Author's Note: Super sorry for late update;_;
I'll try writing 500-1000 words a day from now on.
Oh, and for those wondering, YES, the main romance is going to be Cato/Clove. There WILL be a lot of Katniss/Peeta, Gale/Madge, and Annie/Finnick, however.
So, yeah.
I own just the plot.
-What Wasn't-
3: Pictures, Peanut Butter, and a Party
"Smile!"
"Does it look like I wanna be here!?" I barked, sending a glare to the photographer. He shrunk behind the camera, hand shaking as he clutched his shirt.
"Oh, come on, Clove, smile," Katniss taunted, patting the photographer on the back.
This time, he tried another approach. "Smile and say 'I hate this!'"
"I hate this," I said, not bothering to smile. A flash filled my vision. I was well aware of the fact that he took the picture while I was talking, but refrained from saying anything else.
Both Katniss and Annie pulled me along to the cafeteria. Since it was picture day, we were running on a 2-hour delay schedule, with one and a half hours to spare right now.
But why were we in the lunch room? Well, once you finished your pictures, you had the option of going in the cafeteria or outside. Since it was pouring sheets outside, we chose the first option.
"Uh, Clove," Annie stammered, pulling on her collar. She pointed a shaking finger towards Glimmer, who was walking- more like stomping- to our table.
"Hey Ugly," she giggled, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I see you didn't do anything for picture day."
I scooted out my chair, standing up to face her. "And you did?" I gestured to her outfit. A sparkly shirt that showed more skin than a bikini, a mini shirt, and neon green pumps. "Uh, it's 2012. Not 1974."
"Ughh!" she grunted, pointing to my shirt. "This is better than a tee shirt, jeans, and flip flops."
I rolled my eyes, about to sit down. But instead of hitting the chair, my butt made contact with the ground. I glared up at Glimmer, who had pulled it from under me.
She laughed, getting some poor nerds to join in with her. She seemed completely fake. Didn't she realize that 80% of the school despised her? And that they weren't jealous?
"Aren't you mature," I grumbled, snatching it from her. I yanked at her hair, not at all surprised when strands of it fell into my fingers. "Hair extensions?" I gasped. "Do you have any part of you that's real?"
She gasped, storming away. Katniss helped me stand up, apologizing for not saying anything.
"It's fine," I mumbled, then suddenly brightened. "Which reminds me… come to Cato's party with me-"
"Oooh, I'm going!" Annie shrieked. I ignored her.
"-We're going to humiliate Glimmer."
An evil glint caught Katniss' eyes, and she suddenly smirked. "Perfect," she purred, suddenly looking around. "Let's go to the store. I know exactly what to get."
As we stood up, Annie trailing behind us, we looked around to make sure that nobody was watching us play Hookie. We almost made it to the doors without being noticed.
Almost.
"And where you are going?" Madge asked quietly.
Katniss grabbed her by the arm. "Store. Humiliate Glimmer."
Madge raised her eyebrows. Was that a smile I saw? "I'm coming, too, then."
Will this day get any better?
-What Wasn't-
Other customers gave us weird looks, but we ignored them.
It was probably for the fact that it was 10:00 AM, and we were outside of school. In all honesty, they probably thought that we were some rebels targeted on the destruction of mankind.
Which is true, in some ways. But mostly for Glimmer. And sort of Cato.
I suddenly felt bad. Not for Glimmer, mind you, but for Cato. Glimmer could've made up the thing Cato said. She could've lied, and he could be innocent. Seriously, Cato seemed nice. He may be a wise guy, but he's hilarious.
"Earth to Clove," Annie laughed, poking me on the side.
"Huh?" I muttered, blinking. She giggled some more and pointed to an aisle. I could barely make out the word 'sandwiches' labeled on a sign overtop the aisle.
"Go get some peanut butter, would you?" Madge asked, expressionless. She was busily studying a row of whipped cream. "Katniss, Whip-Whip or Cream of Whip?"
I giggled- yes. You read that right- at the brand names of the whipped cream, surprised that Madge could ask a question that seriously. Walking off, I turned at the corner to find the sandwich aisle.
"Woah," I whispered, gazing in awe at the sight around me. Jars, cans, bottles, and containers of ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish, peanut butter, and anything else you could think of that would be on a sandwich topped the shelves. The ketchup even came in a variety of colors! Brand name after brand name watched me intently as I made my way to a shelf of peanut butter, contemplating on what to get.
"Hungry?"
I jumped at the voice, somehow feeling relieved when I realized it was just Cato, leaning against the wall parallel to my shelf.
"I guess you could say that," I yawned, pulling out a heavy container marked 'PeeNut Butt', sketched with a peanut showing off its buttocks in a… rather unattractive way. I dropped it back onto the shelf, not bothering to put it right side up when it hit the shelf with a thud, rolling onto the edge.
He came up next to me, breathing in my ear. "Fancy seeing you here. What are you looking for, exactly?"
I turned to stare at him for a minute, before shaking my head. His gaze landed on the PeeNut Butt container, raising an eyebrow.
My senses came back to me. I went to the far end of the peanut butter shelf, randomly choosing a jar. "What are you doing here?"
He looked offended, pinning his hand to his heart. "My, my, Clove. I should be saying the same thing to you. Isn't playing Hookie a bit sub-par for your... level?"
He was mocking me, and knew it, too. I stood to face him, tilting my head up so I could see him. "Listen well, Cato. You and I both know I could beat you up in a second."
He slouched down, a smirk playing on his face. "You and I both know that's not true."
And in a second, he was gone. I gasped, clenching my fists. He was mocking me, again! "Shut up!" I yelled, knowing he would be well in earshot. Thankfully, I was the only one in the aisle, and nobody else came running in. Or so I thought.
"Geez, Clove, what took so long!?" Annie muttered, throwing her arms over her head. "It's been, like, 10 minutes!"
"It was dreadful," Madge said, though I caught the largest portion of irony laced throughout her voice.
I apologized, awkwardly scratching the back of my head with my hand, quickly grabbing a container of mustard. "Well, you see," I started, "I was getting mustard, too. For that nasty color."
Madge raised an eyebrow. "That explains why you yelled 'Shut up!'".
Luckily, I didn't have to say anything. "PeeNut Butt!? Clove, I hate this brand!" Annie shrieked. I looked over her shoulder, seeing the PeeNut Butt jar in my cart. Huh. I thought I moved away from that brand. But I guess when I reached for a random one, I accidently grabbed that unfortunately named brand.
"Why is everyone in here?" Katniss asked, barging onto the scene. "Clove, I just saw Cato leave."
I hung my head in shame. "Yes, yes, I know."
Annie gave an evil smile. "Well, looks like we have everything now. Know what that means?"
Katniss thrusted the shopping list into Annie's hand. "Uh, no. We still need a few more things."
Madge scurried out of the aisle, turning to look back at us. "Well? Are you coming or what?"
-What Wasn't-
It was obvious which house was Cato's.
The music was booming, able to be heard a street away. Cars were parked every which way: the street parallel to his, in driveways, and in his yards. Everywhere you looked, teens were climbing out of their cars. The only thing missing were the fluorescent red and blue lights coming from a police car.
"I sort of like this song," Annie confessed, flustered. Let me fix that mistake. We were two streets away and we could still hear the music.
"Yo!" Gale yelled from across the street. We jogged over to meet him. "You look nice, Madge."
She looked up at him, an eyebrow raised. "You could have said that at school. It's picture day."
"Well yeah- Hey! Where are you going?" He ran after her, pushing people aside to walk next to her.
Annie looked in a daze. I looked around for signs of Finnick, but saw none. "Annie…? Are you okay?"
"She loves romantic things," Katniss whispered, pointing to Cato's house. "We should start walking."
And so we did. And just like that, Annie snapped out of her fantasy and began walking along side us, saying about how Gale and Madge were so cute together, and the most adorable thing she's ever seen, and BLAH BLAH BLAH. In total honesty, I wasn't one for romance. I remember being forced to watch chick flicks with my mom and sister. As they 'awwwed' and cried at the romantic parts, I was nearly barfing.
"We're here," I said, rather loudly, hoping Annie would get the hint. She totally ignored it, not stopping until we were inside and she gazed around in awe.
I wiped my forehead. "Finally…"
"Clove! Glad you could make it!" I snapped towards the voice, not surprised when it was Cato, arms spread out as if he was waiting for a hug. I've been hearing a lot of him, lately. "I didn't think you'd come," he said, dropping his open arms. He was, once again, making a fool of me.
"Oh, I came," I said sweetly, stepping towards him. Before I was in the five foot radius of him, Glimmer ran up and kissed him on the cheek.
She winked at him seductively as I tried to hold in a gag. "I'm so glad you hosted this party," she purred, rubbing his chest. BARF. "But, Catooooo, why'd you invite the hag?" Her eyes flickered towards me, then back to Cato.
Cato laughed, a deep, gruff laughed, before regaining his posture, gently taking Glimmer's hands off of him. "She's not a hag. She's very pretty."
Glimmer stomped, obviously unhappy with the statement. "You JUST asked me out. Are you looking for a break up already?"
I stifled a gasp, feeling a heavy feeling in my chest. It wasn't that I liked him, but I felt pity for him. For going out with Glimmer. Gross.
"You guys are dating?" I choked out. The way I said it made it sound like I was disappointed. Off to the side, Katniss mouthed 'What the heck?' to my response. Cato seemed to be a bit surprised too, but quickly put back on that cool façade of his.
