Yeah sorry for the long wait. I had two papers due yesterday so I was busy :/ But hey! Long chapter and some evilness. 130 reviews, yay :) close to 150 :D Hope you like this chapter!

Shouts:

S: Thank you! I do have another story i'm working on but that's WAY down the road.

Emz: lol yeah you have one but I can't PM you. :P

HG3: lol yes Cato hates Annie but you know hopefully that will change *wink, wink*

Thank you to those who reviewed!

Chapter 8 "Free Food "

Peeta's POV

School has been pretty great since Cashmere's party. Johanna and Gale couldn't be happier, and I couldn't be happier for them. Two of my best friends together; it's great. They're lovey-dovey all the time. Like, 24/7, and it's been two weeks...okay it's getting annoying. Fin and I were the first to get annoyed. It took Annie the past two weeks to finally get tired of it. Annie kept saying things like, "Oh of course you guys are sick of it! You're boys. You can't even appreciate a good romantic movie without me having to bribe you with food. I think it's cute. In fact, it's beyond cute, so both of you just suck it up." Now she's sick of them too. Other than that things are great.

Everyday for the past two weeks there has been a sports team try-out. Apparently Panem High is all about the sports. Annie and Finnick both made the swim team. Johanna, with Gale's encouragement, joined the cross country team. She's one of the fastest out there. After being in the weight room one day for gym Mr. Abernathy suggested I joined the wrestling team. I tried out, and by some miracle I made it.

It wasn't until last Friday that I found out the reason why all the sports teams had tryouts around the same time. This week is homecoming, and football isn't the only sport team celebrated. Every signal team was. This week there will be more than one game every night, not counting Friday 'cause that's the football game, the most important one. Luckily none of our games fall on the same night. Thursday is the swim team's first meet. Wednesday is Johanna's. And tomorrow is mine. I'll be one of the first to start. God, I'm nervous. I'm even more nervous about the match than I am about asking Glimmer to homecoming. Okay, I have to calm down. It's only Monday. I have until Wednesday to ask her.

"Can't you see what they're doing?" Johanna exclaims as we take a seat at the lunchroom table.

"Umm, no?" I open my bag of chips and point it towards her. "Cheeto?"

Johanna pushes the bag away from her with an annoyed face. I smile and eat one. I love annoying her.

"Peeta just look at them over there." She gestures behind me to where Annie is sitting with the Careers, minus Marvel and Cato who don't have this lunch period.

I turn just to humor Johanna, because honestly, she's making a big deal out of nothing. Annie got to the lunch table before Jo and I did, so they just sat there. I was perfectly fine with joining them, but Johanna can't stand them. The only one she doesn't have a problem with is Gloss, but that doesn't change how much she hates the rest of them. Johanna has been so at ease, and the only thing that's been getting her tense lately is the Careers and Annie.

I don't know when, and I don't know how, but Cato, Marvel, Clove, and Glimmer became Careers. Cashmere and Gloss started hanging out with them and soon everyone knew them. Everyone knows more about them than they should, even me.

Cashmere and Gloss moved here for their freshman year. They were accepted into the career pack when Cashmere made the cheer squad and Gloss made the varsity football team. They're the only freshmen in the senior career pack. Rumor is that Cashmere has a thing going on with one of the seniors, which is the real reason her and her brother are Careers. Gloss is really athletic and he loves to joke. He hits on pretty much every girl, but hasn't dated anyone. Marvel's the oldest kid in his family. He has a baby sister who reminds him of Clove, which is why he's very fond of Clove. That would explain the creepy way he pats her on the head, and how he's always protecting her from every guy that hits on her. Which is a lot. I have three classes with Clove, and I've seen the way guys look at her, and the comments they make. I may not like Clove, but I honestly hope she doesn't go for one of those assholes Marvel, Gloss, and Cato keep her from. Gloss hits on her too from time to time, but Gloss hits on everyone. Then there's Cato. The way he looks at Clove in drama class, you can tell he has other reasons for keeping the guys away from her. See, I shouldn't know all these things, but I do. It's hard not to know. All the things people say about Glimmer I already knew, so that's not out of the ordinary for me. She's the youngest of three girls, her parents are both overachievers, and both her sisters are away for college. Glimmer never had feelings for Cato; she was just trying to push Clove towards him. She did; Cato and Clove had a date but haven't had another since. I don't know why, no one does.

"So Annie has new friends. It's not a big deal Johanna," I assure her.

