Vindictive | Chapter 11

Finnick insists that if I really want to go against the most wanted syndicate in the country, I need to prepare for it.

For the past few days since Thresh stopped being on the team, Finnick had always been the one by my side. He’s helped me come up with new game plans and strategies and gearing me up till the day comes where everything will be put to action.

Now as we’re running on the same route Rue and I normally go to, he’s been talking non-stop about the plan.

“I’m pretty sure after his headquarters has been spotted a year ago, his men had migrated into a new one, a more secluded one. We need to find it and then—”

“Hey, Cato!” A voice not too far from us hollers, calling my attention.

Finnick and I stop from running and swivel around to see whom the person is.

“Peeta?” I squint my eyes as I shield them from the scorching sun with my hand.

The blonde quickly shortens his distance from us and by the time he reaches me, he’s panting heavily. His shirt is also soaked with perspiration. Kind of just like how I am when I ran six miles with Rue for the first time.

“Hey.” I nod at him.

Peeta is still in the process of regaining his breathing.

“Anyway, Peeta this is Finnick.” I say, gesturing between the two of them. “Finnick, this is Peeta.”

Finnick extends his hand and Peeta takes it, still panting. Seriously, how many miles did he run?

“Cato, can I talk to you for a moment?” Peeta requests and we both turn our heads toward Finnick.

“Okay. I’ll be at the store across the street. I’ll see you there.” He says to me before giving a friendly nod and a smile at Peeta and jogs away.

“What is it you want to talk about?” I question once Finnick is out of earshot.

“I know what happened between you and Clove.” Peeta wasted no more time and immediately got to his point.

“What?”

“I know you tried to kiss her.” Suddenly, his breathing turns into normal as his arms crosses in a very intimidating way.

I look down at my shoes and allow a sigh to escape. “It’s a very wrong move, I’m aware of that. I just hope she won’t think I’m taking advantage of her because I’m not.” Glancing back up at my friend, I try to search for any sign or indication that Clove really isn’t thinking of me that way. But I see nothing.

“It’s too late. She thought you’re using her. Once you get what you want, you’ll eventually leave.” Peeta answers.

I didn’t mean to make her feel that way. I know it’s a wrong move to do but there’s just something inside me that is itching to kiss her. Lately, we’ve been spending a lot of time together and as cliché as it sounds; no one has ever made me feel that way. Only Clove has the power to do it. I guess that’s what triggers my desire to kiss her. And that night after I took her home from the carnival and the cemetery, it just felt like the right time to do it.

I just wish there is a way to fix this. Because I’ll need it…fast.

“I’m not like those guys, Peeta. I’m different. My mom had taught me how to act around girls and how we should treat them properly.” I utter.

Peeta nods, running his tongue across his upper teeth. “I guess your mom forgot to give you the lesson about kissing a girl without permission.” He looks at me with hard eyes, and his tone of voice is growing colder every second this conversation is taking place.

“Look, I’m really sorry. Can you please tell Clove that?” I inquire.

“I’m just really protective of her, you know? She’s like my little sister and I don’t want anyone hurting her in every way.”

“But I didn’t even hurt her! I just made a wrong move.” I defend.

“And it hurt her.”

I find myself frozen in place. The words Peeta said made me realize something. My actions hurt Clove in a way that I don’t understand. Of course, she has every right to accuse me of taking advantage of her because that’s what I think of myself as well. Ever since that night, I’m always blaming myself for what is to come regarding my friendship with Clove. But it just confuses me why this affected her that much. I thought she didn’t like me in the first place and now she’s showing emotions towards me? I know we shared important parts of our lives that night but it once occurred to me that it probably won’t change anything between us. Yes, I hoped that it will but…I crushed my own hopes. I know it’s useless to keep hanging onto something that you’re not sure if it will come. But why will this hurt her? Could it possibly mean that maybe Clove is finally accepting me? Finally letting me in? I know the part she contributed at the cemetery isn’t all of it. It’s just bits, pieces of her life and there’s a lot more to share. But for some reason, she’s still a bit hesitant when it comes to me.

