Because I didn't say it last time, this time I will begin by stating I am not GRRM and do not have the rights to any of his works. I assume most of you thought I was because I neglected to mention that last time.
Chapter 2
Abandon (Or the mouse of study hall)
September 17th 1997
They were caged all of them. Animals placed in a box to rip each other apart. It was a four year term given out without mercy. She asked and was told each year would be about 180 days. Minus the two weeks she had already served she had about 706 days to go.
To say that Arya wasn't enjoying her first couple of weeks of High School was an understatement.
She knew High School wasn't that bad but she felt so out of place. Middle school suited her much better. She was caged but she was a wolf. She was a cunning, sly, lone wolf. She walked amongst the other animals without a fear in the world. She was alone but she was noble and proud.
Things were different here.
Here she was small. She was a freshmen scurrying beneath the behemoths called Seniors. She had gone from a mighty Wolf to a sniveling mouse. She was a viscous and rabid mouse..but a mouse none the less.
Each student was given a narrow locker – no more than seven inches wide and about five feet tall. Each locker had a separate compartment, twice the size of the locker, the sat above two separate lockers. The locker on the left would have a lower compartment and the locker on the right higher compartment. Being to the right of Robert Sawyer meant Arya had a compartment that stood high above her head. The day before it made sense to place her Algebra text book on the top of the pile so she could easily reach it the next day as it was her first class. However, on top of American history, biology, and psychology texts the math book towered slightly out of her reach.
Oh fuck, he was right about it she thought.
On cue, Gendry rounded the corner. He and Arya shared first period Algebra and he would usually stop at her locker as it was on the way. He came to a stop next to her and she could tell he was smirking. She didn't have to look at his stupid face to know it.
"I told you you couldn't reach it." he said with grin. The day before Arya had asked the taller boy to place the book in her compartment. He said she couldn't reach it, but she assured him she would be just fine. Well she would be if she just grabbed the history book at the bottom but that would probably mean biology and psychology would land on her face.
If am a mouse, maybe he is a giraffe.
"Yeah, I know." she said as she struggled. She tried one last time with a mighty stretching causing what she knew right away was an embarrassing grunt and her T-Shirt rising over her stomach. Gendry again chuckled.
Fucker. Does he have to laugh? I know I would do the exact same in his situation but he should be better.
"Can you get my book?" she asked meekly without looking up.
"I am sorry. What was that?" he said with an ever growing Cheshire grin.
"Ass-face, get my fucking book." she said curtly finally making eye contact.
"Can you ask nicely?"
"Ass-face, get my fucking book. Now." She paused. "Please."
"As milady commands." he replied. Moving closer to Arya he reached up slowly and grabbed the book. Arya could smell the fabric softener on his clothes. She loved the stuff his mom used. It smelled like oranges.
He lowered the book to Arya. "Need anything else?" he asked innocently. He wasn't teasing anymore Arya knew, he wanted to help his freshmen companion.
"Grab psych too, that way I don't have to come back until fourth period." she responded softly.
He grabbed that book and lowered it also to Arya. He couldn't resist.
"And what do we say?"
Arya sighed. "Thank You...Ass-face." Gendry smiled again and gave her the book.
Algebra was a terrible way to begin the day. Arya did test out of pre-algebra, which meant she had some skill, and that she shared the class with the sophomore Gendry. It was a shame he was Gendry Baratheon and sat far away from Arya in the alphabetical seating chart. Mr. Pycelle was old, stubborn, and would not allow students to sit where they pleased. He said he did this because it was easier to learn the students names. She doubted it really helped since he continued to refer to her as 'Daria'.
He is currently not an elephant because he forgets way to much shit. Truthfully I prefer Daria to the time he slipped and called me Sansa once. I would rather be Shithead Stark than Sansa Stark.
Lunch was her favorite part of the day. Back when she was a lone wolf in Middle school she would normally keep to herself and quietly read a book with her lunch. It was a bit lonely but it worked for her. She missed reading but she had Gendry back. For all the things she missed about middle school having Gendry made up for it. She would trade Vonnegut for Gendry most days. Mostly because he knew who Vonnegut was.
