Hi there! Some of you might not know me but I decided to start and Everlark fic and wanted to share it with you guys. I hope you all like it and a big, big thank you to HPfanonezillion for betaing. I hope this can stand as my birthday gift to you!

CHAPTER ONE

The ringing of her phone roused Katniss from her sleep. Sitting up, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and squinted at the bright light of her room. She searched her nightstand for her the ringing phone, which honestly sounded worse than her alarm, and slid the answer button without looking at the contact.

"Hello?"

"Katniss!" the high-pitched voice of her sister made her groan and check the clock hanging above her doorway. Prim was too much to handle at this time of the day.

"What is it that's so important that you had to call me at 7 in the morning, Prim?" she asked, obviously annoyed that her sleep time was being cut short.

"I'm coming to New York!" her sister screeched.

"What?" Now she was fully awake. "This isn't a good joke, Prim."

"I'm not kidding! Marvel got us both plane tickets to New York so we could visit you next week!"

"Marvel got you both plane tickets to visit me? I didn't realize he was that rich but that's amazing!"

"I know, right! I can't wait to see you, Katniss. I have so many things to tell you and I'm excited to finally be in New York!"

"I'll have to give you both a tour when you get here." she smiled even though Prim couldn't see her.

"Speaking of Marvel, he really likes you. Maybe you could spend some time alone once we get there."

"Prim." she warned.

"What? It's been almost a year since you had a boyfriend. Or hell, even a hook-up. There must be cobwebs down there by now." Katniss opened her mouth to ask how she knew but her sister beat her to it. "Don't ask. You have roommates who are also my friends."

Johanna and Madge. She hadn't thought of them talking to her sister, better yet updating Prim with her latest bedroom escapades.

"You're going on a date with Marvel, Katniss, no excuses. He really likes you and it might work out. Just give him a chance." her sister said.

"Prim, I'm not going on a date with Marvel. Nothing you say will make me go out with him." she answered, exasperated.

"It's just one date, Katniss. What's the harm in it?" Prim insisted.

Katniss knew that Prim wouldn't let this go unless she had a valid reason. But Prim also knew that Katniss would never, ever lie to her. For once, that might work in Katniss' favor as a valid excuse made its way into her head.

"Prim, I… I have a boyfriend." she stuttered nervously. Prim misinterpreted her hesitancy as a sign that she had been keeping this from her.

"What?! Why haven't Madge and Jo said anything about this to me?"

"I haven't told them yet and it's pretty new… I–I just wanted to see if he's serious about this too."

"When and how did this happen? Ohmygod Katniss!"

'Quick Katniss. Think of something.' She thought to herself.

"We, um, met at the café down the street from work. He was really nice and I just–liked him and he um, asked me out. Of course I said yes." She cringed. That wasn't something that she usually did and she was sure that Prim would see right through it.

Prim didn't. "That's great! I'm so happy that you're finally giving yourself a chance to love. You've been so focused on me almost your entire life." Prim sighed.

She replied with a simple: "Yeah."

"You have to introduce him to me when I get there, Katniss. It sounds like you really like him." Her sister gushed.

"I–uh, really do Prim." She felt guilty about lying to her sister but she can't handle a date with Marvel. She can't even talk to the guy properly without him boasting, what more on a date?

"Tell me something about him. I want to have a picture in mind on who's making my sister so happy."

"He um…" Think Katniss, think, she told herself. What could she tell Prim that won't make her slip? As she thought this through, her ex boyfriend, Cato suddenly came to mind out of nowhere. "He has blonde hair and really blue eyes?"

The statement sounded more like a question and Katniss mentally crossed her fingers, wishing that Prim wouldn't catch onto it.

"Mm, must be a handsome man. Is he good in bed?" Her sister asked.

"Prim!" She scolded.

"Katniss, I'm a grown woman and I just want to make sure that this guy is good for my sister. She did take care of me before. I just want to return the favor."

She sighed. "He is very good in bed." Katniss actually wished this guy was real.

"Good. Anyways, I have to go. Sorry for disturbing, you can go back to sleep now. Bye, love you!" her sister said. Katniss started hearing some other noises in the background.

"Love you too. Stay safe, Prim."

The phone hung up after that but Katniss couldn't bring herself to go back to sleep anymore. She's already awake, might as well get something productive done after the lie she just told her sister.

Everything only registered to her at that moment. Prim is going to New York to visit her next week. She has a boyfriend that doesn't really exist. She'll have to introduce this man to her sister next week.

Well, shit.

Katniss' bare feet slowly padded into the kitchen and she grabbed a bottle of wine from the cabinet they store their liquor in. Sure, it was still too early and she hadn't eaten anything yet, but she really needed the wine to think about what she just did. This was definitely not how she planned her Saturday morning to turn out.

