I can't take credit for the idea on this one, I lost the fic (great job, Sonny) that I was reading which was similar to this, same basic character traits, same basic AU, except completely different plot. I think that makes this a fanfic of a fanfic... anyway, enjoy!

"Ignore them, Peeta." I hiss under my breath, grabbing my companion's wrist and putting my free elbow to good use elbowing past the mocking voices.

"Getting your GIRLFRIEND to save ya, pudgy?" They taunt. Peeta's hand twitches in my grasp. I restrain myself for his sake, because I don't want to get in trouble, so that our families won't have to deal with repercussions. That's what i tell myself as I force both of our feet to move. Away from them even as they turn and shout after us. It's just another day full of teasing because Peeta might be a little bit on the heavy side. Finally, we hear her taunting voice.

"Yeah, just walk away and go home to your mommy so she can beat the shit out of you, at least she doesn't mind touching you." Clove Turner cackled mercilessly even as all the other noise died away. Harmless teasing was pushed aside, even the cruelest of them knew she had gone too far.

I saw red. I dropped Peeta's hand silently, and despite him reaching out to stop me, and moved slowly at Clove. Peeta stayed where he was, not even turning around. I approached Clove, slow, deadly. I stopped when I was only inches away, Clove's small frame still unmoved although the grin was gone and shock shone in her eyes. She was just about as tall as me, and I made sure her eyes were focused on mine before speaking coldly.

"You do not speak that way to him. You do not," I twisted to another classmate whose voice I'd recognized, "and you do not," I leveled him, then turned to another, "and you do not. That goes for all of you." I turned back to Clove, stomping on her foot hard, and hitting her in the stomach with all my rage, ignoring the collective gasp and the blonde who came immediately to Clove's side, holding her arm so she stayed upright. I took Peeta's hand as I turned to leave again. He had never turned around to see what I had done, and his round cheeks were red and splotchy, eyes filled with tears.
"Let's go." I smiled softly at him. He only nodded. Even though it as only lunch, I had no intention of letting him set foot in the building again at least until tomorrow.

"Come to the park with me." I say, looking up at him. He nods again and we turn off to go to the duck pond, where we spend the majority of our summer days hanging out.

"Are you okay?" I ask him finally, when he still hasn't spoken since we left. He nods haltingly, clearing his throat. His mouth opened but no sound came out so he closed it again. I squeezed his hand in mine. "Hey, it's just me, you wanna talk about that duck over there instead?" I smile, hoping the ridiculous animal will cheer him up a little. He chuckles a little, sniffing.

"Ducks are weird birds." He says quietly, letting go of my hand to wipe at his eyes. I laugh, nudging him with my shoulder.

"I thought so too. Let's go sit over there, you can draw one or something." I suggest, looking up at him. He nods, shifting his backpack on his shoulder.

"You don't have to do that, you know." He says so quietly, I almost don't hear him say.

"Do what?" I ask, even though I know what he means.

"Get into fights because of me." I huff.

"Peeta-"

"Katniss, it's not a big deal, they're just words." He cuts me off, trying to brush me off.

"They're just bullies. Who's gonna stop them? What if they move from tormenting you to someone else who's alone? What then? I have to at least try to stop them, otherwise, what kind of best friend am I?" I counter. He sighs. "Peeta, I didn't get into a fight, I just hit her. And stepped on her foot. But she can't report me because there's too many people on our side, they knew she went too far." I argue.

"I don't want you getting in more trouble because of me." Two years ago, before Peeta and I were very close, I got into a fist fight because one of the girls a grade above us was picking on him. He had never been anything but sweet to me, and even shared his lunch on the days when my mom was too far gone to remember she had children to take care of. So of course, to stand by and let him endure that was unthinkable.

"Stop." I tell him. He looks at me. "Stop pretending it's okay, it's not okay." He sighs again, before taking my hand and leading us to the sunny patch of grass I'd pointed to before.

Neither one of us said anything for a few hours, me stretching out on the grass and napping while he sketched something. But soon the sun was going down and it was starting to get cooler, so I sat up.

"What did you draw, can I see?" Peeta stopped in the middle of closing his sketchbook.

"It's- you wouldn't like it-"

"Come on, Peeta, show me." I plead. He gives in and passes me the paper. My eyebrows shoot up on my face.

"It's, it's me-" I stammer. He blushes.

"Yeah, I know."

"But- I don't look like this," I hold it up next to my face to compare, and Peeta smiles.

"I got it just right, that's good to know."

"But I look... PRETTY..." I murmur, shaking my head. I'm not pretty, it's not something that bothers me anymore.

"Yes...?" He trails off, his tone indicating he doesn't know why I have a problem with that.