Their year apart in school had an effect on Gendry. Puberty had exploded upon him causing him to sprout up about seven inches and begin to grow facial face. His face beginning to be littered with whiskers and pimples. She could tell it bothered him and he really did not like the way he looked.
But the dark hair on his face does go well with his eyes...
Arya sat down with Gendry and his fat friend Jason. He was a nice enough kid. A bit portly, a bit annoying, but shared the homemade cookies he got each day. So overall, not bad.
"How's it going?" Gendry asked looking up from his 'food'.
"Same old." Arya responded. The day had actually been horrible. Pycelle almost made her fall asleep with his droning. Mr. Baelish embarassed her during psychology by using Arya as an example. She could be the classic middle child he stated because how much her sister and mother were alike. The fact he knew this was was unsettling. She couldn't even remember what teacher ran study hall that day but she smelled of slutty shitty perfume.
"It can't be same old. It's only been two weeks." He said spooning up more 'food'. This food was a shade of green that didn't occur in nature. Arya wasn't paying much attention at the time but she hoped it was Jell-O.
Not sure what it could be if it isn't Jell-O.
"Fuck." Arya moaned. "Only two weeks?"
"Yep." Jason chimed in happily munching on his Roast Beef sandwich.
"It can't be that bad." Gendry started as he finished the green stuff. "You are already in a couple of the same classes as me."
Arya smiled at that. She was really happy to be with Gendry again. Happier than she wanted to admit to anyone – most of all herself. Even though they saw plenty of each other when they weren't in the same school she missed him more than she thought. She thought being a lone wolf she didn't need anyone. And maybe in the old cage that was correct. But in the new cage she was a tiny, but ferocious mouse. She needed the tall, dark haired giraffe to reach her books and make her feel better at lunch.
Arya realized that an unusual amount of time had passed and both the boys were staring at her.
"Oh yeah. It's nice to have classes with you again." she stammered.
"I am sure it is." Jason said with a smirk. Suggesting that Arya and Gendry liked each other was one of his favorite lunch time hobbies in the short two weeks she had known. She cursed herself how many opportunities she had given him.
"Shut up Hotpie." Gendry said quickly defusing the situation.
"Don't call me Hotpie!" Jason cried. "I hate that name!"
Arya didn't know why Jason was called Hotpie. It was a story from last year. Gendry had told her he was sworn to secrecy but it was a great story.
"How was your day?" Arya countered trying to ignore Hotpie's statement.
"Not to bad."Gendry began. "At the beginning of the year we took a personality test/job thing to determine what we should do with our lives. We got the results back today."
"And what are you supposed to be when you grow up?" Arya asked with a mocking tone in her voice. Not towards Gendry more towards the idea of a test telling you what to do with your life.
"I am supposed to be a chef." Hotpie blurted out with a mix of Roast Beef and water slurring in his mouth.
"Well obviously Hotpie." she shot back with a smirk. "I was asking Gendry. Which manly profession will you be? Lumberjack? Blacksmith?"
"Blacksmith?" Gendry countered. "In Wisconsin? In 1997?"
"Totally." Arya responded.
"Well blacksmith was not one of the options. It suggested it would be a good fit for me to a be a artist or graphic designer." he said, his voice fleeting at the end.
He would make a good artist.
"I think you would make a better blacksmith." she said again eating more of her 'food'.
After lunch the other high point of the day was eighth period English 2. Not only did Mr. Kind fit his name he listened to his students and made covering Hamlet as fun as possible. And he allowed students to choose there own seats. The first day Arya waited outside the door of the class waiting for Gendry. She tried to look causal when he entered her view. This was the first time she realized how stupidly giddy she was to see him.
"Happy it's almost over?" he asked once he reached her.
"Oh yeah, totally." she responded quickly and thought for a moment. "Want to do something after school?"
"Sure." he said happily nodding. "My dad won't be home until later so we we are good to go on the big screen and Goldeneye."
Arya tried to hold back her stupid grin from the stupid boy. It was all so stupid.
I know that spending the afternoon with Gendry, killing him with Oddjob, sounds amazing. He mean maybe I can snuggle up to him on the couch without him noticing and then fucking kill him a hat! But he doesn't need to know that.
