A/N: There are no words that could possibly make up for this crazy long wait. I know. I'm sorry. This is in no way an excuse, but I've been completely caught up in college- this is the first time in a long time that I've just sat down and typed. Maybe it's because I got out of the habit, but this chapter was also insanely hard to write. Please tell me your thoughts and if you like the direction it's going in! As always, review!
Also, on another note: please try not to curse at me to review. I know from personal experience that there's nothing worse than a story that won't get updated, but please try to be patient with me- I'm trying my best to fit writing into my new college lifestyle. I in no way owe you a chapter. Reviews that ask me for an update always make my day and definitely make me feel guilty for not writing, but reviewers that make it seem that I owe them a chapter for some reason DO NOT. If anything, it gives me an excuse to not write.
Sorry for that long-winded rant: I still love you all! Please review with your thoughts and suggestions!
Chapter Ten: Try to Go It Alone for a Bit
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People were whispering as Clove walked down the familiar hallway- and it was not about her first-day-of-school outfit.
Which was amazing by the way.
No, instead of admiring her Dior two-toned saddle shoes or her one-of-a-kind Swarovski headband or her daring navy blue circle skirt, they were all postulating about how North Hill's queen had showed up that morning solo.
I heard that Glimmer and her hooked up all last year, and Clove cheated on her with somebody in France.
False- I heard that Cato started doing heroin and tried to get with her in a drug-induced haze.
Well, I heard that they were involved in a ménage a trois and now Glimmer is pregnant with his love child. She's in a hospital in Europe until she gives birth.
Clove rolled her eyes as she strode by, making sure not to make eye contact with any of the peasants. She zeroed in on the back of Johanna's head by the choir room and changed course smoothly, as if she were headed there all along instead of walking aimlessly through the hallways.
Johanna turned to face her just as Clove drew near, as if she could sense her presence. "And how are you on the first day of school? Ready to commit mass suicide yet?"
Clove smirked, "Not quite, but don't count me out yet." She rifled through her Kate Spade tote, "We have World History and Lit together right?"
Johanna nodded, curling the end of her high ponytail around her pointer finger. "Are you taking Intro to Proofs?"
Wrinkling her nose in distate, "You know me and theoretical math do not mix well- I'm taking Stats this year."
"Damn," she sighed. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to take notes this year." She squinted her eyes at someone behind Clove. "Marvel!" she barked suddenly, making Clove start in alarm. "You taking Proofs this year?"
"Yeah," he called back. "You too?"
Johanna's eyes brightened hopefully, "What period?"
"I don't remember- what period are you?"
"Well, I don't remember either!" Johanna rolled her eyes in annoyance, "I gotta go figure this out, you coming?"
Clove nodded, picking a stray piece of thread off her immaculate white pressed blouse as she followed Johanna towards Marvel.
Just as they arrived, Finnick, Annie and Cato strolled up to join them. "Clove, you look great!" Annie greeted cheerily. Clove fought to keep her gaze on Annie as opposed to the boy standing slightly behind her. She could feel his eyes on her but ignored them with every inch of willpower she had.
"Thanks, you too Ann- I love your necklace!" Annie smiled and started no doubt another story of how Finnick had showered her with jewelry and affection. Clove tried to stay interested, but her eyes slowly wandered to the object of her not-so-affection.
She had almost forgotten how good Cato looked in his uniform- the navy blazer emphasized his lean, powerful figure and there was nothing quite like a cute boy in a tie. She inwardly cursed herself to giving in to temptation just as her eyes flicked up to his familiar, achingly handsome face.
He looked sad. Tired. Worn down.
Handsome as hell as always- but still, Clove could tell him that this whole fall-out had not been easy for him. It was almost enough to make her relent.
Almost.
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Finnick leaned over conspiratorially as Dr. Octavius reviewed chemical bond types. "How you holdin' up man?"
Cato's grip on his pencil tightened, "She didn't even speak to me this morning."
"Yeah, but that might be a blessing in disguise- Clove's mean with her words."
He had to give Finnick that, "But at least that would mean she cared enough to rip me to shreds…. Now, now I'm not sure she does."
Finnick scoffed just as the bell for lunch rang. "Dude, believe me she still cares. Annie caught her checking you out this morning. Even if she hadn't, she still cares- It's Clove, come on!"
Cato perked up as he shouldered his backpack, "Well there's that at least."
The two walked down the hallway towards the courtyard for lunch, ignoring the omnipresent sighs of appreciation from the female student body.