As she poured the wine into her glass, she contemplated on whether or not she should just tell Prim that she really didn't have a boyfriend. That would make things a lot easier. But that would certainly embarrass her and lose her sister's trust. She had to pull off this whole 'I have a boyfriend' thing and find a man that fit the exact description of what she told Prim. The blonde hair and blue eyed part, at least. Her sister won't have to know if the man is good in bed or not. She herself certainly won't have and get to know.

The only problem she has now is to figure out how to find Mr. Blonde hair and blue eyed man.

She just finished eating lunch and was about to drink her fourth glass of wine for that day when she heard the lock of their door moving and the door being opened to the sight of Johanna and Madge. Both were clearly coming from the mall, the shopping bags on their arms providing proof.

Madge slammed the door shut as Johanna swiped the fifth glass of wine from Katniss's hand.

"Wha–hey!" Katniss exclaimed when Johanna gulped all of it.

"Thanks for the wine, brainless. Nice to see you're already getting yourself intoxicated before we head to the bar." Johanna said as she dropped the shopping bags that rested on her arms.

"Nope, not going with you guys. I have somewhere I need to be." she replied.

"And we bought a dress for you to wear tomorrow night. You're welcome." Madge said, ignoring her earlier statement.

"I really won't be able to, I have someplace to go." she said, this time slower.

"Where are you going?" Madge asked.

"I…" she sighed. "Look, I have to tell you guys something but promise that you won't tell anyone about it."

Johanna just raised an eyebrow while Madge waited for her to continue.

"I told Prim I have a boyfriend and–"

"Do you?" Madge butted in.

"…and no, I don't have one so I need to get one." she continued.

Johanna smirked. "Just one? Why not make it maybe three or four? The more the merrier, brainless."

She glared at Johanna. "Not funny, Jo."

"God, you really are brainless. That's just the perfect reason for you to dress up and go with us to the bar tomorrow night. It's a man market in there, just choose one and bam! You've got yourself a boyfriend."

Katniss couldn't deny that Johanna definitely had a point. There are plenty of guys there, she just has to choose the right guy and she'd have someone to show Prim when she got here to visit. The only thing is, she can never control herself around alcohol.

"Fine, but I won't be the designated driver in case I get drunk." She giggled. Oh god, the wine was already making its way into her system.

"Deal." Once again, a smirk made its way onto Johanna's face. The bar was better than going around town and awkwardly approaching men who had blue eyes and blond hair.

This was a total disaster.

Every man that had tried to make a move on her just had hair too dark or eyes that were every shade of brown or too green. She did encounter a guy or two that fit the exact description but unfortunately for Katniss, they were already attached.

Seeing as Madge and Johanna were already occupied, she drowned herself in tequila, vodka, and whatever else the bartender got his hands on, hoping that the alcohol would fix this mess she got herself into. She really wished she could take back her words and instead just agree to one date with Marvel.

Monday morning for Katniss hadn't gone any better.

Katniss opened her eyes to the dimly lit room, though it was a morning the thick drapes had been left closed. She stretched on the bed, dry mouth sticky with saliva and moaned before dragging herself out of the bed.

She tried her best to remove the remnants of the previous night because no one wanted to go to work looking like a freak. The aspirin didn't help much with the pounding headache she had.

Getting to work was the worst. She wasn't even settled in her chair yet when she heard Haymitch's voice from behind her.

"Well, sweetheart, seems like it's your lucky day today." She rolled her eyes before turning around.

"What is it now, Haymitch?" She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. Sure, Haymitch was her boss but she was sure he would never fire her because the man treated her like his own daughter despite the way they talked to each other.

"I've got something for you to do. Need it done by tomorrow. I'll trust you with this, sweetheart." He handed her a yellow folder and walked away while drinking from his flask.

She sighed before plopping down onto her desk chair. She groaned when she flipped the folder open but had no choice so she opened her laptop and sucked it up. She had to get her job done to pay for food, bills, and Prim's school.

When office hours were up, she grabbed her laptop and folder (in which she was already halfway through) and retreated to the cafe down the street. It was her favorite workplace. The people minded their own business, the coffee was delicious even if she wasn't a coffee person, and the air conditioning units were perfect.

She sat down at her usual spot and continued doing her work. She was working peacefully when the damn laptop warned her that the battery was getting low. She glared at the screen, willing for it to take back what it said but of course it wouldn't.

Her head dropped to her hands and she gritted her teeth in frustration. There was only one socket in this cafe that customers were free to use and she wasn't seated anywhere close to it. Looking toward the coveted space, she could see there was already someone seated on the chair she needed.

Someone very attractive. The blue eyes were what caught her attention though. She felt like she'd seen them before but she can't place her finger as to where. The blonde curls were a mess above his head and they looked so good. She decided to go in for the kill and approach this man.

"Um, excuse me?" She said.

Those blue eyes peered up at her from his laptop and he looked taken aback at first, which got her really confused for a second before he directed a grin at her.

"Yes?"