They made their way to the mid part of the room. The back of the room was already taken by students who wanted to be able to zone out without being noticed. So they took a couple of seat in the middle by the wall. Gendry sat next to the wall. Arya knew that he loved to doodle but didn't want other people seeing. He didn't seem to mind Arya seeing though which again made her stupidly fucking happy.
Mr. Kind began the class by handing out a syllabus and talking about what they would be learning that semester. They would begin with the Great Gatsby and then move onto Hamlet...and that's about as far Arya could follow. She really was looking forward to this class but the deck was stacked. The day was almost over and she couldn't wait for the afternoon. And he was right next to her, smelling of citrus, with those blue eyes, doodling in his notebook. Currently he was working on what looked like a three headed dragon he had titled 'Mr. Flamey'. Not the best name she would gladly admit but the dragon did look pretty bad-ass. Maybe if she asked nicely he would draw something for her.
Okay you really need to get your shit together. You aren't Sansa.
Two weeks later they sat and listened to a discussion of the meaning of the green light. Again, Arya felt guilty but couldn't resist. His mother had changed to a fresh linen fabric softener but it was still nice. Today's monster was called 'Mr. Toad'. His catch phrase was "You can't stop the tongue!"
The day ended and they walked back to Gendry's house. The school was about half way between her house and what she called Chateau Baratheon. Although the family was only Gendry, his little brother, and his parents, the house was seven bedrooms and four baths. She was jealous, her house was always crowded with her parents, Rob, Sansa, Arya, and Bran. Although they all had separate bedrooms, well since Jon moved for school, they were much smaller.
I would kill to have Gendry's bedroom and not share a bathroom with Sansa.
The house was littered with dead things. Gendry's father was a huge hunter and this could be proven the number of deer heads mounted in the living room and main hall way. Every way you turned you would find a dead animal head or the color orange. It was unsettling, to be sure, but Goldeneye and Gendry were worth it.
Well they sat on the couch of his father's den playing the game she put her plan into effect. At first she said the far side of the couch wasn't comfortable. Then, when Gendry killed her with a rocket launcher she elbowed him in the side for revenge, but did not recede after the attack. Trying to causally sit closer to him.
He's so warm. And I think I actually like the fresh linen smell more. I don't care I think the freaky deer are watching me with their dead blueberry eyes...it's worth it.
At the end of the day she was down to 705 days in the cage and it wasn't to bad.
The next day didn't go as smoothly.
Gendry was no where to be found before school started. Arya tapped her foot with annoyance waiting for her Giraffe to come.
Oh goddammit. He is a vital part to my morning. He gets my book, I sniff him, we make snarky comments about the Pycelle. It's how I like to start my day.
Knowing the bell would ring soon she reached for her Algebra book. This failed as she expected and she could not reach it. Taking the bottom book with great care, knowing if she lost this Jenga game she would get hit in the head, she slowly took the book out. The bell rang, surprising her. The top books toppled out of the compartment. With amazing wolf...mouse...like dexterity she moved out the way. In the crowded hallway multiple books thudded to the ground. Some people laughed like stupid hyenas, other gawked like dogs who heard a whistle, and she was a ashamed little mouse. It wasn't exactly how she wanted to start the day.
She rushed to the class hoping the old man wouldn't notice the little mouse slip in a little late, but he did. "Good Morning Miss Stark." he said with a droll tone pointing out the petite freshmen entering late. "Now, Daria, please try to be on time next time."
At least he is constant with his wrong names.
Gendry appeared half way through the class. He looked sick and like he had not slept the night before. He walked quickly to the front of the room and gave the old man a excuse slip. He marched quickly trying not to be noticed and slipped into his chair. After the class Arya tried to talk to his friend but he quickly grabbed his books and left the room.
Well...that's weird.
The day was uneventful until lunch. The boy named Jason, but known as Hotpie for unknown reasons, sat at the table with Gendry. Again Gendry had 'food' in front of him but was not eating any. Hotpie happily munched on the Turkey club made for him. Gendry had a distant look in his eyes that was directed in no particular direction. Arya knew this on some level but couldn't help but notice how Gendry gaze was at a group of girls across the lunch room... that included her sister. Her perfect fucking sister and her perfect fucking friend talking about their perfect fucking lives Arya was in no way bitter.
