Hey guys! Hope you had a good break! Sorry for the wait. This update was way over due. The main issue was that I kept changing around the ending of the chapter. (I'll explain why at the end of this chapter.)

Replies to guests:

ERMAGHERDhg4lyfe: Hey I love reading your reviews! Glita is a good name for Glimmer/Peeta. I've never really thought about their ship name. This chapter will confirm one of your reviews:)

Grace: Thanks! The drama is fun to write tbh. More Johanna drama to come.

Last Time on Freshman Year: On Valentine's Day. Clove had a fight with Cato and ending up spending sometime with Gloss and Peeta. That night Peeta found out that Johanna made Glimmer break with him and all the Victors knew but never told him. Peeta left after an argument with Gloss about what the Victors had done. Gloss ends up opening up to Clove not only about what the Victors did but also about the girl he has feelings for.

ENJOY!

Chapter 30 "The Deal"

Gloss' POV

It's early March already. The spring play is only two months away. It feels like just yesterday I was with Johanna reading lines when Cinna walked in on us and offered her the part of Juliet. I can't believe that was in January. Time really does fly by.

With the play approaching, Cinna has made rehearsals more regular now. We meet twice a week before first period and after school once a week. I don't have a major role in the play, I'm just an extra really, but I don't mind coming in as often as the ones with leading roles. Plus, since Peeta isn't on good terms with any of us anymore, Johanna needs some support to keep going on with this play.

I sit in the audience with the rest of the cast while we all watch Johanna and Peeta preform the scene when Romeo and Juliet first meet. Even with everything going on between Peeta and Johanna, the chemistry is still there, but it is different. Johanna still plays Juliet well, but when they kiss, I can see how uncomfortable she is. I don't think anyone else notices it but me.

The second the bell rings, Peeta is walking away from Johanna like she isn't even there. Johanna sighs deeply before heading off the stage towards me.

"You okay?" I ask while handing her her book bag.

"I don't know how much longer I can deal with this," she says. "It wasn't strange during rehearsal with Peeta. We could be doing a kissing scene and then a minute later acting completely normal, but now…it feels wrong. Being so close with him and then him acting like I don't even matter."

"Johanna—"

"I don't wanna talk about it," she says walking out of the auditorium.

I make a trip to my locker before heading to see how Johanna is doing. Annie, Cash, Finnick, and Gale are already at her locker.

"It's not getting any better," Johanna says.

"He just needs time," Annie says with a frown. "We already apologized, Johanna."

"You know what surprises me, that Peeta and Glimmer aren't back together," I say while staring down the hall in Glimmer's direction. "Peeta knows the truth now, so why aren't they together?" It just doesn't make sense.

"Peeta talked to Glimmer," Gale says. "She said she couldn't deal with his friends hating her anymore."

"How do you know that?" Johanna asks with her arms crossed over her chest. "Is Peeta talking to you?"

"Hey," Gale says throwing his arms up in defense. "I wasn't part of any of this. I knew nothing so he isn't mad at me."

"What the hell, Gale?" Cash says. "We've been freaking out for the last two weeks not knowing anything that was going on with Peeta and the whole time you've been talking to him?"

"Why didn't you tell any of us?" Johanna asks sounding hurt.

Gale shrugs. "Why didn't you guys tell me about what Glimmer said in the first place?" That shuts us all up. In all honesty, I'm not sure why no one told Gale. "I'm not your messenger for Peeta, okay? Annie is right; he needs time. What you all did was bad so let him forgive you guys in his own time."

We all nod to Gale's words because he has a point.

The bell rings for homeroom. Cash and I leave heading to our homeroom on the next floor. Cash is still going on about Peeta talking to Gale and I nod along as if I'm actually listening. I'm too busy thinking about Peeta to pay attention to Cash. There has to be a way to get Peeta to forgive us fast. I know Gale said to give him time, but who knows how long that will take? What if he doesn't forgive us? What then? If Glimmer and Peeta just stayed together none of this would have—That's it!

I tell Cash I forgot a book in my locker and head back downstairs to find Glimmer.

