Like Branches in a River

by 2shy the Shippy

Modren AU. Arya Stark had a privileged life with a loving family and a great best friend, but there were times where she felt horribly alone and misunderstood. There were her expectations vs. harsh realities. After being sent away to camp Wholistic Core, she meets a boy named Gendry Waters who understands her in a way that no one else ever had. Summary subject to change.

4. Blurry Lines

Blurry Lines (Or, Know This, We've Noticed)

Arya landed on her feet, and then unhooked the ropes from around her body before taking off her helmet. Soon afterwards, she found her bottle of water and gulped the whole thing down in no time as she monitored Gendry descending the rock.

"You have about twenty more feet, Gendry," she projected to him. To encourage her friend, Arya began to clap and shout for him. "Woo!"

Gendry laughed, and then turned to face her. "Shut up. You're distracting me."

The shouting stopped, but Arya continued to clap. When Gendry reached the bottom, she gave him his water. Gendry unhooked himself and took off his helmet as he poured water on his body. Entranced by what she saw, Arya's eyes followed the water as it sluiced his skin. The water made his chiseled body glisten as it moved across his torso. Gendry began to stretch his muscles as Arya notice how taut and prominent they were. He wore his shorts low on his waist and if they went down any further…Arya swallowed slowly.

Arya pulled her gaze away from Gendry's body and started putting items into a small backpack.

"Come on," she said as she put the backpack straps on her shoulder.

Gendry packed his things as well. "Okay, I'm ready."

"I believe we are in the lead," Arya announced as she looked around the forest. They were on an obstacle course through the woods and all of the young adults had been paired off. Of course, Arya and Gendry chose to be partners. Gendry looked at the map and turned at Arya.

As he spoke to her, he pointed to the paper, "This is the last place we have to go before we finish," he leaned over Arya's shoulder to look at the map as well.

Arya moved away from him ever so slightly, and then discussed strategy with him. "We should run the rest of the way," she thought aloud. "We'll get to the boat quicker and we can use that extra time to rest when we row across the lake if need be."

"I was thinking the same thing," Gendry concurred. "Pine trail will be the best route to take. Mostly everyone will avoid it because of the incline and rough surface."

The two went about their way as they ran to the lake taking Pine trail. Gendry had longer legs than Arya, but she could keep on with him. They were careful as they ran over the rocky surface and increased their stride when they approached the incline. Within 25 minutes, the lake appeared. Hurriedly, Arya and Gendry got into the boat and didn't bother to take their bags off as they rowed away quickly.

When they reached the sand, they jumped out of the boat and ran to the finished line. Excitedly, Arya and Gendry gave each other a high five before tightly hugging one another.

"Why does it surprise me that you two finished first," said a camp counselor named Francine. "It is almost unfair the way you two dominate these challenges."

"I know, right," Camden agreed. "If we didn't split you two up from time to time, you would always win them."

Arya and Gendry were notorious for how well they worked together. When they were paired, they always finished first and collected whatever prizes were given. If they were split up, they interchangeably finished one and second and sometimes third, but never any lower than that.

"We do always win the challenges when you guys don't split us up," Arya smirked as she stretched out her body. She went to lie down on the ground and Gendry went over to help her. He straddled her right leg while keeping her left straight and slowly pushing it towards her body. "Harder," she demanded in a soft tone.

"I will once you relax," Arya groaned when he pushed her leg further back. "Gods, I'm trying to loosen you up because you are so tense."

"No," she refuted. "You're afraid to break me because I'm so small. I can handle you, Gendry. We've done this a thousand times."

"I know," Gendry chuckled. "It's easy to forget how flexible you are." He let Arya's leg rest on his shoulder for a moment, before laying it on the ground and moving to stretch her other leg.

"Then stop forgetting," she slapped his on the arm. "You're the only one who knows how to stretch me out properly when you aren't taking it easy on me. Just because you are big, doesn't mean I can't handle you."

"I take it easy on you at first, so you can handle me when I stretch your muscles," Gendry said. "We both know how sore you get every time I am done with you."

"Have you ever heard me complain?" Gendry nodded no. "Then, stop taking it easy on me."

Camden started choking on his drink as Francine gave them a weird look.

"What?" Arya looked at Francine and the girl blushed embarrassedly before turning away.

"Nothing," she lied as a looked between her and Camden was exchanged.

After she was done being stretched by Gendry, and then returned the favor, Arya went to go take a shower. The water was steaming hot and she was in heaven. An abundance of soap and shampoo was lathered on her skin and in her hair and she washed all of the grime away.

Blissfully, she lay down on her stomach as she sniffed the fresh laundry after she got out of her shower. The clothes were so warm and smelled so nice. She couldn't imagine anything better at the moment—well, she could imagine something better. Quickly, the Stark girl threw on some clothes and went to look for Gendry.

He was walking to the cafeteria when Arya decided to sneak up on him and give him a hug. From time to time, Gendry would tell her how stealthy she was and that she moved without making noise. As Arya got closer and closer to him, a smile broke out on her face and she quickened her pace. When she was directly behind him, she wrapped her arms around Gendry and hugged him from behind.

"Gotcha, Gendry," she shouted. Gendry jumped in her arms and then tore Arya's arms from his body before putting space between them.

"Seven Hells, Arya," Gendry ran a hand through his hair.

"Did I scare you?" She teased as she grinned broadly.

"No," he answered.

"Yes, I did," Arya stuck her tongue out. "If I didn't you wouldn't have jumped."

