A/N - So I ran across these fake engagement prompts on tumblr, and I thought it would be fun to try and piece them all together in one story. I have NO business writing new stuff since I have unfinished biz over at Mile High and Stranger Things, but life has been a crapshoot lately and I just want to. Indulge me, please! I want to do this much like I did the 12 Days of Katniss - one short chapter a day until it's done. Probably 10 total; a new engagement fiasco every chapter. Please let me know what you think!
Katniss finds herself in a hot mess when Gale comes looking for a second chance.
Thumbing distractedly through the dog-eared pages of her roommate, Annie's, latest copy of Brides magazine, Katniss tossed it atop the coffee table when she heard the harsh knock on the front door. Her stomach knotted up when she spied the familiar tips of Peeta's blonde curls through the diamond shaped window. She had been thinking since yesterday of how to ask Peeta for a pretty huge favor, and she hoped Peeta would help her out like he always had.
Katniss pulled the door open and instantly her heart lifted at his expression. His face broke into the wide grin he always save just for her. He stepped in the apartment when she moved to the side, her silent offering of access.
"So where's the fire?" he asked, still grinning and rubbing his day old scruff. Katniss had always thought he was attractive, but she preferred the baby smooth skin of his cheeks and perfect shaped jaw after he had shaved. She had sent him a message that she needed to talk to him and how it couldn't wait any longer. It had been on her mind for over a week now, and it had caused a few sleepless nights.
"Well, you may want to sit down." Peeta's grin faded and concern took over his features. "No one died, and we're still best friends," Katniss assured him quickly, taking a seat on the sofa and patting the space next to her twice. "I just have a favor to ask and I wanted to do it in person."
"Katniss, you don't have to ask for any favors. You know I'll do it, whatever it is," Peeta replied, shrugging as if helping her were as common as brushing his teeth or eating. Katniss loved that Peeta was always ready to do whatever she asked. She took a deep breath and steeled herself for what she was about to say.
"You know our ten year class reunion is coming up, right?"
Peeta nodded his head. "If you don't want me to go-"
"It's not that," she interrupted calmly. "Do you remember the time Cato Roberts asked me to prom and I told him I already had a date, and then you offered to be that date so I wouldn't look like a liar?" Katniss asked, pausing to let the memory sink in, then continuing when Peeta was silent. "Or that time Darius from parks and rec kept asking me out and he just wouldn't stop, and you pretended to be my boyfriend so he would leave me alone? Or when that horrible employee, Marvel, kept checking me out when I would come into the bakery, and it made me uncomfortable so you kissed me on the cheek one day and put your arms around me so he would get the picture?" Confusion was etched across Peeta's brow like an inscription in precious metal.
"Yes, of course I remember, but Katniss, where is all this coming from?" Peeta questioned.
"You know how Delly roped me in to helping plan the reunion? It's not exactly my thing, but she can be so annoyingly persuasive," she said, and Peeta laughed lightly. "So I kind of have to go. I wouldn't otherwise." She paused again, long enough for Peeta to reach for her hands, comforting her as he rubbed his thumbs across the backs of them, waiting for her to continue. "Gale's been calling me," she blurted out finally. Peeta's hands stiffened in hers and she could see tension creeping into his jaw. She knew there had been something between the two men - boys at the time - her best friend since they were five, and the ex-boyfriend of her last two years of high school. Peeta had never talked about Gale, and Gale never brought up Peeta when they had been together, so she had no idea what went on between them. But whatever it was, it was at least obvious to Katniss the effects of it still lingered.
"So, what favor is this? Are you asking to pretend date again so Gale will leave you alone? If so, then count me in," Peeta said assertively. Katniss drew in another long breath. She hadn't had to breathe this much and this deeply since lifeguard training her junior year of high school.
"Actually," she began hesitantly, "I told Gale we were…" she exhaled. "Engaged." Peeta's face was uncertain, as if someone had just told him his dog died and he didn't believe it.
"You told Gale we were engaged?" The dismayed tone of his question slapped Katniss in the face. She had known it would be a lot to ask, but she hadn't considered Peeta would be upset about it. They had done enough fake dating to help one another out of weird or uncomfortable situations in all their years as best friends that she thought this would be just another one of those times. Clearly, by the look on his face, she could tell she may have overstepped the boundaries of their friendship.
