The Willow Tree || A Clato fanfic||

Chapter 4 - Clove

Hello... I'm sorry that I haven't updated in the last few days, but this is an extra long chapter I have to get over with... so enjoy 😉 

I stared at Cato. I felt truly sorry for him. He wanted to go out with me, I guess, but, was it my fault that Peeta asked me out first, and Gale and Marvel also wanted to go out with me? Was it a surprise Cato did too?

I didn't give him a second thought as we entered the auditorium. School would be closed early today, after the pictures we would be greeted a goodbye from our teachers and leave the school at approximately eleven. Then after we would devide in to some groups and eat lunch. Coach Enobaria ran football club in school, so she would drag her football six graders, like Cato, Finnick, Marvel, Gale and Peeta to eat out together.

The D.I.Y club members were going to go dividing by Girl team and Boy team. The woman instructor, Wiress, and men instructor, Beetee, both from District 3, would lead their group in to the restaurant of their choice. They were supposed to decide on graduation day, but I think all the members cheated and decided earlier on. It happens every year. Wiress and Beetee happen to have no talent in running these things. The D.I.Y club is the most common club in our school, and easily the biggest. Everyone has to participate in a school club since they are in second grade.

There are lots of clubs, and kids can be in more than one if they want to, but two is maximum. One major, and, if necessary, one minor. Johanna Mason takes Drama Club as major and football Club as minor. Since Drama is her Major, she would go with the drama team.

As for me, and for Isobel, Jessica, Rosemary and Annabelle, I guess, we all have same majors and minors. Our major is Project Club. It's really amazing, we devide in to groups every session, and make school newpapers, set up campaigns, do speeches, construct our own world, anything. We take Drama as Minors.

So, we graduate, get our diplomas, and before we know it we're running across the school gates to head toward the Polished Plates for lunch with our Project Club members, closely followed by the Chess Club. Me, Isobel, Jessica, Rosemary, and Annabelle are taking the lead while the others troop behind us. We take a seat in the shiny clean restaurant and look through the menu. We pass it around, me first, then Isobel, Jessica, Rosemary, Annabelle, and so on. I order a Number 1 Tasty set. It was a British set, fish and chips, a orange juice, some kind of warm soup I can't place but tasted absolutely delicious, plus two slices of mango as dessert.

After we had our lunches, and, of course, after Instructor Brutus paid our bills, we said goodbye and wished eachother a happy vacation.

"Chamge of plans." Isobel said, after it was just the five of us left. "My mother talked over with all of yours, and they all say it's alright to go shopping for our dresses for the dance party." Isobel opened her phone and showed her and her mother's text.

<Mom

Mom: Isobel, the plan is ice cream, and Jessica's house, right?

Me: Yep why? Different plans?

Mom: Yes I just talked it over with all the other mothers. We all agreed it is okay for you and your friends to go dress shopping.

Me: Oh wow thanks mom! If all the other kids agree I'll take them to Princess Partywear, or maybe that's to girlish, maybe Queen of Dance Parties?

Mom: Queen of Dance Parties sounds good. See you tomorrow, hon.

Isobel looked at us. "So, what do you think?" She asked eagerly.

I broke in to a smile. "That's brilliant, Isobel! We need new dresses and since the party is on Monday we won't have much time anyway. Awesome!"

Rosemary doesn't seem to disagree. "I love Queen of Dance Parties, I love the dresses altogether! I'm in!"

Jessica and Annabelle both agree. Since Queen of Dance Parties was about ten minutes on a car, we all filed on to mine talking and joking all the way there.

The lady working at the store greeted us with a mouthful of candy bars. "Hello - dears. Pretty gi-rls. Dresses for - you on the -third and fourth - floor." Her words didn't run out straight with the candy in her mouth.

Queen of Dance Parties had four enormous stories devoted to dance party dresses. I had about fifty I liked. We grabbed ten and rushed in to the locker rooms to try them on and decide which one to buy.

"How about this?" Jessica slid out of her room wearing a mint dress that draped her over the shoulders ever so gently she looked as if she might take flight. She looked gorgeous, the dress was decorated with shimmering jewels on the sides - I was dumbstruck.

"You look beautiful." Isobel breathed through the sudden hushed air caused because of her beauty.

"Take that. It suits you." Rosemary said, unable to take in Jessica's new charm. Jessica settled on that one and said she would wait in front of our dressing rooms.

I had several that made me look gorgeous, even if I do say so myself. I squeezed in to a bright turquoise gown which was very light and fluttery, but quite long too, a little below my ankles. I tried twirling around in it. The light gown danced along with the air. The dress had several layers of satin, each getting a darker blue, and it made the affect of the twirling even more breathtaking.

I opened my dressing door and stepped out. "What do you think?" Annabelle poked her head out of her little room and her jaw dropped. "Give us a twirl." She whispered. I started twirling, slowly but faster and faster. As I looked in the mirror I could see how dazzling I looked. The dress also had tiny jewels here and there, and they shone brightly as I spun around.

