" No River, We were talking about relationships. You meant it in a relationship way."

His face flushes. Exactly proving my point.

" I'd never be with someone who killed my best friend."

" I wouldn't had to kill him if you would've stayed with the group!"

I throw my hands up, " We-I-did it so we wouldn't have to kill eachother! I wasn't killing my allies. I didn't want to kill you guys, I was doing you a favor, all of you."

I start to walk away, but he catches up blocking my way from the elevator.

"River.." I warn.

" Kaylaya.." he snaps back.

I sigh, " Please Move."

" I'm not done talking."

I shake my head,  " Well I am, now move."

I try to move around him but he still blocks the way. " Let me talk!" He yells stepping forward.

" Back up."

He throws up his hands in frustration" Just let me apologize Kaylaya. I want to move past this.. so we can be friends.. One day more."

He studies my face looking for a reaction.

He does know I don't like him right? I never liked him, I used him.

I look at him, I mean really look. He's not bad looking but he's not.. The kind of guy I like.

Maybe if he didn't kill Aspen we could've been friends but, he did. You can't take someone's blood off your sword.

He was still waiting, I look at my hands before looking back up at him. " River.. What we had.. it wasn't real. None of it, It was just another tactic. I'm sorry I lead you on like that but.. We're never going to be more then friends."

His face falls into a scowl. "I brought you in so you'd be ALIVE! Do you know how much I needed to talk to everyone about that. I let Aspen in after what he did to you! And this is how your repaying me?"

" You were always opposed to letting him in, majority ruled."

" I agreed because you wanted him in. I did it for you."

I shrug, " And I'm glad you did."

" I wish I didn't he took you away from me."

There was noting there! What doesn't he understand?

" Your delusional." I mutter.

I walk around him, this is to much for one night. Who does he think he is?

This time he steps aside, " You killed all of them you know that? The people who brought you in you killed."

I stop in my tracks. " The only one I physically killed was lilli. What a loss."

He laughs, " You killed the mutt after it got after Colin's leg. You were in a rush to leave him. You left us, you had the bright mutt plan that brought us all together, and you killed Aspen."

I take a step forward, " I didn't do shit."

He laughs, " You could've saved him... I was right there, what held you back? Right.. That ego of yours thinking you won. I didn't kill him...you did. They weren't coming nor did they announce it. I thought you knew better then that.. But it's fine I finally got you.."

He cuts me off trying to kiss me, he did slightly but I pulled away. Punching him in the face.

He grabs his nose still laughing, " You know if you would've just took a few seconds to look around you could've saw me walking towards you. You could've easily killed me Love."

I think for a second, a dropping realization. How didn't I hear him?

River smirks, " Now it's sinking in... Your not a hero Musak, never were. Just a cocky girl who was thought she could just walk in and win look what happened."

" Next time you say anything about Aspen, Odair I'll kill you." I grit.

I walk to the elevator, trying my best to keep a stone cold face, trying not to break down right then and there.

It was my fault... If I didn't make that plan the game makers would've left us alone. Things would've been so much different.

Tears slip from my eyes, no I'm not crying he just wants to get in your head, you didn't forgive him that's why.

The door dings as I get to 2, I walk down the hallway. I take a couple deep breaths before opening the door.

When I walk in the TV was on and there Cato sat looking at me with his stupid cocky smirk.

" Well, I think it's past your bedtime don't you think?" He questions.

I look at him, " I'm not dealing with you right now."

He chuckles, " You know... I don't think I ever congratulated you on your victory, you know I guess I underestimated you.."

" Not right now Cato." I grit tears making my eyes blurry.

" I can only imagine what our fathers thought proud I imagine, the fighting , ugh the brains, especially you with that plan... They should make you a game maker SUCH a finale!-"

" SHUT UP CATO!" I scream, tears running down my face. Everyone knows because of me that's how they got their finale, the bloodiest one at that.

I gave them the perfect way to kill people. I did kill all those people and I was caught in my own plan, Aspen was caught in my plan.

Cato's smirk fell into a straight face watching me. I wipe my face starting to walk to my room. But my anger made me turn back around.

" You know.... If it makes you feel better..I wish I was dead. Is that what you want to hear? I'm sorry I trained with your dad, I'm sorry they didn't give you what I had I didn't know! And with all of that.. I still managed to mess it all up." I wipe my tears off. " There.. I admit it. Your better, I suck, you win whatever this competition we had was.. congrats."

