Chapter Thirty six – Romantic Gestures (PPOV)
"Poor Clove," Finnick remarks. Gale nods. "I know right. We should help her out with Marvel, it's the least we could do. And we know that Marvel isn't as big as a jackass." "I sit next to him in Astronomy; he's a decent guy when he's not with Cato." I add.
"We could get Clove to strut by while you guys ask him what he thinks of her. His reaction could get you guys to get him to ask her to the dance." Madge suggests. "That could work. Okay, we'll find Clove and I'll text you, Peeta, when we're around the corner," says Katniss. "Okay, we'll see you in a bit." The girls disappear around the corner.
"Marvel!" We wave him over. He puts up a finger to say he'll be one minute. We listen in to their conversation. "Cato, what are you talking about?" "You heard me. What were you doing with Glimmer last night?!" Cato's voice is angrier than I've ever heard it. "I wasn't with Glimmer last night." Cato laughs loudly to get attention. "Stop bullshitting me Marvel. She pocket dialled me." "Well she must have been fucking someone else because I was by myself." Cato pushes his shoulder. "You're such an asshole Cato." Marvel pushes past him and towards us.
"Hey guys, what's up?" We try to put what just happened into the back of out minds. "We were wondering what you thought about Clove." His eyes widen. "What? Why? Was she talking about me?" I chuckle and slap his shoulder. "You've got it bad man." He blushes and smiles at the floor. "I guess I do."
"Well, as you probably know, Clove doesn't have a date to the dance anymore and we were wondering if maybe, you'd like to ask her," says Gale. His eyes widen again. "What would I even say or do? She's not like normal girls so my usual kinds of 'romantic gestures' would go unnoticed by her. What would I do for someone so… special?" I prevent myself from 'aw'ing and nod instead.
Just then my phone buzzes. A text from Katniss saying they're coming around the corner. I look over Marvel's shoulder and smirk.
(CPOV)
"Shit, there he is." Annie giggles. "It's simple. Walk by him, catch his eye, smile and then keep walking," Madge tells me. "I wonder if that's why it's called the walk by," I say sarcastically. Katniss snorts and I mentally scold myself, reminding not to be such a sarcastic piece of shit. That is exactly what I'm trying to leave behind with the memories of being friends with Glimm.
"Come on Clove, let's do this." I start to walk around the corner, the girls behind me. I see the guys nudge Marvel and nod towards me. I freeze and turn around to run but Katniss and Madge grab me and turn me back around.
Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot I command my feet. The closer I get to him, the faster my heart pounds. It's in my ears now and I can't hear anything. As he turns and sees me everything turns to slow motion.
Ok, catch his eye, we make eye contact. Now smile, the corners of my mouth curl up into a half smile and I tuck a rogue strand of hair behind my ear. I swear I see him drooling a little. I avert my eyes down to the floor, and then back up in front of me. Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot. I push open the door as strut into the parking lot.
"You did it!" Annie squeals. I high five them. "That was amazing Clove." "You were so hot!" Madge adds. "Did you see him? He was dribbling like a dog." Katniss laughs. "The guys are coming out. I need to catch up to Peeta, he's my ride." We wave goodbye to Katniss and watch her and Peeta have a romantic reunion. Sometimes I wish I had something like that but then I remember who I am.
"Ok guys, I have to get home." They giggle as they look over my shoulder. I guess they're just ogling over Gale and Finnick. I roll my eyes and turn towards my car when someone is shoved on top of me.
I'm lying underneath him now, staring into his eyes. I can feel his muscles through his top and I can't help but smirk. "Hey." "Hey there." "Have a nice trip?" I ask. He shrugs. "I'd visit there again." We laugh, causing the full effect of his weight on top of me to crush me.
We stay like this for a few moments. "Uh, Marvel?" "Yeah?" "Do you mind getting off me?" His face goes red. "Shit, sorry," he mumbles as he clambers off me. He stretches out his hand to help me up. I take it. He pulls me up with such force, I almost lose my balance again and he has to catch me. He doesn't even give me a chance to find my feet before saying "Do you want to go out with me tonight?"
"L-like a date?" I stammer. He nods slowly but seeing my expression quickly changes his mind. "O-or just as friends, if you want. I mean, I don't mind if you just-" "A date sounds… nice." He smiles goofily in return. "I'll meet you at Joe's at six then." I blush.
Joe's Café and Book Store is where I used to work. One day I was waiting tables and a familiar face walked in. There I was, thinking he was this athlete all star ladies man and there he was, reading the Goblet of Fire with his glasses. He looked adorable.
"I didn't know you were such a nerd." He looked up and when he saw me, his face dropped. He got ready to run when I stopped him. "Don't worry I won't tell anyone. I think it's a nice change from dickhead Marvel I see at school. Your glasses suit you, you should wear them more often." "I wear contacts. I usually think I look like a freak with my glasses on but… thanks." He offered me a shy smile and I refilled his drink. "You know, I prefer this Clove, the Clove when you're not with Glimm. You're less of a bitchy girl and more… human."
It was after he said that to me was when I started noticing. Noticing how I acted when I was with Glimmer. I was horrible and I hated myself for it.
"I'll see you at six."
When I got home I dialled Katniss' number. "Marvel asked me on a date and I have no idea what to wear." "White lace dress, leather jacket, red lipstick. And wear your hair down" she adds. "Thanks, I don't know what I'd do if I'd asked Glimmer to dress me." Katniss snorts. "You wouldn't be going on the date in the first place. Did you see the way she was all over him today?!" I laugh. "She was practically in his lap!" I tell her.
"But he shoved her off so that's the good part," I add. "No, I think the good part was when he fell on top of you." My ears get hot. "You saw that?" I ask, embarrassed. "The whole school saw it Clove. You should have seen Glimmer's face, it was priceless!" I smirk, picturing the look Glimmer must have given me, having her ex-best friend and the guy she wants to fuck on top of each other like that. "You must remind me to kick Gale's ass for doing that." Katniss laughs again.
"You should really be thanking him. I'm sure Marvel would have asked you out one way or another but I could see that you didn't mind having things happen the way they did." I scoff at her comment. "Sorry Katniss, but I'm not like Glimmer. I don't just see the first guy in the hallway and fuck him." She chuckles. "I know you're not like her. Used to think you were but now, I know you're not." "Thanks Katniss."
We say goodbye and hang up. I check the time. 6:00pm. SHIT! Oh well, Marvel will just have to wait. I slip into my dress and put on the make up Katniss suggested. I leave my hair down and stare in the mirror. If only my mum could see me now. I'm hoping she'd be proud. My first date. This should be interesting. I really hope he wears his glasses tonight. I'd love to have a conversation with the real Marvel.
I jump in the car at 6:20pm and make my way to Joe's.