The mouse sat with her Giraffe and...annoying Hippo who had a funny nickname. She couldn't help but notice how Gendry didn't even acknowledge her presence. Normally her noble giraffe would acknowledge her with a smile but nothing today. He continued to stare...in the direction of those fucking girls. She knew she was a little mouse who didn't have the physical aspects of the beasts he stared at. They were tall beautiful swans, with long necks and perfectly combed plumage. They moved gracefully unlike the mouse. They spoke in soft tones when the mouse only squeaked. And they had tits. Which really annoyed Arya. How could she compete with graceful swans with tits? She didn't mind she wasn't given the most shapely body was it so wrong to prefer that any girl that Gendry would look at be flatter then the globe before Columbus sailed the ocean blue?
"How's it going?" Arya asked her distracted Giraffe. Like he was roused from a deep slumber he shook his slightly and looked at Arya with a stupid look.
Ohhhh...I am sorry I distracted you from the Swans. But I curious to see how you were doing you fucking ass-face.
"Ohhh" he said. "I am okay."
You aren't okay you fucking lying ass-face. You got to class late, you look like shit, and you keep on ogling those swans.
Even Hotpie knew something was up. Normally he didn't notice anything besides if his mom forgot to pack a desert.
"You sure?" Arya said to her fucking lying lecherous giraffe.
"Yeah. I was a little sick this morning, but I am feeling better now." he responded. Looking at the mouse.
He isn't telling me something. But he really wants to.
"You sure?" she asked again.
"Yeah. I am okay." he replied, still staring off into the middle distance...where the perfect swans were seated.
The rest of the lunch was eaten in awkward silence. Hotpie trying quickly finish his desert as Arya and Gendry grazed on the 'lunch' they were given.
The end of the day came and Arya hoped that Gendry would be better.
Maybe he wasn't staring at other girls. Maybe something is on his mind. Maybe my giraffe is still loyal to his mouse. Even though we aren't couple and I don't even want to date him. No, not all...
Gendry still seemed a million miles away. Mr. Kind was talking about the American dream and Gendry might has well have been on the moon.
What's wrong? Arya wrote on her notebook. He hadn't even doodled in his notebook. He didn't even notice the note in Arya's notebook right away.
When he did notice he responded. Nothing.
Something is up.
Don't know what to tell you. I'm okay.
You stupid boy. Stupid bull headed boy. You are not okay you fucking liar. You aren't a giraffe you are a bull. Unable to be moved or helped. Fuck it, I am done with Men. I am going to become a crazy cat lady like aunt Lysa. In fact, I'll be gay. I'll be a crazy gay cat lady. I will get a bumper sticker that says "I love my pussies" and everything will be great.
The class ended without any more communcation between the two. Mr. Kind reminded everyone that the test on the Great Gatsby would be at the end of the week and wished everyone a good evening. Gendry gathered his things and rushed out of the classroom.
Arya didn't know what to do. She could tell that something was wrong with Gendry. But she felt betrayed. Normally she would be the closed off one that would have to be pestered into admitting something was wrong. Gendry was the strong one. Feeling like a lone mouse, without her bull/giraffe, she left school and went home.
When she got home she noticed her father was already there. Normally he wouldn't be home for about an hour. But, currently he say it in the living room, with a glass of brown liquid in his hand.
Is dad drinking at four in the afternoon?
She walked into the living room and tried to act normal...like her father wasn't slouched over on the couch with a glass of bourbon in his hand.
"Home early?"she asked discretely.
Ned looked up at her. Although he tried to look like nothing was bothering him, like the lying giraffe/bull, the clever mouse knew something was amiss.
"Yeah." he responded.
Arya still didn't know what to do. Besides Gendry her father was the only person she felt like she could talk to anymore. Jon was at college, her sister was self involved, Rob was nice but stupid, and Bran was too young. And her mother. Talking to mother was like talking to a wall...a judgmental wall who wanted Arya to be more like her sister.
Are all the men in the world abandoning me today?
Arya sat down next to her father. Today was already weird enough and now her father acting strange. She sat for what felt like forever until her father spoke up.
