Hi guys, I am really, really sorry I haven't updated in AGES, and you've given me way over the amount of reviews I asked for! But, I wrote this other chapter on my phone, and it was almost six thousand words long, and my phone refreshed and it deleted! I was so burned up, I couldn't write again for ages!
Can I have 65 reviews this time? That's only three! Also, this idea completely and utterly stems from the fabulous Rebyll, thank you so much! If you want to see Clove in this, (I've finally decided what she looks like) and want to see the dress she wears later in the chapter, copy and paste this link into the search bar;
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Music is lightly spilling out from the docking station by her bead while she sleeps, breath light as a feather.
Me? I haven't slept much, really.
It's a song called Treacherous, I think its by Taylor Swift, and she almost instinctively hums the tune along, even in her sleep.
The three am sky is a deep violet, splattered with a deep, beaten bruise navy, and only a handful of dead light stars are thrown across the atmosphere, glinting and winking at each other.
They throw distorted blue shapes across her arms and legs, staining the moon coloured skin that twitches and edges along crisp, sterile white sheets, littered with scars and battle wounds. It's hard to believe those scars bloomed into their malicious lives only two days after I'd had the pleasure of seeing her in short shorts and a camisole, back when I'd caught her staring at my boxers, back when I sang to her like a cabaret singer.
Well, we found out what happened.
Glimmer.
That bitch.
I couldn't believe it. Clove was interviewed by medical staff as soon as she was strong enough. She didn't want to get her in trouble first, but with hard coaxing from Blye and a reassuring glance from me, she spilt all.
She said their names, told us how they'd practically jumped her as she turned the corner into the street next to Glimmer's own, Tracker Nest Way.
She told us how Glimmer had landed countless punches on her, before Melanie Snow (apparently Glimmer's cousin from C) tripped her up, and the real pain began. She told us how Enobaria strangled her for Glimmer's approval, like a hazing ritual, and how Johanna tried to stop them.
She got knocked out when Glimmer broke her second rib.
The medical assessment we got when we first got here? That was just for starters.
Clove hadn't been awake when those bitches did her arms. Thin, deep, jagged cuts, from her shoulder to her fingertips, broken up into fragments, on both sides.
Apparently, her back is even worse. From the back of her neck, all along the vertebrae of her spine, down to the base of her back, there are meant to be scars, deeper still than the ones on her arms. I didn't look, because I knew if I saw them, I'd have to hunt Glimmer down.
And you know I said about the blood-stained t-shirt she'd been wearing? How there were wounds on her side that Cato had tried to stop bleeding?
She wasn't awake for all of those either.
The ones she was awake for were shallow, where Glimmer had dragged her stiletto down, and it had siphoned the skin. But the ones that really bled? They were intense, deep knife wounds, just like the ones on her spine, her arms. But these were stabbings, ripped down ridiculously malicious and bloody. One was so deep, she was lucky to have survived.
Enobaria damaged her neck and lungs while choking her.
Her collarbone was cracked.
Wrist broken.
Three ribs broken.
Stab wounds.
Glimmer or one of her cronies had obviously brought a pocketknife or something, because that stomach wound nearly killed her.
And let's not forget that her whole body was covered in cuts and bruises.
They made Glimmer come in and apologise her. She pouted and sighed before muttering a "sorry" so fast it was obviously fake. And the minute the adults turned their backs, she snarled at Clove and flipped her off.
I nearly killed her, but it took Clove's frail but reprimanding hand on my forearm to warn me off, but I was that close; that close to flipping out on her. They excluded her and Enobaria, and Melanie, who's eighteen, got taken into the police, apparently she'd done stuff like this before.
I stare at her visible scars now that she's sleeping. Black, ink, purple. They stand out against her skin, most faded to deep dark colours, some still fiery red or shell pink.
I slowly grasp her sleeping hand between my own two, and bring it gently up to my lips, where I kiss it softly, before I let the tears slip out of my closed eyelids, looking at the girl I love damaged like this.
"Mrs Manner, she will be fine, I've given her some tablets, and as long as you bring her in for her checkup next week, everything is all good." The doctor smiles warmly at a blushing Blye. "Now if you'll just sign this release form, Clove is free to go."
His name's Dalton, the doctor, and he has a warm country accent and a beaming smile. I think Blye has a crush on him, and I'm sure we will be seeing a lot more of him soon, if you know what I mean.
While Blye inks her familiar signature on the dotted line, Clove shuffles around impatiently in the wheelchair which she has to be wheeled out in (hospital procedure).
"And call me Blye." She smiles shyly up at him, and he responds with a caring, sweet grin. She blushes.
"Okay, Blye." He winks. "Y'all need to relax. I prescribe a glass of wine and a dinner that's cooked FOR you."
"You have my number." She giggles.
"I'll call you." He promises, a serious smile on his kind face.
