Sansa Stark was excited to be starting Columbia University. She loved coming to New York on summer breaks to visit friends, and was happy to be making it her home.
Sansa grew up in Boston. Ned Stark, her father, was from the Northeast. His family ran a security company. It was not a run- of- the- mill mall cop service but instead a high-tech agency that protected the assets of America's elite.
Cat Tully was her unpredictable mother. Raised in Southern California, she had initially met Brandon Stark as an undergrad at Yale. Brandon however had died when the US invaded Grenada and for a while, Cat died too. Ned, his younger brother, had kept in touch with her, and slowly their love grew. Two years later they were married, and though Cat hated the cold she agreed to Boston. She told herself that it was because Boston was Ned's home, but a small part of her agreed because it had also been Brandon's.
Sometimes Sansa couldn't keep up with all her siblings; there were too many. Arya was the only other Stark girl. She was younger than Sansa and wild. She had been expelled from 3 schools. At one of them she barely escaped jail time when a sword was found in her locker. Rob, the eldest Stark, was away at West Point. He had been a top cadet and when he graduated they offered him a position teaching tactical movements. Bran and Rickon, her baby brothers, were still at home. She already missed Bran. A few summers ago, Jamie Lannister had knocked him off a horse just for fun. Both of Bran's legs broke. That would have been enough, but he also developed a compression on his spinal column and it limited his mobility. During his time in the hospital, Sansa would read to him and they became close.
That left Jon Snow and Theon Greyjoy. Jon was her… brother from another mother. She was never allowed to ask questions about him. In fact, she had seen Cat slap Arya before when she pushed the issue. All she knew was that her father had fooled around and there was Jon. Currently he was at Notre Dame prepping to take his vows. Theon's father had worked for Ned. He was injured in one of the company's co-op missions and was no longer able to care for the boy. Ned felt that he was partially responsible, and took the boy in. Sansa remembered he was at West Point with Rob, but in an administrative role.
So that was the Stark-Snow-Greyjoy household. Sansa loved them all, but was finally ready to get away. To become someone on her own and not be defined by her family.
She chose Colombia because of her best friend Margaery Tyrell. Margarey was a year older than Sansa. She had been visiting her grandmother in Boston when Bran had his accident. She was familiar with the family and felt sympathy for them so she went to the hospital to offer comfort. That is when she met Sansa. They were opposites. Sansa was unsure of herself and reserved. Margarey exuded self-confidence and held the attention of everyone in a room. They balanced each other out and were thick as thieves.
The Tyrell's ran an import/export business. They had several properties around the city and were allowing Margarey and Sansa to use one of their condos while in school.
"Margaery, this place is beautiful," Sansa said as she entered their new home. "You know exactly what I like."
The condo had been specially decorated for the girls. Mace Tyrell had chosen a space in the Upper East Side and spared no expense for his darling daughter. Yes it could have been closer to school, but the area was safe and vibrant. Plus Mace had provided them with a car service so transportation was not an issue.
Sansa had once remarked that she enjoyed space with a lot of natural light. Well, she had that now. The whole east side of the unit was ceiling to floor glass panels that faced the East River. The floors were Brazilian hardwood covered in some areas with luxurious white shag carpet piled ankle deep. Everything was new, modern and colored in shades of blue, green, black, and white.
"Look, my dad left a note," remarked Margarey
Girls, don't forget to check out the roof. I'll be by tomorrow to dine after your classes are finished. Best of Luck… Mace
"The roof", both girls exclaimed while turning to find the stairwell.
As they reached the top, giggling and out of breath, they saw their surprise. The roof had grass, some table and chairs, and a hot tub. Mischievously, they grinned at one another.
"Well, Daddy's trying to get me in trouble already," Margarey said as she reached in to test the water. Splashing Sansa's shirt she continued, "Will it bother you if I use this with Joffery?"
"Of course not," Sansa returned.
Joffery Baratheon was the son of Wall Street Tycoon and soon to be US President Robert Baratheon. The Baratheon's and Starks went way back. Ned and Robert had been fraternity brothers at Harvard. Robert had fallen for Ned's sister, but it didn't work out. She rejected him and he fell for the first pretty piece of tail that trolled his way, Cersei Lannister. Their spawn was Joffery.
"I hate that little shit," she said secretly under her breath.
Sansa had first met him at a Back-Bay party in high school. Initially, she thought the world of him. He was good looking, athletic, and romantic. He would send flowers to her house, mail her gift cards to her favorite places to eat, and write her love notes.
Gods girl, you are so hot. I can't wait to see you again and pull that red hair of yours. You're my girl.
In hindsight, Sansa realized they were not love notes but the ramblings of a honey teenage male.
Things were perfect, in Sansa's mind, until that party in the Hamptons. Margarey had invited her down to Long Island. The Fray's were having a party and it seemed like fun. Most of the time Walter Fray kept his daughters locked up. He was involved in organized crime and was afraid that the girls would become a target. He had pissed off a lot of people. When he had a party he hired the Stark's for extra security and the girls were able to cut loose; and did they ever. Cassie Fray could work a pole like nobody's business. Jillian Frey could snort line after line of coke and still discuss the differences between a Glock and a Kalashnikov. They reminded her a lot of Arya, but she wished better for her little sister.
"I need to show you something," Joffery began. "Come."
He took Sansa's hand and led her to a vacant living room in the back of the complex.
"Look what I took from old man Frey's office."
Joffery was standing there with a pistol.
Horrified, Sansa demanded he put it away.
"What's the matter baby? You've been around weapons your whole life. Do I scare you?"
"No Joff, it's just that you've taken a lot of drugs tonight and I don't want you to hurt yourself."
"Trust me Sansa," he said with a bit of bite in this voice, "if I hurt someone tonight it will be you. Take off your clothes."
Stunned, she stood motionless.
Joffery then held up the gun lifting it to Sansa's eyes and repeated, "Take off your clothes."
In fear of her life, she began to slide down the spaghetti strap that was holding her top in place.
"What the hell are you doing," boomed a voice behind her.
"Go away Hound, this doesn't concern you."
"The hell it doesn't," the man cried back. "Your father is about to start a campaign for President, and you're here trying to, well, I'm not sure what you were planning, but it looks fucked."
"He's not President yet, and I don't need a detail," Joffery spat back. He was still holding Sansa in his sights.
"Main Gate, this is Hound," the man spoke into a microphone on his wrist, "I've found KittyKitty 3 and I'm ready to roll out."
In an instant, faster than Sansa could see, the Hound had unarmed Joffery and was dragging him out of the room.
"Fuck you Sansa," she heard Joffery scream, "I don't need you. I'll find someone else to play with."
And like that he was gone; at least from her sphere. She did have to admit that she was shocked when Margarey took up with him, but she explained it had something to do with their parent's business.
"Be careful Marg, he's crazy," she warned.
"Don't worry about me dear. I know exactly what I'm doing."
That night, Sansa went to bed happy. She was in her own place, with her best friend. Classes were starting in the morning, and she would meet so many new people. As she drifted off to sleep she thought, "I hope people like me, and I hope I find love."