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Awoken as Professor Wiress broke into another fit of coughs from speaking too quickly about the basics of writing a deductive proof, Johanna cracked open one eye to find Marvel looking at her with amusement.
"We've only been in this class for," he checked his Patek Phillipe watch, "for exactly 42 minutes and you've already fallen asleep three times. Bravo, really."
She shrugged, "I honestly could care less about this class."
"Then why are you taking it?"
She straightened her blouse out, letting Marvel get a good look at her ample cleavage. "I needed an easy, blow-off class this semester," she didn't even bother to lower her voice.
Marvel cocked an eyebrow, "Ordinary people would not consider Theoretical Proofs a blow-off class."
She flicked her ponytail behind her shoulder playfully, "Well, I'm not ordinary people."
Marvel leaned in conspiratorially, "Well if this is class is so easy for you, how about you tutor me?"
Johanna's pupils dilated at the close proximity- Marvel's expensive cologne tickled at her nose. For some reason, she had the sudden urge to bury her nose into his neck and just inhale. "Well, what would I get in exchange?" she managed in a slightly huskier voice than she anticipated.
Marvel smirked, "Well if you had been awake, you would have heard Wiress mention the weekly note checks." Johanna swore under her breath, and Marvel's smile grew wider. "So unless you want to keep yourself awake for the rest of the year, you might want to consider tutoring me in exchange for my notes."
Johanna weighed the options for a minute before nodding, "You've got yourself a deal, Carraway."
Marvel nodded before turning back to take notes on the figure on the chalk board. Johanna let her eyes linger on his handsome profile before falling back asleep.
Unfortunately, she only managed to doze off before the bell dismissed the class. Marvel jostled her awake, "C'mon, Sleeping Beauty, time to head to lunch."
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Clove tapped the fingernails on her right hand against the wooden desk as she took notes intently with her left hand. Social Cognitive Theory: the belief that behavior is…. She stopped suddenly when Katniss put a firm hand on Clove's twitchy fingers.
"Stop, please," Katniss whisper-begged. Peeta nodded in agreement from the seat next to her.
Clove gave them a slightly confused look. All this over a nervous tic? "Okay, I'll stop tapping! Jesus!"
Katniss gave Peeta an exasperated look. Peeta jumped in, "We meant stop putting Cato through the ringer, Clover." Clove sighed as Peeta continued, "He's off his game in soccer, he hasn't been sleeping, he's been drinking more…"
"Not my problem anymore." But she couldn't stop a part of her from aching at the image of Cato hurt. Granted, a much larger part of her felt vindicated, triumphant for hurting him like he had hurt her. Nevertheless, Cato Einhardt would always be her problem, just like she would always be his. They were tied to each other, bound by something neither could really describe or address.
That's where the problem arose. Clove couldn't handle this in-between relationship, this perpetual grey area. She was Clove Windsor, she dealt solely in black and white. Give her any problem and she could fix it. But how do you fix something that was never quite right? Are people supposed to affect each other so strongly? Should she really give Cato that much power over her?
Do you still have a choice in the matter?
Clove turned back resolutely to her notes, and just as Peeta was about to speak out again, Katniss cut him off. "Give her time, Peet. That's all we can do for now."
Clove didn't speak for the rest of class, wrapped up in her own thoughts. She didn't say a word as she followed Peeta and Katniss to lunch, steeling herself for another encounter with Cato.
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Clove picked at her Waldorf salad, surreptitiously keeping an eye out for Cato. She didn't mean to, but it was a hard habit to break- caring about Cato. Annie caught her in the act, "I wonder where Cato and Finnick are," she voiced innocently.
All eyes turned to Clove, "Don't look at me- nothing's stopping him from sitting with us at lunch."
"Clove," a masculine voice rang out from behind her, "Coin wanted your agenda for the meeting tomorrow." Clove turned around to find Thom Langston behind her. He was Parliamentarian of their school's Student Government Association-
why the fuck was Cecelia Rush talking to Cato? Clove completely tuned out Thom as she squinted at the offending pair. Was Cecelia's hand on Cato's arm? Damn, the groupies moved fast- Clove had forgotten how desperate most girls at North Hills were for Cato.
She grit her teeth, forcing herself to calm down. Calm, Clove- don't jump to conclusions. Sure enough, Cato shook free and continued to make his way towards their usual lunch table.