"That's not why I jumped," the young man refuted.

"Then why?" She crossed her arms and waited for him answer so she could shoot it down.

"It's nothing," he denied as he tried to walk away, but Arya caught his arm. Although he was stronger than his friend, he chose not to pull away.

"It is something," she contradicted. "Tell me what it is."

Gendry struggled to find the words. "You're different," he provided vaguely.

"You think I've changed." Arya crossed her arms. "That's why you don't want me to touch you."

"Yes, you've changed." Gendry smiled in relief not knowing they were having two different conversations. "That's why I jumped."

"I'm confused; you were acting all normal and like we were best friends earlier and now you are telling me that I've changed and not to touch you," Arya shouted angrily. Gendry's eyes widened at the misunderstanding.

"NO, that not what I meant," he immediately denied. "You still are my best friend—that hasn't changed."

"Then what in the seven hells are you talking about?" Arya held her hands out in front of her in confusion.

"Why do you have to make this so hard!" Gendry paced back and forth.

"You're making this hard," she said incredulously.

"Arya," he called for her attention. Gendry snapped his fingers and pointed two of them to his eyes for Arya to follow. "You've changed," he said quietly as he eyes scanned her and his hand gestured towards her body.

Arya had been at Wholistic Core for a year and she looked different than when she first got there. Rather than her hair being an inch short, it now came to her chin and was styled in a bob. She was slightly taller, but her athletic physique remained and complemented her figure. Arya's face had filled out some, but not too much. Most importantly, she went from barely having any breast to having a b cup.

Her eyes had widened at the implication.

"I love being your friend," Gendry began. "But, it's distracting when you touch me, especially when you hug be from behind and your—you know—is on my back."

Arya didn't know what to say. "I don't touch you that much," she denied.

"Uh, yeah, you do," he contradicted. "But, usually, I'm prepared for it. And you lay on be a lot when we are alone. I really don't mind, but it can be a distraction sometimes. I know you don't try to have that impact on me and I try not to take it that way, but I'm still a guy, so my body is going to respond." He ran a hand through his hair. "I guess I wouldn't notice so much if you still wore your old clothes."

By her fifteenth birthday, Arya had outgrown the clothes she arrived with. When she went shopping, it was clear that her taste had changed as well. Her new items weren't overly feminine, but they were did accentuate her features in a favorable way. She now wore fitted shirts and tank tops. Her shorts hugged her skinned comfortably and were mid thigh. Her pants no longer hid her figure, but highlighted it.

It was a few days after their conversation that Arya understood why some guys started to treat her different. They would try to flirt with her and find reasons to get her alone. Some guys gave her flowers by asking her in a nonchalant way if she wanted them. Others would give her chocolate and would say that they had extra and she could have it if she wanted it. Then there were those who 'let' her win, but everyone knew the truth about the last part. Arya began to realize that some of these guys were trying to woo her.

One even tried to kiss her.

Gendry watched as Arya ranted about the brave boy who dared to steal a kiss from Arya.

"Can you believe the nerve of him," Arya harshly whispered.

Her friend shook his head no in amusement.

"It's not funny, Gendry." It infuriated Arya that someone would try to kiss her without her consent. She wasn't even interested in dating, kissing, or anything else. If she wanted to kiss someone, she would let him know.

"Yes, it is," he grinned at her while he sprawled across the loveseat.

Daggers were shot his way from Arya's eyes. "It's not like I'm pretty either. The only reason guys would want to kiss an ugly girl is to persuade to have sex."

"Excuse me?" There was a deep frown on Gendry's face. "Arya, I don't know told you that you were ugly, but they are flat out wrong."

"How about the whole entire city of Winterfell?" She sat on her bed, and then fell back.

"Then the whole entire of city Winterfell is wrong," he said adamantly.

"Gendry, you don't have to defend me because you are my friend," she supplied. "It's nice that you would say that to make me feel better, but it doesn't help. I'm ugly and I know it."

Gendry got up off of the couch and sat next to Arya on her bed. He leaned over her as each arm was placed on a side of her body and said, "I can say with absolute certainty that even without looking at your body, your face is very attractive."

"Gendry," she groaned. Arya didn't want to hear this anymore.

"You remember what you told me about that Ned guy," he reminded. "That was before you…developed. And he wanted to kiss you."

"That was because we were drinking—he thought I was drunk," she retorted.

"You have an answer for everything." Gendry shook his head as Arya's grin.

"Okay," she sighed. "Even if guys find me attractive, that doesn't give them the right to put their mouths on me."

"You're right, it doesn't," he agreed. Arya rubbed his arms as she looked up at her best friend. "He was wrong for that."

"I've never thought about my first kiss, but I don't want it to be with some random guy who I don't even like." In thought, Arya licked her lips.

"I agree," he murmured.

Gendry didn't like the look in Arya's eyes when her gaze fell upon him.

"What?" He asked suspiciously.

"Kiss me," she grinned.

"No." Gendry tried to get up, but Arya held on tight to him.

"Come on, Gendry, I like you and you like me," she supplied.

"As friends," he nearly shouted.

Arya glared at him. "Quiet down," she mouthed. Gendry wasn't supposed to be in her room. But, for the last few months, they've been sneaking into each other's rooms at night to hangout. "And who cares if it's just friends. This is my first kiss—not yours. If I want it to be with a friend, so some guy I don't even like isn't the first, then that is my choice. You already had your first kiss with someone you wanted it to be and I want mine to be with you."

A telltale blush crept upon Gendry's face.