There are millions of reasons for this but there are two things I am a hundred percent sure of: I had broken Clove's barriers and her heart of steel has gone soft, and she's afraid to let me in deeper.

“I suggest you don’t try anything with Clove unless she tells you to.” Peeta suddenly speaks, taking me away from my thoughts. “This had happened to her before and you’re no different in her eyes.”

* * *

I pace back and forth in my room as I wait for Clove to answer her phone. I’ve been calling her three times now and she’s still not picking up. Of course, why would she when I know she’s trying to avoid me? But it won’t hurt to try, right?

Receiving her voicemail again, I cut the robotic female voice off and dial her number for the fourth time. I know I’m probably annoying her now but I really need to talk to her. I need to say my apologies and explain the reason why I made that move. I need to clear things between us.

When she sent me to her voicemail one more time, I figure maybe it’s time to give up, time to stop trying to get her to talk to me. All she needs is space, I’m conscious of that fact and I just realize I’m not giving her what she wanted. I’m not providing her the time she needs to think things through.

I throw my phone on the bed and I watch when it bounces lightly before finally laying flat on the mattress. I stare intently at it as if Clove will call me back if I goggle at it long enough.

Coincidentally, it rings.

I scramble to my bed and pick my phone up with such agitation I don’t know if I’ll be able to grasp it firmly. A massive grin creeps up on my lips upon seeing Clove's name on my mobile screen.

I press the green answer button and place the phone against my ear. I don’t know why I’m so eager to talk to Clove. Perhaps I just miss hearing her voice. It’s been a long time since she spoke to me anyway.

“Hello?” Clove says from the other end of the line. Her voice is just as I remembered: sweet and velvety and pleasant to my hearing.

“Hey, Clove. I’ve been trying to get to you but you weren’t answering any of my calls.” I reply to her.

“I’m sorry. I was just mulling over whether I should answer you or resume my pretending that you don’t exist and that night didn’t happen.” Her honeysweet voice vanishes and replaced by one of a bitter almond.

Soughing, I venture out to the veranda attached to my bedroom.

“Are we really back on level one, Clove?” I ask her, looking out at the spectacular view of the city of the Capitol. “Are we going back to that phase where you hate me and won’t even acknowledge my presence?”

Clove is silent for a while. Maybe she’s trying to carefully phrase her reply so that it will hurt less or sound less harsh. Either way, she’s taking a lot of time with her answer.

“Clove? Are you still there?” I ask making sure she’s still on the other end.

“I have to go, Cato.” She answers quickly and the line goes dead.

I stare at my phone screen for a minute before accepting the fact that Clove did hang up on me. I hate that she’s being this stubborn. All I wanted is to talk, to make amends and she’s not letting me do that. Even if she only lends me five seconds to do it, I’ll summarize all the things I want to say just for her to forgive me. I can’t lose Clove, at least not this way.

Someone knocks on my door and I yell my permission for the person to enter.

“Cato?” Fox pokes her head and glances around the room in search of me. She sees the open door to the veranda and immediately spots me standing there, looking at her direction.

“Hey.” She utters when she stands fully beside me, leaning on the railing and her eyes scanning the beauty of the city. “I heard what you did to Clove.”

I groan, having enough of that talk. I’ve had it with Peeta and I don’t want to hear anymore of it. I know what I did was wrong but they don’t have to rub it on my face.

“It’s probably ancient history to you but…you need to fix this, Cato. We’re slowly losing Clove, our only bait for Brutus.” Fox voices out. She leans away from the railing and turns to face me.

“I know that.” I respond. “I’ve been trying to get her to talk to me but she just won’t. Well, she answered once but she didn’t even talk that much. I’m afraid we’ll go back to the starting level. It’s really hard and will take a lot of time to soften Clove.”

“At least that’s what you think.” Fox abruptly speaks. “You think that she’s hard to get but, don’t you realize how you easily got her the first time? You did it before and I have faith that you can do it again.”