With that I walk down the hall.

I hear footsteps behind me but I keep walking, "Kaylaya." He says, a lot softer now.

" What Cato..I'm tired."

" I sorry I didn't mean to upset you-"

I look up at him, " Of course you did... Your right I did it, I planned all of it, of course they would do something I was blind to it. I stayed by Aspen after hearing One cannon. I could've killed him. Aspen could be here. I know" I sob, though I'm trying not to, I'm failing miserably.

" Kaylaya... No one knew. I didn't, there were so many going off you didn't know who was dead and when they actually died. You did everything perfectly. No one saw that coming."

He scanned my face, his eyes had a whole different look then before. Instead of hard they were soft, his face was soft and..caring.

He looks down at me, thinking. " Where did you just come from?"

I sniffle looking away. " I'm going to bed."

I try to move but he grabs my shoulder, softly but firm enough to keep me in place. " Where did you come from Kaylaya? I'm not letting you leave until you tell me."

" I was on the balcony."

" You weren't alone?"

" River was there."

His face tensed, " Is that what he told you? It was your fault."

I nodded, " I saw him, I was going to leave but he didn't let me. We got into it, then he just kissed me and was being disgusting."

Cato's face tenses into rage. " He kissed you?"

Another wave seemed to go over me, all I could do was nod, sobbing again.

He looks at me for a second before he does something I thought Cato Hadley would never do in his life..especially with me.

He hugged me. And not just a hug, the most protective hug.

" Hey... that's not true ok? It wasn't your fault, not at all."

" I-I- I killed Aspen...." I cry into his chest.

" You did what you thought was right, You stayed by him, he wanted you to. You didn't kill him, the whole time you were fighting for him."

' I should've died, he deserves to be here, not me."

Cato let's go of me his stares at me, " You did what every kid wanted to do. Go home. You did what you thought was right and would get you home, it was brilliant. When I say I was impressed Musak, I mean I was really..really impressed. You might've one upped me."

I chuckle, he looks down with a half smile he takes his thumbs wiping off the tears on my face.

" Go watch some TV. I'll be back." Cato looks at the door, as he was walking he rolled his sleeves up.

He going to kill River, or close to it.

" Cato-" I grab his arm. He looks at me, then at my arm. " Let go." He says though it was soft. " He's not getting away with that."

Enobaria comes out. " What's with all the noise."

" Stay by Kaylaya.. I need to talk to 4." With that he got out of my grip going out the door.

I try following but Baria grabs me. " What happened." She asks looking me over. I bet I don't look very good at the moment.

I nod, though I want to stop him. But I guess part of me wants him to hurt River.. he deserves it. I know Cato will do plenty for the both of us.

I told Baria what all happened. Her face was just as livid, if not more. But through it all she comforted me saying the same stuff Cato said.

Awhile later Cato comes back. His fists were bloody, he didn't have one scratch on himself. Not surprising.

" What did you do?!" Baria asks.

He looks at her then at me. " I didn't kill him, don't worry. I made it damn known he can't touch her anymore." He goes washing the blood off before he comes over by me.

Cato grabs a blanket giving it to me.

" I can watch her if you want to sleep." He says to Baria. Which she goes giving me a squeeze as she leaves.

We both sit down on opposite sides of the couch watching a cheesy drama show. It was silent, but it was a comfortable silence.

" He didn't do anything else.. did he?" Cato asked hesitantly.

" If he did, I would've found you right away."

Cato smiles, " He might still be dead soon."

" Where was he?" I ask.

" Well, I went to the balcony first. Luckily he was still up there, we had a nice conversation. Hopefully his brother goes looking for him soon."

" What did you do?"

" Not really sure, I was just punching. After he stopped fighting back I left him there."

" I bet you enjoyed that."

He leans on the arm rest, " So good. Though I'd rather it be in a different scenario."

We watch Tv for a little longer, Cato is sitting next to me, being civil, he made sure I was ok, what happened to him?

I chuckled thinking about it.

" What?" He asks.

" We're sitting here being civil that's what."

He looked at me, " I can always go back to being a dick."

" No, this is ok, I guess." I joke giving him a small smile.

He hums in response looking back at the tv, I can tell he was trying to hide a smile.

