A/N: I'm not much of a fan of Modern AU's, but I'm (kinda sorta) stuck on "The False Winter" right now (curse smut...) but was in the writing mood... and this just sort of came out. I really don't have much of an idea where it's going or... really much at all aside from what's going to happen in the next few chapters, so we'll just see, I guess. Anyway, I don't really suppose this chapter does much aside from set up the rest of the story, but I hope you like it! Reviews are welcome!
"What's wrong?" Edric turned the music down and looked over at Arya as he slowed the car to a stop at a traffic light. "You've been quiet all evening."
"It's nothing." It wasn't truly a lie, though it felt like one.
She looked at him and saw the disbelief in his nearly violet eyes. "If you don't want to go, that's fine. We'll just tell them you aren't feeling well." He was nothing short of caring.
Taking a deep breath, she shook her head. "No, I want to go. I've been gone for two years and we haven't had any time to, you know, just hang out." She grinned at him. "Plus, I want to have my first beer with Jon. I haven't been back since I was legal."
He smiled back at her as the light turned green and pressed on the gas. "That's right, there's nothing your sister can do to stop you from getting plastered now." They drove for a time, Kittie playing quietly in the background. He brushed a lock of blonde hair from his eyes before speaking again, "Have you thought about what I asked you?"
She'd hoped he wouldn't bring it up again. "Yes." This time, she was truly lying.
He glanced over at her. "And?"
She sighed aloud, "Edric, I've just turned eighteen and you're only nineteen. I don't see why we have to rush."
"Who said we have to rush? I love you, Arya. That's all there is to it." Detecting the irritation in his voice, she noticed he was beginning to speed.
She looked down at her lap. "I know. I love you too, Edric. Isn't that enough for now?"
He put on the brakes as they approached another stoplight, adjusting his grip on the wheel in a frustrated manner. "It's enough for me, but you know how my parents are." They jerked to a stop. "And your parents, too." He looked at her again.
She looked him directly in his eyes. "If we can wait, why can't they?"
He groaned. "Arya, what I'm saying is that we don't have to get married right away. If you want to wait until you finish college, that's fine with me and I'm sure our parents won't fret either." The vehicle behind them honked and they both looked up at the green light. He hit the gas, nearly spinning out his tires, and they sped through the intersection. His voice was quiet and she barely heard him over the engine, "You say that you love me. I just don't understand why we can't make our engagement official."
Because I don't want to make our engagement official, she thought. She couldn't bring herself to say it out loud. Instead, she decided to turn the conversation around on him. If he was going to bring this up tonight of all nights, she could at least guilt him a little. "I just don't understand why you want to talk about this now. You've had all day to bring it up. Can we please just go have fun without worrying about what our parents want?"
Edric pulled out a cigarette and lit it. "Really, Arya? 'What our parents want?' I thought this was what we wanted."
Fail. "You know what I mean, Edric. Don't be like that." She pulled out a cigarette of her own, lighting it. It was one of many bad habits she'd acquired while finishing high school in Braavos. "Besides, if you were so serious about it you'd have gotten me a ring already. You just want to tell your father that he'll be-"
He cut her off, "Who said I haven't gotten you a ring?"
Fuck. Me. She took a drag and flicked the ashes out the window. "Can we please just wait until tomorrow to talk about this?"
"Fine." He reached for his iPod and switched to Death Cab for Cutie, turning the volume up just short of 'deafening.' She hated Death Cab and he was well aware of this. She rolled her eyes and stared out the window, trying to ignore the music.
Before we all burn.
Before we all burn.
Before we all burn.
Before we all burn.
She wished Death Cab for Cutie would burn. They didn't speak for the rest of the ride to Jon's. He had a small apartment just outside of King's Landing with his girlfriend, Ygritte. When they pulled up, she immediately got out of the car and headed for the door. Not even bothering to knock, she let herself in and was immediately greeted by a roomful of smiles.
"Arya!" Jon stood up and rushed over to her, beer in hand, picking her up and twirling her around in a hug. She laughed and gripped him so tightly she thought she might break his back. He half-shouted in her ear, "Gods, I've missed you!"