The girl doesn’t even allow me to counter her statement as she instantaneously leaves me alone in the balcony. I watch as she exits my room, her words jumping around inside my head.

Fox has a point. Of course, Clove was the most pompous person when we met but…there was something I did that made her slowly turn benignant towards me.

All of a sudden, everything just clicks. I snap my fingers and my face lightens up at the idea. Pocketing my phone, I head out of my room and to the next one beside mine.

* * *

Rue is the answer; I just know it in my heart. I remember that day at the park where we accidentally ran into Clove and she said she didn’t know I have a sister. The following week after that, Clove suddenly became genteel to me. She didn’t give me her glares and frowns but instead all I got from her was her smiles and kind words when we’re having a decent conversation.

I knew there’s something about Rue that can be useful someday.

The thirteen-year-old opens her door just as I’m about to raise my knuckles to knock. She’s mostly focused on her phone that is why she doesn’t see me standing outside. It’s too late before she realizes though because her head slams quite mightily onto my chest.

“Ow!” She yelps in pain, her phone falling on the floor while her hands find its way to her head. “What was that for?” Rue bends over to pick her phone up.

“It wasn’t for anything. If you were only looking at where you’re going, you would’ve realized I’m standing here.” I retort.

She rolls her blue eyes at me before snorting and turning her attention back to her phone. “Look at what you’ve done! How am I supposed to call Oscar—?”

I raise an eyebrow at her. “Oscar? Who’s Oscar?” I inquire as I try to peer at her mobile screen to see if I can find anything that can be used as blackmail for her.

“No one.” Her eyes widen, hugging her phone closer to her and failing miserably with denying that she likes a boy.

“Oscar, huh?” I rub my chin to further torment her humorously. “I wonder what would Thresh think if he finds out you’re dating a boy named Oscar.”           

That’s when she breaks down. “Please, please I’ll do anything that you’re going to ask me to do. Just don’t tell Thresh. He’d kill me if he finds out I’m dating someone. Ever since that incident two years ago, he won’t let me go out with a guy without seeking for his permission first.”

“Okay, okay. Calm down. I won’t tell him.” I reassure her and Rue finally relaxes from where she’s standing.

“Thank you.” She breathes out while she makes her way to her bed and collapsing on it. “Thank you so much.”

I follow her inside her room and close the door behind me. I need to talk to her privately and I don’t want to risk anyone from our team hearing about this. Well, maybe except for Fox because she already had that talk with me in my balcony a while ago.

“Anyway,” I start, “about what you said—”

“What do you want?” Rue cuts me off.

“You see, Clove is kind of ignoring my existence and I need to fix that. She’s our only hope of getting my revenge and I need you to apologize for me.” I explain.

“Why me?” She whines.

“Remember that day in the park? When we ran into her?” Rue nods and I continue. “Yeah, after she met you, she became nice to me and I thought that you’re the answer to this problem. If you talk to Clove and tell her how sorry I am, maybe she’ll forgive me.”

“So you’re saying that she will always have a soft spot for you because of me?” Rue asks.

“Something like that.”

Rue sighs before propping herself up with her elbows. “You do know I’m regretting everything I said, right?”

I nod.

“I’ll do it for you but…” she scrunches her face wearisomely. “Can we do this some other time? I’m just really exhausted and my phone is broken kudos to you and I’m really hungry. Starving, even.”

“There’s food downstairs.”

“I know but I’m too tired to get up now.”

“Lazy.” I mutter, turning to my heels and head to the door. “Anyway, I’ll cut you some slack today and let you talk to Clove some other time. But it has to be sooner, though.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just get me some food.” Rue mumbles, waving her hand dismissively.

“Who said I’d get—”

“Just do it!”

“Fine.”

* * *

Thresh arrives from work by the time I reach the last step of the staircase. I notice his arms are loaded mostly with take-out bags from another unknown restaurant downtown. This man basically likes to try out new cuisines every single time we go out. Even being by himself is no exception.

