Hey guys! I'm sorry I haven't been updating lately. School is honestly crazy right now. I'll try and update more often.

Last time on "What I Wouldn't Do": Clove started dating Marvel inorder to help get Cashmere jealous in hopes she will give Marvel another chance. Unfortunately (or not depending your view on it (;) Cato and Gloss seem to be the ones getting jealous. At the carnival Johanna noticed bruises on Peeta's arm. Peeta revealed that his mom hit him after Delly moved away which is why he has been acting stranger than usual.

ENJOY

Chapter 6 "The Talk"

Johanna's POV

On Sunday morning, I'm up bright and early at eight am. This wasn't by choice, of course. I was woken up by a noise coming from downstairs that sounded like a dozen dishes crashing onto the floor. I dragged myself out of bed and headed downstairs to see what the hell happened. I found Cecelia at the stove flipping pancakes and Blight sweeping broken glass. They're talking about what to make for dinner and don't even notice me at the doorway.

"We can't just make anything," Cecelia says flipping another pancake. "After all that trouble? Nope. It has to be special."

"Sweetie, relax," Blight says. "It is just dinner. Nothing is going to change."

"What if it does?"

What are they talking about?

"Why would something change?" I ask and they finally see me standing here. "What's going on?"

"Oh, nothing. It's just business talk," Blight says.

Ugh, no. Don't tell me his annoying business workers at the company are coming to dinner.

"Johanna," Cecelia says. "Honey, would you like some pancakes? Or I can make you some toast or maybe cereal."

I shake my head. "I was actually going to see Peeta and have breakfast at the bakery."

I can't get Peeta's bruises out of my mind. I was up all night worried about him. There wasn't anytime to talk to him yesterday at the carnival with no privacy anywhere. On Sundays, Peeta opens the bakery at ten am and runs the bakery alone until noon when his parents come back from mass and grocery shopping. It'll be the perfect time to talk to Peeta about everything.

"Sounds fun! I need you back by one o'clock cause there will be visitors for us," Blight says.

I groan. "Do I have to sit through another boring business dinner? I didn't do anything wrong."

"This one will be fun, I promise," Cecelia says with a smile. "Now go get dressed and come back before you leave cause I'll need to give you some money to buy a few loafs of bread for the dinner. Oh, and ask Peeta if he can add some nuts into a dozen muffins for us."

I'm on my way to the bakery by nine. I go over and over what I plan to say to Peeta in my head. Peeta is not going to want to have this conversation but we need to.

The bakery door isn't locked. I let myself inside and then lock the door behind me. I set my coat on the table and wait for Peeta behind the counter. There are trays of cookies set up, freshly frosted cakes out, and loaves of bread in the oven. Seems like Peeta has been working hard this morning.

The back door opens and I hear Peeta humming a tune as he comes out with a bag of sugar in one hand and a clipboard in the other.

"Hey," I say and he jumps at my voice and nearly drops the bag of sugar. I smile a little.

"Shit," He mutters. "You scared me! How'd you get in here?"

"The door was unlocked."

"Oh," Peeta says while placing the bag of sugar on the shelf above the stove. "Well, it's nice to see you. I'm actually surprised you're up so early. You usually sleep until noon on the weekends. So, what's up?"

"I actually wanted to talk to you about yesterday."

Peeta's jaw tenses a bit. "What about yesterday?"

I sigh. "You know what, Peeta."

Peeta grabs a pair of oven mittens. "I—Jo, I have a lot to get done before the bakery opens."

And there he goes making excuses and avoiding the topic.

"It's not even ten yet."

Peeta takes the loaves of bread out of the oven and begins to slice them.

"And I'm not even half-way done yet. I still have to take stock, bake the cookies, fill the jars, put the cakes on display, mop the place, wash the dishes, clean the oven—"

"Peeta," I say gently while I place my hand on his to stop him from cutting the bread. "We either talk now or we talk in front of your parents."