"No," Arya said in shock. "You've never been kissed."

"There was never a girl I wanted to kiss," he said before giving the thought further consideration. "I mean, there were a few, but I didn't have a chance."

"So, that means…" Arya raised her eyebrows.

"It means that I never had sex either," Gendry mumbled as he hung his head in embarrassment.

Arya propped herself up on her elbows. "Gendry," she grabbed his face and forced him to look at her before running her fingers through his hair. "I'm your best friend; I'm not going to judge you for not having sex at a certain age." She hugged him, and then made her weight pull Gendry to the bed. She whispered in his ear, "Let me be your first kiss—it's better than someone you don't like."

Gendry turned to face her. "Arya, I'm twenty-two and you are fifteen. I'm seven years older than you. That's illegal."

"No, you are six and a half years older than me," she corrected before arguing, "And who cares if we don't tell anyone. I'm not being taken advantaged of and it is just a kiss between two friends. Why do you have to be a baby about this?"

A loud exhaled was released into the air as Arya saw defeat in Gendry's eyes. "Fine."

In anticipation, Arya's licked her lips and reached for Gendry. Gendry's forearm rested above her head as he sat the other one next to Arya's hip. Arya's breathing slowed in anticipation.

He placed a quick peck on her mouth.

"That's not a kiss," Arya cried in disbelief. "That's how you would kiss your family."

Gendry groaned and descended upon her mouth again as Arya grabbed his head with one hand and his hip with another. Without him realizing it, she had maneuvered her leg under his body to cradle his hips. Experimentally, the pair of lips brushed against one another. Arya noticed how Gendry's goatee slightly tickled her face. He had started to grow it recently to try something new. At first, she didn't like it, but it grew on her and she liked how it felt against her skin.

The kiss went on longer than expected as they unintentionally and, in a minuscule fashion, began to grind their hips against one another. Arya's hands slipped under his shirt and caressed his back as Gendry brought her closer to his body. As he did this, Arya could feel his hardened manhood rub against her clothed crouch and moaned in his mouth in response. Arya then slipped her tongue down his throat and Gendry opened his mouth wider to accept the intrusion.

They rolled over so that she was on top. Arya pulled at her shirt and Gendry quickly assisted her of divesting the clothing. For a moment, he played with her bra straps and Arya's stomach fluttered. Soon afterward, his shirt followed hers to the floor. Their mouths collided in frenzy as Arya pushed Gendry on the bed, and then tore her lips away from his. Once, then twice she gave Gendry a peck before making a trail of kisses down his torso. A hot tongue swirled around his belly button as Arya undid his pants. It was when he lifted his hips to helped her pull down his shorts that Gendry realized that they had gone too far. Abruptly, he sat up and pushed Arya off of him unto the bed, and then stood up.

In shame, Gendry looked at the floor and rubbed his forehead.

"Gendry," Arya called his name.

"You act so mature," he began. "It's hard to believe you're fifteen sometimes." Gendry looked at Arya and saw that her lips were swollen and her hair was disheveled. "This is not happening again."

"I know," Arya whispered. "It was a one time thing."

"Yeah, one time thing," he repeated as he grabbed his shirt before bolting out of her room.

The next day as Hot Pie approached them, Arya said. "Thanks."

Gendry knew what she was referring. "Don't mention it." Arya read the double meaning.

For the longest, Arya tried to ignore it, but there had been a definite shift in her the night she and Gendry had kissed. They didn't acknowledge what happened between them the day after she thanked him, but everything felt different between them—more heightened. On the outside, they seemed to be the same Arya and Gendry, but on the inside, she was yearning something fierce. What for, exactly? Arya had no clue, but it had been awakened within her when she and Gendry made out. She wondered if that is what made kissing so great. It must have been why people enjoyed kissing so much she figured.

If she had just been left to her thoughts about their kiss, Arya could have suppressed whatever it was that she was yearning, whatever it was that she was craving, but it wasn't just the thoughts. She would have these vivid dreams and wake up sweating and her panties had been moist. There was an aching between her legs and she knew her dreams had not been nightmares.

Weeks had passed as she wrecked her brain to remember her dreams. What was it that she dreamed about that had her so aroused? What made her sweat so profusely that her clothes stuck to her skin? Who was she dreaming about that made her involuntarily grind against her bed as she slept in order to release friction?

Suddenly, it came to her as if she should have known all along. Arya was walking by herself back to her cabin when big, strong arms encircled her. "Gotcha, Arya," Gendry said in her ear.

Arya stilled as if a jolt of lightening struck her body. The sensation Gendry stirred within her from his touch with the same as what she felt when she woke up from her dreams. Like floodgates, all of the dreams she struggled to remember came rushing to her. She became overwhelmed by everything: Gendry touching her, the night that they had kissed, and the vivid, sexual dreams that flowed within her head.

Although she told Gendry everything, she couldn't talk to him about this.

"What is it you want to talk with me about, Arya," the camp's psychologist Gina asked her. Arya was in her mandatory therapy session that every camper had to go to. Arya really liked Gina. It may have been her job, but Gina seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say and was very supportive.

Arya rubbed her hands together. "I've been having dreams."

"Yes, I remember," she recalled as she pulled out her notepad. "Have you figured out what they are about yet?"

"They're sex dreams," Arya blushed embarrassedly. "I never told you this, but after I would wake up, my clothes would be wet and my underwear would be…moist."

