A/N- Thanks for all of the responses to the last chapter. I'd really like a review response to see which characters perspective I should use next. So, it's up to you: Foxface, or an OC (if an OC, please specify which one from the list in chapter one). Also, tell me what you want! Pretty much whatever you want in this fic, you've got! I do have personal limitations about what i am and am not comfortable with, but I'd gladly write anything else, and consider modifying any other ones. thanks a ton, everyone!
Chapter Eight
Marvel's point of view
Soon, but not soon enough, I find Clove. She's outside of the room we met in a little bit ago, and looking flustered.
"Clove, I need to talk to you. I know, what I did was-"
"Save it," she snaps. Her eyes are glinting a dark green that feels more dangerous than it normally does. People might say that it's crazy, how much I like her. But there's something different about her. Back home,everyone sort of bottles their feelings up just to put on some external show. But then they always end up exploding, like Glimmer did minutes ago. With Clove, you never have to be constantly worried when she is going to snap. And you never have to wonder if she really means what she's saying, because she will tell you exactly what she is thinking, no matter what. I really respect that.
"Just save it," she continues. "You're going to give some cookie cutter apology, full of fake emotion, aren't you? Then, you'll play the victim card, accuse me of over reacting, and completely freak out again. Trust me, I'm used to it. We can just skip to the part where you tell everyone I'm crazy, turn everyone against me, and more or less ostracize me from the only group of real friends I've had, okay?"
"Clove, no, of course not. How could anyone ever do that, especially to you?"
She stares at me for a second. Her eyes soften slightly. A short flash of hurt realization passes through them before she begins to speak slowly, with a steely clarity in her eyes and words.
"This is a mad world we are living in, Marvel. People aren't always who they say they are. Opportunities that seem amazing may only get you hurt. I suppose that's a metaphor for our country, for the Games. But it doesn't mean it's okay to let that frustration against those circumstances fuel you. I guess I learned that the hard way, in the Games. And I don't want you to make the same mistakes now. You're a good friend, and I don't want to see you hurt."
Friend. How can one word with such a positive meaning hurt so much? It echoes around in my brain for a while. "That's another thing I wanted to talk to you about. I want to be more. I mean, I really like you, and I want to know you more. Maybe more intimately. I mean- friends is good. Great. But- but- Wow, this is hard..."
She shakes her head a bit. There's no explanation that needs to be given. "I'm sorry," she whispers. "But I can't do that. Not only can I not for myself, but I can't do that to Cato. Or to Glimmer."
Glimmer? How'd she wind up in all of this? I thought this awkward tangle was just three people. Where did Glimmer come from?
Then I realize what Clove means. "Wait, so Glimmer-you mean to say that she- oh. No wonder she's been acting weird lately..l"
Clove sighs. "Goodness, you can be dense... But yeah, I can tell. Couldn't you? Wait, don't answer that. Just go talk to her. But let me know how it goes. This could be interesting."
