A/N: Clove's coming! Hope you enjoy this.
CHAPTER THREE
Cato woke up with the evident smirk on his face while he brushed his messy blonde hair with his fingers. He didn't think it would be that easy for him to have the quarterback position in Panem High's football team. Maybe his plans of having his fame and connections back won't be that hard for him in Miami after all, he thought to himself.
His only problem right now is to find a famous girl that could lead him to the spotlight. Apparently, Glimmer's not the one for that job. Cato didn't mind that Glimmer has a boyfriend; he didn't even like the blonde chick, that's if he can actually feel something like that for anyone. He just wanted her as his new girl toy since she's pretty hot and apparently she have the connections judging from their VIP treatment in the club the other night. But even if he's not willing to date the cheer captain, he's not okay with sharing her with other people. That's the thing with Cato. He was accustomed to having everything he wants and never sharing it with anyone.
Unlike the other day, Cato was glad he woke up early. He intended to get to school on time unlike his usual tardiness in school back in Canada. He won't let himself miss the opportunity of having a fair look of the hottest girls in his new school before his boring classes start. He's glad that he befriended Finnick, maybe the classes won't be as unbearable as he imagined it.
Surprisingly, it seemed that Cato's sense of direction is really getting better every day. It only took him ten minutes to arrive in Panem High. Gladly, he didn't have the same encounter with the guard now that he as his ID. He placed it in the scanner that caused the steel bar of the gate to rise and give way to his Porsche.
Cato roamed around the parking lot, looking for a better space for his car since there are now better spaces available now that he is a bit early. He parked his car next to a red Ferrari located near the entrance of the building where his first class is. When he stepped out of his car, the door of the Ferrari opened revealing Finnick and his girlfriend, Annie.
"Oh hey there Cato, nice car you have there!" Finnick complimented his new friend, indulging his eyes with the Porsche delight. "Bought it the other day. Yours isn't bad either." Cato replied. Finnick placed his arms around Annie's waist "Cato remember my girlfriend? Annie?" Finnick reintroduced. "Yeah of course. How can I forget a pretty girl, dude?" Cato winked at Annie while Finnick punched his shoulders jokingly. "Taken Bro. Find your own."Finnick said.
The three decided to hang out in the parking lot a bit until the five minute bell rang announcing that it's five minutes before the start of the first period. Annie bid goodbye to the two boys and placed a kiss on Finnick's lips before leaving for her fist class. Finnick and Cato decided to leave the parking lot as well and proceed to their first class, Literature. The room was on the first floor of the building which pleased Cato. He is not in the mood to take the stairs first thing the morning. When they opened the door of the room, their teacher isn't there yet.
Cato spotted some of Finnick's friends, Katniss, Peeta and Johanna who were all sitting on the last row of the room. Cato followed Finnick towards them and sat at the second to the last chair near a window. They all chatted and joked around when a blonde and long haired man appeared at the door and entered. The man placed his suitcase at the teacher's table which made it more obvious that he is indeed the Literature teacher.
The long haired man opened the drawer in his table and grabbed a white board marker. He wrote something in the white board that read "Haymitch Abernathy" which Cato assumed was the teacher's name. Finally, the man spoke, "Welcome to hell. I'm Haymitch Abernathy and I'll be your torturer here in Literature class." He threatened. Cato laughed to himself, he found his new teacher amazing, blurting some empty threats to the students. He could feel that his classmates didn't care about what their teacher said either.
Mr. Abernathy opened his mouth again to speak when the door reopened to reveal Marvel. Cato just rolled his eyes. He never talked to the boy yet and he already knew he's not going to like him one bit. "Well, what a nice entrance Mr. Quaid." Haymitch sarcastically commented. Marvel ignored him and walked straight into the classroom. Marvel met Cato's eyes and the latter noticed the sudden glint of hate in Marvel's eyes and a tightened jaw. 'What the hell is wrong with this dude?' he thought. Marvel went nearer and nearer to them. Cato thought Marvel would occupy the last seat in the back row next to him but fortunately, he didn' or else there will definitely be a fight before the hour ends. Marvel placed his bag at the unoccupied chair before Finnick and paid a smirk to Katniss which the girl returned with a glare. Cato felt the intensity of hatred between the group and Marvel but he didn't know why. At least apparently, he's not the only one that dislikes the boy.
After an hour of Haymitch's discussion of Wuthering Heights, the bell rang indicating that it's time for the next period. They all went out of the classroom, barely able to wake their sleeping spirits due to the boring lecture. Katniss and Johanna separated their ways but Finnick, Cato and Peeta walked together, all three of them having the same class again.
Cato's icy blue orbs roamed around the hallway filled with walking students. Sure, he found some interesting hot girls but nothing as hot and popular looking as Glimmer. Peeta and Finnick noticed the frown in Cato's face which Finnick understood, knowing well enough of Cato's intention. "Can't find anyone yet?" he asked. "I thought there are better girls here than Glimmer?" Cato groaned in frustration. "Well yeah of course there is. There's Katniss, Madge, Johanna, Jackie and Annie. They're not the cheer captain, flirty type like Glimmer but they are a lot prettier, smarter and they are just as popular as Glim is." Peeta enumerated, finally understanding what is going on. "But dude, Annie and Madge are obviously taken, and Katniss, I know you like her and she likes you. I don't like sharing. Johanna and Jackie, well I know they're single but they're not really my type." Cato said. Finnick was about to add to their conversation when a weird looking woman tapped Cato's shoulders.
"Mellark? Odair? And I'm guessing you're Cato Hadley? Why are you three trotting in the hallways? Your next class is with me right? You're going to be late, come on." The pink haired woman led them to the room of their next class, Arts.
The trio entered the art class where mahogany tables and chairs are spread. Apparently, Gale shares this class with them making the group an all-boys one. The four of them occupied a table near the back of the room. Cato smiled to himself knowing that he joined the right group of friends as they are very alike, Cato likes getting the back seats as well. They talked about football and girls as they refuse to listen to their arts teacher, Cato now knew as Ms. Effie Trinket.
The day has passed faster than Cato thought and soon he found himself sitting again with eight of his new friends at the center of the cafeteria. Madge is snuggled in Gale's arms. When Cato first saw Gale, he initially thought he was like him, a person who doesn't date, just fuck but then again, maybe he was wrong. It seemed like he really likes Madge. Finnick as well, he may sound like a flirt and player but he looks contended with Annie by his side. That leaves the evident chemistry of Katniss and Peeta. He may be new in the group and maybe he was wrong about his assumption with Gale and Finnick but he will bet with his own life that Peeta and Katniss like each other judging by the way they are when the other is around. It felt so weird for Cato to notice these feelings of people for others when he never felt anything near that before.
Cato was suddenly ripped out of his thoughts about his friends when Katniss broke the unintended silence though their meal. "Finn when's Clove coming?" she asked. Cato felt a sudden rush of excitement and thrill when he heard the name. He is praying to all gods that that Clove she's referring to is actually a girl of his type and is as famous as the girl who asked about her.
"Hmm. Missing the Influence Abusing girl, aren't we? Well she called last night. She just flew in after her extended summer break in Spain. She said she'll go to school later, maybe second period in the afternoon." Finnick explained to all of them seeming that Katniss isn't the only one interested in Clove's arrival.
Cato can barely hold his curiosity, "Who is Clove?" he asked, hoping that someone from the group answers. "Clove's my cousin. Her parents are like the major stock holder of this school so you know, she can enjoy vacation a bit longer, the sneaky bitch that she is." Finnick said though it wasn't a statement out of irritation, it was a joke.
Cato didn't question anymore. Clove so far, fits into the job description of his girl toy perfectly. She's famous, knowing that she's friends with them, her parents co-own this school which technically means she has a generous amount of connections and she's Finnick's cousin so maybe she's sharing some of Finn's good looking genes. But there's only one thing he's bothered about, she sounds like a handful and Cato doesn't want his girls getting into his nerves.
After their first period in the afternoon, Finnick said goodbye to Cato, that was the last class they have together that day though they will meet for football practice after stranger with the name of Clove made reappearance to Cato's mind. He's really interested in that girl, not romantically speaking of course, so he asked Finn again before they parted ways.
"Ugh Finn, is that cousin of yours, Clove, in the same level as we are, I mean do we have classes with her?" he asked wondering if maybe Clove's second period in the afternoon will be the same as his. "Uhm yeah. Literature, Arts and Math. Why?" Finnick answered already smelling something. "Uhm, nothing, I was just curious." Cato half answered half lied. "Ok then." Finnick said as he turned his back towards Cato and smiled to himself, feeling the victory in his hands.
Flashback two weeks ago
Finnick was hanging out in Annie's house that afternoon. Having some snacks while they were watching Love Actually in Annie's home theatre when his phone erupted, filling the closed room with its noise. He tried to ignore the incoming call as to not ruin their movie marathon but realized it already was ruined when Annie removed her head on his shoulders and gave him a glare.
He took his phone out of his pocket. "I'll be back baby." He promised Annie as he exited the room and looked at the caller ID. It was Aunt Portia, Clove's mother. He sighed to himself. 'What does this woman want now?' he mentally asked himself.
"Hello Aunt Portia." Finn said without even bothering to hide the irritation he has for the interruption of his bonding time with Annie. "How are you Finn?" the woman on the other line asked, ignoring the imminent annoyance in his nephew's voice. "Can you go straight to your point Aunt Portia? I'm in the middle of something here." He replied stiffly.
"Oh ok then. It's not news to us anymore that that dumbass, what's his name again? Marvel, cheated on my daughter." Portia started. "And so? We all know Clove didn't like him that much." He answered, his annoyance increasing by a notch. "And so, I want you to find your cousin another boyfriend, someone better than that stupid boy!" Portia raised her voice slightly. "Why would I Aunt Portia? Besides, why don't we just leave Clove alone? It's her life!" Finn raised his voice as well.
"You know your cousin too well Finn. Clove doesn't care a bit about her reputation and that is my major priority. I didn't exert my best to be the queen of Panem High at my time just to raise a daughter that won't follow my footsteps." She explained, failing to satisfy Finn's questions.
"I still don't get why I should help her find a boyfriend and why I would care to do that." He retorted. "Well, simply because one, he showed her up. He made her look like a fool that he can easily replace, I want Clove to have someone better than him, to show him up as well, to let him know that my daughter always gets the best and HE IS NOT THE BEST. Two, you will gladly fulfil this request because I will pay you my dear." Portia finally answered. "I don't think you can pay me something that my father can't afford to give me." Finnick said, wanting it badly to hang up on his aunt. "Oh of course my dear,I know, though I doubt your father will willingly give you money to buy the latest model of Ferrari, a wonderful addition to your collection." Aunt Portia tempted her nephew and with that, she got him to say yes to her wish of getting her little Clove the best.
End of Flashback
Finnick is getting so excited while he changed into his normal clothes after their football training. He patted Cato's back indicating that they should go out of the locker room and go home. He mentally smirked knowing that his cousin will come stumbling down to the field any second.
"Odair!" Cato and Finnick heard a voice, a voice of a girl. Finnick smiled to the girl while Cato checked her out thoroughly. She was wearing a white tank top, a black jean shorts, a black platform boots and a leather jacket, Cato smirked. The one in front of him dresses like the girl version of him, though they were physically opposite. He was so tall, an inch or two above six feet while her head was only levelled with his shoulders even with the aid of the boots' heels. Her bright green eyes were contrary to his icy blue ones and her long and wavy raven crowning glory seemed to go even darker near his blonde hair. Her pale skin, the sprinkled freckles in her face and her magnificent curves doesn't go unnoticed from Cato either.
"Finn you have to give me a freaking ride home. Some crazy bastard blasted my tires!" the girl, Cato now assumed as Clove, blurted. "What? What happened?" Finnick tried to act like he was shocked though he was the one behind it. "I caught him stabbing my fourth tire with a knife and then he said he had mistaken my car as someone else's but I knew better! I gave him a few quick lessons before I left." Clove told his cousin while closing and opening her fist, indicating that she practiced her boxing and martial arts skills again.
"Too bad Clo, Annie and I are getting dinner. I can't drive you home." He said, pretending to be sympathetic. "Come on Finn! My house' not that far!" Clove said demanding him to get her home. "No, Annie can't wait. By the way Cato, this is Clove, Clove this is Cato, a new friend, and I believe he can actually give you a lift." Finn introduced Cato to Clove as he directed his gaze to the other boy and gave him a smirk.
"Odair, do you honestly think that you can convince me to let a stranger drive me home?" she questioned the sanity of her cousin as a frown forms on her face. "What's the problem? You can always use what you've learned in Taekwondo before he can do something bad to you." Finnick reasoned.
The frown on Clove's face disappeared as she rolled her eyes out of frustration for her cousin. "Fine." She answered as she grabbed Cato's hands and lead him to the school's parking lot.
"Which is your car?" Clove finally asked, realizing that she can't lead him anymore without knowing which car is his. "That one, the silver Porsche." Cato pointed out proudly. Clove just started to walk again, surprising Cato with her lack of appreciation for his car. She proceeded to the passenger's side of the vehicle with Cato on her back. She turned to face him wondering why the hell he is waiting for her. "What? Don't you want me to open the door for you?" Cato asked figuring out what is going inside Clove's head. "I have my own hands and I can open this door, thank you very much. Just get inside and start this damn car." She said fiercely.
Cato backed away and smiled to himself as he sat on the driver's seat and start the engine of his car. He was right about Clove being a handful but for some strange reason, he wanted this girl so bad that he's actually up for the challenge she'll surely give him.
A/N: Finally, Clove arrived. Did you like it? I really hope you did. Reviews are very well appreciated and needed as inspiration for the next chapter.