"Oh," Gina said in intrigue. "If you would have told me these details a little sooner, I would have suggested it then," she supplied, and then raised her eyebrow. "But, you knew that. You intentionally kept it a secret from me. You are talking to me about this for another reason. So, this is not about the type of dreams you are having, but who you are having them about."

Gina took a sip of water, and then crossed her legs.

"Is it Gendry?" She implored as she gauged Arya's body language and reaction.

"How did you know?" Arya asked in shock.

"Well, for starters, you spend a great deal of time around Gendry. Hot Pie is a close second, but you two aren't nearly as close or inseparable as you are with Gendry," she said as a way of explanation. "In addition, he has a great body." Arya stared at her in surprise. "What? Just because I am older and married doesn't mean I can't appreciate a nice body," Gina shrugged. "Besides, I'm not elderly and bedridden, I'm only thirty-seven. It's hard not to notice Gendry when he walks around shirtless as much as possible. It is easy to see why you may have sexual dreams about him, especially considering you spend so much time with him. It's natural."

Arya looked mortified.

"So, what are you saying?" The young adult bit her lip as she stared at her therapist.

"What do you think I am saying," she genuinely asked.

"I don't know." Arya roughly rubbed at her face. "Does this mean that I like him?"

Gina chuckled. "Do you?"

"No," she said. "But, I keep having these sex dreams about him, so that must mean something."

"Arya," Gina got up and sat next to her patient. "Young adults around your age start to develop sexual desires. Some develop at a younger age. But, you spent most of your life trying to be asexual in order to suppress any desires you may possess." Arya stared at her curiously. "So, you are at this age when you sexual desires have started to manifest and you are around this really HOT guy who takes his shirt off ALL of the time. He pays attention to you and likes being around you. Gendry is not related to you as well. Your sexual attraction to him is normal."

"What do the dreams mean, then," Arya inquired.

Slowly, Gina shrugged. "Sometimes they don't mean anything, they just are," she mentioned. "Dreams have many functions. Everyone assumes that all dreams have deeper meanings, but truth be told, scientists don't really know the purpose of dreams. I do believe that some dreams have deeper meaning, but that doesn't mean that all or most do. There are some who believe we dream as a response to external stimuli. Another theory is that we dream to clean up clutter in our mind. There's one that say dreams are a form of psychotherapy," Gina crossed her legs and leaned back into the cushion. "There are hundreds and thousands of theories as to why we dream, BUT in my professional opinion, your subconscious is trying to work through your newly developed sexual desires. You are dreaming about Gendry because one: he's attractive and two: even in your dreams you trust him with something so personal to you. Your mind finds him a safe option to help you explore these desires." She chuckled to herself. "One time I had a sex dream about Donald Trump. Gods know that I am not attracted nor do I want to date that man. See what I mean?"

"That makes sense," Arya agreed.

"Does it?" The therapist faced her patient.

"I think so," she sounded unsure.

"Do you want my honest opinion?"

"I thought you just gave me your honest opinion?" Gina smiled at her as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

"I gave you my honest opinion about the information I was given," the woman clarified. "But, I want to give you my honest opinion about what you haven't."

"Okay," Arya said as she positioned her body to face the therapist.

"You like Gendry," she stated simply.

Arya balked. "But, you just said I didn't."

"No," a finger was waved at Arya. "I asked if you had feelings for him, and then explained that just because you have sex dreams about someone doesn't mean that you have romantic feelings for them." Arya rolled her eyes at the technicality, but Gina brushed off the gesture. "It's hard for you to admit you like him. You think having 'girly' feelings by having crushes on guys and wanting them in a sexual way makes you just like Sansa, but it doesn't. It makes you human. You're afraid of what it means, so you try to suppress these new, exciting feelings. But, at the same time, it's Gendry—he understands you in ways that no one ever had. So, you keep trying to make your dreams mean something. In fact, you hope they do. And here comes the inevitable but," she grabbed Arya's hand and squeezed it. "He's too old for you. Perhaps not emotionally, but legally speaking, you two cannot date."

The young adult stared at her lap before looking at Gina.

For the rest of the session, they uttered not another word about Gendry.

A ball bounced loudly as Hot Pie walked back and forth.

"What's bothering, Arya?" He shot the ball and it missed the rim terribly. At a sluggish pace, he went to go run after the ball.

"Nothing," she denied as she sat and watched Hot Pie and his terrible basketball skills. Arya supposed he had an excuse since he never played sports until he got here. At Flea Bottom, he always found a way out of playing sports in school.

"You're lying," he stated before attempted another shot that missed the rim again.

"No, I'm not," Arya yelled. "Hot Pie, aim for the square on the backboard. You'll never make a shot if you don't."

After a few attempts, Hot Pie began to make a couple of baskets per Arya's suggestion. Excitedly, he continued to throw the ball at the backboard and Arya laughed at her friend's enthusiasm.

"So, what's bothering you," he prodded after he made his last shot and sat next to her.

"I don't want to talk about it." Hot Pie tossed the basketball in his hands, and then gripped it tightly.

"I know that I'm not as close as you as Gendry," he began. Arya's stomach dropped at the mention of Gendry's name. "But, you can talk to me if something is wrong. You're a good person, Arya. You do have a temper, but you are nice and I don't like to see you down."

"Thanks, Hot Pie," Arya patted her friend's shoulder. "I just don't want to talk about it—not even with Gendry."

"Okay," he left it alone, but sat beside her as a way of support.

By dinnertime, Arya had suppressed her therapy session so deep; she could swear it was if she never saw Gina that day.