I laugh quietly. I'm happy for Blye, she deserves someone like this after Clove's dad. Clove is trying to stifle her laughter behind her hand as she giggles at her mother's bad flirting. Her ring glimmers in the light. She turned sixteen in the hospital, and I bought her a promise ring. It's a thin silver band, with a small moonstone (her birthstone) in the centre. Clove likes things simple, so I didn't get it overloaded with multicolour fake gems, but because the silver and the moonstones were real, it cost the earth, but it's worth it for her. It's on the middle finger of her right hand. She cried when I gave it to her, and I joked around that she'd gone soft on me, before I kissed her. She laughed.
"Well, what are we waiting for? He said I could go!"
I laugh at the madam and grab the handles of the chair and push her out, running along as she yells with happiness and holds her hands up in the air. She no longer wears a hospital gown, just Capri jeans and a strappy cream blouse, and flip-flops. Her hair is in a fishtail plait down he back as we speed away.
She laughs, and I laugh? And we're so, so alive.
I straighten up in the mirror. I'm wearing a crumpled shirt, a faded cornflower blue with thin white stripe, with the sleeves rolled up beachily to the elbows, unbuttoned with a white T-shirt underneath. I wear faded blue jeans, and nice shoes. I'm taking Clove out for a celebratory dinner. We had to wait for a week and a half, so she could settle back into he house and everything.
Outside it's warm, bone warming golden sunshine. Yeah, our weather is really messed up.
I go and sweep my hair, trying to look like some of those goofy boys you see online, but I just look stupid, so I stop. Calling out goodbye to my dad, I stroll on out the door over to Clove's place. It's so nice, we decided to walk over, and the restaurant we're going to is on a beachfront near here.
I knock politely on Clove's door, and her mother appears, smiling, on the doorstep. Her dark hair is twirled up in a pretty topknot, her face blushing and sweet, splattered with flour. And look who's arms are around her waist? It's only Dalton, a grin in his face, also covered in cake batter. Fleur and Meghan twitter and giggle at him. It's sweet, to see Blye this happy.
"Hi, Peeta, you look lovely! Clove, Peeta's here!"
"I'll be there in a minute Mom!" She responds.
"You should see her now Peeta, she looks so pretty, so royal and magically beautiful, she is definitely a princess!" Meghan rushes out in one breath. I laugh and ruffle her hair.
Fleur gives me a massive monster smile as they all drift back into the house.
And then she comes down the staircase, and I swear I can hear birds singing or whatever crap movies feed us, that defines what's romantic.
Her long hair is beachy and let down, falling prettily over her shoulders. She has a headband tucked in amongst the strands, a thin red and white checked band, with a bow on top of the same colour. She wears a cream dress, with sleeves that reach down to her arms, patterned with vintage red and squash yellow flowers with little green leaves. It has a nipped in waist, and flutters out in a petticoat. She wears ballet pumps the colour of old blood, and she grins bash fully, her cheeks red.
I slide an arm around her waist and tilt her chin up so her lips meet mine. When we break apart, she gives me one of her stares and tells me off, but we both laugh it off.
"You look beautiful, Clove." I tell her, and she smiles before telling me I'm sappy. She walks along a raised bit of concrete, wobbling and holding her arms out.
She trips and stumbles back onto the ground, pouting and crossing her arms. I laugh and take her hand, and we walk along the cobbles, chattering about nothing and swinging our interlocked fingers.
The sky is a magnificent sunset, a deep blood orange as the sun admires itself in the glassy sea. The sky is a tumbleweed of paint, from deepest pink to that desolate, apricot mixed sort of blue, and the gold tinged cream clouds that scud like boat sails across the horizon.
The air is filled with birds, and they twitter as Clove smiles and listens to their songs.
"Look." She whispers, pointing at a tree. "A Mockingjay."
She begins to whisper a whole textbook of facts about the glossy bird that sings gracefully above us, but I put my finger to my lips.
"Shh. Let go. Just listen, and live it." I whisper.
When we reach the restaurant, The Pearl, the sky has darkened and the pretty, mismatched lanterns outside have been lit, along with the fairy lights. The Pearl is like a shack, lit up with with yellow light, which houses the kitchen. The seats (colourfully painted picnic tables with soft pillows and beachy blankets) are outside on the beach's scrubby grass and creamy sand, and the warm lanterns and fairy lights create a grotto like effect. It's a very popular place for teenagers.
We're chatting and smiling at our seat when they come.
Enobaria, Cashmere, Glimmer, Brutus, Alex Snow, Titus, and Seneca Crane Jr.
Glimmer stalks over to us, and I glare at her.
"What do you want, Glimmer?
"Oh, nothing... But revenge." She clicks her fingers and before I really know what's happening, Alex Snow has torn Clove from the table, and holds her in place. Brutus grabs me, and twists my arm behind my back and stamps on the back of my knees till I fall to the floor, grimacing.
