Chapter Twenty-Nine

Clove's POV

I dropped the pool cue loudly onto the concrete slabs as I turned openmouthed to stare at the owner of the voice.

"Cato!" I practically yelled, when oxygen finally managed to make its way back through my body and allowing me to remember how to yell at people who snuck up on me on dark patios.

"Clove," he tilted his head slightly to the side like the cocky git that he was. "Scared?" he tormented.

"Only of your face," I shot back.

"Real mature. Especially for someone who clearly needs help," Cato smirked at the embarrassing number of balls still on the table. I mentally cursed my inability to play the ridiculous game. And Marvel for ditching me to go for a walk with "someone". I'd filled in the blanks and assumed it to be Glimmer.

"I do not need help," I replied, bending down to pick the pool cue off the ground.

"Alright then," he shrugged and went over to lean on one of the nearby pool tables, raising an eyebrow at me in challenge.

I sighed and leaned over the table, all too aware of his eyes on me, as I attempted to set up the next shot. Just focus, I thought to myself, taking deep breaths and making sure that the balls aligned. I could make this shot; it was easy, the ball was practically screaming to be potted.

I moved the cue forward sharply, aware of the fact my hand jerked and I missed the ball I had been aiming for and potted the white instead. Cato just grinned knowingly over at me.

"Sure about that not needing help thing?" he mocked, and something about him just made me want to punch him in the face.

"It's your fault I missed," I accused, staring down at the balls, wishing there was someway they could react to my evil glare. It made people do whatever I needed and yet they just weren't playing by the rules.

"My fault?" he questioned, laughing slightly to himself.

"Yes if you hadn't been watching me then I totally could have made that shot!" I accused, slightly fuming that he was still here.

"Are you saying my mere presence distracted you?" he asked, folding his arms over his broad chest and looking smug.

"No… I meant… oh shut up," I snapped, turning my glare from the balls to him, hoping he'd spontaneously combust in the light evening heat. He just chuckled in response.

"Ok then little miss "I don't need any help" I'll make you a deal," he proposed, walking towards me and leaning on the edge of the pool table, his eyes meet mine over the worn table top and I quirk my head in curiosity.

"And what makes you think I want a deal with you?" I questioned, focusing hard on keeping my voice steady as I felt his sparkling eyes bear into mine.

"Easy, you're stubborn. And you're not going to admit you suck at something," he pointed out. I hate that he knew me so well. How was I meant to know that the idiotic kid who ate dirt would grow up to be the school womanizer? I pondered over his answer as I realized that the fact he knew me so well terrified me as much as it made me want to blush.

"Alright then what are the stakes?" I asked, feeling far less confident than my voice made me sound.

"If I win, you let me help you," he didn't so much suggest as demanded.

"And if I win?" I questioned.

"That's up to you sweetheart," he answered, his voice oozing in something that made me want to slap him.

"And what are we doing to win such promises?" I asked, restraining from rolling my eyes as I became more and more determined to keep my gaze on his.

"Isn't that obvious?" he questioned, almost laughing as he picked up the pool cue that Marvel had once used so masterfully to kick my ass.

Fuck.

Gale's POV

"Where the hell are they?" Johanna stomped along the beach, asking the same question she'd asked a billion times now. I almost laughed. The reason I was only almost in hysterics as she kicked up sand with her frustrated footsteps was because I was naked too. And it was getting cold. And God only knew how long we'd been wandering along this never-ending beach looking for any sign of our clothes.

"Probably next to that unmistakable umbrella we saw earlier," I teased, and felt her palm smack into me before I really had a chance to prepare for it. Damn her reflexes were getting good. Ok I knew that the time to joke was in a few hours when we were back at the hotel in the safety of our own clothes. But still, this whole thing was hilarious. I couldn't wait to tell Cato.

Crap, I can't really. I haven't exactly apologized to him for potentially being responsible for a few missing teeth. I hadn't really checked in with him lately so that was still a possibility.

"Just hurry up, I'm getting cold," Johanna whined and for the first time I could hear the genuine concern in her voice. I pulled her against me quickly and just held her against me. She was freezing.

"It's ok, we'll find them," I promised and pressed my lips to her forehead quickly, and felt her relax slightly against me. Even though she hated admitting it I knew sometimes she just needed to hear those words.

"What the hell!" a familiar voice yelled down the beach.

Author's Note: So I know this is short but I wanna give you guys a few questions and see if you get them. Firstly who do you think will win Cato and Clove's little pool match? Will Cato be a gentleman and let her win/ majorly suck and just be teasing her or will he whoop her ass in the hope of bettering a skill in which he currently can whoop her ass in? And secondly who do you think found our darling skinny dippers on the beach?

-R

p.s. since I have been missing this fic dreadfully expect updates…. Like A LOT of them :)

p.p.s. if you guys could possibly get me past 200 reviews on this fic by the end of this week, I will promise to just once, write a bonus chapter of your choosing, if it's possible. And not too out of character for our little darlings! (It will most likely be posted in Pass Me The Extra Bits, rather than here, just to save confusion later on)