Author's Note: Yo people. Still no votes in the poll? I decided to leave it up and write a story in between this one and the possible next book in this series. Please go vote. It takes almost no time. Just please go vote. I decided to only make this a thirteen chapter story. I have a plan for another story after this. I also now know who is in my class and my class list is bitter-sweet. *Sigh* No longer in a super mood. I'm just going to start this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or anything else you recognize. (Not in the mood to use other languages.)
Chapter 11 - Birthday
Clove POV
"And my king takes your queen. Check mate," I said to Jett.
"How do you beat me every time we play chess?" he asked. "I demand a rematch!"
I hit my hand on the table. "Jett! This is getting ridiculous! This was our seventh game! Are we going to keep playing until you win?"
"Yup," he replied resetting the game.
"What are you two doing?" Isabelle demanded when she entered the kitchen.
"We are playing chess until Jett wins. And before you ask, I'm not going to let him win. Whenever I let him win and he finds out, he gets mad," I say.
"I mean why aren't you two getting ready for your birthdays tomorrow?" she asked.
"Because you know we don't like to make a big deal over our birthdays," Jett said starting the game.
"Come on. You both are about to turn 19. It's a big deal," she fought with Jett.
"Not really Princess," I said capturing one of Jett's pawns.
"Well, I will make it a bid deal! Just watch me!" she yelled walking out of the kitchen.
Desiree came into the kitchen. She looked at the chess board before looking at Jett.
"You made a fatal mood Jett. You can't win," she said whipping around.
Jett leaned back. "I quit," he said leaving the kitchen and going upstairs.
"You couldn't of did the seven games ago," I asked Desiree.
"Sorry. Marvel came over and we were out back swimming," she said sitting opposite of me at the table. "So I hear you are about to turn 19."
"Ya. Jett and I are December babies," I said setting up the game.
"Well I guess it's time to celebrate," she said starting the game of chess.
"We are not making a big deal of our birthday. We stopped doing that when we were really little. We never cared about our birthday since Cephas died," I explained.
"Sorry I asked," she sighed moving a bishop.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You sounded choked up when you brought up Cephas," she sighed. "I guess he is a sensitive topic."
"Totally. I still know all the words to Cephas' favorite song," I sighed.
I got up and went to my room. I couldn't stand to think about Cephas. It was hard. To take my mind of my brother. I played Ho Hey by The Lumineers.
(Ho!)
(Hey!)
(Ho!)
(Hey!)
(Ho!) I've been trying to do it right
(Hey!) I've been living a lonely life
(Ho!) I've been sleeping here instead
(Hey!) I've been sleeping in my bed,
(Ho!) I've been sleeping in my bed
(Hey!)
(Ho!)
(Ho!) So show me family
(Hey!) All the blood that I would bleed
(Ho!) I don't know where I belong
(Hey!) I don't know where I went wrong
(Ho!) But I can write a song
(Hey!)
1, 2, 3
I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweetheart
I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweet
(Ho!)
(Hey!)
(Ho!)
(Hey!)
(Ho!) I don't think you're right for him
(Hey!) Look at what it might have been if you
(Ho!) Took a bus to China Town
(Hey!) I'd be standing on Canal
(Ho!) And Bowery
(Hey!)
(Ho!) And she'd be standing next to me
(Hey!)
1, 2, 3
I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweetheart
I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweetheart
Love – we need it now
Let's hope for some
So, we're bleeding out
I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweetheart
I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweet
(Ho!)
(Hey!)
(Ho!)
(The last one)
(Hey!)
I heard someone knock on my door.
"Clove. We need to talk about tomorrow."
Isabelle.
I go to the door and open it. I lean against the frame.
"No big party. Just the four of us hanging out is good enough for me," I said walking past her.
Tomorrow is going to be a long day.
*The Next Day, Clove and Jett's Birthday*
I wake up around noon. Most people would want to get up early on their birthday but Jett and I have always slept in since we never do anything for our birthday. I get up and hey dressed. I pull on some white jeans with black polka dots. I grabbed a blue tank top and grey leather jacket. I grabbed a pair of leopard print wedge booties. I tie my hair into a messy high bun. I walk downstairs. I don't see anyone and the curtains to the back deck are shut.
"That can't be a good sign," I mumbled to myself.