Glimmer isn't at her locker anymore. Instead, Glimmer is at Marvel's locker with Cato. They're all talking but there is something off about it. Glimmer's got her hands on her hips and Cato has his arms crossed against his chest while Marvel is leaning back against his locker looking at the ground.

"They're fighting," a voice mumbles next to me. I turn to Clove's face staring right at the three of them then she turns to me.

"Hey," I say slightly confused. Clove hasn't talked to me since that night on Valentine's Day. She's been avoiding me since then but she isn't now. "What are they arguing about?"

"Me."

That takes me by surprise. What did Clove do?

"Why are they arguing about you?"

Clove shrugs. "Same reason you Victors were arguing with Gale. Marvel's the only one I'm talking to."

Before I can ask anything else, Clove's walking away right in the middle of the argument. Clove straight up ignores Glimmer and goes right to arguing with Cato. They aren't shouting, so I can't hear what they are saying to each other but damn does Clove look pissed off. Clove then storms off with Marvel following right behind her. Cato follows behind but Glimmer stays at the locker looking upset.

Now may not be the best time to talk to Glimmer, but I need to.

"Hey."

She raises her eyebrow at me. "What do you want?"

"What I can't just say hi to a friend?"

Glimmer snorts. "We aren't friends. Now tell me what you want or I'll leave."

"Fine. Why aren't you back together with Peeta?"

Glimmer looks taken back by that. "I would have thought you Victors were happy that I'm not with him anymore."

Oh, believe me I am, but that's not going to get on Glimmer's good side.

"Look, I get that we were kind of jerks but don't let that effect your relationship with Peeta."

"Don't you think it's too late for that? You know, considering the fact that you guys broke us up?"

"Again, we were jerks. That's not Peeta's fault, though. So, why not give him a second chance?"

"Fuck off, Gloss. You don't care about my relationship with Peeta."

"Hey," I say defensively. "I care about my friend's broken heart for you—"

"And you want him to forgive you guys already."

"That is so not true." She gives me this 'you aren't fooling anyone' look. "Okay, fine! I admit it. If it takes you and Peeta being together for him to forgive us, then I'd be willing to put up with you."

"That's so sweet," Glimmer says while wiping away her non-existent tears, mocking me. "Too bad I don't do anything for anyone unless I can something out of it."

I sigh heavily. This can't be good. "What do you want?"

"Get Clove to forgive Cato." What?! "Don't even give me that look, Gloss. I know there is something going on between you and Clove." Again, what?!

"What the hell are talking about?" Cause honestly, what the fuck? "There is nothing going on between me and Clove." Shit, I wish there was something going on.

"Oh, so Clove didn't go to you after her fight with Cato?"

"She didn't come to me. It was more like she stumbled across me… and Peeta."

"Still. She could have turned you away and went to Marvel for comfort but she didn't. Clove trusts you. Why? I don't know and I don't give a damn. So do what you have to do and get her to forgive Cato. Do it and I'll give Peeta another chance."

"Fine but you're also going to convince Peeta to forgive us. All of us."

"Deal."

…

Classes go about as usual. I sit with Cash, Annie, Johanna, Finnick or Gale if they are in my class while Peeta avoids us all in every class. At lunch instead of engaging in conversation with everyone at the table I try and think about how I'm going to get Clove and Cato back together. I don't see how I'm going to be much of help if I don't even know why they are fighting in the first place.

I notice Clove is once again sitting by herself at her lunch table. Clove hasn't been sitting with Glimmer since her and Cato's fight. It doesn't make sense why the fight affected Glimmer and Clove's relationship. If this fight is as bad as it seems, then Clove shouldn't be separating herself from her best friend. Spending all her time with Marvel, Cato's best friend, can't be helping her. Clove needs someone to talk to. She shouldn't have to keep her thoughts bottled up.

There is around ten minutes left for lunch and Clove's already packing her stuff. The second Clove leaves her table, I'm out of my chair before I even realize what I'm doing. I make up an excuse about not feeling well and bolt for the door.

I shout for Clove the second I step into the hallway. She's halfway down the hall when she turns around to see me. Instead of stopping like I hope she would, she turns away from me and picks up her pace.

"Clove," I say again now rushing after her. "I just want to talk to you."

"Right," she scoffs. "I think you made it pretty clear the other night what you want from me."