After they ate, the three of them went to the creek and smoked cigarettes. Well, Arya and Gendry smoked as Hot Pie chilled with them. Arya and Gendry had a donut-blowing contest, which Gendry was winning. She would say that she wasn't winning because her heart wasn't in it, but that would be a lie.

Deeply, Arya inhaled her cigarette as she walked along a log as if it were a balance beam. Gendry skipped rocks along the water as if he was in competition with someone. It may have been a symptom of hanging around Arya for too long. Everything was a competition with her.

"I'm leaving next week," Hot Pie announced. Both Gendry and Arya whipped their heads to look at him simultaneously spoke.

"What," Gendry said in shock.

"Why," Arya asked.

"You know when we visited the 'Inn of the Kneeling Man'?" He asked and his friends shook their heads. "Well, they were really impressed with my cooking and asked if I could come back with and offered a paid internship. They would teach me everything I need to know and will help me with school too."

"That's sounds great," Gendry sounded really happy for Hot Pie.

"Good for you," Arya said as she went over to Hot Pie and hugged him. It wasn't in her nature to hug, but she knew that it meant a lot to her friend.

"Thanks, you guys," Hot Pie was touched by their support. "I'm going to really miss the both of you."

"We'll miss you too, buddy," Gendry patted the shorter guy on the back, and then pulled him into a hug.

For the next few days, Arya and Gendry spent their time doing whatever Hot Pie wanted to do. It was the best time of his life. They water skied, went on a daytime camping trip, played dodge ball, and they gathered a big group of kids and played hide and go seek at night.

"I know you are going to do well, Hot Pie." Hot Pie pulled Gendry into a hug and his friend tightened his arms around him. Gendry tightened his grip as well. "I meant it when I said Arya and I will miss you."

"I know," as Hot Pie pulled away, he wiped the stray tears that fell from his eyes.

"Yeah, it definitely won't be the same with you," Arya commented before he pulled her into a bear hug. Softly, she placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. Hot Pie's face turned violently red.

Even though Hot Pie had platonic feelings for Arya. It was his first time being kissed by a girl—even if it had been on the cheek.

"Hot Pie, it's not the big of a deal, it was just a kiss," Arya playfully shoved his shoulder.

"Yeah, I know," he stammered.

Caught up in his own thoughts, Hot Pie missed the meaningful look shared between Arya and Gendry.

"Oh," Hot Pie put his backpack on the ground, and then pulled out something wrapped in aluminum foil. "Duncan let me make this last night—it's taste the best when it is hot."

Arya opened the aluminum foil and some a dessert of some sort. It was shaped as some animal.

"It's supposed to be a direwolf," he said as way of explanation. "I know that you said you and your family are really into direwolves, so I made it for you. I know it looks weird, but I promise you, it's really good. I hope it reminds you of Winterhell."

"Winterfell," she corrected.

Carefully, Arya broke off a piece of the wolf's foot and handed it to Gendry, and then broke off the other foot and bit into it.

"Umm," she gushed. "This is really good, Hot Pie."

"Thanks," he blushed.

"Really good," Gendry repeated. "Why didn't you make me one?"

"Because I already know that Arya is going to share it with you like she does everything else," he stated.

Another glance was exchanged. This time Hot Pie caught it.

It immediately felt different when Hot Pie's car pulled off. Arya and Gendry were sad to see him go. He definitely was valuable company and his presence would be missed. But, as of lately, his presence served another purpose. With Hot Pie around, Gendry and Arya didn't have a lot of alone time together. Every once and a while they did, but it wasn't much or long enough for something to happen

The moon sparkled on the lake as Arya and Gendry swam around. They weren't loud as they usually were to avoid being caught. Tonight was their weekly late night swim and they haven't been caught since starting a few months back.

Silently, the two splashed water at each other before wrestling. Gendry choked back a laugh as Arya giggled inaudibly.

"You cheat," she said in a hushed tone.

"Nope," he whispered. "You're just a sore loser."

Before Gendry could dunk her under the water again, Arya wrapped herself around his body and held tight. She smiled at him, and then burying her face in the crook of his neck. Gendry chuckled at the unfamiliar sensation. For a moment, Arya did nothing and said nothing.

Gendry should have known better to not think anything of it.

At first, he wasn't aware what she was doing. But, as Arya's ministrations became more pronounced, he couldn't ignore the affect she had on him. As if she had done it before, Arya suckled and nibbled on Gendry's neck. Gendry tried to refrain from moaning, but her hot tongue made his cock twitch in excitement. She then began to suck on his collarbone and Gendry moved his head to the side to allow her better excess.

Gendry relaxed his grip just enough to let Arya slide down his waist before grabbing her again. His hand was then placed on her ass and he pulled her close and rubbed his groin against her center. She gasped in delight. Arya went back to sucking on his neck before she started to place kisses from his neck to his chin. The friction between their legs began to intensify.

As Arya was about to kiss Gendry, he pushed her away.

"Gendry," Arya's voice almost sounded like she was trying to plead with him.

"We can't," Gendry shot at her. "I can't," he forced out. Arya stared at him as he stared at the water. "You can go on without me."

"What?" Arya didn't understand.

"I need a moment," Gendry emphasized need in order to get his idea across.

"Oh." Arya swam back to solid land and waited for Gendry to join her. A moment later, he joined her and walked her back to her cabin without saying anything.

They pretended like it never happened.

"Arya, your hand," Gendry gasped in desperation. Arya looked down and immediately snatched her hand away from Gendry's thigh. It had been his mid thigh to be precise.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I don't even remember placing my hand on your leg."

