author's note: So, um. This story was inspired from the chorus of Sparks Fly, a song by Taylor Swift. The story and chapter titles feature phrases taken from the pool of words in the song, just more… reassembled, by myself to match the plot. Thank you to my amazing beta, PhoenixGrace! Hope you all like it! :)

disclaimer: All publicly recognisable characters, plots, vaguely familiar song lyrics and settings belong to their respective owners: Suzanne Collins and Taylor Swift. I do not own the Hunger Games and Sparks Fly. No copyright infringement is intended.


drop everything now

By kelster07

Chapter 1: please take the pain away


Clove is having an awful day.

Her mother was ill so she made her breakfast in bed—hot lemon tea and French toast—which resulted in missing the bus that drove past her house in the morning everyday, at exactly twenty-nine minutes past seven. She'd forgotten to do her history essay the night before and ended up having to hand up a hastily written piece on torn paper. She had tripped over a stray backpack and splattered her lunch all over the cafeteria floor. Her only two friends Glimmer and Cato were both at a modelling workshop a town over, so she kept to herself all day. There was no way she was subjecting herself to Cashmere and her endless chatter about which dress colour made her look fatter. That would have been practically be suicide. But it was a waste after all, though—she had ended up being paired up with her for the chemistry practical.

Her pace fastens as she walks towards the worn down bus sporting ripped adverts for Mr Minty's Fabulously Fresh Toothpaste—she missed it this morning and she doesn't want it to happen again. She doesn't know why she's so taut today. Her thoughts are unconnected and disjointed and all over the place—it's almost like someone's pulling on her nerves.

A shove digs deep in her sides and her bag spills open and books fall into puddles on the sidewalk. Of course. Everything just has to go wrong this day, doesn't it? Clove sighs and bends down, reaching for her monster-sized textbooks. At the same time, another tanned arm reaches and she bumps her head. She jumps back, falling hard onto the tarmac.

"Shit. I'm so sor-" she begins to say, scooping up the missing items and gritting her teeth as pain shoots up her side. She feels like crap, she doesn't need anything else today. Her voice breaks when she looks up. Across from her are the most strikingly green eyes she's ever seen. The colour is deep and feels oddly drawn in. He's tall and has a lopsided grin—she doesn't even notice she's holding her breath until he speaks.

"No, it's my fault," he says. As if on a second thought, he adds, "Marvel." He sticks his hand out and helps her up. She rises, a slow flush on her cheeks. He hands her a folder and she has the grace to colour again.

She knows him. She's seen him around at school, running for the track team and as one of the senior debaters. She remembers that he's one of Cato's close friends, but she's never really met him before today. Whispers around say he's nice enough, so she decides not to run away.

The lesser part of her mind tells her to be annoyed. He helped her, and gosh damn it, Clove Sevina definitely does not need anyone's help. She's read and seen enough about those weak girls who have a Superman by their sides. She doesn't need a freaking Superman, she has herself and that's all she'll ever need.

"Thanks," she smiles instead. "I'm Clove. Clove Sevina."

"I know," he says. "I've seen your name and picture in school papers enough times to recognise you in a different life."

She almost scowls—but stops herself at the last second. His comment isn't condescending, unlike the similar ones she gets every other day. It's not her fault she's more gifted than at least half the students in the grade above her. It's really not. Once again, Panem High isn't exactly known for their smarts. Cashmere Pearl is living proof of that.

The bus doors open and she gets in, Marvel trailing closely behind. It's autumn now but it bloody well feels like mid-winter. She's glad, though. She enjoys the sound of rain pattering on the roof as she reads by the fireplace and likes the warmth that spreads from her toes when her dog sleeps by her feet—the latter more than she cares to admit. Outside, wind throttles the glass pane next to her and the rain drizzles down.

They snag two seats near the back and she can't help but notice their closeness. Marvel tells a corny joke which causes Clove to collapse in laughter for six minutes straight. She hasn't laughed so hard in a long time—not since her mother was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. It breaks the ice a little and they begin to talk. It starts with the weather—she knows it's the most boring topic and that neither care about, so she changes it.

