Modern Day AU. Katniss is one of the most popular girls in school: sweet and caring, athletic, a good student, and beautiful. But she is currently questioning her sexuality. Clove is the new girl in school, and her dark, mysterious air has discouraged anyone from truly getting to know her.

"Hey Madge…Yes we're still going shopping…Is Annie coming? Sweet. What about Fox? Oh of course, why does she have to make us all feel so dumb and lazy? Ehh…can we meet at like two instead? I've just…I've got some homework to do. YES, the summer reading! I know I'm crazy. Love you!"

Katniss grinned and threw her cellphone aside, opening her laptop and chewing on her bottom lip. OK, so this wasn't exactly homework. But it could be considered personal upkeep. She pulled up her Netflix account, and The L Word showed up as "Most Recently Watched". Thank god her parents and little sister had a separate account. She hit resume on the latest episode, knowing this last scene was going to be involving sex. Then she slid under her covers, pulling off her skinny jeans and underwear, and positioned the laptop on her stomach, pressing play.

Alice began peppering Dana's tan neck with kisses and running her hands over her toned arms, and Katniss began running her finger, soft as a feather, over her clit. She watched as Dana's breasts bounced free from her bra, and Alice bent down to suck and kiss them. Her breath hitched, and she wondered if it was normal to be this turned on by an image of breasts…when she was straight. But one thing Katniss believed in was being honest with herself. She honestly knew this turned her on, and lately it had been smothering her and pushing her to pleasure herself more often to wipe away the images. As the circles around her clit quickened, she felt the tell-tale pounding coming from her core and the heat spreading around and in between her legs. As Alice bent between Dana's now bare legs, Katniss slowed her circles for a moment, letting her body become furious with want for the same pressure as before. She let out a soft, pleading moan. Finally, she picked up the pace, this time circling faster around her clit, and felt herself getting wet. Her head snapped back and she closed her eyes despite whatever was going on with Alice and Dana. Katniss let herself drown in the growing fire that was her clit. She let her limbs begin to softly shake. Finally, with a last hard circle, she felt the fire explode, and she continued the same pressure as her whole body shook around her. She bucked up as she spilled over her sheets once, then twice, and finally removed her hand. Katniss let her head sink deeper into the pillow, and let out a blissful sigh. Her eyes fluttered closed and she drank in the moment before shutting her laptop and pulling her underwear and jeans back up.

"Joanna… I miss you. Just as my best friend. I feel like it's so superficial here. Everything! The people, the houses… the hair colors. I know you dye your hair, but that looks cool! They're all wannabe blondes. Just like his wife. A wannabe blonde with fake tits and a million watt smile. I'm not being a bitch; it's the truth! Jo…you know I'm no good at that. No. No one. I don't need anyone. I'm fine. Fine I'll try. YES I promise! Ok sure say hey to them for me. Hey Jo? …I love you."

Clove sighed and placed her phone in her lap. She got up and ran downstairs, knowing the only way to calm herself down before she broke down. Her father and Effie did support her boxing, at least. She pulled on her gloves and positioned herself in front of one of the punching bags.

One swing. She remembered the first time she realized she liked girls in the third grade. She told Joanna right away, and her spunky friend giggled. "That's cool…does that mean you LIKE me Clovey?" "….maybe," the little girl murmured back, a blush taking over her freckled cheeks. "I think I like you too," Jo had replied back.

A double swing. Reality had crashed in on Clove when, in middle school, a group of girls found out about her supposed sexuality. Glimmer was supposed to be her friend, but she had told the "populars". She was changing in the locker room when suddenly Gloss came behind her, sneering, "Clove, I know you're a dyke, and now everyone else does too. We purposely hid today while we changed, and we plan on petitioning to make you change somewhere else." "It's not like we're homophobic. We just think it's unfair. And like… a little creepy," Katie, another "popular" tried to reassure her, patting her back.

A particularly hard punch sent the bag flying backwards a couple feet. Sophomore year, Joanna told Clove she had something extremely important to talk about. So Clove followed her to an empty classroom during lunch. Joanna patted a seat, and Clove obeyed, looking up at her with those wide green eyes. "Clove, I've known that you've liked girls since we were nine. I also never cared. You know I'm ready to punch any bitch who is ignorant enough to care. But there's something I struggled to hide from you. I didn't want it to make things awkward..." "Jo, you know you can tell me anything. Spill." "I think I might be…well I'm confused but… I don't really care about labels but what I do know is that..." "Oh my GOD. Breathe." Jo obeyed. Clove stood up, went over to her, and stroked a lock of her currently deep purple hair, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Now tell me." Jo took another breath. "I like you. I know I do. I've had dreams about you as long as I can remember. I dunno what that makes me or anything, but I know I like you. And if you don't like me back please say so but please just stay my best friend. I can't imagine a life without you, Clovey." On the last sentence, Joanna's voice was quivering, and she was looking down, as if defeated. Clove smiled. She tilted the girl's face up. Then she leaned close and whispered, "I've always liked you, Jo," before capturing the other girl's lips with her own.

