WARNING: CONTAINS MAJOR FLUFF. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

P.S. I'm going to start listing the songs used in each chapter at the beginning. I think that's the best way if you want to actually follow along/listen.

Chapter 25: Love is all you need

Songs used: Young Love by: Celtic Thunder; Addicted to Love by: Robert Palmer; Rhythm of Love by: the Plain White T's, All You Need is Love by: the Beatles (but I used the Glee Cast Version) (Ooo! I like them both! So whichever ;D)

And so today starts the day of love. Some are more enthusiastic about it than others, but isn't that the case with every holiday?

Of course, love is in the air, and there are multiple girls throughout the school that have teddy bears in their arms with big red bows around the necks. Nate, who's decided to keep his relationship with Daphne fairly casual for now, gave her a bag of Hershey kisses and a small stuffed animal. Even so, the gift makes her happy.

On the other hand, Edward printed out weird Valentines from the internet and has given them to all his friends every time he sees them. This very much amuses the others, which makes the boy feel very accomplished.

Rory Hawthorne, on the other hand, is having trouble being romantic. He tries the best he can but somehow he feels like everything he does for Prim isn't enough. When he sees a girl with a bigger teddy bear than the one he bought for Prim, his stomach churns. He does know it's pointless because Prim will like anything from him, but there's still a lingering feeling of doubt. He gives her candy on the bus, and then feels like it wasn't enough. He gives her a flower in third period, but he sees someone with a whole bouquet and then feels like he should've done more. He gives her the bear last, but the blonde girl can see the concern of her reaction to the small present.

"Rory, are you alright?"

"I just…"

"Just what?" she asks, flipping a blonde pigtail.

"Everyone has such big gifts and I just-"

She smiles, "Aw, Rory! I think that you did a perfect job."

"But-"

"You bought this with your own money, for me. Even if you gave me nothing, you still love me like nobody else and you're still my best friend and boyfriend. And I think you're already so sweet." She smiles and kisses his cheek.

Rory smiles slightly, "Oh, uh, thanks. I'm glad you liked everything."

"It was beyond sweet," Prim says, with a genuine smile. Rory grins back at her, and then he kisses her.

Even though you wouldn't guess, Kelley's had a great Valentine's Day.

The night before was spent by Bonnie imagining him doing something sweet for her and telling her how much he cared about her, in his sweet, Kelley, Irish way. Posy thought about something like this happening to her, too, but never really took the time to imagine it because, as was stated before, Bonnie is the dreamer, and Posy longs for but never has the guts to imagine.

Well, when Kelley sees Bonnie first period, he gives her a stuffed cat and a little box of candy, with a big Kelley smile and a cheery, "Hauppy Saint Vaulentine's Day!"

Bonnie can't stop grinning and she hugs her friend, "Kelley, that's so sweet!" A blush spreads across her face and she asks, "Why, though?"

Kelley hugs her back with a happy laugh and says, "Jus'…B'cause!" he says with a smile, "Thought ya'd need'a little sumethin' fer th' day, 'cause I care 'bout ya!"

She giggles, and kisses his cheek. "You're a great friend."

His green eyes sparkle when he smiles, "Aw, stoup'it."

During class, Bonnie is so happy she can't even think straight. She steals little glances at him throughout the period, most of which he notices and makes a silly face, causing Bonnie to do her best not to giggle and blush more and more with each exchanged glance.

Later, at third period, Kelley gives Posy a stuffed dog and a box of chocolate with a wide grin. Upon seeing the gifts in front of her, Posy suddenly becomes unspeakably happy and giddy. And certainly surprised.

Kelley smiles at his friend, "Ya look serprised…" he says.

"I am!" Posy says, "I didn't expect to get such a nice gift today!" she takes the items from his hands with a big grin and a blush.

"'Course ya should! E'reone should have sumone that cares'about 'em! And, I'm yers!"

Posy giggles, "That's really sweet. Thank you for making this the best Valentine's Day ever." She gives him a peck on the cheek and then they have to take their seats for class.