"What plans do you have after school finishes?"

The conversation takes a more personal tone and they talk about everything—sports, subject choices, dream universities, the very uncomfortable topic of past relationships—in which she wins the award for being most prudish—and the future. It's really a scary thing for them to think about. It's almost funny how they're talking like people who've known each other for years, when in reality, they've only properly met a few minutes ago. Clove has never been this open, this soon. She smiles along as he talks, and she's shocked when she realises it's not forced.

It's completely pouring when they get out. She mentally curses for not bringing a sweater when she raises her arms above her head to shield herself from the downpour. They run across the streets—she's having a rotten day, so of course she slips on the grating. Her arms flail as she braces herself for the hard landing.

It doesn't come.

Instead, strong arms wrap go around her waist before she touches the wet sidewalk. She's so genuinely surprised at the action that she stumbles before regaining her balance again. Hell. She doesn't need a bloody Superman, she thinks angrily, but she can't bring herself to reprimand him. She even thinks that maybe- No, that's stupid. She shivers at the very thought.

Marvel notices her and pulls her closer, draping his jacket on top of both of them and an arm around her. An instant burst of warmth spreads through her body at his touch. She's being very, very stupid.

She bites her lip and shivers again, his sudden presence startling her. For some strange reason, she can't tear her eyes from him. The warmth is welcoming, but at the same time a voice screams in her mind to get away, run away. She's never like this. Never. It's like she's stepped out of her own skin and has been forced into someone else's. She never mixes up her thoughts, and she's usually intent on her ways.

The running gives her a sense of rawness and she hasn't felt that feeling in a long time so she laughs—the real, joyful, child-at-a-candy-store kind. Her senses are on high alert as they dart through the storm towards the nearest building. They squish up under the cover and Marvel opens the door to a little bookstore, the first building they come across. They really can't think of anywhere better to go so they enter the homey space.

They find an empty booth across from the full glass window. Cars whiz by in a blur of yellows, blues and blacks and the rain falls harder. There's an awkward silence and she shifts in her seat and adjusts the strap on her backpack—she doesn't know what to say so instead the events of her terrible day float back to her.

"What's wrong?" he asks quietly.

At first she thinks she's misheard him. No. No one could possibly care or even notice her.

"What's wrong?" he repeats a bit louder, face concerned.

She realises that he is asking the question. She's not imagining it. And somehow, she just lets it all out. She doesn't know him well, but for some reason, she feels like she trusts him.

And it scares her like crazy.

"I've had an utterly horrible day today," she starts. She looks up and he's nodding, but staying silent. Damn those green eyes. She can't control her emotions and they come crushing down on her.

She tells him about her terrible day and she can't stop—it's like someone or something has taken over her mind. She tells him absolutely everything—even about her mother who she never talks about—not even with Glimmer. And he listens. He doesn't interrupt and for that she's grateful. They do their homework and she finds out that they have a fair number of classes together, something she hasn't noticed before. She helps him with his calculus and in return he helps her to find herself. It's not a fair trade, she notes. She owes him. The storm outside gets worse and lightning streaks are lighting up the sky so they stay in the small café and she doesn't object sharing a small soy latte—her guilty pleasure.

He laughs again at something she said and she can't help letting a stray giggle out herself even though she knows it's lame. It's almost as if it's contagious, she thinks.

She ignores the funny feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Night is falling when they pack their books and leave the small shop.

"Do you want me to walk you back?" he asks. It's late and she knows he just wants to get home and congratulate his sister on winning spelling bee earlier that day.

"No, it's fine. My house is only a few blocks away from here anyway," she says.

"Are you sure you'll be okay? I know the kind of effect I have on people," he jokes.

No, she thinks. He has no idea about the kind of effect he has on her.


author's note: Ooh, Clove's already sucked in. Aren't they cute? #youknowyouloveclarvel

The second chapter should be up within a week. Please review? It would make my day. I love all feedback, so anything at all is definitely appreciated. Oh, and happy Valentine's Day! What did you all get up to? x