Four hard, consecutive swings. Jo was on top of her, and her whole body was heated up already. "Babe, you make me burn up. And it's freakin' December!" Joanna smiled, tucking her red hair behind her ear. "I'm about to bring the sun in, love," she whispered, biting Clove's ear. The smaller girl moaned softly. Joanna smirked before kissing down to the nap of her neck and then biting hard. If she drew blood, it would probably turn the smaller girl on even more. Clove had always had a thing for pain. "Don't tease me, babe," Clove hissed. Joanna just ignored her, kissing down to her collarbone, and biting again. The moans she got in response clearly meant she could continue with teasing. This time her kisses brought her over to the left, then south, where her lips met the pale cleavage. Her tongue, wet and hot, glided its way down. Clove whimpered.

A practice circle around the bag, jumping as it swung haphazardly towards her. "Clove, I can't do this anymore. You know I'm cheating on you, and you constantly forgive me but… it's wrong. You deserve better." "But Jo, I love you. Don't you?" "I love you Clove. I always will. But I can't be trusted. As your friend, I want you to let me go." "Do you…love him?" "No. No! I'm not even sure I know what love is. And… you're going soon so…" "So you just think its ok to fuck around with my emotions because you know I'm moving in a couple months?! We've been friends for our entire lives. I can't believe you'd do this to me."

A soft hit. Clove lay with Jo in her bed, cuddling, and crying softly. "Jo… come with me tomorrow morning." "Clovey..." "Babe…" Jo swallowed, and Clove swore inwardly. "Sorry. Sorry. You know that just came out. That's not… I just… I could care less about that anymore. You're my best friend. You're the most important person in my life. And I don't wanna leave-""It's fine. I know. I don't want you to go."

"Clover darling, dinner is ready!" Effie called down to the basement from the top of the stairs. Clove rolled her eyes and hit the bag a few more times before jogging upstairs. She couldn't help but smile slightly when she saw the table: a red table cloth, the white and gold plates, and a meal that was home-cooked instead of microwave-made. Living the past four years without a mother had made her appreciate that.

"So, Clover, how do you feel about school starting soon? Have you tried getting in contact with any of your potential classmates?"

"How am I supposed to- Uhh no. No m'am. I'm just hoping people will be nice once I get there, ya know?" Clove had had to bite back a sarcastic retort when her father shot her a look. The man had a sixth sense when it came to her sass.

"Well, at least you'll have me there, darling," Effie reassured, flashing that bright smile of hers. She taught home economics at Clove's school. Clove tried to smile but just imagined being a laughingstock for that alone…what with Effie fussing over her and-

"Well, Clove, I was talking to my new boss at the firm who says he has a daughter at Panem High. Same grade as you. I think her name was…Katniss? Anyway, he said she has a party in about a week, for the end of the summer and all that, and that he'll ask her to invite you."

"Dad, that's just embarrassing! I don't need to be forcefully invited to some- Thanks. That's very nice of him. But you know I'm not really into that scene so… we'll see."

"Kat, I need to drag you into Francesca's now...Annie and I need your help picking out dresses." Madge greeted her, taking her by the hand and grinning.

"Wait, what for?" Katniss replied.

"Your party, silly!" Annie exclaimed. Katniss smiled. Well…she wouldn't go through the effort of getting a new dress for a little thing like that, but she was kind of proud that they took it this seriously. They were always such girly girls; Katniss was the plain one in the group.

Annie quickly found her dress: a pretty, fitted purple number that complimented her auburn hair. Madge, the ever-hesitant one, was still trying on dresses as the other two girls sat on a bench outside, chatting.

"So, Kat, how're you and Peeta? You haven't mentioned him in a while..." Annie wondered, curious.

"Oh well we're fine. Good. It's just that he's been working a lot at the bakery this summer. He seems to care about it the most, out of all of his siblings, so his dad has been taking him really seriously. To take over eventually. And I've been working too, of course. I can't believe I'm saying this…but I miss camp. Kids are exhausting but it was really fun."

Annie smiled. "You amaze me, Kat. I like kids but that sounded like a hardass job. Nine hours a day? Geez."

"You would've worked nine hours a day if that was where you had to follow Finnick," Katniss teased. Annie looked like she was about to protest, but then gave in. "Well... as it was… lifeguarding was a blast. I basically got paid to-"

"Stare at him shirtless. I know." Annie gave Katniss a playful slap, but then turned and smiled. Katniss mirrored her. Madge stood in front of them, looking adorable in a yellow babydoll dress that was peppered with black flowers.

"It's not…too casual, is it?" Madge murmured.

"No babe, you look beautiful. I approve." Katniss assured her.

"I second that!" Annie squealed. "And… maybe Gale will too..?" Madge looked down with a grin and her cheeks began to flush. Her friends all knew of her legendary crush on him. But, as far as they knew, Gale was still clueless.

"Go buy it, silly!" Katniss chided her.