"They want Annie. They can't have her. She's ours!"

"Jo, you sound like a five year old."

She groans. "I know, I know it's just…I haven't been spending a lot of time with Annie lately. I miss her. I miss all of you."

I smile and place my arm on her chair. "We miss you too, Johanna. Maybe you and Gale could stop ditching us all the time."

"Maybe," She partially whispers as she grabs both our lunch trays and leaves me to throw them out.

She walks passed Annie and waves. Annie waves back happily and then continues to talk to Gloss. Gloss and Cashmere are the only ones she's talking to. Glimmer and Clove are on the other side of the table talking. They don't really like her, but Gloss and Cashmere love her.

"You going to the game tonight?" I ask Jo as she returns.

She takes a seat. "Which one?"

"Any?"

"No."

"Good." She raises an eyebrow at me. "Today I'll be baking by myself without my dad's help."

"Congrats? I'm sorry Peeta but you're telling me this because…?"

"So you guys can come over. My dad suggested I have my friends try my food out before my mom does," I explain.

"So basically what I'm hearing is free food."

Oh God. That is exactly what Gale said when I told him this morning.

"Okay, you need to start hanging out with someone other than Gale, 'cause that was just creepy. That is exactly what he said when I told him."

Johanna laughs. "Okay then. Why do you tell Gale something came up so it'll be just us?"

That's not a good idea, at all.

"That won't work."

"Why?" she gives me a confused face.

"Cause I already told Finnick," I lie. If Johanna doesn't see it as a problem I'm not going to put that idea in her head.

"Oh. Well let's go ask Annie." She jumps out of her seat and runs over there. I follow, slowly.

"Hey, Annie."

Annie stops talking to Gloss. "Hey, Johanna, Peeta."

I wave a little.

"We'll be going to Peeta's after school. Kay?"

"For what?" Annie looks at me.

I'm about to explain when Johanna just makes it short.

"Free food."

Annie smiles. "Alright. I'll be there around—Wait, is your mom going to be there?"

I can't help but smile; mom terrifies even my own friends.

"Don't worry. She and my dad are visiting Delly's parents. They left this morning."

Annie nods. "I'll be there at six."

Cashmere turns away from her career girls to us. "Wait, Annie, you're not going to the game?"

Before Annie can even open her mouth to answer Clove does for her. "Cash, no ones going to the games tonight. It's field hockey and golf. Who the hell cares?"

I can see Johanna from the corner of my eye biting her lip. Probably trying to hide a smile. Either that or a rude comment, but I doubt Johanna would think twice about that. Especially it being Clove.

"Can we come?" Cashmere asks.

Annie bites her lip and turns to me. Her eyes are so big; she's begging me to say yes. While Johanna's sending me a death glare.

Yeah, no. I don't really care for Cashmere. She's alright, I guess, but we're not friends. If Annie wants to hang out with her she can, but that doesn't mean I need to. Plus I'm pretty sure Finnick and Johanna would kill me if I said yes.

"Hanging out at the bakery would be fun, Clove," Glimmer says, and I nearly jump.

I didn't realized when Cashmere said we she meant all of them.

"Be there at six."

As if on cue, the first bell rings and I get the hell out of there before Johanna can kill me.

…

"Don't be so stubborn," I tell Johanna as I close my locker.

Johanna crosses her hands and pouts her lips. Like that's supposed to change my mind.

"I'm not your boyfriend. Your lips aren't supposed to work on him."

She hits my shoulder. "None of us get along. It's stupid they're coming."

"You're the only one who doesn't like them." I point out. "I like Glimmer, Finnick actually talks to Clove, and Annie gets along with them."

"What about Gale?"

I could argue that he liked Cashmere, but knowing Johanna, I better not bring that up.

"Fine. You and Gale are the odd ones out. Happy?"

Johanna crosses her arms and leans on my locker.

There's no way I'm telling them that they can't come now. Glimmer is part of the "we" so she'll be coming and I'm freaking out about it already. We've never seen each other outside of school besides Cashmere's party, and when she comes in with her parents to buy bread at the bakery. Maybe I'll ask Glimmer to homecoming today.

"I know you only said yes cause of Glimmer."

"That is not true." Yes it is. "Annie is my friend and I was being a good friend by saying yes."

"Uh huh. Sure Peeta." Jo kicks my locker and we start walking down the hall together.

Gale has to a make up test today after school so Jo's coming with me to my place. We just need to stop by her locker first.