" Cato?"

" What?"

" Your nose isn't crooked by the way."

" I know, I checked." He said.

" You checked?"

" Yea, I checked."

Now it was my time to hide a smile. I look over at him watching the tv. He looks a lot more relaxed.

" Thank you for whatever you just did to him." I whispered.

" You don't know how long I wanted to do that to him." Cato boasts.

I yawned, " Try to sleep, I'll be up for awhile.. I couldn't sleep." He says.

I nodded, wrapping the blanket around myself making sure I stay on my side of the couch, though I think I stretched out and my legs were on his lap.

And he didn't move them.

I must've went to my bed sometime during the night when I woke I was in my bed, though I never tuck myself in, I guess I was to tired to even remember.

                ——

I woke up to someone shaking my shoulder, My eyes flutter open looking up at Enobaria. " Get up, we need to leave in 15 minutes."

She gives me a black bag " Take whatever you want from here."

I don't even change, I rummage through the drawers finding anything thought was half way normal putting it in the bag.

Today we go home.

I'm excited to be back but last time I was there...

I shake the feeling, my eyes and face was puffy from the night before yet, I'm not crying again. There's nothing I can do now, it's over.

But I want to remember Aspen as he was before we came here, not while we were here. They were two totally different people.

I pause infront of his room debating, I need something to remember him by.

I slowly open the door like he still might be in here sleeping, a small ping of disappointment when I don't see him.

His cologne hits me, I feel the tears coming but I wipe them knowing he wants me to move on.

I see one off his shirts putting it up to my face, I can't help it but the tears were now coming.

" Kaylaya?" I hear someone say walking up the hall.

Cato opens the door peaking in the room, his eyes set on mine.

He looks down the hall before coming in, closing the door.

" I'm sorry...I-I- I just wanted something to remember him, this was the last place he was-" I wiped my eyes taking a breath.

" I know.. but we need to go." He says softly.

" Just a couple more minutes?" I beg.

Cato looks around, going to his dresser picking something up.

" Come here.' He instructs.

I do slowly, he comes behind me softly brushing away my hair, I feel his breath on my neck making me shudder.

I feel something cold around my neck, he clips something on my neck. " His necklace he'd always wear."

" I bought him this for his last birthday."

" He wanted to bring it in the arena. He said if he didn't make it, I was suppose to give it you." He said softly.

I spun around looking ay him, " What?"

More tears stream down my cheeks, I grab it piece of metal, rubbing my finger on the engraving.

" Come on. Standing in here won't help anything now."

I nod " Ok."

I wipe off the tears throwing the bag on my shoulder walking out.

Enobaria was just coming up the hall, " Oh, there you guys are-" she looks at me." You ok?"

I nod walking past her.

We walk in silence to the first floor of the tribute center where Peacekeepers are.

" Stay around her." Cato says to one of them who nodded.

Smart. It would make headlines if they saw me such a complete mess.

We walked out in the cool early morning's air to the train, walking down the same lane that we walked when we came here, people swarming around us.

Still Cato is walking on the side of me looking around, protecting almost.

We board the train, taking off as soon as the door closes.

I look out the window to our floor of the tribute center, then at the balcony.

I bite my cheek thinking about it. All I want now is just to forget.

" When we get to 2, you'll just smile and wave, you don't need to talk to anyone if you don't want to. We can go straight to Victors Village."

I jump slightly to Cato talking behind me, he comes to the side of me looking out the window.

" Ok." I say tiredly.

Cato glances down at me. " You should take a nap, you look exhausted."

" I'm not tired." I mumble.

" Then you should eat."

" Thanks, but I'm not hungry."

Why is he being so nice?

He sighs, " Your eating. I'll get you orange juice and a sweet roll." He walks down the hall going to the kitchen.

That was what I had almost every morning, and bacon. Did he notice..no he probably just thought of it.

I decide to go to my room to take a warm shower, I get dressed into more normal clothes then the things in the capitol, making me feel a little more normal.

I walk out to the main area, Enobaria and Cato were talking. He looks up mentioning to the counter, " It's on the counter."

" Thanks."

I walk past the two, Enobaria was giving him a look, it wasn't bad I don't think...who knows what she's thinking.

Maybe I was hungry, I ate everything up in less then 5 minutes. We rested for a bit before Enobaria told us to get dressed.

