FAGEtastic Four

Title: Improperly in Love

Written for: Fates-Love-Queen

Written By: Rose Melissa Ivashkov

Rating: M

Summary/Prompt used:A Hunger Games story, maybe an AU? No actual 'Hunger Games' but maybe the districts had arranged marriages? Or the male chooses a female?: Peeta and Katniss became best friends and their friendship morphed into something big. The sparks ended when Katniss discovered her father left her mother. Katniss is not very fond of the "lovely" feelings and anything male.

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Peeta and I couldn't wait to get out of the awful place they called a dance. It was obvious these couples weren't here for a "walk in the park"—the theme for prom this year. These couples here were more or so here for a "grope in the park". My best friend had brought me along to prom and groping him was not something I would consider with him being my best friend.

"Having fun, grass roots?"

I made a face. "I am wearing five pounds of makeup. Of course, it only makes this crappy prom a bit more fun."

"I never thought I would see my grass roots all dressed up."

"First of all, it is Katniss. And if you have just stayed with your mouth shut and not announced to the student body that you wanted to go with me to prom, I wouldn't have to be living through this at this moment, you big disgusting sandwich."

Peeta grinned, throwing and arm around my shoulder. "You're having fun. I could see it on your face." I squinted my eyes, hissing like snake, wondering what was wrong with all the couples. Were they really enjoying themselves. . .or had they taken a sip of the "Special Tea" before coming here? I looked up toward the ceiling and thought about how long I would last washing my face when I arrived home.

"Just wait for the best part, what all couples do on prom night. Sadly, it does involve taking off that dress that makes you look hotter than you already are."

Irritated, I finally turned on Peeta, narrowing my eyes at him. "When did you turn so cocky? What happened to the kind, sweet and shy you? Now you're just a big bell pepper."

Peeta only smiled. "All spiciness aside, you look really pretty tonight. Beautiful, actually."

I wasn't sure if it was due to the weird lighting or Peeta had an extra shine in his eyes.

I cleared my throat, conflicted on what exactly I could reply to that. I settled for sarcasm. "More of that arrogance?"

"I am serious—hey, what do you say about leaving this place? Going somewhere private? I feel your pain. This is boring."

I leaned back in my chair, craned my neck, and set my eyes on him. "Are those pickup lines? Peeta you ace your creative writing class. . .think of something better. I am not moving from this chair until you come up with something creative."

"What do you say about following me outside, saunter away from this uninteresting place, and as we walk you can take hold of my hand, intimately entangling your fingers with mine and upon reaching the spot of the destination I have in mind, we can go fishing with fishing poles created of tree branches scattered around, and we can finish the night off with a sweet, intimate, prom kiss, as we bask in the beautiful ambience this night, this moon, these stars offer?"

I tried to control myself, but the force of the laughter destroyed my willpower.

"I'm a romantic guy, aren't I?" I stopped laughing but there was a huge grin on my face. "I take that as a yes."

Peeta only smiled and took my hand.

Peeta drove his car a bit away from all the activity of our district, driving to the more rural side of our district, of our town. I was a bit worried he was heading into the next town over, when I finally realized he had slowed his driving and had turned into a hidden dirt road. The trees that blurred past us gave me a bit of frightened feeling, but I trusted Peeta, having known him since first grade backed up my beliefs.

Just when I was about to ask where he was taking me, my eyes caught the sight of a beautiful scene: it was a small lake, filled with massive boulders. I had lived in this district for countless years and barely I realized such beauty existed in the backyard of our district. I didn't wait for Peeta—I left the car and went to admire the sight before me.

The way the boulders were placed—well, they formed something around the lines of a pool. It wasn't one of those man-created pools, where people had purposely designed a pool with rocks—this was something created by nature. And the water—it had no interruptions of the rocks; there was only clear water, crystal clear water that reflected the incandescent light of the moonlight, lightening up the clearing so well.

"This place is beautiful."

Peeta only had eyes for me. "You are."

The moonlight hid my blush well.

He stepped closer to me and took my hand. "Now, the water is not exactly desirable at this time of year, but I do think prom night should be filled with memorable moments."

Confused, I looked over at him.

"We're going to jump in," he explained. "And then I can take you home—ah, stop with the complaints. We're jumping in. You won't drown. . On the count of three: One. Two. Three!" I managed to break free from his hold but he was successful in dragging me along with him.

Jumping from the highest rock gave me a good feeling but landing in the water was not the greatest feeling.