"How was is Gendry doing?" he asked trying not to reveal anything.
I fucking knew something was going on.
"He was showed up late to class and seemed to be sick all day." Arya replied.
Ned lowered his head sadly. He reached for his drink on the coffee table and swallowed the rest of the glass.
"Dad." Arya started slowly. "What's going on?"
Ned thought for a moment. He looked at his daughter. His face was twisted in a way. He was holdingback so much.
"Arya. Can you keep a secret?" he asked.
Arya nodded quickly. She had to know what was going on.
"Yesterday at work, Gendry's dad showed up drunk." he began. Arya wasn't surprised. Based on everything she had been told about him that seemed to make sense.
"He was supposed to have a meeting with clients and..." he paused. "He might have embarassed himself a little."
Master of the understatement I am sure.
"After the meeting, the board of directors decided that Robert was too unstable. Even though his father started this company...he needed..." Ned again pause. The words seemed to hurt coming out.
"He needed to go."
"So...Gendry's dad got fired?" Arya asked.
"He did." Ned responded quickly. His tone telling the girl that the story wasn't over yet.
"I tried to call him today to see how he was doing." Ned began. He reached for the empty glass of liquor but was disappointed by the lack of liquid.
"He wasn't home. Willow told me that he left. That he left his family and may not be back anytime soon." her father said trying to hold back his emotion.
"So, Robert left Gendry and his family?" Arya asked.
"From what I understand...yes."
Arya's head begin to spin. She hugged her father and went to her room.
Why didn't he tell me? She asked herself over and over.
Arya sat on her bed and lost track of time. At some point her mother told her to come down for dinner and Arya declined saying she had a stomach ache. It wasn't a lie either. The world was spinning. Her father was a wreck and Gendry could barely talk to her. It was almost eight o' clock when Arya looked at the clock.
I need to talk to Gendry. I need to know that he's okay.
She walked downstairs and found her father sitting again in the living room alone.
This time at least he isn't drinking.
"I am going out." Arya announced to Ned.
He turned to her. "Where are you going?" he asked.
"I am going to see how Gendry is doing."
Ned smiled and said "Okay."
Once out the front door Arya walked quickly. Passed the playground, passed the Citgo, and passed the school to Gendry's house. At some point she may started to run but she couldn't remember.
She rang the door bell and waited. And waited. The house was dimly light. She rang again and saw a light turn on the main hall way.
It was Gendry, looking more tired and sickly.
"Ohhh...Arya." he said. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see how you are doing?" she replied.
"I am fine" he said.
Fucking liar.
"Gendry let me in." she said quickly.
Gendry walked away from the door. He said nothing and went down the hall. The entire house was dark except for the light coming from a room further down the hall. He made a quick turn into what Arya knew was his father's 'den'. Quietly the mouse entered and crept into the house. The deer still sat on the wall with their blueberry eyes, more menacing in the dimly lit house.
She found him at his father's desk. It was large with assorted paperwork and some pictures. One that caught Arya's eye was a picture of Gendry with his 'first buck'. She had never seen him sit there before. Normally he would join her in this room on the couch in front of the fifty-five inch.
"My dad told me that your day left today." Arya the said suddenly trying to cut to heart of the matter.
"He did." Gendry responded matter of factually lifting a bottle to his lips.
Jesus, Gendry is drinking! All the men in the world are falling apart around me...and they didn't even get me a wine cooler or something...
Arya knew she was supposed to be calm. She was there for Gendry. He needed her. However, she knew being comforting wasn't exactly in her wheel house.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she began trying not to shout. "All day at school didn't think to mention that your father got drunk, got fired, and then walked out on you guys? And now your drinking!"
"Keep it down." Gendry fired back coldly. "Mom and dad were up late last night fighting. Eddie didn't get any sleep and he just went to bed."
"Where's your mom?" Arya asked. "Is she working?"
"Yep." Gendry took another sip of the Miller Lite in his hand and grimaced at the taste a little. "She was supposed to work at the hospital yesterday but called in sick because of dad." He paused as he tried to keep the anger down speaking of his father. "And since we don't know where went, or if he will be back, mom knows we need the money so she pulled a double this evening. Not to mention that being in this house, with his shit every where, makes he want to tear her hair out."