I heard someone knocking on the door. I went to answer it. I opened it and came face-to-face with the she-devil known as Cashmere. She was carrying two presents and I knew that couldn't be good at all. I started to shut the door but Cashmere caught it. I saw a bunch of car outside and Gloss coming up the driveway. Oh no.
"Where's this birthday party for my boy and you?" she asked.
I took a deep breath before I freaked out.
"ISABELLE!" I screamed going to the back deck.
Everyone turned to me. It was like Isabelle had invited the entire campus and they all had a plus one. Cashmere and Gloss pushed past me. I was furious. I whipped around and went back inside. Someone grabbed my waist and threw me over their shoulder. I looked and saw a head of blonde hair that wasn't Cato's. I was confused but I realized this was Gloss.
"And I've got Clove," Gloss yelled before he set me down.
I pushed through the crowd until I saw caramel colored hair that was naturally tightly curled. I grabbed a handful of it and dragged it away from the crowd. Once I released it, the head and the body turned around. Isabelle did not look pleased.
"Why?" she asked.
I crossed my arms. "I could ask you the same question."
"About what?" she demanded taking a step towards me.
"This whole thing. You know I never liked to make a big deal out of my birthday and you go and make the biggest deal out of today as you can."
"I thought it would make you happy. I'm sorry," she sighed brushing her curls off her face.
"Whatever," I said fighting through the crowd.
I snuck up around the side of the house. I went into Jett's room and sat on his bed. I looked out his window into the backyard. I could barely make out Isabelle telling everyone it was time for Jett and me to give our speeches. Jett bounded up and gave his speech. Then he called on me. Everyone looked around. No one could find me. Finally Jett opened the door to the house. Now I'm dead. I couldn't go my my hiding place in my room because I was in Jett's room and now stranded there. I heard the deck door slam and the front door open. I quickly took this time to go into the secret room through the back of my closet. I hid and took my phone out for light. I wouldn't dare turn the light on in the hidden room. I sat in a chair back there. I wonder if my mom knows about this room.
"Come on Clove! Get your butt out here! Someone call her!" Jett was screaming from my room.
I quickly put my phone on silent. I did not want to get found and I did not want anyone to know about this secret room. Especially not Jett. That would be terrible. Jett knows everything about me except a few things. This room was one of them. I heard Jett leave and slam my door. This shook my room. I decide to spend the rest of my birthday in this little room by myself. Suddenly my phone started ringing. It was Isabelle.
"Hey Princess. How's the party you threw?" I asked.
"Where are you?" she demanded.
"Why?"
"This party is for you too! We can't cut the cakes or have presents opened without one of the birthday people!"
"Well all I wanted for my birthday was a lazy day with my twin and my best friends."
"Well-"
"Why couldn't we just do that?"
"Because I wanted to do something special!"
"Well today isn't about what you want. It's about what my brother and I want. And we both wanted today to be like any other day but with cake!"
"Where are you?"
I stay silent. I then take a deep breath and sneeze. I drop my phone and in wrecks. It turns off so I have no light and Isabelle was disconnected. Crap. I decide to turn the light on. I get my phone and turn the light off. I go to the party and tap Jett's shoulder.
"I need your phone," I tell him.
He hands me his phone and turns back to his conversation. He turns back to me and I run inside. I call our mom and she promises I'll get my new phone either later today or tomorrow. I turn around and she Jett towering over me. I thrust his phone into his hand and jump onto his back. We go out to the party.
*Hours Later*
Okay. That party was too much. Right now, I'm sitting at the island eating cake right off of my cake. Isabelle came into the room.
"Well?"
"Well what? You ignored mine and my brother's suggestions for our birthday. It was too much. It was good but too over the top."
"Sorry."
"It's fine. I'm just being a Debby Downer. I guess our birthday is just a sign of how soon I'm leaving."
Isabelle came and sat with me. "Don't think about it. Just be happy we're still together for now," she said hugging me.
I hugged her back. Once we released, I twisted one of her curls around my finger. It was so weird. But I feel like I shoulder be concerned. I'm losing everyone for this. I cut myself a piece of cake and head to my room. I set my cake on my desk. I flop onto my bed. I then realize that my cake is too far away. I get up and put it on my nightstand. I face plant then roll onto my back. I eat cake while I think about everything that just happened. The party, my talk with Isabelle and how I'm just about gone to music school. Maybe I will be famous.
Maybe everything isn't as it seems.
Here it is. Please review, favorite, follow, and vote in my poll. Two reviews and I update again tonight.