Their eyes connected for one, electric moment before he glared at Thom's back. Clove's eyes returned to Thom slowly before an idea sparked in her mind.
Why hadn't she thought of making Cato jealous before just now? It was so simple really. Cato had always been territorial over her, and she had always allowed it because she secretly loved it. It would drive him crazy to see her with some other guy, a potential competitor- and there would be nothing he could do about it. Jealousy would have him begging on his knees before her, ready to submit to her domination just to have him to herself again.
A slow, devious smile spread onto her face as she remembered just how jealous Finnick had gotten when Annie had started dating Peeta sophomore year.
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It was the tenth grade ski trip to Vermont, and Glimmer and Clove were sitting on the coach bus together excitedly planning the week ahead. Suddenly, Annie came sniffling towards them, swaying with the slightly nausea-inducing bus.
"Annie!" Glimmer gasped, "What's wrong?"
"It's the bus isn't it?" Clove jumped in knowingly, "I don't get why we couldn't get coach cars or something, being this close to the entire sophomore body is giving me a headache."
At that exact moment, the bus went over a pothole, and Annie stumbled, losing her balance slightly. Clove slid over on the seat, pulling Annie into their row. "Ann, what's wrong?"
"I just, I just," she mumbled. "I don't understand why Finnick's being so mean to me!" Clove and Glimmer craned their necks towards the back, where Finnick, Cato, and Peeta were sitting in the very last row. Peeta was playing a game on his phone, while Cato watched absorbedly. Clove snorted- idiots. Meanwhile, Finnick brooded as he gazed out the window.
Glimmer and Clove shared a look. Finnick had been in a pissy mood ever since Annie and Peeta had started going out two months ago, and it didn't take a genius to connect the dots. Almost everyone of their friends were aware of it, except for Peeta and Annie, who were too oblivious for their own good.
"I just don't get it!" Annie whimpered. "I asked him if he wanted my extra scarf, and he just gave me the meanest look! He's been like this for weeks, but he keeps insisting he's fine."
"Maybe he's hung over something," Clove suggested subtly. "Like a girl…"
Annie sobered quickly, "Well," she responded quietly, "I'm sure it'll all work itself out, I just want him to be happy like me and Peeta!"
Glimmer snorted quietly, while Clove resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Annie excused herself to go sit by Johanna, leaving Glimmer and Clove to gossip about the torrid love triangle.
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The students all came tumbling out of the bus once they reached the ski resort. They sucked in the chilly, crisp mountain air, stretching their backs and complaining about the bus ride like the spoiled trust fund children they all were.
Cato came to stand by Clove and Glimmer as the luggage was all sorted out. "Hey," he greeted as they all shivered slightly, watching the chaos unfold before them. Clove laughed as Blight O'Donnell tried to pull out his duffel and succeeded at smacking their chaperone, Ms. Cressida, in the face. "Cato," she requested casually, "Can you tell Finnick to stop being an asshole to Annie?"
He shrugged, "What am I supposed to say- Dude, everyone is waiting for you to realize that you're in love with Annie? It's not like it matters, even if he did, he can't break up Annie and Peeta. That would make things worse."
Glimmer watched Annie and Peeta as he helped her move her suitcase into the lobby, "They are cute together though, Annie and Peeta I mean. Is it wrong that I like them together?"
Clove nodded towards Finnick, who was staring stonily at the couple as well. "As long as you don't tell Finnick that. If he would just come to terms with his feelings…."
Cato slung an arm each over Glimmer and Clove's shoulders. "Ladies, I'm going to tell you a little secret that hopefully might save you two from heartache." His voice dropped conspiratorially, "Guys," he started dramatically, "are idiots." And with that, he patted them both on the shoulders before going to cheer up Finnick.
Clove and Glimmer shared another eye-roll before bursting into laughter.
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Eventually, Finnick had realized what Clove had known the minute she had introduced Finnick to Annie that day in second grade. When Peeta and Annie finally broke up during the summer before junior year, Finnick had been there, waiting to pick up the pieces. However, Clove remembered how Finnick had more mood swings during the course of sophomore year than a pregnant woman in her third trimester.
Laughing to herself, she turned her attention towards Thom in a very calculated move. "Did you go to the beach this summer, Thom? You look so good with a tan." In all honesty, Clove hadn't even bothered to notice the condition of Thom's skin- everyone knew that the Langstons had a yacht that they used every summer.
He grinned, "Thanks- so about the agenda…"
"Why don't you sit down while I try to figure out where I put it?" She patted the empty seat to her side.