"Ummm, yeah, I did," Katniss admitted, focusing on some dirt that had embedded itself underneath her fingernails. Never had she felt this anxious in front of Peeta. They were the best of friends, closer even than she and her sister, Katniss thought. They knew each other's favorite everything - color, food, music, movies, drinks. Katniss even knew that he preferred boxer briefs and Peeta knew that she preferred boring cotton panties and bras. She had the only spare key to the outside entrance of his small basement abode at his parents home in a quiet neighborhood across town, and he had a set of keys to her used but new-to-her Chevy Malibu that was two shades darker than the color of Peeta's eyes.
Katniss could see he wasn't taking this well. "I was going to tell you sooner-"
"Tell me?" he snapped, his voice elevating slightly in volume. "You were going to tell me that we are engaged?" Peeta stood, one hand going to his hip and the other in his hair as she watched him pace the small living area. They had done this sort of thing before, and it had always worked out. Katniss felt flustered at his reaction and couldn't help lashing out a bit.
"It's just one night, Peeta," she barked. Why was he acting like this? They weren't actually getting married. The way she saw it, after the reunion they could go right back to being best friends, and Gale would be none the wiser. It was simple and uncomplicated, and better than her having to confront Gale, telling him she didn't want anything with him again.
"This is a little bit different than running off a guy checking you out or asking you on a date, Katniss." The sharp edge of Peeta's voice grated on her already tense nerves.
"If you don't want to help me, Peeta, then just say so. It's no big deal." Peeta's free hand joined the one in his hair, pulling at the short locks. Katniss didn't understand why he was reacting this way.
"Why? Why did you tell him that?" Peeta's question sounded more like a command, one Katniss didn't want to answer, but was more afraid not to.
"I…" she started nervously. She felt like she was a kid in the principal's office, and her eyes began to dampen out of frustration. She forced the tears back. "He wants to get back together, try again. And I don't want to."
"So, just to clarify," Peeta said quietly, holding one finger up, "you told Gale we are engaged so you don't have to tell him you don't want to see him?" Katniss had to admit when it was put that way it sounded pretty selfish. Regret stole through her and she exhaled a shameful sigh.
"There were so many other things you could have said. First of all, the truth would have been good," Peeta scolded her, although it was less harsh than she thought it would have been considering his current state. "Second, you could have asked me before saying anything to him. We've fake dated enough that I would have thrown my arm around you and kissed you on the cheek. But this-"
"But this is Gale. Not some random guy that doesn't know me, or know us." Katniss motioned between the two of them to indicate the connection everyone who had ever known them could see. "Do you remember when we broke up? He begged me to take him back for a year! He was so obnoxious and you know he won't leave me alone, Peeta. He drains me in every way possible," Katniss said, lowering her eyes, exhausted with the thought of Gale back in her life. "But you're right. I shouldn't have done that. It's too much to ask." She saw Peeta's expression soften, and he moved closer, wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug.
"I should have punched him when I had the chance," Peeta muttered. "Alright," he replied after a long moment, and Katniss could hear the resignation in his tone. "Let's do it."
"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice muffled into his solid chest. She could feel his head nod against hers and faintly hear his 'yes'. In a sudden move to lighten the mood, Katniss bent down on one knee and took Peeta's hand in hers. His look turned from blank to questioning to incredulous in no time at all.
"Katniss, what are you-"
"Peeta Mellark," she said, putting on her brightest smile, the smile she only ever saved for him, "will you fake marry me?"
He considered her for a moment before she saw his shoulders slump and his eyes move to study the apartment's aged, brown carpet. Katniss thought she would get at least a mischievous grin or a suggestive joke, but he didn't even smile, and she wondered what else could be contributing to this mood he was in.
"Is there something else that's bothering you?" she asked. Peeta shook his head, smiled tiredly and pulled her to her feel. After promising they would get together to talk over the details of their 'engagement', Peeta excused himself to get home and shower, sending Katniss back to the couch to absently peruse the bridal magazine a second time, less satisfied than she thought she would be.
Don't forget to drop me a line! Part 2 is ready to go! What happens when people who weren't meant to know their little secret find out? Pbg