Chapter Nine

Johanna's POV

Stupid Marvel getting in the way of things. I stood behind him impatiently in the buffet, trying to remain calm and process what Clove had told me. Above everything else I was wondering how the hell to break the news to Cato, he wasn't going to take it well. Much as he hated to admit it the guy was a sensitive douchebag, who also sucked at dealing with emotions, a great combination for the news I was no doubt going to have to deliver later.

"Sup Jojo," Gale asked, butting in front of me in the queue for food. There were multiple causes of offence there, cutting in front of me, calling me Jojo, the fact he was Gale, but I couldn't bring myself to be mad. I was too, well crushed seemed to be the only word I could use to describe it.

"Piss off Gale," I muttered, picking up the serving spoon before trying to ignore the look of genuine hurt that flitted in his eyes.

"Hey, what's up?" he asked more quietly this time, looking a little upset. God I hated this.

"Nothing Gale, just forget about it," I exhaled as I spoke, trying to maintain some control as I pointlessly spooned food onto my plate. I realized it was potatoes a moment too late.

"Firstly stop spooning potatoes on your plate, you don't like them. Secondly please tell me what's up?" the pleading in his voice only made this worse. Fuck after everything going so well this afternoon as well.

"Look it doesn't matter Gale, I'd really rather not talk about it here," I sighed. I knew I was being harsh but if I wasn't harsh I would cave and that would end horrendously.

"Ok so we'll go for a walk," he suggested hopefully, taking my plate from me and placing it down on the counter.

"Gale can we not, please?" I begged, planting my feet stubbornly into the ground and giving him the most pleading look I could manage.

"What happened? Are you upset about Katniss again?"

"No Gale because amazingly not everything revolves around her like you seem to think it does," I snapped. Crap. Not this again, not now. It was such a stupid argument and we'd had it so many times, I couldn't be bothered. Clearly he couldn't either and I heard him sigh as I pushed past him and headed out of the dining room and back up to my room. Dinner wasn't that important anyway.

Clove's POV

"Hey Clove," Marvel greeted me claiming the seat next to me. I looked around quickly and noticed that Johanna had disappeared, I felt guilty for a moment thinking maybe what I'd told her earlier was the reason but then remembered it's Johanna, it takes something pretty special to put her off her food.

"Hey geek," I replied playfully, smiling as best I could.

"You enjoying the sun?" he asked, I decided it was probably best not to mention that I hadn't actually spent too much time in the sun due to other levels of drama that seemed to have appeared.

"A little bit. Hopefully get some more tomorrow. You?" I asked, desperate to get him talking about himself, he was good at that.

"Nah, I'm not a huge fan of the sun. Plus some of us actually have to work tomorrow," he reminded me.

"Oh yeah I forgot you guys are up tomorrow! Can we come and cheer you guys on?" I asked, attempting to sound like I actually wanted to spend my day inside and not training to take my mind off everything.

"Well there's not usually much cheering but if coach lets you off I guess you could come watch. Might actually pick a few things up here and there," he teased. I debated if Coach Odair would let me off training, a break would definitely be appreciated at the moment.

"Hey guys mind if we join you?" Katniss appeared with Peeta and Cato, I couldn't bring myself to look Cato in the eyes since Johanna's confession on his behalf.

"Sure gather round," I was happy Marvel seemed so happy to have company. I was personally trying to work out how quickly I could inhale my dinner without being overly rude. Peeta and Marvel launched into a conversation about their contest tomorrow.

"Well Clove might be coming alone to support us so you could come too," Marvel pointed out to Katniss. Crap, no. I wasn't even sure if it was possible. Cato shot me an "oh really?" kind of look and I found myself blushing and looking away. Crap this was not good!

"I'll ask coach when I see him and hopefully I can come too then," Katniss replied, Peeta couldn't stop the smile spreading across his face. I would need to remember to ask her about that later.

"In that case I'll come too," Cato decided. What?

"Excellent. The more the merrier!" Marvel declared. The boy was so clueless sometimes! Within seconds he was arguing with Peeta about the pros and cons of certain baking ingredients. This day just got weirder and weirder.

"Cato are you sure you want to go tomorrow. You don't have to," I tried to sound like he would get bored of it, secretly wishing he'd go to training. He'd feel better after it anyway. Plus now there was no way I could get to training without at least asking about going to the science contest.

"No I want to. I think it could be a very productive day," I met his challenging gaze with my own cold one. God he was such a stubborn –

"Clove can I talk to you for a second?" I have never been so happy to have Gale interrupt something.

"Of course," I refused to let my gaze leave Cato's until it was completely necessary before turning round and heading out towards the pool with Gale.

Gale's POV

Why had I decided this was a good idea? They were best friends. She was bound to tell her anything I said to her now. Was that a bad thing though? I mean I wasn't going to say anything I didn't mean. Plus this was bugging me. Johanna had been so, well amazing this afternoon with just the two of us. I don't know what had happened between now and then that had made her so pissy at me.

"Do you know what's up with Johanna?" I blurted out before I could change my mind and make some stupid comment about the weather. The question didn't catch her as off-guard as I thought it might have done.

"No idea, she's not really told me much about today," she hinted. So she'd been being cold with Clove as well. Great.

"I don't know what got into her, she was so well," and I couldn't bring myself to tell her. Johanna had asked me not to mention it to anyone, even though there was a part of me that thought she'd have told Clove anyway I agreed. Now really wasn't a good time to do something that would probably piss her off further.

"Well she seemed happy enough when she got back this afternoon," she admitted, a little reluctantly. I couldn't help but relax a bit knowing that it wasn't my fault.

"So what happened then?" I asked, more out of curiosity now. I was sure Johanna would tell me eventually, well when she'd calmed down and decided I needed to apologize for something I didn't do.

"I don't know she came out of the shower and suddenly she was all pissy with me," Clove replied and I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't the only one who was holding back information.

Author's Note: Hola! So a little bit kind of explained… actually no, just more questions that I'm sure you're all puzzling over! Anyway I would like to recommend a few stories to you by my dear friend who's name on this is "Living In My Imagination" because her stories are just hilarious and brilliant and fantastic and I can't continue with the adjectives because I'll be here all day! But seriously after you review (hint hint) go check her out! You won't regret it! And once again thank you for your support guys and hope you're still enjoying it! :)

-R