Johanna's locker is right next to Madge's. Madge is leaving by the time we get there.

Johanna gets her stuff and I just stand there.

"Hi, Peeta." Madge greets me and hugs her books in her hands.

"Hey Madge. Going to Delly's locker?"

She smiles and nods repeatedly.

I nod and look at Jo who's staring in Madge's direction. I look back at Madge who's just looking at me. After a second she waves bye to me and leaves.

That was kind of odd. Is she always that quiet at the bakery? No. She's as hyper as Delly when they're together.

Johanna closes her locker and smiles at me brightly.

"…What?"

"Oh God, you're blind." Johanna hangs her head.

"What?"

Jo looks back up at me and gives me a little shake. "Can't you see the way Madge just stared at you? She was smiling at you with her eyes."

I shake my head. "She was not."

"Tell Delly to invite Madge tonight."

"Wh—No! Delly's going to the tennis game."

"Well tell her not to."

I know what Jo's doing; I'm not an idiot. She knows better than anyone else that I plan to ask Glimmer to Homecoming. She hates the idea of us together. Johanna just doesn't see the Glimmer I do. Okay, yeah, Glimmer can be rude at times, but that's not all of her. She's gorgeous, sweet, unpredictable, and kind of crazy. Glimmer just keeps me guessing. I never know what she's going to do next.

I arch my mouth. "Why would I do that?"

Johanna smirks. "'Cause if you don't I swear to God I'll torture you by making out with Gale all night."

Oh God. I really don't need to see that. I get annoyed with them enough as it is.

"Your choice, Peety."

She walks away leaving me literally no other choice.

This can't end well.

Cashmere's POV

Gloss and I went home right after school. I had to change to go to Peeta's tonight. I have to say, I'm surprised he said yes. After all his…whatever Johanna is to him, fucking hates us. Me for being all over Peeta and Gale, Glimmer because Peeta likes her, and Clove for being with Finnick at my party. Obviously Johanna doesn't like to share her men…or Annie. I forgot that's why she has a problem with Gloss. She's just stupid.

It's already six (so I'm late) and we're just starting to walk over there now, Cato and Marvel with us.

"I don't understand why we're going," Clove states for the fucking tenth time.

"'Cause Annie wants us to go." Gloss says.

"She wants you and Cash to go," Glimmer reminds us. "She hates us."

"Which is fine." Cato adds. "Like we give a shit about her."

I stop walking and turn to them. "Well you better start. Annie would be a great addition to us. Odair too. Speaking of which…" I walk over to Clove so I'm standing right next to her. "I expected you have him wrapped around your finger."

"Ew, no. We're friends."

"That's a shame. Maybe you should change that."

"Okay can we start walking again?" Cato says rather harshly. I see Marvel trying to fight a smile as her starts walking with Cato.

It's so cute how Cato's jealous. Too bad Clove refuses to give him another date. I wonder what he'd do if she started seeing someone else.

Clove and I walk slower than the others so we can keep talking.

"Would you stop trying to hook me up with Finnick?" Clove asks. "I know you just want Annie with your brother."

That's true. Gloss looks so happy with her, every time she's near. He's so fond of her. Annie's cute, sweet, and perfect for Gloss. The only problem is Finnick.

"Yeah, and I need him out of the picture. Which is what you're going to do," I smirk.

"Okay, have you seen your brother?" Clove's voice perks up a bit. "I highly doubt he needs your help getting a girl."

I roll my eyes. "If Finnick asks you to homecoming just say yes."

"Why would he ask me?"

I just smile at her.

…

When we get the bakery we walk into a mess. There's yelling coming from upstairs and it doesn't sound like Peeta's parents. Madge is saying bye to everyone and she's apologizing to Peeta. What the hell is going on? We're an hour late and we miss everything. Madge says a quick bye to us and leaves with Delly. The screaming gets louder.

"Hey guys," Peeta greets us at the counter while Annie and Finnick just wave.

I suddenly realize Johanna and Gale aren't here, which would mean—

"I didn't invite her! Blame Peeta!"

Yup, that's Gale's voice.

I guess the happy couple just got out of their honeymoon phase.

"Yeah, just ignore that," Peeta tells us. "Sit, sit! There's still food and—"

Something hard just hit the floor.

"I'll be back." Peeta runs upstairs.

And then there's silence. I wonder what's going on up there. What did Peeta do to get them to stop shouting?

I go to the counter to talk to Annie while everyone else sits at the table and eats from the plate of cookies set out.