"I um–" She started fidgeting with the end of her shirt. "Do you mind if I… I mean, can I sit there–like there on the seat because um, my um–my laptop has to be, um, charged and the only socket is there. It's work related, you know… stuff." She stumbled over her words like an idiot and it embarrassed her even more that she had to do it in front of an immensely handsome guy.

"I see you've forgotten me already." He chuckled.

She narrowed her eyes, searching her memory for any similar blue eyes. She knew she had seen him before, just where? All it took for her to remember who he is was the lopsided grin that placed itself on his face.

Oh.

Mr. Blondie, as she liked to call him after too many tequila shots, dragged her to the back of the bar where it was isolated and quiet. He knew his way around despite being drunk himself.

"Do you always bring the girls you pick up here?" She giggled.

"No. You're the first one, actually." The husky voice that responded next to her ear made her shiver.

She sealed her lips with his and wrapped an arm around his neck as he slammed her back against the wall, his hands on her ass. There was no one around to see them making out like teenagers at the back of a bar and she was glad.

She fumbled for his zipper but his hand stopped her. Instead, his had creeped its way into her dress and he held his hand on the front of her panties, where moisture had been seeping out. She moaned into his mouth and grinded her hips against his palm. It all felt so good. She wasn't stopping anything now because of the alcohol that had made its way into her system.

His finger moved the lace garment aside and he dropped to his knees in front of her before pulling her panties all the way down. He placed soft, butterfly kisses up the inside of her thighs and made his way up. She heaved, the anticipation being too much for her to bear.When his hot tongue finally passed between her folds, her head hit the wall and she mewled. Her hips involuntarily bucked and pushed against his face. She was so lost in the pleasure of his tongue as it licked and sucked at her wet center. His tongue plunged deeper in her core that made her moan softly with each pass.She gazed down at him and caught his blue eyes fixated on her. His lips closed around her clit and he sucked while flicking his tongue over it. Those eyes were still fixed on her and it was also those blue eyes that sent her over the edge, back arched as she began to ride the waves of pleasure.

Her juices were smeared across his mouth and he wiped at it with the back of his hand which she found oddly satisfying. He stood, a smug grin plastered on his face.

"I'm afraid we haven't been properly introduced yet. I'm Peeta Mellark." he said.

"Katniss." she panted, still feeling the aftershocks of her climax.

"Katniss Everdeen."

"Peeta." she acknowledged.

"Good to hear you haven't forgotten about me yet, sweetheart." He chuckled. Why do people keep on calling her that?

"So, are you going to allow me to sit or not?" She raised an eyebrow as her patience grew thinner.

"Not until you thank me."

"For what?" She responded a little too quickly. She wasn't stupid. They only had one encounter so she knew what he was talking about, but that didn't stop her from asking.

She rudely took the seat in beside him but he pulled the chair back before she could get a hold of it.

"Uh-uh, you have to thank me first."

She crossed her arms and glared at him but he stared back. They stared at each other until she realized he wasn't going to give this up. She huffed in response and dropped her arms before grabbing her laptop and storming out of the coffee shop without another word.

Guess she'll have to do her work at home then.

Her room was nothing compared to the cafe. The air-conditioning could be considered a heater and the natural light coming from the window was too bright for her to properly see her laptop screen. But it was definitely better than having to work with that cocky asshole in the cafe.

Lucky day indeed.

Katniss awoke to a loud sizzling noise from downstairs in the kitchen. She checked the time and leaped from her bed to the bathroom when she saw that it was already eight am. She was supposed to be at work at eight am.

She rushed through her normal routine and when she went downstairs, she was stunned by the plate of pancakes, bacon, and eggs that were perched on the countertop. So that's what the sizzling was all about. Too bad she didn't have time to eat breakfast.

She practically flew out the door without saying a goodbye to Johanna and Madge and hailed a cab. She was in no mood to drive through traffic. Haymitch didn't really care if she was late or not, just that she got there before he did.

Luckily, she was already seated at her desk before Haymitch entered. She could smell the liquor from him and she scrunched up her nose in disgust.

"The files are all documented, they're all done just as you asked. The new interns are also scheduled to go in on Monday so you have to meet them. And Plutarch wants to schedule an appointment with you, some serious marketing stuff he said."

"Tell Plutarch I'm only available next month. I'm in no mood to talk to him anytime soon. And show the new guy around." he grumbled before returning to his office.

"What new guy?" she called out to Haymitch.

"You'll meet him later." he replied as he slid through the door of his office.

Katniss sighed. At least she wouldn't need to do a lot of typing.

"Have you met the new guy?"

"I heard he's hot."

"Hot, like 'damn hot' or hot that's just hot?"

"They say he's the 'damn hot' kind."

She didn't mean to eavesdrop on Clove and Lavinia's conversation about the new guy but she was curious to know more about him.

She heard the double doors opening and looked up to see Haymitch alongside… oh fuck.

The one and only, Peeta Mellark.

All eyes turned to the new guy but his eyes caught and remained on hers with a smirk plastered on his face.

"Damn hot indeed." Clove sighed from behind her.