Chapter 22: Play the Game

Disclaimer: I don't own THG.

Clove:

Clove's parents had chosen to buy a new lock for their front door, which meant Clove did not yet have a key, and therefore, was stuck having to spend some time at Cato's house. How embarrassing. Finnick was her first choice, but he missed school because of an unfortunate attack from a stomach bug. Clove was not going to catch that. Now she'd have to wait until her mom got home from her shopping trip. She'd demand to have a key immediately.

"You sure no one's home?" Clove asked for the tenth time. It would be even more embarrassing to have to face his parents. They knew her when she was a little girl, they would certainty think it strange that she randomly chose to visit.

"I'm sure. They went on some trip. Look, we can go and hang out in the library, if you want. No one walks in there."

The house had changed, but then again, Clove couldn't claim to be familiar with the Hadley house anymore.

"We got new furniture." He must have noticed her staring. "My mom's really into interior design, whatever that means."

"I think its nice. She has good taste." Clove admired the mint wallpaper. Her mother would approve.

The library was a room she hadn't visited in a while. Mrs. Hadley was always a fan of reading and she loved collecting old books.

"I'm gonna go get something to eat. You want something?" Cato asked.

"I'll go with you." She offered.

"Nah, its fine. I'll be right back." He was never that nice.

While waiting, Clove looked around the rows of books. The room had bookshelves lining every wall. There had to hundreds of books in there. Some of them had to be very old, perhaps first editions of venerated works.

"Clove?"

She was startled. "Oh, uh, . Hi."

"I thought I heard someone. Clove, I haven't seen you here in years." The blonde woman said.

"Yeah..." Clove said awkwardly. She was caught.

"I should congratulate you, your mom says you've applied to some excellent schools. She doesn't doubt you'll get in, she can't stop talking about it."

Clove was confused. Her mom knew she had applied to college? How?

"I'll have to wait and see how it goes." Clove smiled kindly. "I thought you and Mr. Hadley were out of town this weekend. Cato told me."

"We were on our way but Steven wasn't feeling well and we came right back." The older woman said. "He's alright now, but it was better we stay home."

"Hey, Clove, I don't know if you like tomato but-Hey, mom." Cato returned with the food he promised.

His mother saw the sandwiches. "Cato, you know I don't allow food in here. But I'll let it slide, only because I trust Clove not to ruin the carpets. Keep an eye on this one, Clove. I'll see you both later."

"Bye, Mrs. Hadley!" Clove turned to glare at Cato. "You said they weren't home!"

"I thought they weren't. I saw them leave this morning."

"Whatever. No, I don't mind the tomato." She grabbed her plate and took a seat on one of the chairs.

"What'd she tell you?" He asked.

"Nothing. She was surprised to see me. Its been a while."

"A long while. She's used to seeing Marvel and Glimmer. Speaking of, I'm gonna strangle Marvel. He's skipped three practices. I'm stuck having to make up excuses. How many times does a guy have to go to the dentist before it gets suspicious?"

Clove put the sandwich down and scrambled to pull her phone out of her bag. She was supposed to meet Marvel at her house after school for an update on Finch, but obviously she wasn't home. She already had a text from him. She sent back a message asking him to postpone the meeting.

"Who are you texting?"

"No one."

Too late, Cato was already reaching for her phone. "Hey, that's not okay!"

"Marvel? Why are you texting Marvel?"

Clove took back her phone. "It none of your damn business."

"It is. He skips practice and I need to know why." He said.

Clove debated whether or not it would be a good idea to tell him. Cato was involved in the blackmailing part. Could he maybe threaten Marvel into silence?

"Okay, I'll tell you. Marvel has a thing for Finch so he's doing the Panem play this year. Practice is at the same time as play rehearsal."

"Finch?"

Clove let out an annoyed sigh. "Yeah. Red hair, writes for the school newspaper."

"Oh! Foxface? He's into Foxface?" He laughed.

"Foxface?" Was that an insult meant to for her friend?

"Yeah, she looks like a fox." He explained.

Hmm...I guess she kind of does. She has foxy eyes. Foxface. That's actually kind of clever.

"I won't punch you because its an accurate nickname." Clove announced.

"Gee, thanks. So Marvel wants you to gossip about her. How'd he convince you?" Cato wondered.

"He threatened to tell the school that I'm 'hooking up' with you." She said. "Even thought its not actually true, we are not hooking up."

"What? How'd he find out?"

"I don't know. But I don't want everyone to know! I already dealt with Katniss and now I have to deal with Marvel. Its more than enough people." Clove complained. "Maybe I can get out of this if I stop meeting up with you." That seemed like a valid idea.