"I'm sorry!"

"Who do you think I am, Gloss? I would never." I feel my stomach drop. She isn't just not interested in me, she's disgusted by the thought. "Even if I wasn't with Cato, I wouldn't want to be a rebound for some guy." Rebound? What is she talking about? "If you are really into this mystery girl as much as you say you are, then let me tell you, being with another girl isn't going to make you any more appealing to her."

She doesn't know. Clove hasn't realized she's the girl. The girl I told Annie about, the girl I was talking about that night, the girl I'm completely gone on. Clove is the one that's always one my mind, she is the one I want to be with, and she doesn't even know it. I don't know if I should be relieved that she doesn't know or disappointed that she doesn't. Her rejection would have given me some closure. Her still not knowing is just keeping me wondering.

"I wasn't thinking," I say. "That's no excuse but it's the truth, Clove. I'm an idiot like most guys. I just needed…" to try. I needed to take a chance and try to tell you how I felt. "—a distraction and I figured you did too. You had just had a bad night and I was trying to take advantage of that. It wasn't my intention." I needed to try to tell you before the courage I had worn off. "But that doesn't matter. You needed someone to talk to and I was just thinking about myself." The last thing you needed was for me to tell you know I felt about you. "I was a selfish asshole. I'm sorry, Clove. You have every right to be mad at me and I don't expect you to forgive me because what I did was a dick move but I want you to know that I am sorry."

Clove doesn't say a word. She doesn't even move. She just stares at me. I'm expecting her to either walk away or curse me out. When she moves closer to me, I tense up and close my eyes expecting a slap across the face. Then I feel her hand of my shoulder, gently holding it. I open my eyes to see her eyes staring up at me. Her beautiful calm chestnut colored eyes.

"Thank you," she whispers so low that I wouldn't have hear her if we weren't so close. "Not just for apologizing but for meaning it."

I'm stumped. I'm at a loss for words. All I can do is nod and she just smiles at that.

The bell rings and just like that, she's gone.

…

"What the hell are you up to?" Cash asks me with her hands on her hips.

"Nothing," I mutter and close my locker. "Why do you think I'm up to something?"

She glares at me. "Well, you ditched me this morning to talk to Glimmer and now you're having lunch with Clove. Not exactly your usual social group."

I shrug. "Maybe I'm looking to make some new friends."

"Cut the crap, Gloss."

I groan. Damn Cash for knowing me too well.

"Glimmer wants me to get Clove to forgive Cato." Before Cash can ask, I explain, "If I do this, then Glimmer will get back with Peeta."

"Oh Gloss," Cash says then leans against the lockers with me. "Do you really think that'll make Peeta forgive us?" I don't say anything. "Peeta is going to get over this, okay? What happened happened but it's not your fault. You don't need to fix it. Peeta is going to forgive us."

"What if he doesn't?" I say so hushed that it's practically a whisper. "Cash, you weren't there." I close my eyes and sigh. The way Peeta yelled at me that night he found out is something I can't get out of my head. "You didn't hear everything he said. You didn't hear how hurt he was. I still feel so guilty. I don't blame Peeta for not forgiving us. Heck, if it were me I'd probably never forgive us. We ruined his relationship with his dream girl. It doesn't matter if we don't like her. We made a decision that Peeta should have made himself. We had no right, Cash. What we did was horrible. And I knew what we were doing was bad, but I didn't do or say anything. I just went along with what everyone else was agreeing to. Maybe if I said something to all of you, we would have just told Peeta the truth. I can't help but blame myself for this whole mess."

Cash doesn't say anything; she simply puts her arms around me and pulls me in for a hug. I rest my head on her shoulder and let out a deep breath. I've been holding all of these thoughts to myself since that night. The reason I didn't want to tell anyone is because I didn't want to make anyone feel worse than they already did. It's a relief to finally tell someone, though.

"Peeta is a great friend, Cash." I say. "I don't want to lose him over a stupid mistake we made."

"Me either." Cash pulls away from me. "That's why I'm going to help you."

"What?"

"If you think that getting Glimmer back with Peeta is what's going to help us, then count me in. Just don't tell the others."