He set her down and she punched him lightly in the ribs, "Not nearly as much as I've missed you, I promise." She turned her attention to her sister, already putting an arm around her. "And you, you bitch." Arya embraced Sansa as well.
Sansa laughed, "I missed you too, sweet sister."
Jon nearly tripped over his feet as he walked over to a beautiful redhead on the couch. "Arya, this is Ygritte."
Ygritte extended her hand and Arya took it. "Very nice to meet you, Ygritte. Jon's told me so much about you."
"Not too much, I hope." Ygritte grinned at her. "I'm given to understand you're the sister to be afraid of." Her accent was endearing.
Arya laughed, glancing at Jon. "If he loves you, there's nothing to fear from me." Behind her, she heard Edric clear his throat. She hadn't even heard him come in. "Oh, and Ygritte, this is Edric, my boyfriend." Ygritte nodded at him, extending her hand again.
The five of them chatted for a bit before Jon motioned Arya over to the kitchen. She followed, hoping he was getting her a drink. "Are you ready to have your first beer with your big bastard brother?"
She sighed in relief, "Gods, yes. I've been looking forward to this all week." He grabbed a beer for her and a fresh one for himself, opening them both and handing one to her. "To being legal." She beamed, holding up her beer.
"To being legal." He repeated, and they clinked the bottles together. "Does Edric want one?"
Arya shook her head, "No, he's taking Sansa and me home tonight. Designated driver."
"Okay." Jon nodded. "Are you two having a fight? I couldn't help but notice a bit of tension in there."
She took another swig, "Not really. He's just..." She shook her head, wanting to talk about anything else. "I don't know. Whatever. Who else is coming?"
Jon glanced at the clock above the stove, "Theon and Ros should be here any minute. I'm surprised you beat them, actually."
She groaned, "Oh, gods, not Theon. Really?" She began to laugh.
Jon smiled widely, "Wouldn't be a party without him."
Sansa entered the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of vodka from atop the fridge and adding it to the half-empty mixed drink in her hand. Arya asked playfully, "Trying to get the jump on us, are you?"
Her sister laughed half-heartedly, "Trust me, I need it. Joffrey couldn't come tonight and he's been giving me hell all day about it. He can be such an arse, but I suppose I should be somewhat flattered that he's jealous I'm having fun without him."
They heard front door open and Theon's voice carried from the other room. "There he is!" Jon called out, leaving the kitchen and rounding the corner to greet his friend.
Arya finished off her beer. "Well, I guess that's everyone, then. What are we doing tonight, anyway?"
Sansa leaned on the counter, "I suppose we'll play cards or a drinking game." She sipped her drink. "Or both. I don't know and don't really care, so long as I get to drink my sister under the table."
Arya laughed, "Well, the legal drinking age in Braavos is sixteen, so I'm not without practice. You'd better be careful of how strong your make your drinks."
Sansa reassured her, "Don't worry about me, worry about Jon. He's a lightweight if I've ever seen one." Arya laughed again, helping herself to another beer and popping the cap off on the edge of the counter. "I guess we're just waiting on Gendry and Willow now."
Mid-swallow, she nearly spat it out on the floor. "Gendry?"
Her sister nodded. "Yes. And Willow."
Arya blinked and then clarified, "Gendry Waters?"
Sansa chuckled, confused, "Yes, Arya. Have you ever met another Gendry?" It was a valid question. Arya found herself at a loss for words and her sister's eyes widened with realization. Sansa grabbed her arm, grinning. "Do you still like him?"
Arya played it off as coolly as she could. "No! Of course not. I haven't even seen him in, what, three? Four years?"
Sansa didn't buy it. "You do, don't you?" She sipped her drink. "I'm not blaming you, Arya. Half the girls in King's Landing High had a crush on him. Captain of the baseball team, rather intelligent, tall, dark hair, blue eyes, handsome? What's not to like?"