I don't mean that. I wouldn't talk with his parents there. Mrs. Mellark would go insane and just cause him more pain.

"Okay," Peeta says. "Let's go to the living room."

I wait a few minutes in the living room alone while Peeta cleans himself up a little. I sit on the long couch next to the table of framed photos. For as long as I've known Peeta, I've never really seen old family photos, only the ones on the table. There's a black and white picture of Mr. and Mrs. Mellark dancing at their wedding. There's one with Peeta and his older brother covered in flour. Young Delly is in a photo with Peeta surrounded by a tray of cookies. Then there's a photo of Peeta, Finnick, Gale, and me from the sixth grade, before we met Annie. We look so young. To think that was about five years ago and it seems like it was just yesterday. Where has the time gone?

Peeta silently comes and sits down with me. He takes a deep breathe before speaking.

"I know what you're going to say, Jo. You think I should tell someone what has been happening but… I just can't."

"Why?" I ask. "Are you afraid?"

"Partly but that's not it."

"Then what is it, Peeta?"

He sighs. "She's my mom. She is one of the few family members I have."

"What are you talking about, Peeta? You have a huge family."

"And I never see them. The only time I see my aunts and uncles are at Thanksgiving and Christmas. My brother left for college and he's never visited once. Now he lives hours away and hardly calls. Delly left and I don't blame her. Other than my dad, my mom is the family that cares about me."

"Cares about you?" I gesture towards his bruised arm. "That's not caring."

"You don't understand, Johanna. She just gets over stressed sometimes. It's a lot of work to own a business and take care of a family.

"So her way to get rid of stress is to hurt her son when he makes a mistake, does something she doesn't like, or when he is just there."

"You're making it sound worse than it is!" Peeta shouts.

"I'm not. Listing excuses for her isn't going to make this go away."

"It's just a few hits!"

"It is not!" I shout out of frustration. "It wasn't just a few hits when you were nine and it sure as hell wasn't when she drew blood. She is beating you! Peeta, why can't you just—?"

I cut myself off because I have to. I didn't mean to shout at Peeta. It's just that we've had this exact conversation dozens of times already. After two years, Peeta still doesn't understand that he can't just wait for this to go away. After two years, I still have no success at making him understand this won't go away.

"Sorry I yelled," I say returning to a gentle tone.

"It's okay," Peeta says. "I know you're just worried about me. I'm sorry you have to deal with this too." The fact that Peeta is sorry breaks my heart. "I don't want you to have to worry about me all the time. There is nothing to worry about. I can deal with this for another two years until I go away for college."

Deal with this? Gosh, I wish I could tell Peeta how much he shouldn't have to deal with this. No one should have to deal with this. He doesn't deserve any of this.

"So that's your plan? To run away from this?"

"That was always the plan… I know this goes without saying but promise you won't tell anyone? I don't need all of our friends worrying. Especially Katniss."

I nod. "I promise."

"Can I ask you something now?" Peeta asks.

I nod. "Ask me anything."

"Why did you forgive Gale but you can't forgive Cash?" I should have known that's what he wanted to ask about. "They are both equally at fault for what happened."

After finding out about Cashmere and Gale, it all made sense. Gale never liked me hanging out with Cashmere and she didn't approve of our relationship. They both knew that the other could easily hurt me. The only difference is that Gale told me the truth. It may have taken him two years to tell me but he did it. Cashmere was willing to keep up the lie. She never planned on telling me. Makes me wonder what else she would keep from me. It also makes me realize I can't trust her.

"Gale actually told me about it that night at the ball. He didn't tell me who he cheated on me with because I asked him not to. He wasn't going to pretend anymore but Cashmere was."

"What Cashmere did was bad, I agree," Peeta says. "But I just don't understand how you can be friends with Clove but not Cashmere. Clove—who you've hated for the past 2 years."