Glimmer sent a snarl towards my direction. "You bet we are. I mean, I know you like him and all, but puh-lease."
I clenched my fists, taking a deep breath before walking over to Katniss, who was chatting with Peeta. Cato called out for me, and when I turned around, looked like he was in a heated make-out session with Glimmer. Barf.
As I stepped closer to Katniss, I backed away reluctantly and stood around a corner so I could listen in to the conversation. By the way that Peeta was avoiding Katniss's gaze, looking flustered, I knew that I shouldn't get involved.
"So… you know, we've known each other for a while and-" Peeta stammered.
"Yes, Peeta?" Katniss cut in.
"Well, I was just wondering if maybe sometime you wanted to go out and-"
"Yo, Peeta!" Another voice entered the scene. Turning around the corner, I saw Finnick slapping Peeta on the back.
"Idiot!" I hissed, though nobody could hear me. It was obvious that Peeta was getting ready to ask Katniss out, then Finnick came onto the scene and ruined it. Just great.
By the time that Finnick left, Annie came and started talking to Katniss. Peeta excused himself quickly and left the scene, still flustered from the conversation with Katniss that he never got to finish. I was getting bored myself and joined Annie.
But, before I could say anything, Glimmer hopped on top of a table, and yelled, in a megaphone; "Hey! Thanks for coming! We're about to start 7 Minutes in Heaven so everyone needs to choose a slip of paper!"
"7 minutes in heaven?" Annie gasped. "Doesn't that usually lead to…"
"I feel like I understand why most parents look down on us," Katniss muttered. "I'm not choosing a slip."
"Me neith-"
I was cut off from a hand punching me in the back.
"Choose a slip, Ugly," Glimmer scoffed, spitting in my face. I kept my hands at my side, refusing too. "Well?" She made an exaggerated face. "Oh my god! You're scared, aren't you?"
"No!" I hissed, thrusting my hand in the basket. I grabbed the first slip I could find and jammed it in my pocket without looking at what it said.
Glimmer skidded around to where Madge was, nearly forcing the slip of paper in her palms. By the time everyone had chosen a slip, Glimmer stood back on the table, yelling into the microphone once more.
"Okay! So, who're the two people with slip #1?"
-What Wasn't-
The night went on. 3 pairs were in 3 different rooms at a time.
"Pair #12, #13, and #14? I have #12, so, whose the lucky guy?" Glimmer purred, winking seductively at Cato. Cato avoiding her gaze, turning when a cough on the other end of the room yelled out, "I have 12!"
Glimmer froze, plastering on a fake smile as she turned to the source of the voice. There, holding a half empty bottle of white liquor, was… holy crap. Mr. Abernathy?!
.The room was silent as Haymitch Abernathy made his way to Glimmer. By the way she gagged when he whispered to her, it was obvious she was drunk.
It was still silent as Glimmer called out to Cato, asking him, "Why the hell does Haymitch have your slip of paper!?"
In response, Cato lifted Glimmer up over his shoulder, dumped her into a bedroom with Haymitch, and locked the door from the outside.
Nobody dared to speak as Glimmer shrieked loudly.
Until, that is, Madge burst out laughing.
"Mr. Abernathy! Can you… guys… believe it!?" she laughed, wiping a tear. Gale joined in after her, followed by Katniss and I. Soon, 95% of the room had burst out in laughter. Who was the 5% that stayed silent, though? Glimmer's posse of friends, Cashmere, and… Cato.
"Seriously! Stop it!" Cato erupted suddenly, quickly silencing us all. He looked angry. Really angry. "Who's pair number 13?"
A pale, scrawny boy shuddered as he walked near Cato. Another large girl made her way to them as well. Cato nearly shoved them into a room.
"And pair 14?"
Nobody stood up or walked by him. The room was deathly silent as Cato reached into his pocket, pulled out a slip of paper, and nodded to himself. "Ah, yeah. That's me. Who's the girl?"
Everyone paled considerably, checking their slips to make sure they weren't the unlucky girl. I stood there, sighing.
"Clove, what number do you have?" Katniss whispered to me.
I shrugged. "Doesn't matter, does it? Like I'm playing this stupid game."
"What if you have Cato's?"
I nearly spit out the soda I was drinking. "Hah. Like that'll happen."
But still, I reluctantly slid my hand into my pocket, reaching in to carefully pull out the paper. Annie stood behind me, watching over my shoulder. Unfolding the paper, I quickly crumbled it afterwards.
#14
Aw, crap.
-What Wasn't-
Shorter than usual, but I didn't want to keep anybody waiting any longer ;^; I started this in May, haha. And to think I wanted to finish the story by August. xD
Reviews make me happy! I promise I won't take as long (:
I have A LOT more planned for the party. If you have any suggestions or an idea, feel free to let me know.