Disclaimer: Remember, I just write this for fun. I don't own any rights what so ever; the hunger games and all its characters are property of Suzanne Collins. Also, the idea of an exclusive high school with a gang of four boys ruling it, is from the manga Boys over Flowers, or Hana Yori Dango.

'Eh…' Slightly shaken by her own action, her eyes met his with more courage than she actually felt. Being at least a head taller, he towered above her like a giant. That, plus his muscular build and the brutality in his eyes, almost made her wish she hadn't opened her mouth.

'I…' Don't flinch, she ordered herself when he brought his face even closer to hers in another attempt to intimidate her, feeling very small under his scrutinizing gaze. 'Yes?'

'I…'Come on Everdeen, he's nothing but a big kid…remember, having money doesn't make him better than you.

'What, the cat got your tongue?' He mocked, smirking at her displayed weakness. In spite of her fear, she blushed in anger. That son of a….!

'Please…she…she meant you no harm. It…it was an accident.'

He snorted. Then suddenly, a spark of recognition came into his eyes. 'Wait a minute, I remember you…the girl with the arrows…you're that Glimmer girl, right?'

She frowned at that. So he had overheard her conversation with Peeta then. Or maybe Peeta had told them already how she had left him on the field. O boy, could it get any better?

'No. My name is Katniss,' she told him resentfully, knowing further lying would be pointless because he would find out eventually. 'I'm from D-12.'

'Hmpf. Do I look as if I care?' He was about to shove her aside, but Marvel took hold of his shoulder. 'Now come on Cato, give the girl a break here. She's right, it was an accident. No need to get all fucked up about it.' He gave Madge a supportive wink. 'Besides, they're cute.'

This earned him a lethal stare from his friend. 'I don't care if they're cute or not. Have you seen my shirt? I cannot wear this any more!'

Marvel shrugged. 'Oh come on. You have plenty enough of those back home.'

'That's not the point! That bitch will pay!' Still pissed, Cato turned his gaze back to Katniss, scanning her with arrogant eyes. 'You. Weakling. Just tell me you're sorry and step aside. And hurry up, before I change my mind about it.'

Katniss mouth dropped for a second time this day. No way. He was letting her off the hook? For a moment she felt relieved. But then she heard Madge timid voice, and she fell a spurt of guild as well. 'Just do as he says,' her friend encouraged her with a slight smile. 'I'll be fine. Just do it.'

'Well? I haven't got all day you know,' Cato taunted, his teal eyes already focusing back on his first victim. Madge shrank in fear under his annihilating gaze.

'Cato,' Marvel nervously tried to mingle in again, knowing were this would lead to, but his friend hushed him before he could finish. 'Not now Marve!'

Noticing he was about to shove her aside again so he could get to Madge, Katniss threw herself at him, claiming his attention.

'No, I will not apologize,' she yelled as anger took over; she was shivering like a leaf in a strong breeze, but her hand unconsciously formed into a fist. 'Why should I, when all I did was sticking up for my friend?'

'Why you little-' Cato looked as if he was about to strike her, but she stood her ground, too distracted by her own hate to show him any fear. 'Yes?' she asked, daring him to continue. 'Come on big boy, talk to me!'

'Wow,' Marvel muttered, stunned by her bold action. This was the first time someone actually stood up against Cato; normally, people just panicked when he yelled at them, wanting to get away as quick as possible. This girl had some balls!

'Don't mess with me girl,' Cato warned her between clenched teeth. 'Peeta seems to like you, but I swear to you, if you dare talking to me like that again, I will-'

'What, sock me? Violate me? What?' She knew she was overdoing it, but at this point, she was too mad to even care.

For a moment he only blinked in response; apparently, he hadn't expected this. But after the initial shock, his arrogance took over again. So she wanted to play games huh?

'Whatever.' He shoved her away from him as if she was nothing but an irritating bug, making his retreat from the cafeteria. A dangerous smirk lingered around his lips as he turned his head once more to face her. 'Alright then, have it your way. If it's war you want, then it's war you will get. See you around…Katniss.'