"Glimmer, she almost died, you bitch! What else do you want to do?"
"ALMOST ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH! SHE SHOULD'VE DIED!" She takes a deep breath, her peroxide curls shaking with rage. She's wearing the most tiny hot pants possible and a bikini top, with big wedge heels. "So today, I'm going to give you the justice you deserve. Both of you. But Peeta, if you want to apologise, you'll be spared. Not her, you." She arches an eyebrow at me, with a flash of what's meant to be a tempting smile.
"Never. I'm Clove's, I will not apologise for being in love with her." I spit out before I realise what I've said.
"Y-you love me?"
"O-of course."
"I love you too." She whispers and we smile at each other before Glimmer screams and breaks the feeling.
"FINE! Have it your way! Brutus."
Brutus pushes me to the floor and puts a foot lightly on my head, just hard enough to keep me there, but light enough so that I can move my chin up to see Clove.
Alex rakes his eyes over her perfect body, and his eyes begin to gleam with skeevy ideas.
"Hey, she's pretty hot."
"Do what you want with her, Al. I don't care." Glimmer chortles.
"Don't mind if I do." Alex grins, and begins to stroke his hands up and down Clove's body. She begins to cry and plead for him to stop.
"Stop, please, anyone but her!" I begin to yell. Brutus and the rest begin to chortle at my fruitless efforts.
I lie still, an idea forming in my mind. Brutus's foot begins to wobble with laughter, so when he least expects it, I press extremely hard against it, until he topples over. I spring up and charge towards Alex, but Titus grabs the back of my shirt and pulling me in reverse. I put up a valiant fight, but Titus is a meaty jock, who works out, Seneca is slimy and clever and Brutus is also huge and has fists of fury. I knock out Seneca and make Titus bleed, but Brutus grabs my arm and winds it back, pinning my spine against his chest so I can't move.
"Continue Alex." Glimmer snorts.
Alex begins to move his hands up and down, and goes to stick his clammy, dirty little hands on her chest but suddenly there's a loud crack and Alex looks bemused before falling, and hitting the floor, knocked out.
Clove sighs in relief, as the mysterious teen behind her smashes Brutus in the nose. He stumbles and lets me go. The dude who saved us wears a dark hoodie pulled low so we can't see his face, his jeans and sneakers non-descript. Brutus rounds on us again, but I bring both my elbows down on his head (I'm very tall) and he spins around dazed, until a final punch knocks him out cold. The vigilante knees Titus in the stomach before hitting him square on the jaw, leaving him reeling in a foetal position on the grass. Just as I'm about to thank this guy, he growls out in a familiar voice that I can't place.
"No you don't." He snarls, and I whip around to see Glimmer holding Clove's arm in a vicelike grip, her nails poised to claw at the delicate skin beneath. He's over there in a flash, and pulls Clove away, pushing her gently towards me.
"Leave." He pleads, albeit gruffly. "I don't want you to get in trouble, and she needs to be safe. Take her, please."
Clove places a soft and tentative hand on his arm.
"Who are you? We must thank you."
He shakes her off sadly, and retreats a few feet, pulling his hood even lower.
"It doesn't matter. Please, Peeta, just take her."
I salute him and scoop her up, bridal style, and dash away.
When we finally get to her house, I drop her down lightly.
"I'm sorry about tonight. I wanted it to be perfect." I whisper, gently touching her cheek.
"I don't know who that was," she replies, looking far off, "But we owe him. We owe him a lot."
Themockingjayxx- thank you! I hope you like this chapter! Omg same, she is the worst, I actually hate writing her but she's essential in the plot!
Rebyll: Again, I have to say thank you so much for your fabulous idea, it was brilliant, and I'm sorry for not replying to some of your pm's, I've been super busy and keep forgetting to! THANK YOU SO SO MUCH, virtual cookies for you!
HelloKitty2000- You are just such an awesome person! I love your reviews, they always make me smile! Thank you so much! And yeah, I'm going to involve Jess a bit in the next few chapters!
SnowGemsxo- Like I said to HelloKitty2000, you are also awesome! Your reviews really do make my day! I'm updating, please let me know what you think! Geek power!
clato4ever7- I know, I wanted a dark chapter for once! Let me know what you think!
Ninjamaster- Trust me, I live in the UK, if you don't like rain, don't come here! And I thought it was cute ;)
fabina-romione-rebel-lover: Thank you! I hate her too, she is THE worst! I'm updating, let me know what you think!
Kjane2000- Thank you! It is really sad :( I ship them, I think they'd be really cute!
ClatoForEverAndAlways- Thank you! I hope you liked it, let me know what you think!
FlamingArrows- It's so nice to see a new reviewer! Thank you so much, I'm so glad you chose to read this story! It's lovely to have reviews like this, thank you so much!
So sixty five reviews then? Thanks guys, and again, sorry for the delay!