Johanna mumbled warningly into Clove's ear from her other side, "Cloveeee, you don't want to do this…." But Clove waved her off.
Clove pretended to search through her tote, "Shoot! I must have thrown the notes for the agenda away with my morning latte. And I didn't get a chance to type them up yet." She chewed her bottom lip in fake anxiety, and Thom's eyes flickered to her lips. She fought back a grin. Like taking candy from a baby. "Do you think you could come over to my house tonight after football practice and help me figure something out?"
Thom nodded helpfully but shot an anxious look at Cato, who was seething and heading straight their way. "Okay, but are you sure Einhardt would be okay with that?"
The mere insinuation that Cato was her keeper of some sort made Clove inwardly roll her eyes. She scooted closer to him, and Thom's gaze fell to her body. "Don't worry, Thom. It won't be an issue."
.
Cato strode up to the table angrily. He dropped his bag to the ground loudly and obviously, yet Clove did not turn away from where she was giggling with Thom.
"What the hell is going on?" he asked Marvel.
Marvel gave him a sympathetic look, "Try to calm down, man. Knowing Clove, she's just doing it to bother you."
Even if that were true- and it was most likely true- Cato couldn't stop himself from getting frustrated. What was Clove doing talking to Thom? She wasn't even friends with him- and they were definitely not talking about SGA right now.
Clove smiled prettily at Thom for the umpteenth time, pushing her hair back so Thom's gaze would linger at her neckline. Sure enough, his eyes drifted to her cleavage. It was almost too easy. Cato growled, and Katniss gave him a wary look.
"Easy, tiger."
She's just doing it to get to you, he repeated like a mantra. But that suddenly seemed irrelevant as Thom casually leaned an arm closer to Clove.
Fuck it, there was no way in hell he was going down without a fight. "Excuse us for a second," he growled, jerking Clove from her conversation with a slight tug to her wrist. He promptly dragged her out of the courtyard into a nearby hallway. Conversations stopped suddenly- people watched in rapt attention as the hottest boy in school manhandled the Queen into a secluded part of the school. He would surely be hearing their interpretations of the situation by the end of fifth period.
Perfect. Just perfect- because he needed more drama in his life.
Did it ever occur to you, sweetie, that you are the drama?
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"What the hell are you doing out there?" he hissed, jerking her chin up so that she would look him in the eye.
Clove stiffened and swatted his hand away from her face, "Don't fucking touch me, Einhardt. And I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
"I'm talking about you all over Thom like your life depended on it!"
She turned her head petulantly to look outside the window next to them, "I don't answer to you anymore."
He had to snort at that, "Since when have you ever answered to me, your Majesty?" A sudden mean streak overcame him, and he roughly turned Clove's face to look at him again. "Oh wait, was it when you were moaning my name… whimpering for me to touch you… or begging for it on a granite kitchen countertop? The truth is, I shouldn't even worry about Thom or any other schmuck because I'm the only one who's ever been able to light a fire in you. Who can make you hot and bothered- and that terrifies you-"
Clove cut him off with a furious slap to his right cheek. She was trembling and had that steely look in her eye that preceded tears usually.
Cato dropped his eyes, downcast. "I shouldn't have said that, it was out of line."
Her voice was low and dangerous, "Keep in mind who you're messing with, Cato. You do not want to get on my bad side."
He raised a questioning eyebrow, "I'm not already?"
She didn't respond, instead tapping her foot impatiently. Cato could practically feel the gears in her mind churning, coming up with the perfect comeback to cover up her slip-up. Just as she opened her pretty mouth, a blonde girl tumbled to a stop before them.
"Pardon, could you direct me towards the lavatory?"
Clove whirled to face the offending interruption before stopping herself. Registering the girl's posh British accent and taking in her European chic attire, Clove realized that this must be the British ambassador's teenage daughter, who had just transferred to North Hills Preparatory this summer.
Clove fixed her best, pearly smile on and extended her hand, "I can- you must be Margaret Undersee, the ambassador's daughter?"
The girl flushed as she shook Clove's hand. "That's me, but all my friends call me Madge. Sorry, I was interrupting, I'll just be leaving then-"
"No, no it's fine! I'm Clove Windsor by the way, if you ever need anything…" Cato rolled his eyes, Clove would never pass up an opportunity to network.
Surprisingly, the girl's eyes lit up in recognition. "You're Gale's cousin, then! He's mentioned you quite a bit, pleased to meet you!"
