-The Aftermath-


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"So what happened?" Marvel asked hesitantly, stealing a glance at Clove as he drove through the deserted streets. She sulked quietly and considered just ignoring him, but ultimately decided to tell him.

"I asked Cato if he slept with Glimmer this summer, and he didn't deny it."

Marvel choked on his own spit in panic. Shit, he knew Johanna would tell her. He struggled to keep his voice level and unsuspecting. "Really? Damn, that's rough."

Clove's voice began to get higher and higher. "I know, right? He didn't even care enough about me to tell him myself. Like…. God, I let him get to third base!"

Marvel swerved the car at Clove's rant, completely taken aback at how honest she was being with him. The girl had just met him a few weeks ago and she was already confessing to him.

Completely ignoring the fact that Marvel had almost gotten them killed, Clove continued. "It's so stupid, I should have realized that he would go for Glimmer instead….." Her voice quieted, "I'm such an idiot, why would I ever think he'd wait for me?"

Marvel pulled to a stop light, "Hey now…. Clove, don't say that…"

She turned to face him with challenging eyes. "You think she's hotter than me, don't you?"

He twitched nervously and began to stutter, "Uh… err…"

Miraculously, she let out a giggle. "I was just playing, relax." He nervously laughed along before pulling into the local burger joint. "What are we doing here?"

"I have an older sister, I know that the only way to really get over your feelings is to eat them."

Her eyes lit up, "God, I could go for a bacon burger right now…. but I shouldn't. I already ate way too much today…"

He ignored her and pulled up to the drive-thru, "Hi, I'd like two bacon burgers and two large fries." Clove tugged at his arm in protest, so he turned back to her. "Clove, you know you're gorgeous, alright? Don't worry about it," he reassured. She smiled slightly and let go of his arm to let him order.

This whole night had been an out-of-body experience. Her mind raced as it struggled to make sense of it in the only way she knew how: in an ordered, logical list.

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#1: She had practically had sex with Cato Einhardt on Johanna Mason's kitchen counter. Cato, the boy she used to play Go Fish with. The boy she had waited her whole life for.

#2: Shortly after the events of #1, she was informed by Johanna Mason that Cato Einhardt had already had sex with a different girl. This girl, in fact, was Glimmer Van Hoosen- her best friend.

#3: Who was, by the way, not even in the state anymore, as she had run off to Virginia to hide from her problems in her typical, I'm-a-beautiful-blonde-I-am-not-to-be-held-account able-for-myself way.

-How did that even happen? Cato and Glimmer weren't even that close, well, Clove always claimed that they were the Three Musketeers, but she was totally the glue binding them together. Also, there were actually four musketeers, so that analogy wouldn't even work- Focus Clove. Focus on the facts.

#4:After being rudely awakened, she had promptly told the first person she could trust, who happened to be Gale Hawthorne, her protective cousin. He had a bit of a temperament, so this was probably not the wisest of decisions.

#5: Cato, still blissfully unaware of #2-4, came back, probably in an attempt to sleep with her. And then abandon her and run off into the sunset with Glimmer, where they would have beautiful, carefree, perfect, blonde babies.

#6: Gale almost punched him right then and there, despite the fact that Gale and Cato were actually pretty close.

#7: Clove gave Cato an opportunity to confess, but like a true douchebag, he still refused to admit it.

#8: Cato Einhardt is an asshole.

#9: She had promptly made a quick getaway from Cato's trite excuses by jumping into a very confused Marvel Carraway's car.

#10: Which brought her to now, where she was stuffing her face with greasy burgers with Marvel Carraway in a very secluded parking lot. Who was not trying to get into her pants.

She didn't know which one was the most surprising.

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Marvel led her into one of the many guest bedrooms in his large, modern house. "You can stay here for the night," he offered. "If you're worried Cato will try to bother you."

She stumbled over to dramatically flop face down on the perfectly made bedspread. "Thanks, Marvel. You're a pal," she sighed before slipping into subconsciousness.

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In her fitful dreams, she imagined her and Cato. They were walking down some idyllic beach, hand in hand and completely perfect.

"Clove," Cato whispered as he pulled her to a stop. "This is perfect." She smiled in response as he tugged her closer to him, "We're perfect together."

"I know," she responded. "I love you."

"There's only one thing that would make this even better," Cato said. She blinked up at him. He was going to propose to her, she just knew it. They were both so young, but for some reason, she wanted nothing more for them to be together forever.