"It's okay." Gendry scooted away from her just a bit. He checked his watch, and then got up. "I have to go do something for Francine anyways."

"Okay," Arya said, and then watched Gendry leave. For the past three weeks, the camp workers had been asking Gendry to do stuff for them apart from their activities. He would carry heavy items for them, fix any motorized vehicles that were broken, and other miscellaneous things that they needed help with.

"Arya, I need to speak to you in my office now." Yoren gestured for the young adult to follow him as he walked at a brisk pace. In all of the time that Arya been at Wholistic Core, she had only been in Yoren's office for quarterly check-ins. They just met a few weeks ago, so she was puzzled as to why he needed to talk to her.

When they entered his office, Yoren snapped his fingers to get her attention, and then pointed at her then a chair. He roughly puled his chair back before plopping down in it, and then scooting closer to his desk.

"Leave Gendry alone," he proclaimed. Yoren pulled out a cigar, and then lit it. "Leave him alone now."

"What are you talking about?" Arya was perplexed.

"I'm talking about your Lolita act that you have going on," Yoren spelled out and Arya took slight.

"I don't have a Lolita 'act' going on," she denied. "And you have no idea what you are talking about," Arya lied.

Yoren puffed his cigar and exhaled slowly.

"You know what, I'm not going to be called a liar to my face," he declared. "This will be the first and last time you lie to me."

Arya stared at him nervously.

"I'm not stupid, Ms. Stark." Yoren took another drag of his cigar. "We're not stupid. You think we don't notice what's going on." Arya's stomach dropped. "We've noticed you and Gendry's behavior for a long, long time, but didn't do anything about it because we didn't want to overreact. It seemed innocent." He looked her in the eyes. "But, I know something has changed. I didn't have any proof of it, but there is nothing platonic about the feelings you two have for one another."

"What are you talking about," she feigned ignorance.

Yoren rolled his eyes at her. "Cut the crap, Arya." He leaned back in his chair. "I may not have my psychology degree, but I'm no dumbass either. Besides, my suspicions about you two were confirmed when I saw you and Gendry together before I called you over," he explained. "All that touching crap is going to stop."

"It was an accident," she blurted out.

"I don't give a damn," he dismissed. "I don't care if you slipped and fell and your hand landed there—stop touching him. We may have looked the other way with the smoking, late night swims, and all of that other shit, but this we aren't going to turn a blind eye to." Arya was startled at the revelation. "Yeah, yeah, we know about that," he grinned. "Smoking underage may be illegal, but that is your life you are ruining. But, having sex with Gendry ruins his life. Gendry is too good of a kid to get in that kind of trouble."

"Young adult," Arya automatically corrected.

"Fine, young adult," he conceded. "It's becoming increasingly obvious that you two want to fuck each other's brains out and that we can't allow."

It occurred to Arya that Yoren had been out of town that night she and Gendry almost had sex. If he had been here, they would have been had had this talk much sooner and, most likely, she and Gendry would have been permanently separated. She wondered how she got away with the lake incident.

"Why are you just talking to me?" The young girl crossed her arms.

"I've dealt with Gendry," Yoren flicked his cigar. "Why do you think he had been busy lately?" Her eyes widen in realization. They were keeping Gendry away from her. "But, you are the initiator here. You are the one touching him and invading his personal space. You've chipped away at his resolve so much that he will crumble at any time."

"I'm not doing it on purpose," she defended weakly.

"For the last time, I don't give a damn," Yoren licked his lips and smoked his cigar. "Do you think the police or your parents are going to care that YOU were the initiator and he was trying to fight YOUR advances. It doesn't matter how mature you are, you're fifteen and he is twenty-two. In the eyes of the law, that is statutory rape. Gendry is an adult and no one, outside of the camp, is going to believe he didn't take advantage of you."

"But, it is my decision." Arya said adamantly as she shot up out of her chair. "If I had sex with Gendry, it would have been because I wanted to and not because I was taken advantage of."

"Sit your ass down, young adult," he mocked. "You think your parents, the police, or the courts will care or even try to see it that way," Yoren incredulously stared at her. "If he's lucky, he would get charged and tried here and serve three to seven years, but I doubt your parents would be okay with that. So, let's see what the charges are for statutory rape in Winterfell," he speculated aloud as he typed on his computer. "Hmm…five to ten years because he is over 21." Yoren slapped him hands on the table and Arya jumped. "You really want your cherry popped by Gendry SO bad that you are willing to let him go to jail?"

Arya bit back tears. "Can I leave now?"

"Promise me you won't touch him," he demanded.

"I won't touch him," she choked out. Yoren glared at her. "I promise," she sighed. "Can I leave now?"

"You may go."

Arya waited for Yoren to go out of town again before she snuck into Gendry's room again. She climbed out on the air conditioning unit, and then opened his window and quickly jumped in.

Her stomach dropped when she heard Gendry groaned.

In shocked, she stared as Gendry stroked his cock in his firm grip. The noises from his mouth made her tingle in between her legs. As she watched him touch himself, she could feel her panties become soaking wet. Gendry's eyes were closed as he pleasured himself. He seemed to be lost in his own touch.

A huge grunt was let out, and then cum shot up onto Gendry's stomach. His hand changed positions and stroked from the top of his cock rather than the bottom of it. Some more cum squirted out. He softly gasped, and then opened his eyes.

"Arya!" Immediately, he covered himself. "What are you doing in here? HOW long have you been in here?"

