I do not own Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games characters.
Hey everyone! So, I figured out what my next story is going to be. This! This story is going to be purely dedicated to my all-time favorite Hunger Games non-canon ship. Clato. I was thinking of starting a story in a different fandom, but I wasn't sure what or who I would write it about, so I just decided on this. This story is going to be only told in Clove's POV, or at least that is the plan right now. Also, just as a quick warning, the majority of this story will be more M rated because there will be some darker things going on in it, but I will try to keep that at a minimum.
Chapter 1:
"Breakfast!" My father calls up the stairs.
I rush out of my room and down the stairs as quickly as I can. I am down in the kitchen before either of my four older brothers has even managed to get out of their rooms. I scoop up a handful of bacon and throw it on a plate that I quickly load with eggs and toast. Then, I dash out of the kitchen and wait for my brothers to come down. Rider makes it down first, followed by Andrew and Jackson, with Mark bringing up the rear. As soon as Mark is in the kitchen, I sprint up the stairs, run down the hallway, and up the stairs to the attic. I am small and am able to fit through the small door in the ceiling easily, but my brothers have much more trouble. They can get through if they want to, but they hardly ever want to enough.
At sixteen, I am the youngest in my family. Mark is 23, Andrew 20, Jackson 19, and Rider 18. While my mother and father insist that it is time for them all to move out and go to college, they still haven't. Mark dropped out of college after only a semester. Andrew lasted the longest yet, going for three semesters and the beginning of the fourth, and Jackson lasted two months I think. Rider started college last week, and there is already a pot going around the block for how long he will last. Regina our next-door neighbor has a month, Jerry farther down the street has 23 days, and Marcel the mailman has the most ambitious bet at 2 months and one day. Just long enough to beat Andrew.
Yazmin, a middle-aged woman who dresses in eccentric fabric and always wears much to strong perfume, has tried to get me to go in on the pot once or twice now, but I always refuse. She says I'm just afraid to lose, which could not be farther from the truth. I know for a fact that I could win, but I don't need to give m brothers any more reasons to beat up on me.
As I sit in the attic, looking out the window onto the street and eating, my fingers play absentmindedly with a nail that I found lying around. I twirl it between my fingers and take a bite of bacon. I steady the nail in my hand. Take another bite. I touch the cold metal to my skin. I finish the piece and grab another. I press the sharp tip of the nail down into my thigh. Take another bite. Slowly, I drag the nail up until it reaches my hip, then I bring it back down a few inches, back to where I started. My skin stings and even though my body registers the pain from the nail, my mind doesn't. I continue eating, dragging the nail up and down my leg until I feel something trickle down the side of my leg. I finish the toast in my hand and then look down. I'm bleeding.
I walk to the exit of the attic and make my way down the stairs. I hear the boys arguing as I walk to my room, careful not to let any blood get on the floor. I open the door to my room, shutting and locking it behind me before walking into my bathroom. I am the only one who has a bathroom connected to my room because I am the only girl.
I examine the cut and see that it isn't that deep. I grab a towel from the cabinet and put some soap and water on it before lifting up the shorts I slept in and cleaning the wound. It stings and I grit my teeth through the pain. It takes me a few minutes to get it all clean and put a bandage on it. I check my watch. Crap, I am going to be late for school.
Rushing to my closet, I grab a pair of ripped jeans, a black tank top, and a black leather jacket that I got last year for my birthday. I brush my teeth and pull my dark hair tightly into a ponytail. Then, I put a little mascara on, but not enough for anyone to notice. I zip up my black low-heeled boots and toss my backpack over my shoulders.
As I make my way down the stairs, Jackson is chasing Andrew up the stairs and they slam me into the wall. I almost manage to regain my balance, but then Rider chases up after them, knocking me down the stairs. I roll down the stairs, letting out a small gasp at the hard corners against my injured hip.
"I'm leaving for school!" I yell. I am out the door and in my old hand-me-down car before anyone can respond.
When I get to school, I am just getting out of my car when Principal Snow begins walking over to my car. Officer Hawthorne is behind him. I swear under my breath. I turn my car off and get out.
"Ms. Whitter, I need you to go with Officer Hawthorne," Principal Snow says. The disappointment is clear in his voice.
I toss my backpack over my shoulders and walk towards the police car that is sitting a few down from mine. I hop in the front seat of the car, laying my backpack on my lap.
"Ms. Whitter, I thought you agreed to get into less trouble," Officer Hawthorne says.
"What did you get me for?" I ask, ignoring Officer Hawthorne
"Vandalism," He responds.
"Crap," I saw under my breath, knowing exactly what he is talking about.
The rest of the drive to the police station is silent and when we get there I immediately walk towards the cell in the back. I know the drill.
"You'll have to wait for her until your parents can pay from the damages," Officer Hawthorne says.
"I know," I say.
He opens the door to the community cell and I walk in. A boy probably around Andrew's age is passed out on the floor. I go to the only bench in the room and sit my bag down, curling up into a ball and laying my head down on it. Just as I do, my phone vibrates. It's a text for my only friend at school.
From Glimmer: where r u?
jail
again?
don't say it like that
what u in for?
vandalism
Clo, you need to stop getting into trouble
I put my phone down, not in the mood the hear Glimmer's disappointment. I know that my parents probably won't be here until the end of the day, so I close my eyes and let myself drift into sleep.
Sorry, there wasn't any of Cato in this chapter, I just wanted to introduce you guys to Clove in this story. I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter. I will try to get the next one up pretty soon, and I have a long weekend so I should be able to. I hope you all are doing well wherever you are.
Stay happy, healthy, and safe,
-Jewel