Chapter 18: Misery Loves Company

Disclaimer: I don't own THG.

Clove:

Another New Year's spent at her mother's extravagant party. The Capitol Hotel was way over the top with its marble floors and expensive abstract art.

If I try painting, it's worthless. Let some old bearded man paint, and it's priceless. A toddler could do it!

"Blah, blah, blah blah..." Clove had no interest in listening to whatever this guy was saying. He was the son of one her dad's clients and he would not give up on trying to talk to her. Honestly, did he not see the bored expression on her face?

I might pass out from sheer boredom. Bored to death...that's what my gravestone will read.

"Clove!" She woke from her half asleep state and saw Cato approaching.

"Oh my god, I had no idea you'd be here!" She exclaimed. "Micheal, this is my absolute best friend, Cato. Say hi!"

The brown haired boy straightened his tie. "It's Henry. And I, uh, think I should, uh, get going now. Nice to see you Clove."

"Bye Henry!" She called. "Enjoy the party!"

"Wow. Poor guy, he's just trying to talk to you and you're over here looking like you'd rather stab yourself with a fork." Cato said.

"Yeah, that's about right. Thanks for showing up, though. You can go." Clove began walking away and stopped to take a tray from one of the waiters. Pigs in a blanket, delicious.

"Why the rush? Can't we talk?" He asked.

"Someone's clingy." She said before stuffing a mini-sausage into her mouth.

"You wish. Like you, I'm avoiding certain people." He revealed.

Clove swallowed. "These are your people. Rich and snobbish. You have a lot to talk about."

"Funny." He said blandly. "Bonnie's here. She sees me and I'm done for."

Clove laughed. "You're afraid of her? Tell her to get on with her life." She took another snack and ate it. She felt eyes on her. Cato was staring.

"What? I can't eat?" She complained.

"You're so small and you eat like truck driver." He said.

Clove narrowed her eyes at him. "Now I see why all those girls are after you. That charm is irresistible."

"It's a gift." He said casually.

"And so modest. Almost forgot that one." Clove said sarcastically. She turned away to scope out the room, looking for a hiding spot.

"Is that Abernathy?" Cato interrupted. Their school counselor was enjoying a drink with their English teacher, Effie Trinket.

"Guess my parents want to make sure they look like they're contributing to the school." She said."I don't think this counts, but hey."

"Or maybe they actually know him." Cato suggested.

Clove scowled. "Not likely." Did her parents even know he was her school counselor?

"Great. She saw me." A girl in a tight red dress was walking towards them. Clove tried to run, but Cato pulled her back.

"Cato! Wow, we just ran into each other didn't we?" She giggled and tossed her chestnut hair over her shoulder.

"I think you're kind of stalking me, Bonnie." Cato told her.

Clove tried to appear uninterested but the girl was too, much. She was hilarious with the layers of make up and the excessive jewelry. She was the most expensively dressed clown Clove had ever seen.

"Oh, you're Clove right?" Bonnie examined her with slight disdain. "I didn't know you two were friends."

"We aren't." Clove said.

"I'm just telling her how great the party is!" Cato lied. "Awesome party, Clove."

"Why would she care?" Bonnie said. "You can tell me all about the party, Cato." The hair again.

"It's my party." Clove said. "My parents host it every year."

"Well, in that case, it could be better. Starting with the food. It's so fattening, how can you eat that?" Bonnie wrinkled her nose at the tray in Clove's hands.

Clove was angry. Who the heck was this girl, criticizing her food choices!

"I will eat what I want! You can leave if you don't like it. Door's over there." She moved her tray toward the exit. The girl stood there, expecting Cato to stand up for her. Clove wasn't surprised when he didn't.

"He's not going to ask you to stay and chat. Start walking." Clove said in a bored tone. Finally, Bonnie got the message and left in a flurry of hair and blush.

"See what I mean?" Cato asked.

"You should probably just tell her you're not interested. It's easier." Clove began walking to a corner, hoping to lose Cato in the crowd. No luck.

"Stop stalking me. Go find some girl to hit on." Clove said.