“Let me help you with that.” I offer as I take a few from his arms.

“Thank you very much.”

We make our way to the kitchen where we put all the bags in the kitchen counter.

“You came just in time. Your sister’s being a lazy ass upstairs and wants me to grab her some food.” I inform Thresh about his little sister's doings.

Thresh chuckles. “That’s Rue for you.”

“She can be a bit moody sometimes, huh?”

“What do you mean sometimes? She’s moody every time!” Thresh laughs as I remove the food from its bag and inspect it one by one. “Seriously, what is up with that girl?”

The ambiance suddenly grows awkward, as we both don’t know what to say to each other next. I know there’s still a little tension going on from the last meeting we had. Thresh is still upset about my ‘pity’ for Clove and he still believes that the girl is trying to brainwash me. In spite of that, the bond we have is still strong.

“Look, I’m really sorry about what happened.”

“I didn’t mean to walk out on you that day.”

We both say at the same time causing for Thresh and I to look at each other, aware of one another’s attempts at stifling his laughter. It doesn’t last long though, because I will always be the first one to crack.

“But seriously Thresh, I’m really sorry.” I tell him as we prepare the take-outs for dinner.

“I know you are. I am too.”

“Cato, what’s taking you so long?” Rue all of a sudden comes barging in the kitchen, broken phone in hand. She notices her brother standing behind the kitchen counter and nods to acknowledge him. “Oh, you’re home.”

“I bought take-outs.” Thresh pushes the huge plate full of baby back ribs toward Rue.

“Sweet.” The little girl mutters under her breath and digs in the second she gets her hands on a fork and a steak knife.

Thresh and I decide to just eat dinner at the counter since Rue already started hers there.

The room is slowly getting uncomfortable so I decide to have a little fun. I swivel my chair farther away from Rue when I still have the chance before I start teasing her.

“Hey, Thresh.” I call him. “What do you think of the name Oscar?”

From the corner of my eye, I observe Rue's reaction. Her hand freezes in midair and her eyes widen in complete shock. Her head slowly turns to face me and I catch a glimpse of the daggers she’s sending my way. Her foot also finds my leg and kicks it with such force, I almost cry out in pain.

“Oscar? Hmm, I’m not really a fan of the name but…if I were a girl, I’d turn down any guy with the name Oscar. Even if he’s the hottest one around, I think I’ll pass.” He answers. “That’s a pretty random question. Why did you ask that, anyway?”

“Like you said, it’s a random question. I guess it just came to my mind.” I shrug, trying to look as innocent as I can muster. All the while, Rue is still abusing my leg with her foot.

Halfway through dinner, the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it.” Thresh suggests, dropping his utensils carefully on his plate and strides towards the front door. He peeks through the peephole before opening it wide.

Rue's head snaps toward me when we catch sight of a couple of police officers standing outside our door. Her hand automatically quivers in fear and I have to scoot my seat closer to hers in order to comfort the petrified girl. We both know this is it. The day that we are dreading to see has finally come. We just didn’t think it would be this soon. We thought we could hide our fault longer than this.

The officers being outside only informs me that Katniss has finally given up on investigating the crime herself and had taken action by turning my tag in to the police station.

“Cato!” Thresh calls from the front door.

I let go of Rue who clings to my shirt even after I release her from my arms. I recommend for her to stay at the kitchen, farther away from the officers but she’s just as stubborn as Clove and decides to follow me to the door.

“Yeah?” I ask Thresh as soon as I reach him.

Thresh only nods his head at the officers causing for me to avert my attention to them.

“Are you Cato Hadley?” One of the bigger officers looks down at the clipboard to read what I can only assume would have to be my name.

“Yes. Yes I am.” I slowly nod my head, afraid of what may come next. I feel Rue's arms envelope one of mine tightly, never wanting to let go. “Why?”

“We need you at the police station for interrogation. It appears that you are one of the suspects for Glimmer Belvill’s murder case.”