Arya stood dumbstruck. She had never heard Gendry be this angry before.
Gendry continued. "So, if you must know everything, my dad got fired yesterday. Got home drunk as shit and fought with my mom. At some point he said he couldn't be around as a failure and left. I went to school, had a shitty day, and came home." He paused to take another, larger, drink. His voice began to sound more desperate and venomous. "Mom asked me to make Eddie dinner. We ate Mac N' Cheese and watched Wheel of Fortune. He went up to bed, cried for about an hour, and I think he just went to sleep. And now I am enjoying my father's favorite beverage, in his den, thinking about how much I hate him and never want to see him again."
"Gendry." Arya began but didn't know what to say.
Gendry looked at then picture of him and the deer he shot. "God I hated that day. It was cold and miserable. I tried for weeks to talk my dad out of making me go." He shook is head. "You know what is really fucked up? I hated everything about that trip. Getting up early, the cold, the lack of indoor plumbing." His voice began to break and tears fell from his eyes. "But...but...once I shot that fucking deer my dad was so happy. I don't think he had ever been that happy with me."
He sat deeper in the chair and closed his eyes trying to stop crying.
I understand why he didn't want to talk about it.
"And now" he started. "And now I am alone."
Know you aren't. I don't know what I want to do with the rest of life but I know I want you there. I know when I wake up in the morning your usually the first thing I think about. You have Eddie, you have your mom, and you have me. We aren't going to leave you.
That is what Arya thought. What came out was "God, your fucking stupid."
Gendry popped his eyes open and saw Arya move closer. She keeled down in front of him.
"Your mom is still here. Eddie is still here. She said with a smile.
I am still here.
"And who knows maybe your father will come back." she said knowing that is what Gendry wanted to hear no matter what he said.
"Thanks Arya" he said. Taking a deep breath he moved forward in the chair. Arya looked puzzled until she realized that he was kissing her on the cheek.
Holy shit he is kissing me...Holy shit he is kissing me...Holy shit he is kissing me...
When Arya didn't respond he pulled away and had a small chuckle. "Sorry...must be the beer."
Just fucking do it.
She stood up and moved closer to him. She bent down and kissed him on the lips.
He has really soft lips. I would have preferred my first kiss not have this much beer taste, but so it goes.
She pulled away and looked him in the eye. "Don't worry. Because I am here for you too and I don't plan on going anywhere."
AN: I hope you enjoyed this installment. For all seven parts I have rough outlines for what I want to do. For this chapter though it was "They are in high school...something something...Gendry is sad...something...his dad left...they have their first kiss." But once I started writing and I realized that writing the thoughts of a paranoid, jealous Arya is so much fun.
Some other thoughts:
What a crazy random happenstance: I wanted this story to take place two years after the first installment. When I got to them talking about Video Games I naturally mentioned Goldeneye because I probably spent weeks of my youth in that game. Turns out that Goldeneye came out a month before this chapter – so that was a nice surprise.
Musical inspiration: I didn't know how to begin this chapter so I started typing and turned on my iPod. The song that came on was "You've got time" which is the theme song from Orange is the New Black and everything totally made sense. Because when I think of High School...prison also comes to mind. Also, if you didn't get the reference, the mouse thing is actually taken from A Clash of Kings. She was actually going to be a ferret until some one pointed that out to me.
Dammit, Jason: I hope you enjoyed Hotpie's name. At some point you will find out why he is called Hotpie (once I think of a funny story that is...)
A joke that didn't make it in: When Arya is going on about how she will be a crazy, gay, cat lady I originally ended that with her thinking "And then I will open a bar for older Bi-Sexual women called The Grey Area." But decided that a 14 year old would not come up with that odd of a double pun.
A shout out to a southern lady: I realize I could give some credit to a aSouthronLady. Her 'Frenzy' entry also had the pair playing video games. That isn't really what inspired me to write my first chapter, but I did read it before writing mine, so that probably influenced me a bit. But go check that out – their playing OOT.
Next time Arya and Gendry begin dating and continue to deal with being teenagers in – Bound (Or where does she think she is going to put that?)