I'll admit my newfound friendship with Clove is something that even shocked me. After the ball, I isolated myself from everyone for a while. Clove was the only one I actually talked to. At first, it was all arguments but then it turned into talking. I realized that only person who understood my feelings was Clove. Marvel screwed her over as much as Cashmere did to me. Clove apologized at least five times before I forgave her. There wasn't really anything to forgive though. The only thing Clove did was helping me find out the truth.

"It's one thing to hurt me but it's another thing to never admit to it."

Peeta nods slowly at my words. He seems to understand now.

I help Peeta prepare for opening. By the time the clock strikes ten, the cakes still need to be frosted. Peeta frosts the cakes at the end of the counter as I run the cash register.

The bakery gets busy fast. Being the only bakery in town has its advantages. The Mellark's always get business. Dozens of people come in to pick up baked goods for the week. The loaves of bread, muffins, and bagels go by fast. There are a few special orders that I take note of and set up a pick up date. There are a couple of pick up orders too. The second I get a break from all the customers, I quickly throw in the premade loaves into the oven.

"Peeta," I say after sending away one of the last customers from the morning rush. "I don't know how you do it. I am exhausted."

"Well, just think about doing this all alone," He says. "I had my brother, then Delly but now it's just me. I love the bakery but just not this much."

"Why not hire someone?" I ask. "This job is way too much for one person."

"My dad has tried that but no one last more than half an hour with my mom."

"Shocker!"

"Plus it's a family business. Unless their last name is Mellark, they won't be working here."

"Well, if you ever need help, I'm always gonna be here." I say. "But you should know that by now."

Peeta smiles. "Thanks. My parents should be back soon, so take the apron off and I'll give you those sweets you need."

I put the apron back on the coat hanger and go to the washroom to wash up. When I come back, Katniss is standing behind the counter with Peeta's tongue down her throat.

I clear my throat and they jump back from each other in shock.

"I'll never understand how you two kept your relationship a secret for so long," I say. "Hey, Katniss."

Katniss smiles. "Technically we didn't. You walked in on us making out, remember?"

"I'm trying to block that out."

"So what are you doing here?" Katniss asks slightly confused. "Don't you sleep until noon on the weekends?"

I'm about to answer but then the door rings open and Katniss quickly moves to my side. Mr. and Mrs. Mellark walk in with dozens of bags in their hands.

"Peeta," Mrs. Mellark spits out. "Make yourself useful and help us with these bags."

"He is attending to customers, honey." Mr. Mellark says.

"He is not. He is chatting with his friends."

"Actually," Katniss say with a bit of anger in her voice. "We were just about to order, Mrs. Mellark." She turns to me and pushes me towards the counter.

"I'll take three loaves of bread and a dozen muffins with nuts in them."

"Coming right up," Peeta says and then goes into the back. His parents quickly follow him with their bags.

"Is she always like that?" Katniss asks me in a hushed tone. "Poor Peeta."

I nod. "Katniss, you don't even know the half of it."

"Is she still…?"

Beating him? I want to tell her the truth but I can't. I promised Peeta I wouldn't.

"No. His dad saw the marks and started asking question. His mom doesn't want to risk it now." I lie and Katniss seems to buy it.

Peeta comes out with two boxes. "Help me." I quickly take one of the boxes and Katniss takes the other. "Thanks."

"Do you guys want to come over for dinner?" I ask.

"I can't," Katniss says. "I have plans with Prim to go out and buy a bed for her cat."

"I don't think I can either," Peeta says. "But I'm free right now." Peeta takes the box from Katniss. "You can meet us at Jo's right?"

"Maybe a bit later but I need to get back home right now."

Peeta and I walk to my house with the boxes and a bag of free donuts Mr. Mellark gave me when we left. It's his way of thanking me for helping Peeta out today. How did he know I was helping Peeta? No clue, but he was grateful.

When we get to my house, the front door is unlocked and there's a note from Cecelia on the kitchen table.