"Umm…" she was at a loss for words. "I was coming to visit you and…"

"How much did you see?" Arya thought to herself, 'Not enough.'

"I should go," she put one leg out the window and was ducking down to move the rest of he body out, when Gendry grabbed her and pulled her back into the room.

There was an unforgiving pulse between her legs. Arya felt as if she was about to explode when Gendry grabbed her.

"Gendry," she warned and she looked at his cum stained stomach before looing up. He looked into her eyes and saw that her pupils were dilated. His hands released her and let her escape out his window.

As much as she tried, Arya couldn't fall asleep. She washed her hair, cleaned her room, re-organized her books, and attempted to style her hair when she fell to her bed in defeat. For the life of her, Arya couldn't get Gendry's cock out of her mind or his expression and the faces he made as he masturbated.

To occupy her time, she began to read a book that she hadn't gotten the time to finished. Without fail, she always lost herself in books. They had a way in engrossing her that she couldn't explore. Perhaps it could be due to the escapism?

She flew through the chapters and was almost finished when she heard her window open and Gendry climbed through it.

"Gendry?" Arya put her book down and jumped out of her bed. "What are you doing here?"

Gendry ignored her and pulled her into a passionate kiss. Momentarily, Arya responded before pushing him away.

"What are you doing," she said in shock. "You could get in trouble for this. You could go to jail for this."

The young man looked confused by her words. "Why now?" He questioned. "You didn't care any other time when you would try to touch me."

"I wasn't thinking," Arya explained. "But, I don't want you to go to jail for having sex with me."

"But, no one has to know," he retorted. "I'm not going to tell anyone. Are you?"

"No, but that's not the poi—" Gendry abruptly kissed her and she moaned into his mouth.

"Then let's not think about it," he said as he backed up her to her bed.

"Gendry…" His mouth quieted Arya again as Gendry began to pull up her tank top.

"Just this once," he pleaded. Arya slowly shook her head up and down in agreement as she watched Gendry take off his shirt and let it fall to the floor. Tenderly, she kissed his stomach as her hands went to undo his shorts. When her hands went to his sides to pull them down, Gendry helped her.

A semi-erect penis was in front of Arya face and she grabbed it and stroked it the way she saw Gendry do earlier. Above her, she heard him groan. She continued to stroke him when she decided to try something else out. Inexperienced lips touched the head of Gendry's cock as he slightly jumped in surprise.

"Don't worry, I won't use my teeth," she then placed a kiss on the head of his cock before she licked his length. Appreciative noises filled the air. Arya's head bobbed up and down as she tried to pleasure Gendry with her mouth.

In a reluctant manner, she let Gendry's cock fall from her mouth and began to wiggle out of her shorts. Without hesitation, Gendry grabbed her waistband with both hands and swiftly pulled off the shorts for. While Gendry divested her of her shorts and panties, Arya took off her bra.

Arya gently tugged on Gendry to sit down on her bed. She made him face away from her as she placed her hands on his shoulders and planted kisses on his neck, and then his back. An overwhelming desire to hug him consumed Arya and she pulled him into her arms. Her breasts rubbed against Gendry's back. She loved him so much. Love? 'Where did that come from,' Arya wondered.

Slowly, she pulled Gendry towards her to lie on his back and moved out of the way, so he wouldn't land on her. In amazement, she drank on the magnificence of his body and her hands caressed his skin in shared opinion.

Lovingly, she kissed his forehead as she impaled herself on him. A strangled groan was caught in Gendry's throat, but Arya moaned loudly. She had been waiting for this so long. In support, Gendry raised his hands for Arya to use them to balance herself. In appreciation, she grabbed them as she rolled her hips and took him deeper.

It occurred to her, that she did not hurt when she took Gendry inside of her. Arya supposed it was because of how aroused she had been for him—of how much she wanted him.

Gendry rose up and placed his hands on her hips to the keep the rhythm. His loving words encouraged Arya to give him all of herself. The need to be close to him in the worse way possible struck her. Her arms were placed around his shoulders and Arya could feel the sweat on his skin.

Suddenly, Gendry flipped them over. He rocked into her without a care in the world and lost himself in her depths. Arya protested when he pulled out of her, but was silenced as he inserted fingers into her wetness. Her skin felt like it was on fire every time he kissed her skin as he made his way down to her vagina.

A sharp cry broke free of her and Arya grabbed Gendry's head as he desperately licked her nether regions. When she couldn't take it anymore, she pushed her hips forward and after a few firm licks, she climaxed. Arya looked down at the covers and saw his head rise. The face she saw wasn't Gendry's, but Hot Pie's.

Arya woke up in a cold sweat and abruptly sat up. Her breathing was loud and her panties were soaked. The window was closed.

"What the fuck," she said to herself. The book she was reading fell to the floor.

How quickly fantasies turned into nightmares.

"Fucking Hot Pie," she swore as she slipped her fingers between her legs so finish herself of. Arya willed Gendry's face into her head, and then muffled a cry into the pillows when she finished.

"It's nice to have you home," Catelyn said as she sat on her daughter's bed.

Arya would be home for a week before school started again at Wholistic Core.

The girl gave her mother a tight smile as she rubbed Nymeria.

"It's nice to be home," she replied. It was a half-truth. As much as she loved being back at Winterfell, she missed Gendry.

