A/N: Oh no! I have a life now! D:

lol jk, jk XD

Sorry I haven't updated in a while (has it seriously only been a few days?) but I got lazy, got busy, and then I got sick :P It's all good now, though, so don't worry :)

Someone left a guest review for this story saying that they didn't understand why Gale would get jealous over Katniss spending time with her cousins. This is a perfectly good point and I'm honestly surprised that no one else has bothered to point it out earlier XD

So allow me to explain: The fact of the matter is, Cato and Peeta are not related to Katniss in this fic. But wait!, you say. How can dis be?! D: Well, I'll tell you...in the next chapter XD

SO, enjoy this two-parter that will explain the ever-complicated relationships of Katniss Everdeen.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games.

Chapter twelve: Education, pt. 1~

When Katniss finally came back from the dessert table, Gale was less than shocked to find her plate was filled with little more than a cupcake and a few cookies. She had never been one for sweets, and only indulged in them if it was (a), a special occasion, or (b), because she was dared to...or because she was really mad. But that couldn't possibly be the case this time, now could it?

While she was away, Gale couldn't help but think of Cato and Peeta. He wasn't going to lie, he was still proud of himself for driving them away (it was pretty freaking hilarious) but while he sat at the Everdeen's lunch table, chewing his food and keeping his eyes warily on Prim, he also couldn't help but remind himself of where he was: the Everdeen's family reunion.

Reunion.

Of family.

Family.

After taking a few more thoughtful chews of his mac n cheese, Gale was flabbergasted to find that he had been so caught up with the ridiculous amount of attention Katniss was receiving from guys he barely knew that he had actually forgotten where they were. This was a family reunion. Cato and Peeta were cousins. Katniss and Peeta were cousins. Cato and Katniss were cousins!

Now of course, for Gale, this was great news. After all, legally the only exchanges between Katniss and the two blond men - er, make that one man and one boy - could be on friendly, familial terms. Of the familial kind. As in, families. And if this were the case (which it had to be) then Gale could loosen up, Katniss could be happy, and he wouldn't have to worry. Er, not that he ever worried in the first place; Gale already knew he was the best choice for Katniss - after all, he was.

It was a win-win situation.

For him.

Not for Cato.

...Or Peeta.

Katniss sat back down in her spot on the bench, next to Gale. This was a good sign, because if she were really mad, then she wouldn't even have sat at the same table as him. So this was good. She wasn't mad anymore, and neither was he. In fact, he was happy.

Really happy.

Apparently too happy, because Katniss stared him down like a two-headed fish she had just cought in a net and wasn't sure what to do with.

"Why are you smiling?" She asked, gripping her tray as though ready to move to another seat at the slightest sign of trouble.

Gale started to chuckle. "I just realized what an idiot I've been."

She blinked. "You're only just realizing that now?"

He looked at her and smiled. "Hey, your first witty comeback! That's great, I'm so proud of you!"

He lifted his hand up to her face with the intention of pinching her cheek, but paused when she instinctively jerked her head back, giving him a warning look. Gale began to recoil his hand, but just when she leaned back to her original position, he quickly reached up and pinched it, laughing when he was too quick for her to swat away.

She grumbled and munched on her chocolate chip cookie, the action reminding him of an irritated dog digging into a slab of meat. Or maybe a wolf. Wolves were cooler.

Annoyance couldn't quell her curiosity, however, and after a few moments of silence Katniss opened her chocolate-encrusted mouth again.

"So what have you been stupid about?"

Taking a bite out of his burger, Gale replied, "Oh, you know. Cato and," he swallowed, dreading to say the damn-near-feminine name, "Peeta. I've been a total ass-"

"Gale!"

Katniss widened her eyes at him, turning her gaze towards Prim. Blinking once, twice, Gale realized his mistake and made to correct himself.

"A...uh, idiot. It shouldn't make any difference to me if you wanna spend some quality time with your cousins. I mean, like you said, you only see 'em once a year. And you see me every day, so, I'm sorry for being a total attention wh-"

"Gale!"

"...Hog."

Looking down at her cookie, Katniss soaked in his words, thoughtfully mulling over what he had just said. Suddenly, she turned toward him, brow wrinkled.

"What cousins?"

Gale blinked, bewildered. "Uh...Cato and Peeta?"

"They're not my cousins."

His jaw nearly fell to the floor. "W-what? They're not?"

"No," she replied, shaking her head.

"Wha- then what the hell are they?!" He exclaimed, all but throwing his hands into the air.

"Gale!" Katniss chastised, motioning her eyes once again to Prim.

Sighing in irritation, she leaned in close to his ear. "Allow me to educate you."

A/N: No, not that kind of educate. Ya pervs :P

So yeah, I wanted to bring it up (the cousin thing) in previous chapters, but I just couldn't find a spot for it to fit in well enough for my liking :/

Anyway, click ahead to read my well-crafted excuse as to why Cato and Peeta are of no relation to Katniss! :D