Your father and me went out to get coffee with our guests. We'll be back to soon. Leave the breads and muffins in the cabinet and go in the backyard for a surprise. Love you, honey!

"In the backyard?" I ask out loud.

"Maybe they got you a pony," Peeta says while putting the breads away.

"You're so funny," I say sarcastically.

I walk into the back yard and stop dead in my tracks.

There she is sitting on the bench playing with her cellphone. Her brown shiny hair is longer now. She still has that olive colored skin and the dark green eyes to match it. I haven't seen her since Thanksgiving two years ago. Things happen and people grow apart. I actually didn't think I'd ever see her again.

"Enobaria?"

She looks up at me, "Johanna!"

Before I know it, Enobaria is hugging me and tackling me into the ground.

"You dumbass," Enobaria says. "Why didn't you ever call me?!"

I laugh and push her off me. "Why didn't you call me?"

She shrugs and hops off the ground. "I guess I didn't want to seem needy." She takes my hands and pulls me to my feet. "Plus, after you had your parents sold your half of the beach house to us, I thought you didn't want us in your life anymore."

That's not it. I hated going to that stupid beach house because all there ever was to do was go to the beach. All I could think about when I was there was my parents. It was depressing.

"You have a beach house?" I hear Peeta ask from behind me. I completely forgot Peeta was here. "What the hell?"

I'm about to response when Enobaria beats me to it.

"Correction," She says. "Jo had a beach house but after two weekends there it became all mine."

"And that's fine with me." I add.

Enobaria smiles at me. "So…who is this handsome guy?"

Right, they don't know each other. Enobaria has actually never met any of my friends before. She had never been to my house before. Her family never comes to visit. Why are they here now?

"Peeta," Peeta holds his out for a shake. "Nice to meet you, Enobaria."

"A handshake, really? What are we fifty?" With that, Enobaria pulls Peeta into a hug.

Peeta is so stunned that his eyes bug out. I can't help but laugh.

"Enobaria," I say pulling her away from Peeta. "Give Peeta a chance to get to know you before you show him how strange you are. Let him get used to it."

She fakes a gasp. "Strange? I think you mean awesome."

"Oh, I know what I mean."

"So, this is the famous Peeta I heard about all those years ago? Are you two dating yet?"

"What?"

"Enobaria!"

"I guess that's a no then."

"Why would you even ask that?" I ask rather harshly.

"You were always complaining to me about him and his girlfriend, Glitter or something. I just thought you were jealous."

"You talked about me?" Peeta smiles. "That's so sweet."

"Shut up," I tell him. "And her name was Glimmer."

"Potatoe, potato. Just please tell me you aren't with her anymore. From what I heard she was a real bit—"

"No, I'm not. "

The doorbell rings.

"So you're single then?" Enobaria asks very much hitting on Peeta. I find it hard not to laugh. Only two minutes in into meeting a friend and she already hits on him. Only Enobaria would.

Peeta blushes a little clearly flattered. "No, I do have a girlfriend. I think that's actually her at the door," With that he rushes inside to get the door.

"He's cute," She says with a smile. "Why haven't you got with him yet? 'Cause believe me if I lived here, I would have already dated him twice."

"Please, you've dated more than half the people where you live."

"You say that like it's a bad thing. At least I'm not like my brother, only dating that witch of a girlfriend."

"They are still together?" I ask in shock. They started when I was a freshman. After two years they are still together?

"Not for long. Rumor has it that she cheated on him. I'll know for sure when I go back home. Chaff stayed home to work on the relationship," She rolls her eyes with that. "God, my brother is an idiot. He should end it while he has the chance."

"Mason!"

I turn around and see Peeta coming back out with Clove and Marvel behind him.

"Mason," Clove repeats. "I need some advice." Ugh, what now? "I—" Clove barely notices Enobaria with me. "Who is she?"

"I'm Enobaria." She flashes a huge smile at Clove. "And you are?"