In glee club that period, the kids are all hyped up, if it's with love or hatred.

Tanner looks particularly happy today, and often zones out in such a way that everyone is suspicious. They snap him out of yet another daydream when Rue finally grins, "Aw, Cooper, come on! You have to tell us what's up now!"

The junior blushes and squeaks, "I dunno what you're talking about!"

"You obviously do," Skeeter points out.

Tanner smiles, "Oh, I dunno…" There's a pause and he lets out a happy sigh.

"Is there a he?!" asks Bonnie eagerly.

The dark-haired junior smiles, "Yeah, there is."

Santana and Arrow exchange a glance. As much as the orphan hates to admit, it has been a couple months and the time to move on is now. Tanner obviously knows that, and now Arrow's facing it, too.

"Who!?" Rue asks. Tanner blushes, "Oh, we're actually… Not even close to being a thing."

"Who is it, though!?" asks Posy excitedly. Tanner gives a little shrug, "Uh, he's not in here."

Everyone thinks of the other people that they know outside of glee club, and they all spew out names at once, but none of them are correct.

"Alright," sighs Marvel, "I think we all give up. You've stumped us!"

Tanner is bright red, not exactly ready to tell them. "Weeeelll… He's not here, but he is related to someone in here."

Everyone thinks, and then another round of guessing that makes Tanner happily shake his head. Skeeter is the first to think of it, and he seems to sink in his chair. He rubs his temples with two fingers and says, "Dear Lord, Tanner, tell me it's not…" he groans.

Tanner hangs his head and says, "Yeah, I think you got it." Everyone else blinks at them. After that, Rue practically chokes on her own spit and says, "Wait, is that implying that you're in love with Benjamin!?"

Tanner squeaks at the name and quickly nods, "Uh, yeah, a little…"

There's a long silence.

"You're kidding, right?" Marvel asks seriously.

"He's just-"

"He just what!?" Arrow snaps, not exactly intending to snap but not feeling sorry.

Tanner frowns, "No, no, guys, you need to listen to me! He let me go at Christmas, and… And he just seemed different. Guys, I don't think Ben's mean just to be mean. Nobody ever is."

Arrow grumbles about how he knew this was going on since the group went caroling with Capitol Academy at Christmas.

"I think Ben's just broken, guys… And I think that it'll take us to fix him!"

"Never happening," Daphne says.

"He's a fucking jackass!" Elijah adds, "He picks on everyone!"

"Tanner, look, we all admire your ability to love so many people, but it is possible to love too much, and it'll get you into some major shit," Skeeter says quietly. "He will never accept you. And he will certainly never date you, so don't get your hopes up."

"I know…" the junior says quietly, "But he can be helped!"

"It would take too much," Rue says, "And wouldn't be worth it…"

Tanner looks a little desperate, "Guys… Come on-"

"This is a terrible idea," Nate says, "Look, I want Ben to be nice as much as everyone here does, but he's pretty much past the point of rescue by now."

Tanner sighs, "There's something, deep in there, and I'm determined to find it, even if you guys aren't."

"Please, just don't get yourself hurt, Tanner…" Athena says quietly.

There's a long and awkward silence as the junior nods.

Then Mr. K gets his papers organized and announces, "Happy Valentine's Day! And, of course, the theme of today's class is love!"

The enthusiastic students applaud, while some of the others scowl and feel sour. Santana wears all black and hates everything today, mostly because Nate got a new girlfriend the night she broke up with him, and later proceeded to yell at her about Jason. She's kept her distance from both the sophomore and the senior, which means she hasn't talked to her friends in a long while, making her on-edge and upset, especially on the day of love. And Arrow, who is hurt that Tanner dumped him just to fall in love with a bully, wants to get this day over with as fast as possible.

"So, obviously, the theme is love songs. And don't worry, you don't have to have a significant other to sing with us, because love is such a broad topic, you could be singing about any kind of it. We all love something, right? If it's another person, or an animal, a prized possession-"

Kelley interjects, "Or food!" And everyone laughs.