Clove smirked, no wonder Gale had been so preoccupied the last few weeks. Her clever eyes swept over Madge, sizing her up. Her gleaming blonde hair was secured in a complicated, messy updo. As Madge flicked her bangs out of her cornflower blue eyes, Clove got a good look at her pretty-in-a-sweet-way face. Her outfit was impeccably tailored and put together, but paired with plain flats. Overall, Madge Undersee was a charming, pretty British girl with a decent wardrobe. A catch. Clove was impressed and satisfied with her cousin's choice.
"It's nice to meet you too, but why hasn't Gale brought you around to meet the family, or his friends? We would all love to get to know you better," Clove replied sweetly, the model of perfection.
Madge blushed slightly, "Oh, he wanted to, but I was a bit nervous…"
"Nonsense, you're sitting with us at lunch tomorrow."
"Oh… oh all right then! I suppose I should be getting familiar with Gale's friends anyways- he asked me to the school dance this morning," Madge confided shyly.
Clove's smile faltered. Shit. Homecoming. "You mean Homecoming?"
Madge nodded, bangs falling into her face again, "Yes, sorry, I'm still getting used to these American customs."
"Don't worry about it," Clove shook herself from her momentary slump. "I'll be glad to show you the ropes."
Madge flashed her a bright smile, "Thanks so much… sorry for cutting this short, but I actually need to go to the loo…"
"Of course, it's just down this hallway and then to the left of the library."
"All right, nice to meet you!" Madge waved and smiled awkwardly at Cato as well before rushing off.
Cato pushed off from the wall he had been leaning on for the entirety of the exchange. "She would make a nice addition to your followers," he offered cynically. There was something smug in his voice.
Clove huffed and began to walk down the hallway, "I don't know what you're talking about." Truthfully, she was thinking the same thing. Madge was a classy, beautiful girl- she would fit in perfectly with their group.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Clo." Cato trailed behind her stubbornly.
"-Don't call me that!"
The two walked in silence for a while, before Cato broke the silence. "So… what are you going to do about Homecoming, then?"
She stiffened at the subject matter but feigned ignorance. "Again, I'm not following."
"Don't play dumb, Clove, it doesn't suit you. I'm talking about the fact that you need a date now that you're hellbent on shutting me out- which you are doing a subpar job at, by the way- and all the acceptable alternatives are taken."
She refused to slow down from her pace down the hallway, "Thom Langston, Grant Aldridge…" she rattled off potential names.
Cato interrupted, "All football players who Finnick would be more than happy to bench for the next game for me if they even think about asking you." Damn him, she could hear the smirk in his voice.
"Cato!" she screeched, "I will end you!"
"Just give in," he whispered into her ear. "Give in and you won't regret it."
Clove didn't play that way, though. As much as Cato's manipulative plan made her hot for him- which believe her, it did, she wanted to push him into the lockers and jump his bones-she couldn't lose this way. What Clove needed was a boy, a cute, popular boy, preferably single. Although she wouldn't put it past herself to break up a couple if need be. Someone on the soccer team would be ideal because Peeta would never agree to ruin the soccer team's winning streak for Cato's misguided schemes. She needed a boy… She needed-
And just like, the answer was waiting for her at the end of the hallway like a shining beacon of hope.
"No," she snapped at Cato, coming to a sudden stop in the middle of the hallway. A triumphant smile spread onto her face, "No I can't, because I'm already going to Homecoming with Marvel."
Almost as if he had heard his name uttered, Marvel Carraway looked up from his locker to find Clove Windsor, gazing at him like he was the answer to all her prayers, and Cato Einhardt, looking like he was ready to tear him a new one.
"Shit," he muttered under his breath. "This cannot be good."
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I think this chapter was a little bit difficult to write because moving the characters into the high school setting required a revamped format. Please tell me if you like the direction this story is going in: Johanna and Marvel's budding relationship, Clove and Cato losing sight of their feelings and turning it into a competition (do you expect anything less?), the whole group's interactions in a high school setting, etc.
I hope you noticed that everyone's action became more guarded once it wasn't just them over the summer. Keep in mind that these are the popular kids at a very competitive school, they are heavily invested in staying at the top. Okay I'm in a rush to post this, so I'll just cut my self-analysis short- but please REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! I hope you all had a great New Years and stay tuned for next time (spoiler alert: Clove gets some competition, and Johanna and Marvel do more than just study)