After I was finished, and extremely dizzy, I collapsed on to the sofa where Jessica was sitting and they all insisted I have it. Annabelle and Rosemary got their perfect outfits too, Annabelle a pale pink dress that hung limply, but had very loose sleeves. The skirt was boring, but the top was very carefully designed, and she looked beautiful in it.

Rosemary had dark blonde hair, she wore a dark red outfit, almost crimson, but not quite yet, with little roses embroidered on the shoulder and waist. Stunning.

"Come to think of it, do all of us have dates yet?" Jessica asked as we payed for the dresses. The woman behind the counter looked up. "Well, look at you five. Beautiful. You know, Queen of Dance Parties also has three floors all about hair accessory and shoes. Would you like to check them out?" She asks, smiling.

I didn't know there was such thing. "No thank you. We appreciate the offer, but we really need to get going." Isobel said. We all nodded.

"In that case." The woman said, and she opened the drawer in the counter and pulled several things out and put them in the bag. "Oh my God! How much?" Rosemary asked. The woman shokk her head. "No charge." We gaped at her. "Oh, wow!" I blurted. "Thank you so much." Annabelle said. We got our dresses and headed out of the store.

"So, who are you going with then? There's no point in buying pretty drsses and receiving accessories if we don't have a date, is there?" Jessica said playfully as I started up my car.

"Let's see" Isobel said. "Clover here is going put with Peeta.
Marvel asked Annabelle out, didn't he? I think that's it." Isobel said, grinning. "I don't get what's wrong with those boys. I'm much prettier than you two and they asked you two out, not me!" Rosemary said, pretending to huff. We all laughed. Just then Isobel's phone buzzed. "What the-" she stopped when she saw her message. "Yes!" She squealed.

"What?" We all chorused. Isobel read: " 'Hey, Isobel is this you? I'm Josh from school. I got your number from Gale. You think you have room for me at the party?' " Isobel looked at us and smirked. "Guess I have a date after all." Then she started singing this song about happiness that some rock star sang on the top of her lungs. Lucky it didn't interfere with me driving.

"Hey, Clove, Josh is that blonde boy who looks like your date right?" Jessica asked, trying to be heard over Isobel singing. "Yeah that's right. Josh Hutcherson is his full name, I think." I said loudly back as I pulled in to her house.

"Shut up Isobel, you're driving us crazy." Annabelle groaned as we got out of the car and Isobel finally stopped singing just in time to greet Mrs. Campbell, Jessica's mother.

She welcomed us with a big smile. We had been in Jessica's house lots of times before, and Mrs. Campbell was a very kind lady, we all knew that. We had a small snack and walked to Freezing, the best ice cream mart in the whole city. We grabbed our ice creams and paid, of course, and walked back to Jessica's licking our cones as we went.

"Do you want to try on our dresses and accessories and shoes?" I suggested as we dumped the ice cream wrappers in the garbage. We all agreed and went up to Jessica's room. Jessica's younger brother, Jason was out at hus friend's house, so we had the whole of the second floor to ourselves. "Let's put on our dresses and everything else and we'll meet back at my room, and maybe we can put on a fasion show or something." Jessica said.

I was appointed to dress in Jessica's study room. Grinning, I put my dress on. I looked amazing, I can tell that much, even without a mirror. But my accessories, I didn't know how I would look in them.

I took out my next thing from the bag. A pair of shoes. They were a bit high heeled, but only a bit. Designed for my age and dancing. They were silver, with diamonds etched here and there. I'd put them on later. The last item in the bag was a gold tiara. It glittered no matter which way you looked at it from. I could see why the lady chose this one. I bet it would go well with my dark hair. I put it on and my shoes and crept back to Jessica's room.

Annabelle was the only one there, wearing her dress and pink shoes with a ribbon near the toes. She was wearing a single orange hairband, but simple seemed to suit her perfectly. We praised eachother and eventually, Rosemary, Jessica, and Isobel came in too, looking equally gorgeous.

After we had our fasion show, we had a pillow fight for about an hour before Mrs. Campbell called us down for dinner. Pasta and delicious. After that we set up a campfire in her backyward and roasted marshmallows. And just talked.

At about eleven, Mrs. Campbell said we had to get to bed. Jessica had prepared a giant sleeping bag enough for three people to squeeze in. Two would sleep on her bed. We all insisted Jessica sleep on her bed since it's her house, but she refused and said it was unfair if so. I ended up doing eenie-meenie twice to decide who would sleep on Jessica's bed. Jessica and Rosemary ended up on her bed while Isobel, Annabelle, and I snuggled under the sleeping bag.

It's been a long day. We chatted for a while but eventually most people fell asleep. Only then did I sort out everything.

Okay, okay, I admit it. I felt guilty. I had ever since my encounter with Cato in the stadium. Not just uncomfortable and guilty. Like I'd cheated on someone close, someone who I genuinely cared about. I thought about Cato's heartbroken expression when I'd told him I already had a date. It had left me heartbroken too. I felt as if I really had cheated on someone close.

I fell asleep, but all I could see, even in my sleep, was Cato's face, heartbroken, disappointed, and close to tears that he had on earlier that day.