"I'm listening," she whispered excitedly. "What were you going to say?"

"The only thing that would make this even better…" Suddenly, the sky darkened forebodingly, and the waves crashed onto her violently. "Was if you were Glimmer." And suddenly, she was being swept away into the ocean as Cato reached for Glimmer, who was wearing Clove's own homecoming dress for some reason.

"Wait," she cried weakly. "Someone help!"

But no one came.

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She woke with a start, in an unfamiliar bed. After a moment, it all came rushing back to her.

Clove chewed on her lip and sat up in the comfy queen bed. Her mind was still struggling to process the information. How could he? She was still trying to figure out how to tell her brain that her best friend and this new person, who lied and cheated and used her, were one and the same.

Suddenly, the door cracked open. The light from the hallway flooded in, and Clove blinked uncertainly, trying to ascertain who it was. Annie Cresta walked in on tiptoe. When she saw that Clove was awake, her shoulders slackened. "You're awake," she whispered, as if she were still afraid of waking her up.

The taller girl sat uncertainly on the edge of the bed and faced Clove. "I brought you some clothes," she said carefully as she placed a pile of garments on the blanket between them. Clove suddenly became aware that she was still wearing the dress from Johanna's party.

Had it really only been a few hours since then? Just a couple of hours ago, Cato had been kissing her so intensely she thought for sure that she would burst. He had been caressing her gently over the very same dress that she was wearing now. How could that be?

The clock said it was 2:07, and Clove couldn't for the life of her figure out if it was night or day. Annie wrapped a lock of her pretty beach wave hair around a finger, "I wasn't sure what you wanted to wear, so I brought some of everything."

Clove looked down and in the sparing light in the room could make out a sundress, jean shorts, a few blouses, athletic shorts, and some tank tops and shirts. Enough clothes for at least two weeks. Despite herself, she felt her mouth twitch into a smile. "Thanks, Ann, I'm sure it'll be fine."

Annie giggled, "I kind of went overboard, huh?" Clove nodded a little before letting out a relieved laugh. It felt good to laugh, no matter how wrong she felt inside.

When they had both stopped chuckling, Annie sighed a little. "Finn told me what happened," Without asking permission, she pulled Clove into a hug.

Annie had been her first friend all those years ago. Their mothers had been in the same Lamaze class and had set up playdates for the two girls as soon as they could both sit up. Clove could still remember visiting the aquarium with her as a kid, completely happy in a way only children are. When did they drift apart?

They were still friends, but Annie and her were no longer close. It must have been some time after she had met Glimmer. Clove felt another pang and winced as she remembered once again what had happened, but also who she had forgotten along the way.

As Annie soothed her in the gentle way that only she had, Clove felt some sort of relief.

Maybe some friends drifted away so that when they reappeared, you would appreciate them that much more.

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Meanwhile, Cato was not quite having the same cathartic experience. "Mason! What did you tell Clove?"

Johanna pivoted slowly and sipped some of her drink delicately, taking her time. "Excuse you?"

"What did you say to her?"

"I think we both know what I told her, brainless."

"How did you even find out!?"

Johanna's thoughts drifted to Marvel. He didn't deserve to take the brunt of Cato's anger. And Johanna could handle the hot-headed boy in front of her by herself for now. "I plead the fifth," she replied calmly.

Cato's eyes grew wild, but he knew not to cross her right now. Good boy.

He grit his teeth, "Fine. But what made you think you had the fucking right to tell her something like that?"

She raised one eyebrow coolly, "Are you saying it wasn't true." It wasn't a question.

Cato choked on his own spit and sputtered wildly for a few seconds.

"Exactly. Everyone deserves the truth, even an asshole like you. So here's the truth: you really fucked up this time."

.

He drove erratically to her house first, probably more inebriated than he should have been. The brakes squealed as he skidded to a stop right in front of her house. Cato sprinted to the door and rang the bell, when that didn't work as quickly as he wished, he began to pound on the heavy wooden double doors.

To his disappointment, the doors opened to a very sleepy-looking, middle-aged woman in a bathrobe. "Meester Cato?"

"Hi Portia, is Clove here?"

"Eeet is past midnight, Meester Cato." Portia began to close the doors gently, "You come back to veesit tomorrow."

"No!" Portia's eyes widened at Cato's outburst. "I mean, I just want to know if she's here- it's really important."