"But you hate Glimmer as much as Johanna does." That's part of the reason I didn't want to tell her in the first place.

"Whatever makes my brother happy is my first priority," she says with a smile. "Now what does Clove have to forgive Cato for?"

Ah, the golden question. "That's what I've been trying to figure out. Glimmer won't tell me and Clove won't open up. The only other people who know are Marvel and Cato and I doubt I'd have better luck with them."

"Go to class," she says with a smirk on her face. "I'll meet you after and let you know what I find out."

I raise my eyebrow. "How are you going to—"

"I have my ways."

After class ends, I get a text from Cash to meet her in the parking lot. I'll definitely be late to my next class, but I go anyways. I find Cash right by our car with a can of soda in her hand.

"You take a second lunch?" I ask gesturing to the soda in her hand.

"Needed somewhere private to talk to get info about Clove and Cato," Cash says. "Cato wanted to…take their relationship further." I raise my eyebrow at that.

"What do you mean? Cato wanted to meet her parents or something?"

"Gloss," Cash sighs. "Come on."

"What? I don't get it."

Cash looks at me like she is completely over this conversation. "Take their sexual relationship further."

"Oh—" Then it sinks in. "Oh."

"Yeah. Clove wasn't for the idea. Cato got upset—"

"Wait, did he force her to—"

"God, no." Thank god. I was a second away from finding Cato and beating the crap out of him. "He got mad at Clove for saying no." Dick. "He made her feel about it. She left and hasn't talked to him since."

"That's terrible," I say. "He doesn't deserve her. I don't even want to get them back together now."

"Would you rather Peeta never forgive us?" Cash says raising her voice slightly. "Remember why you agreed to get them back together. Not to see Clove or Cato happy with each other, but to see Peeta happy with Glimmer."

Honestly, I think there was a part of me that agreed to all of this because Clove would be happy with her friends again instead of being alone.

"How do you forgive someone for that?" I ask Cash. "There isn't anything we can do."

"I have some insight on Clove," Cash continues completely ignoring what I said. "For anyone this is bad, but for Clove apparently, it is harder on her because of an incident."

"What is that suppose to mean?"

Cash shrugs. "That's just what I was told. It's a sensitive topic for her. I don't have details. Anyways, Cato is frustrated—"

"I don't give a fuck what he feels."

"Listen." Cash glares at me for interrupting her. "He's frustrated because he has tried apologizing to Clove several times already."

"Tried? What did he do?"

"He sent flowers to her house, had flowers sent to her house that were shaped in the word 'sorry', had flowers stuffed in her locker, had a flower be placed on her desk in every class for a whole day, then had individual guys deliver a flower to her in every class the next day. There wasn't a single word from Clove about the gestures. She never acknowledged them. There was no reaction. She even left the flowers to rot or to be thrown away by other where ever she got them."

How did I never notice this? Everyone had to be talking about this but this was the first time I'm hearing anything of this. Guess I was too distracted by Peeta.

"Cato has tried everything," Cash continues. "I don't know what other way he could say sorry to her. She is obviously not responding well to the gestures, which is odd since he's never done anything like this for her before. He'd usually just say sorry and everything would be fine. Now that he has kicked it up a notch after Clove didn't accept his simple sorry, she still doesn't care. If I was Clove—"

Cash continues on, but I find myself not listening. Instead, I'm repeating everything Cash said about Cato's apologize in my head. A sorry wasn't good enough anymore and neither were all the gestures. They all had no reaction from Clove. Yet, when I apologized to Clove earlier, it had an effect on her. Her words come back to me, Thank you. Not just for apologizing but for meaning it.

That's it! That explains Clove's reaction after I apologized to her. I didn't just say sorry and that's it. I was genuinely sorry. I called out my mistakes, admitted to it all, acknowledged how horrible it was, and took all the blame because I knew I was at fault. That's something Cato's never done. Cato might have apologized but he didn't mean it. All those flowers mean nothing her. Clove is tired of his half assed apologies. What Clove wants is a real apology. He needs to mean it this time or they're done.

"She wants him to mean it."

"What?"

"All he needs to do is mean it. None of that bullshit with flowers is working because all she wants is for him to actually admit to his mistake and for the sorry to be genuine."