"Annie where's the bathroom?" I ask.

"Oh there's one in the back. I'll show you."

Prefect.

"Clove!" I shout. "Annie said she'll show you where the bathroom is."

Clove goes over and raises an eyebrow at me. I know she never said she needed the bathroom but I need to get Finnick alone.

"Go on Clove." I smile.

Annie leads Clove the way.

"Hey Finnick," I move close to him. "So what's going on up there?"

"I'm not one to gossip but Johanna's so jealous." Finnick looks like he's trying hard not to laugh.

"Of Madge?"

"Yeah. She was all over Gale and Jo's pissed off Gale didn't saying anything to her."

"And Gale's acting like he didn't even notice."

Finnick nods. "Exactly."

Johanna's probably giving Gale hell up there.

"Why didn't she just stop it?" I ask.

"Well, Johanna was in the kitchen with Peeta."

And the yelling starts up again. Not a second later does Peeta come back looking miserable. He going into a room which I'm assuming is his bedroom.

"So, are you going to homecoming?" I change the subject.

Annie and Clove should be coming back any minute now.

"Of course I am!" Finnick smiles. "I'm sure there's no point in asking you the same question."

Being the cheer captain, he's right.

"Who are you going with?"

"I was thinking about asking Annie."

I lean back and look down at me feet. "Oh. I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?"

I look up. Finnick looks so confused. He looks worried too.

"I heard she's going with my brother." That's a lie. Gloss told me he wouldn't be asking her. But he should. "Maybe you should think about asking someone else."

"She didn't tell me th—"

"Well why would she?" I interrupt because his ass better go with someone else. "Did you even ask her?"

"No."

"Well why would she just bring it up, think about it Finnick. Would you?"

Finnick doesn't say anything when Annie comes back without Clove. When Annie asks what we were talking about he said the football game this Friday. Then Clove comes back and goes to sit with Cato at the table. Seeing how Finnick just leaves to join her, I can tell he believed me.

"What's with him?" Annie asks me with her eyes on him. "Did he say anything to you?"

"No." I look over my shoulder to the table. Cato's giving Finnick the evil eyes over there. I try to hold my laugh in. Cato's so jealous. I'm glad Clove turned him down for a second date cause this is just more fun to watch.

I turn back to Annie. "I guess he rather talk to Clove then you."

Annie frowns. "Why are you friends?"

Her question surprises me. Why? Cause I want to be. That's none of her business.

"She's so rude."

Okay now I'm offended. Clove's sweeter than you'd think.

"So is Mason and I'm not judging you about."

"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that."

Then there's yelling again. Damn I forgot about those two. They were so quiet. Like what the hell? I wonder how long they've been at it.

Peeta comes out of his room and heads back up. Annie goes with him. She tells me he'll probably need help but I know things just got a little weird between us.

Something beeps behind the counter and I'm thinking it's the oven. I try looking at the oven to see his the lights are one or something but the counters to high. I have to jump to see it. And yes, the lights are on. I go around the so I'm behind the counter.

It beeps again. This time louder and doesn't stop.

"Cash, what did you do?!" Gloss screams startling me.

I turn around and they're all staring at me. They all look very amused.

"Nothing! It just started beeping."

"Well turn it off." Glimmer says with a giggle.

I raise both my brows. "How does one do that?"

"By clicking the off button." Finnick states and Clove starts laughing.

I can't help but notice how well Finnick seems to fit in with us. Why isn't he a Career?

I turn back to the oven and find the off button. It's tiny as hell! How was I supposed to see that? This is why I don't bake! Fuck that. I'm probably burn my house down if I even tried. And it's off.

"Was that so hard?" Marvel asks. His voice is so close he has to be right behind me. And he is.

I roll my eyes as I pick up an oven mitt from the counter and then I hit him with it.

"That didn't even hurt." Marvel says with a smile.

I pout my lips sadly. "Sadness."

Then I hit Marvel with it again, this time in the face.

"You're such a child." He takes the other oven mitt from the counter and hits me on the head.

"I'm older than you," I say defensively.

"Well, you don't act like it."

I grab the oven mitt from his hand. I better put these away before we do something stupid with them. I open a drawer and just stuff them in there.

"Do you know what time the football game is Friday?" Marvel asks.

"Of course! It's at seven."

"You wanna hang out before? I mean all of us."

I frown. "Can't. Gloss needs to be early for prep and so do I."

"It'll just be Cato, Glimmer, Clove, and I then," Marvel says with disappointment in his voice.