"Right, or food." Platinum grins, "So, if you're totally out of ideas, sing for those chocolate hearts you only get for one day a year!" Everyone laughs, Tanner staring into space with a big smile on, and Santana scowling.

"Santana, you don't look so keen on that," the student teacher comments.

"I'm fine!" she snaps, "Maybe I'm just sick of love! Maybe I've never loved before until Nate, have you ever thought of that!?"

"Hey, you know that was barely even real, anyways!" the blonde boy says, "You said it yourself, you just didn't want to make me feel bad."

"Right, sure," she says, even though that part is true and she just won't admit it. Santana still feels like complete crap about everything that happened with Nate, and even though her being rejected by Jason was a couple months ago, it still stings.

"I'm sorry, Mr. K, but I can't do love week yet."

There's a silence and Arrow looks to be silently be saying me neither, but doesn't admit it.

"Right. So, uh, who wants to sing first?" he asks.

Kelley smiles and raises his hand. The others all look over.

"Ya' guyes don'mind'f I sing'a solo… Do ya?"

"You can do it, Kelley!" Skeeter says enthusiastically, and Edward flashes his little brother a proud grin.

The freshman skips to the front and plugs in his iPod to a track called Young Love.

He barely has time to be nervous before he starts to sing.

"They say for every boy and girl, there's just one love in this whole world, and I-I-I know I-I-I found mine."

He takes a couple lines for him to get used to the feeling of singing by himself, and to regain any of the confidence he'd dropped when he walked up to sing in front of everyone.

"Young love, first love! Filled… With deep… Devotion! Young love, our love! We share… with deep… emotion!"

Bonnie strokes her cat and giggles happily at watching him sing. She swears she saw him look at her for more time than everyone else. She can't help it, she dreams that he's thinking of her as he sings.

"For we will vow to one another, there will never be another, lo-o-ove for yo-o-ou, or, for me."

Posy can't help it, either, thinking of him in love with her. She's still perplexed as to where his accent goes where he sings (which she never noticed particularly until now, because Edward hasn't sang a solo yet this year).

"Young love, first love! Filled… With deep… Devotion! Young love, our love! We share… with deep… emotion!"

Both girls love to hear his voice, and both girls dreamily imagine him thinking of them above everyone.

In reality, Kelley is mostly focusing on not messing up in front of everyone, and there is no room for any other thoughts. Neither of the lovesick girls really considers this at all, though, considering how happy and confident he looks. The brown-haired boy flips the hair out of his eyes and smiles at the last chorus of the song.

"Young love, first love! Filled… With deep… Devotion! Filled…With deep…

Devotion!"

He smiles proudly as the others applaud and Bonnie and Posy giggle, blush, and grin. Then he takes his place back between the two girls, who tell him a million times how wonderful he was.

"That was great Kelley, thank you!" Mr. K grins. "Who next? Come on, you can do it." His glance goes to the frowning Arrow, who is taking pictures but doesn't look particularly happy. "Arrow, you Ok?" he asks.

The orphan looks up and knows he's been caught. Tanner looks genuinely concerned and a little bit upset. Arrow finally sighs, "Look, there's just been a ton of shit going on, all to me, since this whole year started, and it's frustrating! And I'm just going to sing one song to finally get over it. I hope…"

Linus frowns, about to say something but the other orphan plugs in the track and turns the volume up.

"Your lights are on… But you're not home! Your mind…. is not your own! Your heart sweats… your body shakes… Another kiss… is what it takes!"

Arrow does everything not to glare at anyone in specific, though his cold glances go in the directions of Tanner, Elijah, and even Linus. And he hates to admit, but it makes him feel better.

"Whoa, you like to think that you're immune to the stuff- oh yeah! Well it's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough, you know you're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to love."

Tanner frowns, feeling guilty even though he keeps telling himself he's not to blame for this; that it's been months from the breakup and he has to move on some time, even if Arrow hasn't or doesn't move on from him.

The orphan does some last-minute lyric-changing to direct his anger a little better. "Your heart beats in double time… Another kiss and you'll be his, a one track mind! You can't be saved!

