I do not own Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games characters.
Sorry, it has been so long since I posted. I have had a really long week. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy.
When I walked into the school the morning after I got arrested, all eyes in the school were on me. This in and of itself is not abnormal and has happened every time I have gotten arrested. This time is different, however. Usually, people stare at me, but as soon as I glance over at them their gazes shy away from mine. Glimmer was standing at her locker and as I made my way over to her a group of girls started to whisper, but I just ignored them.
"Hey," I say lightly. When Glimmer turns to me, her gaze is furious. "What?" I ask.
She grabs my arm and drags me down the hallway.
"I can't believe you! You ditched me to go hang out with the Blonde Playboy?" She spews angrily.
"Who?" I ask confused.
"Cato Isaac Bradshaw," Glimmer stresses each part of his name.
"You know him?" I ask. Glimmer rolls her eyes at me like she always does when I am out of the school gossip loop (which is basically always).
"Everyone knows him! He is the best linebacker in our division and has had almost as many girlfriends as quarterback sacks." Glimmer might be a pretty socialite that is literally the poster child for girly girls but after she dated that one football boy sophomore year, she knows her stuff. It surprises most people still, but I have gotten used to her random changes between Glitter Glimmer and Sports Glimmer.
"Oh," Is all I manage to get out of my mouth. Then I realize that I didn't tell anyone that Cato was the one who bailed me out, or that we spent like half the night together, or that he dropped my off at my house at like two in the morning because he thought that I "look so peaceful and carefree" when I sleep.
"How did you find out that we hung out?" I try to keep my voice level and uninvolved, but I can tell that Glimmer sees through it.
"Someone snapped a photo of you getting into his car outside of the site of that wretched vandalism." Even though I know that Glimmer doesn't realize that that "wretched vandalism" is the vandalism that I was caught for, her words sting as they sink in.
There is no other mention from Glimmer about my hanging out with the Blonde Playboy, but the stares from everyone else only increase as the day goes on. It is only when I walk out of school building at the end of the day that the whispers reach their peak. As I walk out of the school, Glimmer is immediately by my side.
"What did you two do?" she asks. I am confused for a moment, but then I realize what she is referring to. Cato is leaning against my car.
"We didn't do anything," I say before hurrying over to my car. A gaggle of girls walks past my car, giggling stupidly. Cato waves at them, but his eyes quickly find mine. He gives me a look that would buckle the knees of most girls.
"Hey," he says casually.
"What are you doing here?" I whisper yell at him.
"I wanted to hang," He says like it is nothing.
"You wanted to hang?" I ask skeptically.
He ignores me. "How's your hip?" Glimmer is walking over as he says it and I give him a stern look. His eyes hold surprise for a moment before he nods slightly in recognition.
"Hi! I'm Glimmer," Glimmer stretches her hand out and gives Cato a hard stare.
"I'm Cato," he replies cooly.
"Oh I know who you are," She says.
Cato glances at me and laughs.
"Where are you going?" She asks us.
"Nowhere," I start to answer, but Cato cuts me off.
"I'm taking Clove to hang. If that is chill with you."
I can hardly believe that Cato is asking Glimmer, and then I realize that he isn't really asking. Glimmer stares back at him, tilting her head before nodding her head.
"Sure. That's chill." She mocks him slightly and I crack a smile at her. I resist the urge to glare at her because the last thing that I need is to be leaving the parking lot in Cato's car. That will not at all help the whispers. When Cato gently picks me up and plops me on top of my car, I give up on the hope that these rumors will die down by the end of the week. I hear Glimmer let out a surprised whistle, before the sound of her walking away.
"Where do you want to go?" He asks me. I ponder on it for a second before answering.
"Surprise me. Again," I say smiling.
"You sure?" He asks.
"Totally," I say.
We get into my car, Cato in the driver seat. I lean back and let him take control. As we drive along, I start to get nervous when he doesn't say anything. We stop a lot quicker and I am both excited and confused when we get out of my car. We are in front of a large house.
"Where are we?" I ask.
A man comes out of the front door.
"Cato, you're home early," the man says.
"My house," He says.
What do you think is going to happen with Clove at Cato's house? Again, I am really sorry for how long it has been since I last uploaded. I have been going through some rough stuff and I have been finding it hard to be motivated/ in the right headspace to write these. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I will try to get another one up soon.
Stay happy, healthy, and safe,
-Jewel.