"How do you know?" Cash asks narrowing her eyes at me.

"Well," I take a pause trying to figure out a way to tell Cash without getting into details. Maybe a lie would work better. "I told her I was sorry for blaming the Peeta thing on her—"

"Gloss, I know you stood up for her when Finnick and Annie were blaming her. Tell me the truth."

I sigh. I tell Cash what happened after Peeta left me and Clove alone. I don't mention anything about me having feelings for Clove or telling Clove I have feelings for someone. Instead of sticking to the whole truth, I go with why Clove thinks I did it. That I needed a distraction and Clove was an easy pick.

"Never thought I'd called you a pig," Cash says. "You usually treat girls better than that."

I shrug. "It was a mistake. The point is that Clove forgave me because of what I said. I was honest with her," for the most part anyways. "I meant every word. Cato needs to do the same."

"Alright. So what's the plan? How do we trick Cato into apologizing?"

"What? Have you not been listening to me? Cato has to mean it. No tricking. No plans."

"That's boring. Why the hell did I even agree to this," I glare at Cash but she just smiles at me. "Are we just gonna tell Cato then? You know he won't listen to us. We aren't exactly his favorite people. He probably hates us the most out of the Victors."

"That's why I'm telling Glimmer. She'll be able to get through to Cato."

"What makes you think Glimmer won't just bail on the deal once she gets what she wants from you? This is Glimmer we are talking about."

I bite my lip in worriment. I hadn't though about that before. If Glimmer doesn't keep her end of the deal, this would all be pointless. I would have helped Clove get back with a guy who clearly doesn't deserve her, for nothing.

"What do you suggest?" I ask.

Cash smiles. "Leave the talking to me, brother."

…

The bell just rang, ending 7th period when Cash and I approach Glimmer at her locker.

"I know how to get Clove to forgive Cato," I say.

"Great," Glimmer says mindlessly staring at her reflect through the mirror in her locker. "Get to it then."

"Sadly, we can't do that part," Cash chimes in. "You'll have to tell Cato what to do."

Hearing Cash's voice causes Glimmer to give us her full attention. She slams her locker shut and turns her head to us.

"You told her, huh?" Glimmer says. "Figures. You couldn't have done this on your own, Gloss. Of course you had to run to your sister to make everything better."

"Let's just get right to it," Cash says. "You're going to do your end of the deal first. Don't worry about the giving Peeta another chance bullshit." Cash and I realized them being together again would cause more problems eventually. It is better to avoid it. "Just get Peeta to forgive us."

Glimmer snorts. "Fine with me but first, you guys are going to tell me what I want to know. If it works then I'll talk to Peeta."

"Knowing you, you wouldn't keep your end of the deal."

"How do I know you will?"

"I wouldn't." Cash says honestly. "Fortunately for you, Gloss isn't me. But, hey, if you don't want to take credit for helping Cato figure out his mistakes out that is fine with us. What we did to Peeta was bad but he'll forgive us in time. What you did to Clove? Wow, I could never forgive anyone for telling me to stop complaining and put out already."

"Marvel told you?" Glimmer asks with a straight face.

Cash shrugs. "Maybe. Or maybe it was Clove. Seeing as how horrible you are as a friend, she needed someone new to vent to. I already hate your guts so why not me? Or maybe it was Cato. He is feeling really rejected right now and seems to need a beautiful girl's shoulder to cry on. He definitely needs a rebound and I'm more than willing to take him up on his offer. Clove would never forgive him for that. Then you're screwed."

Glimmer sighs. "Fine."

The bell rings. I follow Cash pass Glimmer, down the hall to drama class. I wait until we are inside the classroom, sitting alone before expressing my thoughts.

"That was awesome," I tell Cash. "You knew exactly how to get to her."

"It's a talent," Cash says smiling. "Wasn't even hard to be honest."

"You didn't err—" I hesitate. I don't really want to know. "—do anything with Cato, right?"

"Please, I'd never be the other girl. Plus I don't like blonde guys."

Class turns out to be uneventful. We simply have a quiz then go over new terms to know for future quizzes. As Cash and I leave class, I notice Glimmer stop Peeta from leaving. If I wasn't already at the door, I'd stall but it is too late now. I have to get to the auditorium for rehearsal anyways.