Arya smirked, "I don't think he ever even said anything to me. He was a senior and I was a freshman, and then he graduated." She thought for a moment. "Wasn't he dating Jeyne Heddle in high school?"
"Yes, but she broke up with him after they graduated. Now he's dating her younger sister, Willow. You remember her, don't you? She was in your class."
Arya strained her memory, "I think so. I mean, I got suspended and shipped off to Braavos halfway through my sophomore year so it's not like I know everyone like you do."
Sansa took that as a compliment, "I don't know everyone. But yes, she's your age. Very pretty."
"Why are they coming?" Arya finished beer number two.
"He and Jon work together." Sansa grinned again, "Oh, this should be an interesting night. Little Arya and her high school crush reunited after so, so long?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
"And who is that?" Edric's voice startled her.
She turned around and immediately regretting the conversation. "Sansa's just being a bitch, as usual."
"Gendry." Sansa stated matter-of-factly.
Edric scoffed, the traces of a smile on his lips. "Well, he's taken." He put his arms around Arya and hugged her. "And so are you."
Arya got another beer and they headed for the living room. Theon grabbed her head and gave her noogies when she went to hug him and she punched him in the stomach as hard as she could, causing him to fall to his knees, gasping for air. Jon spewed a mouthful of beer all over the floor. Though she was still slightly put off with Edric, she found herself having a good time anyway. The seven of them boisterously talked for a time and Arya had entirely forgotten about Gendry when a knock came at the door.
Jon called out, "Come on in!"
First Willow walked in, thin and dainty like Arya with nearly the same hairstyle and color, followed by Gendry. The first thing Arya noticed about him was his size. He'd grown taller, if it were possible, and he'd put on quite a bit of muscle since she'd last seen him. Willow looked around the room with a nervous smile on her face as Jon gave Gendry a clap on the back.
"Sorry we're late. Had to run by the liquor store at the last minute. Didn't realize we drank everything last time." Gendry's voice was sinewy like it had been years before, but deeper. He held up two bottles of whiskey and Jon shook his head, holding his stomach.
"None for me tonight, thanks." Jon grimaced.
"Oh, come on. It's a celebration. Your sister's back, isn't she?" Gendry scanned the room and his eyes, blue as she remembered, fell on Arya. Gendry handed the bottles to Jon and crossed over to her. "Yeah, I remember you. I wasn't sure. You're the one that slammed Joff's head into a locker, right?"
The tension she'd been feeling broken, she blushed. Sansa piped up, "Yep, that's her."
Gendry laughed, "I always meant to thank you for that." He held out his hand. She was still looking at his eyes and his hand hung in the air awkwardly for a few seconds before she realized she should shake it.
She collected herself, "Don't mention it. He had it coming."
Ros gained everyone's attention, "So what will it be tonight? Theon's dead-set on strip poker."
Jon, mortified, replied, "No. Absolutely not."
Theon threw his hands up in the air. "Why not? There's more girls than guys this time."
Jon was not amused. "Yes, and two of them are my sisters."
"Fine then, once Jon's passed out we'll play." Theon grinned.
Sansa piped up, "Why don't we just play regular poker? Edric's not drinking anyway, he's got to take Arya and me home tonight."
Jon approved, "Sounds good to me. Buy-in is a dragon."
They all gathered around the table in the center of the room. With so many of them, they barely fit. Edric sat on Arya's left and Willow to her right. She couldn't help stealing glances at Gendry from time to time, though he didn't seem interested in acknowledging her further. While Jon collected the money and distributed the chips, Theon and Gendry pulled out eight shot glasses and filled them to the rim with whiskey.
"Time for the first round!" Theon announced. He began handing them out. Jon adamantly refused at first but with encouragement from Gendry and Ygritte he relented. Theon raised his glass, "To Arya Stark and her return to Westeros!"
The group said in unison, "To Arya!" and everyone drank. The whiskey burned her throat, but she loved the feeling if she was being honest. It warmed and calmed her. Arya set down her glass and glanced over to Gendry. He was grinning at her, his eyes shining. Whatever calm she'd just felt, it left her as quickly as it came.