Portia's tongue clicked, "I do not know where Meez Clove is- she deed not come back. Her mother would be deesapointed if she knew."

Cato let out a frustrated sigh, "Look, Portia, you can tell me the truth-"

"No, no Meez Clove eez not here, I tell you the truth!" Clove's sweet, Polish housekeeper insisted. "Why, eez something the matter?"

"No, no," he muttered.

"Eez Meez Clove hurt?"

"No, nothing like that." But she was actually, hurt beyond repair. "Just tell me if she comes back, okay?" With that, Portia nodded and closed the door while yawning heavily.

At this point, he was getting worried. Where could Clove be? Where could she have gone? What could she possibly be doing at a time like this?

If it were any day before this summer, he could have answered definitively. Clove would have gone to straight to Glimmer's house if she were upset. Then, they would have called him up and given him all the gory details. He would insist on coming over to comfort her, and after a while of feigned hesitance, Clove would agree. He, Clove, and Glimmer would spend the night talking about everything and anything, until she forgot about all of her problems.

But now, none of that would ever happen again. Because of him.

It was like that video game he played as a kid, Carmen Sandiego. Where in the World is Clove Windsor?

If it only were that simple to find her.

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"It's stupid. It's stupid, that I'm making even such a big deal about this, isn't it?"

Annie just listened patiently, tracing the pattern of the pillow with one finger. She knew that what Clove really needed to right now was vent. The girl had always had a dangerous temper. If she ever felt threatened or unsafe, she would lash out unforgivingly. And no one needed to experience a true Clove Windsor freakout.

The last time Clove had really flipped a shit was when her dad had run off with another man in middle school. Annie still shuddered at the memory.

Clove continued, "This whole thing is a mess. I shouldn't even be surprised or hurt at all. I mean…. I always thought… hoped that Cato liked me… Maybe it was just wishful thinking. Why would he ever choose me over Glimmer?" Her jaw tightened. "She's fun and easy and gorgeous…."

Annie looked up sadly. It was almost disgraceful how much this had affected Clove's self esteem. North Hill's Queen was no more. And for what? A boy?

Isn't it always for a boy?

"Don't tell anyone this, but I always imagined us losing our virginities to each other," Clove glanced up at Annie quickly before averting her eyes. "Which is pathetic considering we weren't even together…. I just feel like such a fool. Here I am, imagining this perfect fantasy, and he's off screwing my best friend. He was just playing with me, all this time." Clove swallowed, "He didn't even do anything wrong, really if you think about it."

"So do you think you'll ever forgive him?"

"I… I just need him to keep his distance for now, y'know?" Clove contemplated quietly. "He needs to just give me time and space." She closed her eyes, "But this changes everything. I don't think things will ever be the same-"

But their conversation was cut off by a commotion outside the window.

Time and space was exactly what Cato Einhardt wasn't giving her.

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"You asshole, I trusted you!" Cato roared, shoving Marvel roughly. Marvel tripped on the ground behind him and fell to the ground. Terrified, he looked up at Cato looming over him. He had never seen Cato so angry: he was practically seething. Cato wound his arm back in preparation to sock Marvel in the face. "I thought we were friends!"

"Cato!" Clove stormed out of the house in a pair of Annie's shorts and a t-shirt. Her hair was messily tied back in a bun. "Hands off Marvel."

Cato's fist immediately dropped down to his side. "Clove," he breathed. Marvel scampered to his feet, and brushed his clothes off.

Clove turned her back on Cato. "Are you okay, Marvel?" Her tone softened. "Sorry you got involved in this." Oh honey, you don't even know how involved he really is. "Just go inside, okay?"

Marvel squinted suspiciously at Cato's very angry stance. "Okay, but I'll be right inside with Finn and Annie, call for us if you need anything." He retreated to the house, where Finnick and Annie were peering out from the front French windows.

"You," she swiveled to deal with him. Her eyes, once so warm when looking at him, were now so chilly he almost shivered. "What do you want?"

"I came to apologize, to explain-"

"What can you explain Cato? Oh, 'it was a mistake'?"

"Exactly!" he exclaimed, relieved.

"-The thing is, how could it be a mistake? Did she fall on your dick? Did you just accidentally trip into bed with her?"

"…No…"

"Oh, or how about the classic? You were drunk, you didn't know what you were doing?"

Cato shrunk into his skin. She wouldn't believe him.

"…. Well? Let's hear it then."