As he disappeared through the heavy double doors, she felt how two arms were slammed around her torso; someone was hugging her firmly. 'Katniss, you idiot. Why the hell did you do that?' she heard Madge saying, her voice all creaked up by her tears. 'He was about to let you go!'

'That was a very brave thing of you to do,' Marvel told her, giving her an appreciative look. 'Cato is not the kind of man who expects a retort. Especially not the one you just gave him.'

'He's going after me for this, isn't he?' Katniss asked him bluntly as their eyes locked. He nodded. 'Yeah, I'm afraid so. He would not be Cato if he wouldn't. But don't worry. We will keep him under control,' he assured her, before he also made a sprint towards the doors. She gulped, as two words slipped into mind. Yeah right.

Looking up from his book, Gale turned his head to the digital clock on the dresser. 16:58. She could be here any minute now. Better get to work. He shoved the book back onto its shelf and got up from his chair. He switched the radio on and entered the kitchen to collect the lemonade and cookies he'd promised her. O, he couldn't wait to see her expression when he told her the news from LA. She would be so thrilled! Packed with all kinds of goodies, he was about to stash it all onto the coffee table, when he heard some noise from the hallway. Ah. If that wasn't his long awaited guest.

'I'm back!' Sighing, Katniss opened the door of Gale's house and stepped inside, throwing her backpack onto the wooden floor as she stumbled further into the hallway. I'm so dead. O, why couldn't I keep my temper? I can't quit school. Mom will kill me! But I can't go back either. Not after my confrontation with the Richies. O, what am I going to do?

Almost on cue, the door of the living room flew open, and Gale came towards her, smiling from ear to ear as he walked towards her. 'Catnip! Glad you could make it on time.' He took her in his arms for a hug, and she gladly hugged him back. At least I have him, she thought bitterly, when she took a step back again. He was studying her face with concerned eyes. 'Katniss, is there something wrong? You look troubled.'

'Oh, just some things at school. It's not a big deal.' She turned her head as Madge stumbled in too. 'Oh, I also brought a friend with me. I hope you don't mind.'

'Of course not,' he assured her right away, though his eyes told her a different story. Why? He had nothing against Madge right? But he passed her before she could ask, friendly hugging the other girl too. 'Hi Madge, long time not seen. How are you doing?'

'Not so good I'm afraid,' she responded, also disposing herself of her bag, as she exchanged glances with Katniss. 'Will you tell him, or do I have the honor?'

'Tell me what?' Gale asked in reply as he guided them into the leaving room, getting more and more interested. 'I know she mentioned something about school when she came in.'

Katniss shook her head as she let herself fall onto the nearest chair, pressing her fingertips at her right temple as if she was suffering from a headache. 'No Madge, I don't want to hear anymore of it. Please. I just want…to forget.'

Now, Gale was definitely interested to hear more. 'So, what happened?' he asked, begging Madge with his eyes to continue her story. She just nodded, taking a cookie from the table as she sat beside him. 'Katniss bumped into the Richies today.'

'The Richies?' Gale asked with a grin, already ridiculing the name. 'Who are they?'

'Just some stupid guys at school. Really Madge, you're making a lot of fuss over nothing.' Katniss said, bending forward as she reached for a cookie as well. Madge immediately snapped her head to the right so she could meet her gaze. 'I'm not Katniss, and you know it! You saw what happened to the others.'

Nibbling on her Oreo Katniss just shrugged, acting all cool as if she didn't care. 'Well, maybe I'm not like them.' Of course it was a lie. The mere thought of facing school tomorrow was enough to make her nauseous.

Madge just sighed at that. She bit her lip as she lowered her eyes towards the floor. 'I'm…I'm so sorry I messed it all up. If I had been more careful…'

'Are you kidding me?' Katniss rolled her eyes. 'It's not your fault Madge. His reaction, it was just absurd. I've never seen anyone freak out like that before. And over what? Ok, you spilled some of his juice over his shirt…so? Big deal!'

