A/N: I'm completely ecstatic, we hit fifty reviews! *does happy dance* A massive thank you to everyone who reviewed, I read all of them and they give me inspiration to write more. And also, thanks to my beta, PhoenixGrace!

Guest: Thank you so much!

belenydbzfan: Yes, this chapter is the date. Hope you enjoy it. :)

Emily: Hi Emily! Yes, Clarvel is cute. :)

Disclaimer: Not yet. Not ever.

I Never Knew

By kelster07

Chapter 8: Freak Outs and Dates

I'm over the moon.

Two and a half hours ago, I was relentlessly punishing the carpet in my bedroom. Endlessly pacing. Up and down, up and down. My mum had left for the supermarket, and I was home alone. Lunch was still sitting uneaten on the table and I'd walked into walls about every few minutes. I had opened my closet and surprise! It was completely full. Overflowing, actually. But, as all girls put it, there was nothing to wear. Nothing.

I was hyperventilating. I attempted to calm myself down, really, I did. Honest. But nothing was working. The fact that I was going on a date was still unregistered in my mind. With Lakyn, of all people. Just the thought of it made me want to sit down, head spinning. Maybe it was the way he smiled and my insides would go all fuzzy. Maybe it was how his hair was always so carelessly messy. Whatever it is, it has a mind-numbing effect on me. Which is bad. Very, very bad.

I took me eight minutes to gather my wits and dial Glimmer's number. Five minutes of nail-biting were then endured; they were almost bitten to the beds. By the time she arrived, my whole wardrobe had been messily ransacked. I was pulling the ends of my hair desperately as she rummaged through again. Suddenly, she had pulled out a flowing white tank top and cropped jeans made of light denim.

"Will those do?" I asked, worriedly hiding my face.

"I don't know. You tell me?" she replied.

And then I completely lost it. "I don't know! I don't know! I don't even know why I signed up for this in the first place, Glim! I think I've lost my freaking mind."

"Clo, calm down." She had sat next to the hyperventilating version of me and said, "It doesn't matter what you wear. If he didn't like you being you, he would've never even asked you to go on a date with him in the first place."

I winced. Date. The word still felt funny on my tongue. And for good reason too, since this was the first time in three years I've gone on a… date. I didn't think I was going to get used to the word anytime soon.

"Thank you."

Two hours ago, the carpet wasn't getting any better. Glimmer had left and I was alone in the house. Pacing. Then the doorbell rang, shaking me out of my daydreams. I braced myself before pulling the door wide open. I almost breathed a deep breath of relief when I saw that he was dressed casually. Thank god for Glimmer.

We walked to the nearby cinemas and saw a new action film. It was pretty good, and by the time the movie finished, all the tension had dissipated. We then wandered through the park. Nightfall was coming sooner every night and he had wrapped an arm around me. I shifted; slightly uncomfortable at the unknown touch. Of course, I wasn't going to ruin to date with my prudish nature.

We went to Sammy's, a café loved by all of Panem High's students. Whether it was the delicious baked potato, mouth-watering lasagne or melt in your mouth desserts, there's really something for everyone. Luckily for me, we hadn't seen anyone we knew yet. Of course, I knew that luck wouldn't last.

I take a sip of the ice-cold soda in front of me and pull back into reality. I laugh at something Lakyn says and subconsciously turn around to look at the entrance when the bell jingles.

"So, then you kn-" Lakyn starts.

Then, I freeze and his voice is completely drowned out. I see a giggling head pop in, and then two seconds later, another walks in after the first, grabbing her from behind and wrapping his arms around her middle. Taffeta and Marvel. She giggles again and I duck down in our booth and pay attention to Lakyn again. Oh, please don't let them see me. Please, please, please. I cross my fingers under the table.

I look over at the table where they're seated. I can see Taffeta's face and half of Marvel's head. They haven't seen us yet. Yet.

"Hey." Lakyn says a little louder to me. I mentally curse myself for ignoring him. "Were you even listening to anything I was saying?"

I bite my lip. "Sorry, I zoned out for a minute."

There's a brief moment of silence.

"You're lucky you're so cute," he says, grinning. My heart flutters even though I know it's ridiculous. Completely, utterly, ridiculous.

"Once again, I never technically said I liked Hello Kitty," I point out. I look over the café and Taffeta and Marvel are locking lips. Once again, does anyone care for privacy? I hope the slight twinge of annoyance hasn't come out in my voice.

He announces, "You're still cute." The butterflies return. Damn this stupid feeling inside my stomach. He continues, "Anyway, what do you think the wedding is going to be like?"

"What wedding?"

"Mr Snow and Ms Coin's," he deadpans. When he sees my expression he laughs and says, "The Brown-Pearl wedding, of course."

My eyebrows shoot up, and before I can stop myself, I blurt out, "You were invited?"

Shit.

I quickly amend, "I mean, I didn't know you were invited."

"Nice save," he smirks and then shrugs. "Cashmere and Gloss invited me. I'm assuming you were invited?"

Are you serious? Cashmere and Gloss invited him? Cashmere? Clove, I think, just because he's friends with Cashmere doesn't mean he's a bad person. Right?

"Yeah," I reply, masking my confusion.

"Do you want to go together? As each other's dates?"

The date is working out pretty well so far. No mishaps yet. What harm could going to the wedding with him do?

"Sure," I nod, taking a bite of the chicken salad. I have to stifle a groan. It's delicious.

I look over at the table across the room again. This time, I'm not so lucky. My eyes catch onto Marvel's startlingly green ones. He looks shocked for a second and blinks, as if to say, did I just see what I think I did? I turn away before he looks again and desperately try to involve myself in conversation with Lakyn. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him getting up. It's inevitable, after all. Of course this would happen. In eleven seconds flat, he's at our table.

"Hey." Marvel nods his head towards Lakyn and says, "What are you doing here?"

I almost cringe at the question. Because he can just totally walk up to a table and demand answers. Yes, that was sarcasm.

"I'm on a date with my girlfriend, Clove." Lakyn's voice is smooth and cold. Momentarily, a trail of shivers shoot down my spine and he pulls me closer to him. I try not to flinch at the unexpected touch.

Girlfriend? Since when was I- Oh, crap.

"I was just wondering if I could speak to her for a moment?" When Marvel sees Lakyn's face, he adds, "About our English project."

Lakyn looks like he's about to blow a fuse. His face is set and his jaw is clenched. Why is he getting so worked up? But once again, it probably wasn't the smartest idea of Marvel's to interrupt in the middle of our dinner. I look over at Lakyn again. Yep, he'll kill me if I go off now.

"Sorry, it's just that we're in the middle of dinner," I say. I can practically feel Lakyn's tense body loosen in relief.

Disappointment is spread over Marvel's face.

"That's fine. Hope you enjoy the rest of your date." He walks off, back to Taffeta who's just about to get up herself. She shoots me a look that's a cross between questioning and a death glare.

"Man, I can't believe the nerve of that guy. Interrupting our dinner like that." Lakyn shakes his head and takes another bite of his pasta.

I don't completely agree with him, but I stay quiet. They've both messed up. This is going to be more complicated than I thought.

A/N: Baby Clover went on a date! Please review, it keeps me motivated to write. Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions? Concrit? All are welcome!

Oh, and next chapter will be the wedding. Yes. More drama. :)