AN: Forgive me if my Prim doesn't really fit the character! I'm not trying to write a MarySue!Prim, I'm just trying to show that she's more perceptive than she looks, and just as smart as Katniss. She only applies it differently. So, that's where I'm coming from. Also, I'm really new to the fandom, and I haven't gotten a THGs beta yet. So if there are any takers, I'd be indebted. I'm really sorry if I messed up with the character or while proofreading. ;) Enjoy!

Conniving Cupid

My name is Primrose Everdeen, and quite contrary to my sister's belief, I am not a clueless child. I've understood for a while that we were poor. I know how ruthless and oppressive our government is, and how dangerous a world we actually live in. I understand the pressure that Katniss has been under after our father's death in the mines so many years ago. I know that it's been really tough since mom shut down and went comatose and we both had to start relying on Katniss for food. And I really know the danger she puts herself in when she goes under the fence with Gale to hunt. Not that I could ever tell her that. Because Katniss has been trying to keep me as innocent as possible since as long as I can remember.

I get other things too. Like love. I know that Katniss is happily oblivious to both Peeta and Gale. It was easy to figure out that Gale was in love with Katniss. It's the way that he glances at her in the lunchroom, and the way that he's protective of her whenever he's around. But I think that it's just a temporary thing. Gale doesn't really know what he wants; evidenced by the amount of time he spends with girls doing unmentionable things in the slag heaps by the mines. Peeta was, admittedly, hard for a few months. I had originally thought that he was pining after Madge Undersee, the beautiful Mayor's daughter, since the only time I ever had to observe them was outside at recess while I swing. And, you have to admit that they would look good together, in an attractive sort of way. That was, until I heard the story—quite by accident of course, I'm not nosy... about what Peeta did for us. That's when everything just clicked.

It's a really unfortunate situation, because they both have high hopes of making Katniss theirs, and yet all Katniss is focused on is protecting her family. At this rate, all three of them will be single and miserable till the day they die. Gale won't do anything because of his too-big ego. And Peeta, he'll spend the time trying to build up the nerve to try. And my poor sister, she'll never get it. Because she's smart in a street sense, but she's clueless when it comes to love.

Another thing. Remember I mentioned Madge Undersee? Well. She's been in love with Gale since the first time she saw him; even though Gale was a complete butthead. He still is. I can tell, because Katniss sometimes whispers to herself about how patient and good Madge is when she thinks that I'm drifting off to sleep. Because Katniss likes to tuck me in and not leave until I'm dreaming because she's afraid of the impact my mother's shut-down has had on me. She really doesn't understand why Madge doesn't give Gale exactly what he's dishing out to her, because from what I've learned, she's very good at doing just that in school. Especially when they're making fun of Katniss.

In my opinion, Madge would have fought back a lot more if she wasn't still so enamored by him. And it's unfortunate because she's so pretty. Seriously, she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. She could give models in the Capitol a run for their money. And I know that plenty of guys in the District have a thing for her. Her beauty crosses the divides of our life. Young Peacekeeper soldiers turn from tight lipped, testosterone filled guys into complete mush when she's around—I've SEEN it. Seam guys whisper about her when they think they're alone…a few guys even beat off to her…whatever that means. Probably a game they like to play…like mud wrestling. And the town guys are all betting on who'll be the lucky guy to marry her one day. She'd be so much happier with one of them, she'd even be happier if she got involved with a Peacekeeper, but all she wants is stubborn, bullheaded Gale Hawthorne. And I think that it would actually do him some good to be with her. He'd have to try to keep up with her, and it'd take him down a peg or two, if you know what I mean.

Because I'm tired of watching all these stupid kids (and I say kids, because it's how they're acting) dance around each other and pretend to not feel for each other, I've decided to do something about it. So here's my plan. I'm going to set them up. And hopefully, with a lot of luck and some teenage hormones, I can get these sorry kids together, and restart their happiness. I'm tired of seeing the three of them deflate and mope around, while the fourth one (my darling big sister) obliviously traipses around the woods.

And I'm surprised nobody else has tried before me.

Now only if I could get some help. I better go find Rory.