Oblivion is all you crave! If there's some… Left for you, well you don't mind if you do!"

Tanner can clearly see the glare directed at him. And he can feel it, too, even though he hates it and even though he really does feel bad.

"You know you're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to love!

He goes through a long chunk of repeating, "Might as well face it, you're addicted to love!" directing the glare to where Tanner sits, for dumping him for a bully, and to his best friend and boyfriend, considering they are almost always making out, and it still makes the dark-haired orphan uncomfortable.

"Your lights are on, but you're not home… No, Your will… Is not your own! Your heart sweats, your teeth grind
Another kiss…Your both entwined…"

Elijah stares at the floor and doesn't say anything. Linus feels horrible about it, considering this has been happening right in front of his eyes all year long and he hasn't done a thing about it because a lot of it involved him, while Arrow never abandoned him: ever, even in the hard times.

"Might as well face it, you're addicted to love
Might as well face it, you're addicted to love
Might as well face it, you're addicted to love
He's addicted, they're addicted, you're addicted to love!"

The group applauds and Arrow hates to admit it but he feels a lot better about everything, finally, something he really needed.

"I'm sorry Arrow," Linus says, looking upset, and Elijah quickly echoes the apology.

"Me too!" Tanner says, even though part of him is saying that it's not his fault and it's not anyone's fault.

The orphan manages a smile, "Alright, let's start over now. I'll try not to be so… Upset…"

Linus blinks. "Arrow, you're a great best friend."

He smiles but just shrugs it off, grabbing his camera again.

"Well, that was cool! Who else?"

Skeeter pipes up, "Oh, I want to sing something sweet!"

Rue blushes, "Really?"

Her best friend stands up, "Of course!" he grins affectionately before plugging in his iPod and searching for the perfect song. He smiles and presses play on one of his favorite songs.

"My head is stuck in the clouds! As she begs me to come down, says, 'Boy… quit foolin' around!'

I told her, "I love the view from up here! Warm sun, and wind in my ear, we'll watch… The world… From above! As it turns to the rhythm of love!'"

Rue giggles happily as Skeeter takes her hand and leads her to the front of the room.

"We may only have tonight…But till the morning sun you're mine… All mine!
Play the music low… And sway to the rhythm of love!"

She giggles as he takes her dancing, something that both of them love.

The song goes on, with Skeeter doing some quick line-changing, "She's got brown eyes, real chocolat-ey… They roll back when she's laughing at me! She rises up… Like the tide… The moment her lips meet mine."

Rue erupts into even more giggles and can't wipe the smile off her face, having probably the best Valentine's day she can ever think of. After all, he is her best friend and she had always loved him, she just hadn't admitted it until last year.

"When the moon is low…We can dance in slow motion…And all your tears… Will subside. All your tears will dry."

He gives her a peck on the lips and she smiles up at him, grinning as he spins her around and squeezes her hand, keeping the other lightly on her waist, as she squeezes his hand back and keeps the other on his shoulder. The two seem to have forgotten that the room is full of other kids.

"And long after I've gone, you'll still be humming along, and I… Will keep you… In my mind! The way you make love so fine!"

He rests his forehead against hers with the last chorus, and she gazes at his electric blue eyes lovingly, and he returns the gaze.

"Play the music low… And sway to the rhythm of love...

Yeah, sway to the rhythm of… Love…"

He kisses her with the final note and she giggles and kisses back, until Marvel hacks intentionally loudly and Posy says, "Kids in the room!"

The two in the front break apart and everyone has a good laugh together as they head back to their seats.

"Looks like we have time for one more song," Platinum says, looking around. "Any takers?"

Elijah grins, "And here's where I come in!"

Linus blinks, "Huh?"

"Ah, I've been working on this number for a while. And, with my first solo, I'm going to profess my love for Linus Shatern."

"Oh my God."

Elijah grins as the pit sets up their instruments, with Skeeter on guitar, and the accompaniment of "Love, love, love," starts up.