Luckily there were no stylists, we can wear whatever we wanted as long as it was nicer.

I brushed through my hair leaving it straight putting on light makeup, though I didn't feel like putting any on at all.

I found this plain black jumpsuit, deciding to keep the black theme going, figuring the Capitol will like that.

I put it on looking at myself. I feel and look so different it seems. I look older, or maybe the fact I'm tired and now broken.

Now I'm a victor.

Something I never thought I'd be. Ever.

I tear my eyes away from the mirror going out of my room back to the main area, where Enobaria and Cato already were.

Enobaria had a dress on while Cato had on black pants and button up, just like he was at the parade, though this time his hair was neat and slicked back.

" We'll be arriving shortly." Enobaria says.

I nod going to the closest mirror checking myself over.

" You look fine, now move." Cato says gently pushing me over.

I give him a look, " What do you need to look so good for?"

" The girls...Duh?" He says.

I roll my eyes, " How did you survive this whole time without them?" I say sarcastically. " Oh wait.. Cashmere."

He gives me a smug look, " When did you even have time for her?"

" I always have time for my ladies." He brags.

" My accusation wasn't that far off then huh?" I ask.

" When we get there just don't forget to smile and look 'extra' confident. I wouldn't even look at anyone just walk." He ignores my question, of course he does.

He knows I hit it right on the head.Though Cashmere isn't Fromm the Capitol he.. at the Capitol.

Where? I was in the room most of the time. Actually I don't even want to know.

" We're here." Enobaria says.

I shift looking towards the door.

Cato was already looking at me. " Your with me, you'll be fine, now C'mon. The sooner we're done with this the sooner we're done until tour."

We walk to the door. Enobaria looks over at the two of us. " Whenever your ready."

Cato grabs my hand nodding, I couldn't even respond before he opened the door with the other.

All I hear is the cheering of 2, the sweet smell flooding back to me. We always are very proud, even more so when we bring home another victor.

They were just as loud as the people in the Capitol.

" That's all you have for your victor?" Cato yells into the crowd with a cocky smile.

He raises my hand in the air, I smiled confidently like he said, they were louder.

We smile and wave a little bit before Cato walks me down the platform walking through the crowd with the two Peacekeepers.

It isn't like the Capitol where you need a whole team in order to walk. We're not crazy like them, all we needed were two. The people gave us distance as we approached.

As we walk by the Academy there was a group of boys looking to be my age chanting my name.

Cato switches sides hiding me from the boys giving them a glare.

" Really?" I ask annoyed.

" They're all Idiots."

I tried looking around him seeing one boy looking at me with bright blue green eyes smirking when he saw me peek, I couldn't help but blush looking away.

We reached a car where Brutus, another victor of two was standing, arms crossed looking like he was ready to kill someone.

He looked at Cato giving him a nod, " Cato."

They shake eachother's hand before he looks at Enobaria.

" Baria.." he says with a smile..kissing her.

I give a look at Cato, he just gives me a look smirking.

Brutus now looks at me with the same stone cold face, " This is the new victor of 2 huh?"

I try to look as tough as possible, confident. "Kaylaya." I answer.

He smirks looking at Cato, " I like her." He looks at me, " Keeping Hadley on his toes I see."

I just smile, not quite sure what he means. Cato butts in " Let's go." He started walking to the car which I thought I'd follow.

Brutus chuckled following with Enobaria. We all pile into the car, me and Baria sitting on one side and the boys on the other.

The 3 talk amongst themselves, me listening to their conversation.

" So, who's Ms.Musak rooming with?" Brutus asks.

" She's staying with me." Cato says.

I look at him confused.

" 2 victors live together. The houses are huge and we have so many victors so its kinda a law." Enobaria says seeing my confusion.

" It's either me or Pike, you've been through enough already, he's a perv. He'd be dead already if he wasn't a victor." Cato adds looking at me.

" Ok." I say.

He looks at me quickly before looking back out the window.

Now I need to...

I need to live with Cato.

If we couldn't get enough of eachother these last two weeks, now I need to live there? Maybe it won't be so bad, he's at his parents a lot so when he's home I'll stay at my parents. We can alternate.

It's just weird he volunteered.

We could barely stand eachother for 2 weeks.

Correction.. He sprained my wrists and strangled me. I hit him with a knife.

What will we do if we are left alone?