"We had a deal." Cato said nonchalantly.

"I know, but I made the rules. I can call it off if I want to." Clove said.

"And we agreed it was over at the end of school." Cato added.

Clove smiled mockingly. "What, you'd miss me?"

"You wish. I can get another girl." He replied.

Her mood darkened. "Why don't you, then?"

He shrugged and then shot her a smirk. "I've already gotten bored of them."

"I'm leaving." She packed up her bag, deciding to risk catching Finnick's stomach bug.

"You can't really be mad about that, you know it's not true. I don't even know all the girls at school! I was kidding!"

"I'm not mad. I have somewhere to be." She quickly made her way out of the library.

Clove shouldn't have been bothered by his comment, but it got to her. She was perfectly aware that there were a lot of girls at school and it was unlikely that he had been with all of them. But he could go right ahead, it wasn't her problem. Cato was free to see whoever he liked. Clove made the rules. She wanted it that way. She honestly did.

Annie:

Glimmer was at her house. Weird.

Lately, she had been the talk of the school. Her famous father was wrapped up in a cheating scandal with some mystery woman. Glimmer never talked about it. She was glued to Peeta's side and didn't talk to anyone but him. Annie felt it was the right way to handle it. Glimmer's private life was her deal, not the school's or Hollywood's. There was no reason for Glimmer to entertain the masses.

"Annie. How's Mags?"

"Good. She's good." Annie said. "How are you?"

Glimmer shrugged. "Okay. Thought I'd come say hi. There's a bunch of reporters outside of my house. They're all dying to hear what I know. I think they've got it all, my parents are divorcing, that's it."

In truth, Glimmer was hiding out at Annie's.

"I thought they couldn't go onto private property?" Annie asked about the reporters.

"They can stand outside the gates." Glimmer sighed. "I hear you're still with Odair."

Annie was ready to defend her relationship. "I am."

"That's nice. At least he actually likes you. I can't say the same about my so called boyfriend."

"Peeta? He's your boyfriend, of course he likes you." She lied. Peeta was in love with Katniss. Katniss was in love with Peeta. And Glimmer was in the way.

"Annie, you're one of the few people that realizes I'm not an airhead. I can see the way he stares at Everdeen when I'm not looking. Or when he thinks I'm not looking. He likes her."

"If you know, why do you insist on keeping him with you?" Annie didn't deny her the truth. Getting honesty out of Glimmer was hard enough.

"I have to. My dad left, Annie. He's the only one that gave me any attention. My mom is just full of resentment. My friends have their own issues, they don't need to hear about me." Glimmer said. "I can't let go of Peeta. He's all I have left. I won't lose him to some Seam trash." Her insult lacked malice.

"Don't say things you don't mean, you know better." Annie told her. "Peeta is too, nice to break up with you. You have to do it."

"He's not being nice, its guilt and pity." Glimmer said. Annie tilted her head in confusion.

"I'll tell you, a secret, Annie." She said. "His mom is the mystery woman. I found out, I told him. And we've been together since then. I don't like change. I don't handle it well. Peeta is my constant and he'll be there until he stops feeling this irrational guilt. Which will be...maybe, never."

"Glimmer, that's not fair. Don't be like this, don't prove everyone right." Annie pleaded. Her cousin was not the scheming lying bitch everyone thought her to be. She was just lonely.

"Its too, late to change their minds about me. And I don't care what they think. You know what's real, and you're someone I care about." Glimmer grabbed her bag and made to leave. "I should go. Maybe those guys got tired of staring at the gates for so long. Tell Finnick I say hi."

"Think about what you're doing, Glimmer. And call me if you need anything." Annie hoped her cousin would see that she was making a mess of things. Not everything had to be so complicated.

"Thanks, Annie. See you in school." The front door opened and closed.

What the heck just happened? Annie was now part of Glimmer's game with Katniss and Peeta. A game that was not intentionally played, but a cruel one. These people insisted on making themselves unhappy, it was unbelievable.

"God, its like I'm in Les Mis!" Annie groaned. After allowing herself to calm down, Annie Cresta went on with her life. Everyone else would have to figure it out like she had. Her own life had been full of troubles, but at the end of the day, all could be resolved.

See guys? Glimmer isn't pure evil! I mean, yeah, she wants Peeta, but she doesn't actually like him. Annie's gotta change her mind. I want Everlark to happen soon, but I already have a plan and it'll be a few more chapters. Sorry. Also, Clove is in trouble. Ah, well. Please review and thanks for reading my story!

BookishGeek: Thank you! I'm sure there are plenty of better fics out there, but thanks! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :D