Enobaria POV

I made my way to second period, English with Cinna. This may be a new year, but most students prefer to stay with their same classes. Besides, I liked Cinna and I did well in his English class. The only down-side of not changing classes was that Brutus was in two of my classes, and I'm trying my best to avoid him. I ended our relationship after he hooked up with Cashmere in a party during the summer.

I was hurt, of course. But I had to be better than myself. I wasn't going to be one of those girls who mope all day and lock themselves in their rooms; I was going to show him that I was stronger than that.

I walked in and exchanged a few words with Johanna before I sat down on my seat next to Brutus, but I simply ignored him. I took out my list of dance companies I wanted to audition for. I'm hoping to get a scholarship by the end of the year.

"Good morning, Enobaria," Brutus greeted me.

"What do you want?" I asked, not bothering to look up at him. I was too concentrated on the list and I wasn't in the mood to talk to him.

"Can we tal-?" Brutus began, but got cut off by the loud bell and Cinna walking into the classroom. I quickly put away my list and took out my books.

"Good morning, class," Cinna greeted. "I have an interesting project for you all to be done before we leave for Thanksgiving Break. The project will be based on the novel we just read: Hunger Games; Catching Fire. You will choose a character that you think you are most similar to and you will write a three page essay. Let's give this project a little twist; you will choose the character for your partner and you will have to write the essay about how the person is similar to the character, alright? Good? Excellent. Now, let me partner you up." Please don't let it be Brutus, please don't let it Brutus. "Enobaria and Brutus, you will be partners." Great. I'd rather just have a big test than work on this project with him.

"So when do you want to work on this project?" Brutus asked me.

"Tonight," I replied. "The sooner we start, the sooner we finish. Your dorm, 7:30."

"Whatever you say," Brutus told me. "I was wondering if after that we could – "

"No," I cut him off. "I'm only spending time with you because of this project, no other reason."

I was saved by the bell and I walked out of the classroom with Johanna before Brutus could say anything else. I met up with Finnick in the hallways and we walked to Honors Calculus together. We sat down on the table before I put my head down on the table and groaned. "This day is going terrible for me."

"What's wrong?" Finnick asked me, patting my back.

"I have to do a project for English with Brutus," I informed him. "I don't want to do it."

"I'm really sorry," Finnick said. "But don't worry; it'll be over before you know it."

"It better be," I said. "If not, I might as well rip off all my hair."

Finnick chuckled at my last comment. Finnick is comforting, don't get me wrong, but he's not the same as Gale. I miss him so much right now. Why did he have to leave? Couldn't his family have stayed for his senior year?

I pushed away my thought and focused on the class. After class, Finnick and I headed to lunch. We grabbed our food and made our way over to our regular lunch table. Also forgot to mention, our group has shrunk since many of us have moved or transferred. Finch also moved and Thresh and Rue transferred to Kentucky. Now it's just Jo, Annie, Madge, Finn, Annie, Peetabread, Kat, and I. Everything seems to be falling apart. That's the ironic thing, isn't it? In the end, it's supposed to be at least okay. But it's not okay.

"Hey guys." Finnick sat down next to Annie and wrapped his arm around her waist before planting a kiss on her cheek. No one would dare say they weren't made for each other. I sat down next to Johanna. "How's your day so far? Mine officially sucks."

"Why?" Peeta asked me.

"I have to work on a project with Brutus," I told them.

"Sorry, babe," Johanna said with sympathy in her voice. "It'll be okay, promise."

"It's fine, you can't do anything about it," I said to her. "Have you guys heard from Gale?"

"I have, we talked last night," Madge said.

Gale and Madge like each other, they just have to admit it. But right now is not a god time for them to be in a relationship with each other, considering the fact that he's in Arizona and she's here in California. And I don't think they're going to want to deal with being in a long-distance relationship. "He says he misses you a lot and that he's miserable in his new school," Madge informed me.

"Poor guy," I said before taking a bite of my salad. Normally, I would have a sandwich or soup, but I decided to eat healthier for the auditions. I need to look and feel my best to actually do my best. "Let's change this depressing subject. Have you guys been looking for colleges?"

"I'm going to choreograph a dance and show it during audition week when a bunch of people come visit to see us," Finnick said. "But I need dancer…" Finnick nudged me with his elbow.

"I don't know," I wearily said. "I'm really busy with my own audition."

"We can double up!" he insisted.

He was right; people tend to team up for audition week. Dancers/choreographers, stylists/makeup artists, musicians/songwriters, script writers/actors, singers/songwriters, painters/models, or people can just go their own way. There are several perks about teaming up: less work, team work, and just the fun of it. But there is also a bad side to do it: it can lead to conflict, problems, or people blame each other for not getting in.

"Please, please, please, please – " Finnick started to plead.

"Okay!" I gave in. "If I say yes, will you stop pleading like a whiny two-year old?!"

"Yes!" Finnick said before kissing me on the cheek as a sign of thanks. Most people would think of us as a couple, but we love each other more like family. Same with Gale. Practically everyone in this group is like family.

"But it better be a good dance," I warned him. "Or else there's no way I'm dancing it."

"Relax," Peeta assured me. "He's really good at choreographing dances and you can make any shitty dance look amazing."

"Thanks," I said. "Enough about me. "So, Katniss. What are you going to do for audition week?"

"I'm going to design a dress for the fashion show," she replied. "But I need a model…" She also nudged me with her elbow. "Please, please, please!"

"Fine!" I gave in, again. I always did have a soft spot towards my friends. We clicked right from the beginning and we're as close as ever. "No more favors from me, I have enough on my plate already. When is audition week, anyway?"

"After Thanksgiving Break, so it'll be perfect timing because you have all break to practice and rehearse," Johanna stated. "And if any of you are wondering, I'm going to team up with Cato and he's going to help me with a dance. Is that okay with you?"

"Don't ask me," I told her honestly. "I don't care if you spend time with Cato. Besides, he's really good at dances."

Cashmere walked up to our table and set her hand down on it. "Hello, everyone."

"Go away," I growled at her.

"Aww, don't be such a bad looser. It's not my fault you weren't enough for Brutus," Cashmere said. "You can't blame him for going for the better girl."

Finnick stood up from his seat, ready to punch her in the face, but I grabbed his arm before he could fully stand up and held him back. "Calm down, Finnick. She's not worth our time."

Just in time, Brutus walked up to our table once he noticed Cashmere was talking to us and kind of pissing us off. "What's going on here?" He wrapped his arm protectively around Cashmere. He never was that protective like that with me.

"Your slut of a girlfriend is talking to us," Johanna replied. "Can you get her out of here?"

"Cash, let's just go," Brutus said to her, but Cashmere wasn't done with us just yet.

"I don't think you should be calling me the slut," Cashmere stated. "We all know who the bigger whore is."

I can't believe she just brought that subject up. She has no right; she doesn't have the whole facts. She's just stating something that she doesn't know is one-hundred percent true.

Brutus had a confused look on his face. "What are you talking about?"

"Come on, Brutus. Don't be so clueless, we all know who's been going behind whose back during a certain 'business' trip," Cashmere said, putting an extra emphasis on the word 'business.' "And if you didn't know, we'll all find out in a matter of time when it goes public."

Finnick had finally had enough. He stood up from the table and slammed his fist down on the table, making a few things shake. "That is enough of your bullshit! Go away before I do something you might regret!"

Cashmere grabbed Brutus's arm and dragged him to their table with Cato, Clove, Marvel, Glimmer, and Gloss. I dropped my fork onto my salad bowl and ran my hands through my hair.

"Enobaria," Finnick began, but I put a hand up, telling him I didn't want to hear anymore.

"Drop it," I commanded. The table fell silent. "And she wasn't and isn't a whore."

Johanna put a hand on my shoulder. "We know she's not. None of us believe any of that shit they put in those magazines. They're just some reporter's dumb excuse to make a dollar."

"I said drop it," I repeated.

Johanna was taken aback by my harsh words. "Sorry, I was just trying to comfort you like a good friend."

I instantly felt bad for talking to her so harshly. "No, Jo. I'm the one who should be sorry. I didn't mean to bark at you. It's just… Cashmere is cutting deep into my skin and I'm really frustrated with all the auditions and…"

"Enobaria, stop," Johanna commanded. "It's fine, really. I know you just need some space and you don't want to talk about it. But if you ever do want to talk about it, I'm here for you."

"We are, too," Katniss added.

"Thanks, guys," I said.

I really did have the best friends. They've been there for me since day one and have stuck by my side no matter what. I'm grateful for having them by my side.