Clove points to Marvel. "He's Marvel and I'm Clove."

"Clove? I thought you hated Clove," Enobaria says to me.

"A lot has happened in the past two years," I tell her. "I'll fill you in later."

"Wait, hold up," Clove says rather annoyed. "Who the hell is she and why does she know about me?"

"She's an old friend—"

"Childhood best friend," Enobaria says cutting me off. "Our parents are best friends and our dads are partners in the paper company they found and own. My parents actually helped Jo's parents with the adoption processes. My older brother is adopted so they knew what to do. Anyways, whenever our parents had to meet up we'd hang out. Jo and her parents used to visit us every Thanksgiving and summer since they got her. We're pretty close."

"Wait a second," Peeta says. "First of all, I'm her best friend past and present." I roll my eyes. "Second, paper company? Johanna, are you rich?"

"I'm not rich," I say while Enobaria says, "So rich." I glare at her and she smiles.

"Your dad runs a company, Johanna." Marvel says. "It sounds like you're rich. "

"Peeta," Clove says. "If Johanna is your best friend, how did you not know she was rich?"

"Jo is really secretive about her adopted parents," Peeta says.

That is true. I don't talk about my parents to anyone. My adopted parents are another topic I don't discuss.

"This is really no one's business but mine," I say. "And thanks for saying adopted, Peeta."

"Are you still on that?" Enobaria asks sounding annoyed.

Enobaria and I have had arguments in the past about why I don't call Cecelia and Blight my parents.

"We are not going to fight about this again," I practically shout at her. "Clove, what's your crisis?"

"Maybe we should talk in private," Marvel says.

Clove rolls her eyes. "No need to. Mellark already knows the real reason I'm dating you."

Ah, yes. Clove's insane plan to get Cashmere back with Marvel is through jealousy. Frankly, I don't know why Marvel wants to be with a girl who's been with every senior and junior in our school but that's none of my business.

"Yeah," Peeta says. "To make Cato jealous."

Cato?

"What?" Clove spits out. "God, Peeta, no! I'm not trying to get Cato jealous and I'm not trying to get Gloss jealous either."

Peeta looks confused. "What other blondes are there? And please don't say me."

Clove rolls her eyes as Marvel answers for her. "Cashmere! We are trying to get her jealous?"

"Wait," Enobaria says confused. "You are using him to get a girl jealous?" Marvel look insulted and Clove nods. "Why not use a girl to get her jealous then? I'd be happy to help out. Just saying." She winks.

Clove's eyes widen.

"Okay, you have been here for like fifteen minutes and have already hit on two of my friends." I say to Enobaria.

She shrugs. "Peeta is cute and Clove is hot. Can you really blame me?"

Both Peeta and Clove blush a little.

"We are trying to get her jealous for me," Marvel explains. "She dumped me but never gave a really reason as to why. Cashmere hates Clove more than anyone else so who better to help get under Cash's skin?"

"In the process, I did manage to make the two guys fighting over me jealous," Clove says. "Wasn't my intention but it's kind of too late to fix that now."

"Speaking from experience—," Enobaria says with a smirk." –in getting girls jealous, maybe I can help."

Marvel and Clove exchange a look before Clove turns back to Enobaria and asks, "What did you have in mind?"

The moment Enobaria smiles I know this isn't going to end well.

LEADING INTO THE NEXT CHAPTERS! The next few chapters will be all revolving around each other and the same night from different POVs and different situations. Since I've been bad at updating I'll find you in on what the next 3-4 chapters will be having...

-Annie and Cato Banter

-Fannie :)

-Everlarkness (meeting the parents!)

-Peeta and Prim bonding

-Johanna and Enobaria

-Clubbing xD

-Clato and Closs

and the biggest thing of all... CLOVE IS FINALLY PICKING BETWEEN CATO AND GLOSS

Please Review and let me know what you would like to see!