O O O

I don't like it. But Prim asked me to help her, and how could I say no to her? The thought alone makes my stomach do this awkward little flip. I wish I could ask Gale about it, but he'd probably only scoff and punch me. And I could never ever tell mom about it. Because, I love the woman, but she's a serious busy-body while she does her deliveries. If I said anything then everyone including Prim would find out about it. I might as well paint a bulls-eye on my forehead for Katniss' arrows then.

Honestly, I'll say it again. It's a bad idea. There's no way in Panem that Katniss will drop her tough-girl act long enough for Peeta Mellark to bake his way into her heart. And as for setting up my brother Gale with MADGE UDNERSEE? It's the craziest thing in the world. She's so hot, even more so because she has no idea that she really is. But it would be nice, if it were possible. Because then he'd have an actual reason to be a tough guy and he wouldn't have such a smug attitude when it came to girls, and he wouldn't be so testy at home, so he wouldn't smack me when I do stupid things around him. I've gotten the impression that Madge Undersee is very much like Primrose Everdeen. She isn't easily impressed. Which is basically the only way that Gale gets with girls. Which could spell disaster.

If we could get Katniss and Peeta together though, it would be a big help. Because then maybe she'd be preoccupied just enough so that I could finally make my move on Prim. Which sounds entirely too cowardly for my liking, but sometimes, you gatta face the facts, even if you don't like them. And right now, I'm afraid of Prim's rejection and Katniss' arrows. Which I think is pretty reasonable, since she can shoot an arrow through the eye of a squirrel fifty yards away.

The girl is scary.

In the meadow after school yesterday, Prim and I devised a plan. Or, I lay in the grass, watching the way her hair shone like gold in the sunlight, and tried to stop blushing and thinking about kissing her while Prim drew out a tentative plan. We've got some work to do, and it's going to be hard. But Prim is really, really smart.

So we might have a chance.

And crap, I hope while I work with Prim that I don't turn into an idiot like my brother and mess stuff up.

God, I'm doomed.

O O O

The plan was perfect! There was absolutely no way that these four dunderheads would get out of this. Rory and I were too smart, and the four idiots subject to this plan are too wrapped up in their own angst-ridden lives to see what's going to happen. For once, I'm genuinely happy to be going behind my sister's back.

Rory was the right choice, of course he was. Besides the fact that he's Gale's brother, and so by default knows Gale's personality and his little quirks; he's a guy. Which was crucial, because as much as I hate to admit it, I have absolutely no clue how they think. If I did, then Rory Hawthorne would be under my spell, and I wouldn't care at all about the romantic lives of Madge, Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. I guess what I'm saying is I wouldn't be getting my romantic kicks vicariously.

You might think I'm too young to think about boys. I guess you're right. But at the same time, when there's so much starvation and unhappiness, I think that people should cling to whatever makes them happiest. And I think that Rory Hawthorne would make me the happiest. And because of what I'm trying to accomplish, what with putting Katniss and Peeta together and Madge and Gale with each other, you might think I'm being a hypocrite. But really, they aren't happy with the way things are. They just don't all realize that, and none of them know how to fix it. Or else they obviously would have.

Tonight, it was so hard to stop smiling, because all I could think about was how very soon, the plan would be put into motion. Almost to the point that Katniss almost caught on to the fact that I was up to something. And that was only because I didn't hear Lady bleating for me to feed her dinner. Rory and I had it all sorted out in a couple of hours, but it was hard at first, because he looked so good laying among the daffodils and the wildflowers, his thick dark hair hanging in his grey eyes. So I stared at the ground for a while, thinking about everything and nothing until the ideas started.

We decided mutually that it'd be easier to get Katniss and Peeta together first, because Gale will never turn to Madge while he thinks he's in love with Katniss. He's too loyal and steadfast to do a complete 180 like that. I know Katniss still wonders about why Peeta saved our family. Hopefully we can get them alone long enough that A) her guard is let down and she can trust him, and B) she can ask him about it. I think that when she does and, hopefully she gets a real answer from Peeta, she won't be able to help but love him. With them together, Gale will seek out anyone to help him sort through all of his emotions. With Madge there, it won't be too long until true feelings are revealed…and then the passion can take over long enough to convince Gale that he can't live without Madge.

Like I said; perfect. Kind of.