Madge shivered at the memory. 'I didn't even know anyone could be that scary. Brrr.'

Katniss nodded because she had to agree on that. And it also made her wonder. How could anyone like that be friends with someone like Peeta? Peeta…For some reason the blue eyed blonde just kept popping into her head. He had seemed nice when he complimented her on her shooting skills. Hmm... Maybe not all the Richies were bad...

'Katniss?'

'Huh?' Distracted from her thoughts, she looked up, seeing both Gale and Madge stare at her. 'What?' she asked when they both kept silent. Sighing, Gale just took the plate with cookies from the table. 'Another Oreo?'

'Foolish girl. Does she even know who she's messing with?' Slamming his fist at the nearest wall, Cato expressed his anger, wanting to do a lot more to the girl who had dared to defy him. That haughty bitch! 'O, but I will get her for this. No lowborn will ever mess with me. When I'm done with her she'll wish she had never been born!'

'Ok, I see it is that time of the month again. Really Cato, will there ever be a day you don't have a fight with anyone?' Shaking his head in plain mockery, Finnick sluggishly stepped into the room without the slightest notion of what had happened. Marvel just shrugged idly as his friend joined him on the big black leather sofa; he had stopped listening to Cato for quite some time now, already familiar with the long flow of curses.

'You know Finnick, that's what you usually say to a woman? Although in Cato's case, you might have a point…' He turned his head to face him. 'And you? How are things with Annie?'

'Best not talk about it,' Finnick sighed as he relaxed in his seat, his arms resting on the back of his seat. 'She still doesn't want to see me, but she did pick up the phone last time I called, so at least she is willing to talk to me again. I know it's not an ideal situation, but it is a start.'

'Hmpf…I'll say you dump her and find yourself a new girlfriend…a real one this time,' Cato muttered, extending his fury on his friend now. It made Finnick and Marvel exchange looks, both holding their laughter. 'Look who's talking…you've never even had a girlfriend.'

'What are you talking about?' Cato stumbled back as if he had been hit, causing the other two to laugh even louder. 'Of course I've had girlfriends!'

'Cato, the ones under your bed don't count,' Marvel added sweetly, knowing it would fuel his friends' anger even further. But it was fun. And at least he was talking about something else than the girl in the cafeteria.

Cato snorted, embarrassed by their comment but determined not to show it. 'No Marve, that's your department,' he backfired coldly, not getting the desired reaction as the other boy just grinned in respond. 'That may be so, but at least I get some.' He rolled his eyes. 'Oh forget it! Why am I even bothering myself with you assholes?'

'Eh, because we're suppose to be your buddies?' Finnick tried to enlighten him once more. 'Although, with your kind of behaviour, it's a bloody miracle you even have friends. So, what kind of the crime was it this time? No, let me guess. Someone has spelled your name wrong on the chalk board?'

'Suck me Finnick.' Livid, Cato turned his back at him, staring out of the window in an attempt to cool down. 'I don't care what you guys are saying. That bitch challenged me, and I'm going to take her down, with or without your help.'

'Ho, wait a minute. Her? Your new victim is a woman?' Finnick snapped his head towards Marvel. 'And you knew about this?'

'Cato, don't do anything stupid,' Marvel warned, acting all serious again, ignoring Finnick's reproachful stare. 'If you go after this girl, you might get into trouble with Peeta. He seems genuinely interested in her.'

Cato just shrugged at that, not impressed. 'I don't worry about that. Peeta is not a fool; he would never be serious about a girl that low. And besides, he just met her today.'

'All I'm saying is, low or not, you better be careful. Why don't you think it over, before you do something you'll regret?'

a/n: I just want to tell you how I appreciate the reviews I've already received for this story. Annarosen, Alwaysreading25, Peetame and Guest: thank you so much for taking the afford to review. I just love Hana Yori Dango and the Hunger Games, and I couldn't resist to write a story were I could mingle those two together.

Please stay tuned!

. / .