Linus still looks a little shocked and stares at the group dumbly, as Elijah starts singing, "There's nothing you can do that can't be done! Nothing you can sing that can't be sung! Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game!
It's easy!"

He grabs Linus by both hands and drags him up with him. Snapped out of his confused daze, Linus starts to grin as Elijah takes him dancing around. He lets out a laugh as the Elijah starts the chorus.

"All you need is love! All you need is love!

All you need is love, love!
Love is all you need!"

He smiles lovingly at him, delighted at the sparkling brown eyes that mean that Linus is extremely happy.

"There's nothing you can know that isn't known…Nothing you can see that isn't shown!
There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be…
It's easy!" Elijah pulls Linus close and spins around, laughter filling his cerulean eyes, as the blonde boy laughs out loud from pure happiness.

He sings the second time through the chorus with an emphasis on the word love, "All you need is love!
All you need is love!
All you need is love, love!
Love is all you need!"

He sings, "Love is all you need," a few more times, as the others all join in, spinning around their loved ones happily, then Elijah chimes in with the cheery, "He loves you, yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"

And everyone except for those playing instruments happily belts it out with him, making harmonies and laughter and giggles. Even Arrow gives into the fun, though he thinks more of chocolate cake than of any guys. Platinum will never admit it, but he didn't stop thinking of Mario at all today. And Tanner won't admit either that a good deal of his time was spent thinking of Ben.

"He loves you, yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

He loves you, yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Yeah…"

Elijah kisses Linus on the lips as everyone else claps and giggles and blushes and distributes kisses on the nose, cheeks, and lips.

The bell rings and the singers leave school in a very good mood that day.

After school, Clove sits at home, bored on Valentine's Day.

She can't Skype with Cato until later in the evening, because he told her he has class late in the day. Athena is Skyping with Theo, leaving Clove by herself.

Or so she thinks.

Meanwhile, Cato got picked up by his mom, and is on the two-hour-drive to Panem to see Clove. It's a surprise visit, planned just for her for Valentine's Day. Cato only missed one class, deciding that missing any number of classes would be worth seeing Clove.

Clove, ignorant to this, sits at home and watches television by herself. She stares at the time eagerly, counting down to the moment she can call him, but it seems to Clove that the time will never come. She's decided that the only thing worse than not having anyone on Valentine's Day is having someone you love that you can't see or talk to.

When Clove hears a knock on the door, she scowls. Packages, she grumbles, opening the door. It's a package alright, but not one she'd expected to see. It's Cato, with a box of microwavable popcorn in his hands and a pink bow on his head. She involuntarily gasps upon seeing the surprise, and immediately throws her arms around him.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Clove," he says, smiling. She feels overwhelmed with happiness: not to tears, though. Clove's never cried from happiness before. She giggles uncontrollably and hugs Cato until the weather outside proves too cold for the hug to last and she practically pulls him inside. She makes no effort to stifle her smile. He grins as he happily takes his coat off. "You seemed surprised," he says, amused.

"You got me," she replies with a big smile, "I was really surprised."

Cato laughs, putting a bag of popcorn in the microwave and pressing start. Clove holds tightly onto his arm and grins widely.

"So, what do you want to do?" he asks. Clove shrugs, "Up to you."

He grins, "I choose… You choose!"

Clove groans but can't stop smiling enough to give him a sarcastic glance. "Fine. Let's watch movies."

"Good choice!" the microwave rings just then and Cato takes out the bag, pouring the contents into a bowl. Clove chooses an action movie, and the two sit on the couch together and watch the movie, even though they do a considerable amount of talking. As soon as the popcorn is gone, the talking and watching stop and the kissing begins. Athena walks through the living room to the kitchen but stops in her tracks upon seeing the couple.

"C…Cato!?" she forces out, in shock. The two split apart and the blond boy laughs, "Uh… Surprise!"

Athena blinks. "Alright, you two are weird. But cute." She smiles.

Clove curls up into Cato, grinning, and the rest of the evening goes much too fast for either of their liking.