After heading to my locker, I meet Johanna at her locker. Johanna's mood seems like it hasn't gotten better since this morning. She is still upset. I suggest she heads home since today she's only in one scene for this rehearsal. Cinna is very understanding and wouldn't mind. Of course, Johanna would rather suffer through than let Glimmer take her place.

Halfway to the auditorium, we find Peeta on his way to rehearsal as well, with Glimmer. I'm shocked to see the two holding hands and smiling as they make there way towards the auditorium. The deal wasn't for Glimmer to get back with Peeta anymore, just for her to convince Peeta to forgive us. When they see us, Peeta leaves Glimmer's side and comes towards us. He asks to talk to Johanna privately. Of course she agrees and the two leave Glimmer and me alone together.

"Well," Glimmer says as soon as Peeta and Johanna are out of hearing range. "Looks like I did my part well."

"What the hell," I nearly shout. "You weren't support to get back with Peeta."

"You didn't forbid it," Glimmer says with a smirk. "Besides I miss the ego boost." I roll my eyes. "Now tell me what I need to know."

On the way to the auditorium, I tell her everything I know. Glimmer seems convinced this is the way to get Clove and Cato back together. She skips out on rehearsal to go find Cato. She tells me to let Peeta know she'll meet him after.

Johanna and Peeta come back just in time for Peeta's first scene. While Peeta's on stage rehearsing his scene, Johanna tells me what happened with Peeta. He forgives Johanna for what she did and he forgives us for keeping it a secret. Peeta still doesn't agree with what we did but knows we did what we thought was best.

"As long as we don't interfere with his relationships again, he won't hold this against us," Johanna says. "Bad news is he's back with Glimmer."

"I guess we'll just have put up with her then," I say. "For Peeta."

"I'll put up with her, but that doesn't mean I have to like her." I laugh. Johanna smiles. "Peeta laughed at that, too."

After rehearsal, I go to my locker to meet Cash to tell her the good news and head home together. When I get to my locker, I happen to see Clove and Cato walking down the hall together. Cato has one arm around Clove and the other one is holding her book bag. Clove has her hand resting against his shoulder as they slowly walk away. I stare until they turn the corner and are gone.

I sigh in both disappointment and relief that Clove forgave Cato.

"Hey," Cash says appearing at my side.

"Hey," I say. "How was your group project?"

"Alright. Nothing special." I nod in response. "You okay?" Cash asks me in a sympathetic voice.

"Why wouldn't I be?" I ask confused as to why she is concern.

Cash sighs. "I'd imagine it must be hard for you. Seeing Clove with Cato."

My body stiffens. I close my locker and turn fully towards her.

"How'd you—"

"Annie told me about you having feelings for someone. You know that girl can't keep a secret." Annie. Shouldn't known better not tell her. "Don't be mad at her. I did kind of pull it out of her."

"I'm not, but how'd you know it was Clove?"

"You'd never make a move on a girl if you didn't actually like them. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Cause you wouldn't approve," I say honestly.

"You're damn right I don't approve. Clove? Really?"

"Can we not do this?" I say in a harsh tone. "This is exactly why I didn't tell you or anyone for that matter. I don't need to hear what you have to say nor do I give a crap, Cash. Let's just let this conversation die here and never speak of this again. Now can we just get the car and head home? It has been a long day."

"You deserve better," she mutters. Before I can respond, Cash makes her way down the hall towards the exit. I sigh and follow behind.

On the car ride home, I don't mention Clove and neither does Cash. In fact, we don't speak at all.

You see I was trying to figure out what the best amount was for Gloss to be involved with Clove and Cato getting back together. I had a different idea for the ending of the chapter but I changed my mind because it would have effect the next chapter of What I Wouldn't Do too much. This chapter needed to be written and settled before I started the next chapter for WIWD. You'll see why. I'll hopefully be updating that story soon.

Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Was is a shock that Clove was the girl Gloss was talking about? Was it a let down? Let me know.

The play is only two months away. If you read The New Girl's Fire you know what is coming. BUT that's more later. Next up is Peeta's Birthday.