Hey everyone! Thank you so much for all the reviews/favourites/alerts, it means so much to me!

This one-shot is actually a two-parter. This one gets a bit tender in parts (I wanted to explore K and P's relationship a bit further), but for those of you who don't like that sore of stuff, don't worry, the next chapter will be pure, unadulterated awkwardness!

Also, just a quick note about how often I'll be updating – I'm crazily busy at the moment so I won't be updating every day – I will try my hardest though to update at least once a week :)

Enjoy! :)

My life just seems to be completely perfect! Katniss, you have no idea! I passed 12th Grade with a perfect score and I got into a college in the Capitol. Plus Marvel, you know, my amazing boyfriend who I was telling you about, just bought me a fancy car from the Capitol! I love him to bits, Katniss. Really, K, you need to find yourself a boyfriend. It's getting kinda sad actually, you not being able to snag anyone. Maybe I could give you some pointers?

Ugh. I always hate reading letters from my cousin Glimmer. Her life is so sickeningly perfect, it makes me want to hurl a brick in her face, just so one thing on her perfect body wouldn't be so perfect any more.

I'm beginning to write the usual replies of Wow, that's amazing, you parents must be so proud! and It's ok, G, I just haven't found the right guy yet, when I look out the window. Peeta Mellark is walking past, a sack of flour slung over his shoulder, whistling in the breeze.

Hmm. Peeta was a boy, who was kind of a friend. What would the harm be if I omitted the space between the words boy and friend? Glimmer would never know the truth, and then she'd stop pestering me and sending me depression-inducing letters bragging about her perfect boyfriend.

Hey, G, guess what, I do have a boyfriend! I write. His name is Peeta, he's the local baker's son. He's so strong, you should see him heaving a sac of flour! God, he's so sexy, all the girls want him, but he picked me, of course!

Well, it wasn't exactly a lie. I was just stretching the truth. A lot. Besides, a lot of the girls did want him, that was definitely true. I'm sure the choosing me part would be real if I tousled my hair a bit and undid a few buttons of my blouse.

Maybe.

I'm feeling a mixture of guilt and satisfaction as I drop the letter into the postbox. Finally, a letter that didn't make me look like the unlovable loser that Glimmer was, by now, convinced I was.

I decided to take a nice, long walk, before returning home. Mom, Dad and Prim were in the kitchen, fussing over a batch of stew.

"Hey, Katniss!" Prim greets me, "Guess what! We've got some exciting news!"

"Well, what is it?"

"Cousin Glimmer, Cashmere and Gloss are coming to stay! I think Glimmer's taking her boyfriend, too!"

Oh no. Oh no. OH NO!

I realise Prim, Mom and Dad are looking at me funny, and I quickly plaster a veneer of excitement onto my face. I tell myself to keep calm – I'm sure there's some way to get through this.

During dinner, the solution hits me. Of course! I'll ask Peeta if he can pretend to be my boyfriend. I know it will be a bit weird asking him, but he's been pretty friendly to me lately, and it wasn't like I had another option.

I approach him the next day during music class.

"Hey, Peeta," I start out. He looks up with a happy but curious expression on his face. This was the first time I'd made the first move when talking to him.

"Hey, Katniss, what's up?" he replies.

I'm very tempted just to make a bit of small talk and walk off, but I force myself to get the words out.

"Um, well, what would you say if I somehow left a cousin of mine with the impression that you were my boyfriend and that she's coming to stay tomorrow, and I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend?"

"I'd say you're insane," he says, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Seriously, Peeta! My life will be over if you don't do this!"

"Oh, ok, fine. But you'd better be a good pretend girlfriend!"

The next day, Peeta comes over, and we announce to the family that we are 'in a relationship'.

"Really, Katniss, are you sure you want this boy? Gale's much more sexually attractive, and he can hunt better," says Dad.

"Dad!" I shout, but he hasn't finished yet.

"Peeta, I want to know your motives," he says.

"Well, Mr Everdeen, I want to make Katniss a happy, secure woman," he says.

"There, are you happy Dad?" I say.

"No, I most certainly am not. How does one make a woman? Are you two thinking about having a child already? Katniss, is that what this is about? Are you pregnant?"

"No Dad, I'm not!"

"Are you sure, Katniss? You're looking a bit bloated," says Mom, a concerned expression on her face.

"I think the bloating's from the sex," says Prim, "I heard that some girls go a bit bloated if their amorous activities are a bit too fast for them to handle."

Mom nods in agreement, and I know I have to jump in before they start some academic discussion about my hypothetical sex-life

"I am not pregnant, nor am I having sex with Peeta!" I shout, but my family don't seem convinced. Luckily, I'm saved by the doorbell, and I shoot out to answer it.

"Katniss!" squeals Glimmer, looking as infallibly beautiful as ever. My cousins Cashmere and Gloss are standing behind her, as well as a brutish-looking man I can only conclude is Marvel.

"Glimmer!" I reply, welcoming my cousins inside.

"Glimmer, this is Peeta," I say, as soon as they are inside. I have the satisfaction of her smug grin faltering a little at the sight of him – I made him wear a singlet that would show off as much of his arms as possible.

"Katniss, Peeta, this is Marvel," she says, gesturing to the brutish man.

"Well, it's lovely to see you all, but we really must be going!" says Mom, who ushers Dad out the front door. She's going through a bit of a 'laid-back' parenting phase at the moment, and thinks the 'young things' should be left alone as much as possible.

We decide to flick on a movie, and we're utterly engrossed in Pretty Woman when I notice Glimmer and Marvel have their tongues down each other's throats. Glimmer catches me watching her, and gives me a smug wink before proceeding to unbutton Marvel's shirt.

I'll show her. Peeta's sitting next to me, blissfully unaware of what's coming. In a few short seconds, I've plonked myself on top of him, my lips barely an inch away from his.

He gets the message pretty quickly. He pushes his lips on to mine, and I feel a jolt of electricity rush through me.

It's just acting, I tell myself, but I can't seem to control myself. I'm kissing him back, hard, and my hands tangle into his hair. He's not holding back, either, kissing me deeper and faster, and before I know it, I'm struggling for breath.

Only a very small part of me registers the opening and shutting of the front door.

"Katniss? Peeta?"

I reluctantly break apart from Peeta and look up to see Gale standing by the living room door, staring at us. As soon as I see him, I jump up from the sofa, self-consciously straightening my shirt.

"Since when were you guys make-out buddies?" says Gale, that funny expression on his face.

"She's my girlfriend, actually," says Peeta, coming up to stand beside me.

"Oh yeah? Since when?" asks Gale, anger creeping into his face.

"Since ages ago," I say, worried that Peeta would reveal something he shouldn't.

"Well, nice of you to tell me," says Gale, storming out.

I'm in a bit of shock as I sit down again. Glimmer is staring at me, jealously plastered over her face.

"What was that all about, then?" she asks.

"Oh, it's nothing," says Peeta, before I get the chance to speak, "I have to deal with guys like that all the time. It's something you get used to after a while. Everyone wants Katniss, I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have her."

I'm completely touched by Peeta's words. Sure, he was acting, but I still feel so grateful for what he's said. I watch with glee as Glimmer storms off, unable for once to one-up me.

"Thanks, Peeta," I whisper.

"No problem," he whispers back.

I'm feeling confused. Some weird feelings are spreading through me, and I'm not sure what to make of them. But I don't have enough time to dwell on them – Glimmer's still here, and we've still got a lot of acting to do.

To be continued

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