I shrug. "Guess so. Sorry. But Gloss and I wouldn't want to intrude on a double date anyway."

Marvel's eyes bug out. "A double what?"

"You aren't taking Glimmer to homecoming?" I ask confused.

"No!"

"Oh. Then who are you going with?"

"About that…" Marvel starts moving his hands around looking really uncomfortable. "Do you—Do you want to go with me?"

Did Marvel just ask me out?

"I—"

"I mean Gloss is going with Glimmer." He is? "And Cato's going with Clove." How do I not know this? "Well he hasn't asked her yet but he is! So I thought—"

"Yes." I interrupt. "Just stop talking you look like you're going to explode."

"As friends?"

I nod. "As friends. But if you don't pick me up at my door Gloss will kill you."

Marvel laughs and so do I.

"Sorry. Gloss thinks I should be treated like a lady. My dad brainwashed him."

"So I guess he'll be doing that with Glimmer?"

"He better or I'll kill him."

Marvel doesn't have a chance to respond. Johanna's storming down the stairs with Annie, Peeta, and Gale following her.

Drama queen.

"Johanna, oh my God! Can you just stop?" Gale yells.

Johanna walks into the living room and we all follow her.

She whips around and crosses her hands over her chest. "I will when you admit you're wrong."

"I didn't even do anything!"

"Yes you did! Maybe I should just let guys hang all over me and not say a damn thing."

"Oh my God," Glimmer blurts out. "Hawthorne just admit it so she can shut up."

"Stay the fuck out of this Glimmer!" Gale exclaims.

"Don't yell at her!" Johanna shouts and that surprises us all. Johanna must be really mad at Gale if she's defending Glimmer.

They continue to yell and I lose all interest. I'm gonna go wash my hands. Clove and Finnick are still in the kitchen, which I didn't even know. I pass by them to go to the back for the bathroom.

I'm coming back, but I stop at the door. I think I just heard Finnick ask Clove to homecoming. She better say yes. I open the door slightly so I can hear better.

"Why are you asking me?" Clove's confused voice asks.

"Why not?"

"What about Annie?"

Forget Annie! Clove, what the hell.

"Clove." Finnick sighs. "Will you go to homecoming with me?"

"…I'll think about it. Now go away before I change my mind."

I hear Finnick breathe out amused. Then I hear the door close. He's gone. Now I better go make sure Clove tells him yes. But then—

"Why don't you get your own friends, Clove?"

Mason. What the hell is she doing here?

"Stop living off of Finnick. It's pathetic."

"I have friends."

"No you don't. You have admires, cause you're a Career. Nothing's changed, Clove. You're still the girl who no one bothered to remember."

Then the door closes.

Then another door closes.

That's when I open mine and run after Clove.

"Clove! Hold up." I begin to lose my breath. She's halfway down the next block already. Damn, she walks fast. "Clove please I'm dying over here."

She stops, turns, and walks back to me.

"What?"

"What? What the hell do you mean 'what'? You know what. You should be telling me the what. What happened over there is what. You don't 'what' me."

Clove blinks hard before responding, "Huh?"

"Uh! Clove. You can't let people just talk to you like that." I tell her.

Clove bit her lip. Her brown eyes began to show her hurt.

I step closer to Clove. "Especially a bitch like Mason."

"Well what was I supposed to do, Cash?"

Clove sounds so weak. She looks so sad. She looks lost. She needs help.

"Sure as hell not just stand there! Clove you need to stand up for yourself. You can't be so weak. People will just walk all over you like they are now. What happened to the girl at my party who almost got into a fight?"

Clove just shrugs. "I don't know what came over me. I was just so...mad."

"Well work with that," I tell her.

She just looks at me and nods.

"I'll help you." I move closer to her and pull her in for a hug 'cause she looks like she needs one.

"Thanks," she whispers.

You see? Clove has her issues too guys. Don't be hating! Yet...xD

So I'm going on vacation from Dec 18 to Jan 2 so this story won't be updated till I get back. I'm not sure if i'll even update Trip to the Capitol before I leave but I'll try! I'll leave an author's note if I can't update that story. Bright side! I'll get some writing done! :)

Please review! Is there anything you'd like to be explain that might have been talked about in the other stories? For example Rue breaking into Finnick's house? That was mentioned in The New Girl's Fire. I'll probably write about it but is there anything else you'd like too see?

Let me know! Review.

In case I don't update TTTC in time. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!