He struggled to form coherent sentences. "I…. It…. I mean, I… I…."

Clove laughed brokenly, "Oh, in that case…" Her voice hitched, "Just own up to it, and we can move on."

"Move on?" His hope brightened, was she really forgiving him that easily?

"Yeah, move on. Take separate roads, part ways."

No, this couldn't be the way they ended. "I can't just give you up, Clo."

The emergence of her nickname made tears spring to her eyes. "You already have."

"But… but," I love you. "What about what you said before? You can't…. you can't just give up on me, Clove."

"This is no one's fault but your own. So just stop."

"It was…. it was a mistake, Clove," he croaked.

"-I don't care! I don't care if you were drunk, or if you thought I would never find out or whatever! Just leave me alone!"

"It's not like I belong to you-"

Clove couldn't even hear what he had said. All she wanted to scream was: "That's a dirty lie, because we belong to each other!" She swallowed her words though. She couldn't say that, not anymore.

Changing tactics, "What the fuck are you even doing here, Clove? Sleeping with him, for revenge?"

Clove bristled, "No. We're not all like you, Cato." Her voice shook a little, "I wouldn't do something like that." Cato visibly relaxed, before Clove snapped out of her pathetic pity- party. "Wait…. What gives you the right to ask me something like that?! Especially after what you did!" Clove's face flushed red with hurt and frustration. "You do not get to come over here and ask me something like that! Get the fuck away from me!"

He was wracked with panic. A sad Clove might be heartbreaking and kill him figuratively, but an angry Clove might just kill him. Literally.

It was too late. She was a spitting ball of fury, flinging insults at him at the speed of light. Clove's hands were on her hips. Her short stature was a few feet away from him; but for all intents and purposes, she was towering twenty feet over him. He cowered and held up his hands in self-defense.

"No Clove," he tried to soothe frantically. "I didn't mean it, any of it. I said the wrong thing, please don't hate me, please don't, please-I love you!"

She stopped suddenly.

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Clove took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in her throat.

Damn him.

Damn him and his shitty timing and his puppy-dog eyes and his dopey smile and everything else about him.

She was this close to moving on, and he had to go make some self-indulgent proclamation. Selfish.

Cato had finally gotten up the courage to admit something they had both been circling around for years.

She wanted to hit him.

It would be so easy to just forgive him. She wanted to forgive him, run into his arms and stay there forever.

But she just couldn't let it go. Clove Cordelia Windsor did not simply allow herself to give in. So she braced herself with a deep breath, ordered the tears in her eyes to stop multiplying, and forced her hands to stop shaking.

"No," she shouted in a shaky voice. "You don't get to say that. Not after what you did. You can't just- say things like that-"

"But I do!" he insisted. "I've loved you for as long as I can remember-" He was cut off when he had to duck to avoid Clove whipping a lawn ornament she had found by her feet at his face.

"Shut up! Just shut up!" she screeched. "You can't just say things like that, asshole. If you loved me, then you wouldn't have gone and slept with her. And you wouldn't have lied to me. And you wouldn't have screwed everything up!" She had always thought that Cato was the only one she wouldn't have to work to keep, that she could depend on him. But the minute she left, he jumped into bed with Glimmer.

You will not cry, she told herself. Clove composed herself quickly with a few flustered blinks, and then sighed. "You always used to be the one I could count on- out of everyone, I thought you were special. But I learned my lesson. The only person I can count on is myself."

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A/N: So there you have it. Clove is pissed, Cato is regretful, and Johanna and Marvel are in cahoots. Don't worry though! Clove will find that it is easier said than done to ignore Cato and to continue being mad at him. I mean, the boy is hot.

I just want to clarify on Clove's position. She's a logical girl and realizes that technically Cato didn't do anything wrong, given their present relationship stage. She's really just mad that it wasn't her, that it was Glimmer. But to admit to something like that would mean admitting to having genuine feelings for Cato. Something she's not willing to do right now given the present situation. Cato will realize this in the next chapter and exploit her weakness, her pride, to get her to address their problems.

Sorry for the long wait guys. I have a full-time job now, and am starting college in the fall. There's always something to be done. But I just got a new laptop for college, so hopefully now I can write on the go! Please REVIEW, the reviews are the only thing that motivate me to write when I'm feeling lazy!

Teaser for next chapter: Cato tries to win Clove back, and Clove doesn't hate it as much as she claims to.