"I'm not pretty, why did you draw me this way?" I ask, looking up at him.

"I only drew what I saw, that's what you look like to me. You're very pretty, Katniss, I thought you knew that." He says carefully. I shake my head.

"You're delusional, I really don't mind, I know I'm plain and it doesn't bother me." I explain, handing back his drawing and standing. He chuckles, getting up himself.

"You've never seen yourself in person, only your reflection, so no wonder your perception of yourself is backwards." He smiles at me, waiting for me to smack him when I catch what he did there.

"Oh shut up," I laugh, taking his hand and swinging it between us as we head home. I live just down the road from him, which is incredibly convenient for times like this when I want to make sure he gets home without incident.

We walk in silence until we get to our street, my house is closer and he walks me to my door.

"Thanks for having my back, Katniss." He says into my hair as I hug him goodbye. He's warm and solid and I feel like nothing could whisk me away as long as I have my arms around him. But I let go anyway so he doesn't question it, and smile as I whisper, "Always." He leaves me then, and I watch him until he waves before going into his own house. I wave back even though he's already inside.

Haymitch greets me gruffly when I shut the door behind me.

"Hung out with the boy again?"

I nod, dumping my backpack on the couch and shuffling into the kitchen to find some food. I open the fridge. Haymitch follows me in and stands behind the open door.

"Your mother went back in today." He says, softer now. My hand pauses briefly before picking up the orange juice jug. My face doesn't betray me. Frankly, I'm no longer surprised. Mom goes in to the center fairly frequently these days.

"Oh?" I say.

"Yeah. And I brought a letter from your sister." He shoves an envelope into my free hand. Prim, my little sister, is living with Haymitch's wife Maysilee in California. He comes regularly to make sure I'm still alive, but my mom has to stay here so she can go in for treatment, and I stayed with her. I don't really want to go to California and live in the fast paced, bright and colorful world there. I prefer dismal and constancy, which I find here. I rip into her letter, tearing the envelope off. As I settle against the counter with my glass of juice, Haymitch pats my shoulder and saunters back to his armchair to read.

"Dear Katniss, Aunt Maysilee and I went hiking today, but since Uncle Haymitch is flying out to see you tomorrow, he couldn't come with us, he had to pack. I don't know why it takes so long for one man to pack for a week-long trip but he takes forever anyway. I'll email you some pictures once I get them off my camera, Auntie says I can't get a phone until I'm 15. I can't wait, there's only 67 days more! Rue Wilson and I have been hanging out a lot lately, we were partnered on a science project last month. I hope you and Mom are doing well out there, I know it's a lot of work for you but I'm really glad she's not alone. Say hi to Peeta for me! Love, Prim aka your favorite little duck"

I smile sadly at my little sister. She's so innocent and cheerful. I'm just glad she's living some semblance of a normal life in California, unburdened by all the problems here, and never wondering when her next meal would be. I'll forever owe Haymitch and Maysilee for taking care of her.
~~~~~~~

"Peeta! Peeta!" I yell, making my way down the hall to his locker. Everyone sort of gravitates away from me as I pass, no doubt remembering how angry I was yesterday. But today I just barrel past them, noting the wary glances from Clove and Glimmer, until I reach Peeta and gasp for a second while he watches me with an amused smile.

"Katniss?"

"Peet-Peeta, gue-guess what?" I say between breaths. I ran all the way here from home as soon as Haymitch told me.

"I-I don't know!" He mocks my breathlessness and I glower at him for a second, laughing and catching my breath.

"Do you have any plans for this summer?" I ask, grabbing his wrist and bringing him with me down the hall where it would be quieter. He shakes his head. "Good. You're coming with me to my uncle's cabin in the woods, he just told me that I could have it for all of July, as long as I don't burn it down!" I grin, not missing his shocked face.

"Cabin? All of July? Kat- Katniss you really think my parents will let me go?" He asks warily.

"Doesn't matter, you'll be 19 the last week of June, and I'm 19 already, we're legal adults and we can do what we want." He chuckles.

"I'd love to, if you really want me to go. Sounds like fun." He agrees.

"Great! For once, you're gonna enjoy your summer without being constantly under your mom's nose, and I'm making it my mission to make sure you have a good time. He has a boat, and there's a huge lake, and there's trees and the cabin is so comfortable and bright and open and I haven't been there in years but it's still my favorite place on earth." I ramble, getting everything I need from my own locker and walking with him to class.
He quietly nods every once and awhile but is silent as we take our seats. I'll have to watch him to make sure nothing goes wrong, if there's one person on the planet that needs a boost of self-esteem, it's Peeta Mellark, and he certainly isn't going to get it here.

Follow and review!