"Peeta—what the hell? 'The water is undesirable?' It is freezing!" Gasping for breath, and a part of my sanity, I trudged through the sand of the lake and onto shore. I gathered up my dress, feeling like I had locked myself in a freezer. I hugged myself, running into his car. Because of his thoughtless deed, I locked the car doors.

Peeta merely smiled as he unlocked his car with his keys. A moment later, he was inside the car with me.

"Laugh, Katniss. We're only seventeen once."

"This is ridiculous." I reached for his suit coat and threw it on myself. "I am so cold and scared my limbs will fall off."

"Katniss."

I didn't look his way, still trying to warm myself up.

Peeta sighed and began to do something that really made want to blush: he began to undress himself.

"What. . .are. . .you. . .doing?"

"Staying warm. Body heat is the best way." When his pants and shirt were gone, he glanced at me, patting his lap. "I can keep you warm."

I wanted to tell him to his face that I was going to cut off his manly limb but his body seemed warm and inviting. Raising my body temperature by a few degrees was something I wanted, even if I had to do undesirable things in order to get such result. I moved over to his side, letting him slip both of his hands around me.

"I am so cold—too cold."

"Katniss, you're shivering like an alien." He chuckled in my ear. "Remember your weird obsession with aliens and dinosaurs?"

"No, I don't," I spat out.

"You even had me call you Long Neck Katniss."

I stayed quiet.

"Why don't you take off that dress?"

"Are you kidding me? First you force me into that lake and now you want to rape me? I should have known!"

Peeta pushed me away from him. "Take off your dress. Katniss, I am your best friend and I respect you, but if you want to be really warm, I suggest you get out of those wet clothes."

"One day, Peeta—one day I will get back at you for making me do all those things I don't want to do." I was judging wrongly so. Before Peeta turned into this wild but still sweet boy, I was the instigator, making him do things that certainly would make a male blush. "Can you unzip the dress?"

"My pleasure."

"And stop with those arrogant comments while I am undressing. It makes me feel awkward. I never want to be more than just a friend with you," I said venomously.

"That is where we think differently" was all he said.

I was shocked at his words. He hadn't been the only one thinking about being more than friends. Peeta was a cute guy. . .and he was a guy I cared about immensely.

When my dress was completely off, I moved around till I was facing him. I crossed my arms over my chest, hiding the only asset of my body many men enjoyed ogling at.

"Peeta—Peeta. . ."

I didn't know what I wanted to say, so I was kind of glad when he kissed me.

At first, I rebounded, hitting him in the face.

I didn't give him more time to complain because I realized I liked his kiss.

The coldness we had been feeling before quickly faded as we kissed, heating each other's bodies.

Peeta pushed me to the backseat and we loved each other for the first time ever.

It was all laughs and smiles on the drive home.

At the doorstep of my front door, it was hard parting from him.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

He threw an arm around my waist. "I don't want to leave you." He leaned down and kissed my lips.

"Tomorrow," I promised, pulling away from him. "You better go before my dad walks out with a shotgun. He knows we're friends. . .and he knows we would never go farther than just being friends."

"Well, what a surprise he is going to get when he finds out his daughter is dating the baker's son." Peeta kissed me again, moving away from me with a smile on his face. "Tomorrow."

He gave me one last kiss and he was gone.

Peeta's goodnight kiss lingered on my lips as I walked in through the door, the memories of him and me sharing a romantic moment never fading from my mind..

But the feel of his touch and kisses faded from my mind when I heard the news my mother had to tell me.

"Your father cheated on me."

My father and my mother had been the most gossiped in town—they were off different social classes and despite it all it, their love was strong enough to fight through all the battles. My father couldn't just leave my mother; he loved her immensely. But he had cheated on her. And if my mother's and father's immense love hadn't beat the odds, what were the chances of what Peeta and I liked to call love—what where the chances of that ever striving?

Just when I had thought I could have a chance at love—I realized I couldn't ever allow myself to be weakened by men.

Peeta and I would forever remain just friends and that would be the end of it. In the end, men were all the same, always destroying the hearts of women.

In the end, I assumed he would just stop loving me.

A/N: Fates-Love-Queen, I really hope you like this. Thanks to Corrupt Subduction for being such a patient and great Beta. And readers, I am going to update 2/3 times a day, so be on the lookout!

Thanks for reading:)

Share the thoughts.

-Melissa