"Bonnie's still here. She's staring at us. I think you scare her, so I'll stick around. Plus, that Henry kid's still trying to find a way to talk to you."

"Who?" Clove couldn't remember a Henry.

"Think of this as a favor. Friend rescuing a friend." Cato stated.

Clove groaned, but didn't ask him to leave. Anything was better than having to endure more business talk from that Michael guy.

Johanna:

Johanna always thought it relaxing to take a walk in the dark. Not the smartest idea, since she did live in the Seam, but still relaxing. The cool air, the moon, the lack of people, it all created a sense of serenity Johanna desperately longed to experience.

She had blown it with Gale. It would have been much better to let him sort through his emotions, but no, she had to step in and ruin it.

Johanna walked around for nearly half an hour before deciding to take a break. She took a seat on some stairs and put her head on her knees.

"It's cold out. You should have worn a jacket."

"I'm used to the cold. What are you doing out?" She asked.

Gale took a seat next to her and she looked straight ahead, keeping her calm. She hadn't seen him since the kiss.

"I went to your place and your mom said you were out. I thought I'd find you and keep you company." He said.

"I don't need it. Go home and get back to your wallowing." She said moodily.

He sighed. "Jo, don't be mad at me. I was stupid, I know. But it's hard for me. I really thought I had a chance with her."

Johanna wrapped her arms around herself as the wind blew harder. "I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at myself. I don't want to mess anything up, but it's the only thing I manage to do."

"You didn't mess anything up." He paused. "You said you cared for me, Johanna. You said you didn't want to be second best. And then you asked me if I thought you were worth more than that."

Johanna blushed, turning away so he wouldn't notice. "That was dumb. I was angry and I just said random crap."

"It wasn't random. I have an answer for you, if you want to hear it." Gale said.

"What is it?" She asked.

"I think you are. You need someone who will put you first and value you."

"And you don't think that could be you?" Johanna asked, her voice uncharacteristically soft.

Gale sighed. "Ideally, it would be me. I think it could have been me, if I hadn't wasted time chasing after Katniss."

"Well, I'm glad you see that." Johanna replied.

"You two are so alike in my mind. You're both strong and independent. With a fiery attitude." He smiled. "I need you both around me, but not in the same way."

"You want Katniss around to hold your hand and you want me around to provide some sarcastic commentary." Johanna said.

"That's what I thought. For the longest time, I thought that was it. I started going out with Katniss and it wasn't as amazing as I made it to be." Johanna focused on his face and saw the sincerity.

"We never disagreed on anything. She had no snarky replies or cruel jokes. I expected that to happen because I was so used to it with you. And it never came."

"Well, I'm sorry you're so disappointed." She asked. "But what do you want now, Gale?"

He sighed heavily. "I was an idiot. I have a lot to make up for, Jo."

"That you do." Johanna smirked. "We can consider your admission a step in the right direction."

He grinned and Johanna realized she missed seeing his face.

"Jo, will you take me back? As your friend?"

She pretended to stroke her invisible beard and Gale waited patiently for a response.

"I never stopped seeing you as my friend, Gale. We fight, but we always make up." She said.

"Thanks, Jo. Next question." She wasn't expecting anything else, but she listened. "I really want to get things right this time. I want to try that with you, but only if you want to."

"That wasn't really a question, Gale." Johanna said, getting nervous. She understood exactly what he meant, but she wanted to hear it clearly.

"I'm asking you to take a chance with me. Give this brainless dork a chance. Will you?" He let his grey eyes convince her.

Did she want to? Gale was offering her what she had always wanted, would she take it?

He came after you because he wanted to ask you this, Jo. That means something. He means it.

"I'll try." She said, smiling. "We can start with you being a gentleman and giving me your jacket. Its cold."

The jacket smelled like him.

Surprise random update! I did the same for another fic I'm writing, so its only fair that I do it for this one. (I think it'll happen a few more times, since its SUMMER!) We have Jo/Gale! Finally, only took me 18 chapters! Hope y'all liked this chapter. Thank your for reading, following, reviewing, and being awesome! :)