Catelyn gently touched her daughters face. "Gods, you look so much older than when I last saw you, but haven't grown anymore since then." Arya's first visit had been in December. When Catelyn noticed how much her daughter had outgrown her current wardrobe, she took her shopping for a new wardrobe. Usually, Catelyn would tell Arya what she should get, but not this time. She stood back and let her daughter go shopping for herself.

"Arya, I'm sorry for not taking the time out to listen to you back in April," her mother apologized. "And for not hearing your side every opportunity I had after that before you left." Catelyn seemed genuinely troubled about overlooking Arya's feelings during that whole ordeal.

"It's fine, mom," Arya reassured. "Yeah, I was hurt, but I understand. You guys had so much on your plate and was trying to decrease the fallout out as much as possible."

"There's no excuse," she squeezed her daughter's hand lovingly and in remorse. "I should have thought of you and how you felt."

"You're right, it isn't an excuse," she agreed. "But, you and dad are human. It would be hypocritical of me to crucify you all for making a mistake with all of the shit I pull on a regular basis."

Catelyn gave her daughter a look. "Arya, that's very mature of you, but you are going to stop cursing around your father and I so casually AND to get reactions out of us."

"Sorry," she said. Catelyn placed a kiss on her forehead.

"That's all right," Catelyn pulled Arya closer. "Just don't do it again."

Her father apologized later on that night.

"Sweetheart, I failed you a few months back," his tone was distraught and his eyes looked to be in deep despair. Despite Arya's anger and lingering resentment about not being heard out, she thought fail to be a strong word. "I can't apologize enough for not paying enough attention to you."

Ned was in front of Arya bent on one knee as Arya sat on the edge of the couch. He had gently gripped her forearms in his hands as he spoke to her.

"Dad, you didn't fail me," Arya disagreed.

"No, I did," he replied. "You were right: your mother and I did not hear your side of the story and that was unacceptable."

"I mean, I agree," she said. "You all should have heard me out, but neither you or mom failed me. Sending me to Wholistic Core was a good idea. I feel that it has really benefitted me."

Ned got off of his knee and sat next to Arya on the couch. "That's good. That's what your mother and I had in mind when we researched for places for you to stay."

"I thought as much," she shrugged. "I just…I understand why you guys were angry and disappointed, but I wished that you and mom had heard every side of the story rather than everyone's except mine. I know I come off strong-headed and that I'm quick to fight, but you guys know me." Arya stared at her lap. "You guys know that I don't just fight people for no reason at all."

Arya leaned on her father's shoulder. "Do you want to tell us your side of the story, now," he asked. "I'm a open ear."

"No, I don't want to talk about it," she hugged her father, and then stood up. "But, I do want to talk about it one day."

She and Sansa didn't utter a word to one another during her stay home inDecember. At first, Arya assumed that Sansa was still mad at her about Joffrey. Then she realized that her sister was ashamed of what happened back in April and didn't know what to say. It wasn't until she set off for the airport at the end of her stay, that she realized this. As Arya hugged Robb, Jon, Bran, and Rickon Sansa stared with a look of want in her eyes. It was not envy, but rather longing. Sansa longed to have the easiness with Arya that she had with their brothers. But, they were like oil and water most of the time.

Arya may have forgiven her brothers, but she had a harder time forgiving her sister, regardless of the circumstances.

When she visited over the summer, Arya spent the first three days with her family, and then the last four hanging out with Ned and Mycah. It dawned on her as she hung out with the two of them that they were her good friends, her close friends, but not her best friends. Gendry was her best friend. He was the person that understood her better than anyone else. He was the one who she connected to better than anyone else.

When Arya first got her period, she remembered in vivid detail how they were in the middle of a team building exercise and her tan shorts had been stained. She didn't know what to do. Almost as if he could sense her distress, Gendry asked her what was wrong and Arya looked between her legs. Thinking quick on his feet, he snuck Arya away from the exercise not bringing any attention to her or himself and brought her back to her room. He told Arya to clean herself up as he found her a new outfit to wear, and then disappeared from her room before reappearing with some tampons. She didn't ask him how he found it, she was just grateful that he did.

Ned could drive now and he took them to the mall and to the movies. He had grown a little bit taller, but not as tall as Gendry. Mycah was also taller as well.

Before she left to return to Wholistic Core, Arya had her mom make various types of cookies.

"You know I'm only making these because I won't see you again, until Thanksgiving," Catelyn informed.

"I know, mom," Arya replied.

Last Thanksgiving, Arya didn't get to come home because their was a massive snowstorm in Winterfell. It had lasted for days. It delayed her plane before it became useless to even go home, which was why her visit for postponed until December.

"Did you bring any of your mom's cookies back," Gendry asked her as he helped carry her bags back to her room.

"Gendry," Arya said in mock offense. "I just got here and rather than ask how my trip was and how I have been, you ask about my mom's cookies."

Gendry looked as if he didn't see a problem with that. "Yeah," he shrugged as a grin played on his lips. Arya hit Gendry softly and sat her bags down. She went to her book bag, and pulled out a big Tupperware of cookies.

"You're so awesome, you know that," Gendry scarfed four cookies before he breathed again. "I know you already know that, but it doesn't hurt to say it again."

It was not with a bang, but rather a whimper that Arya realized she was in love with Gendry. How else could see explain the flutter in her stomach as she watched him ungraciously devoured the cookies while crumbs gathered around his mouth? She thought it was the most amazing thing she had ever seen. Her chest tightened and her throat became dry.

"Are you going to save me any," she croaked out. Gendry tossed her a cookie and Arya threw it back at him. He guffawed loudly as Arya could swore her heart was beating, and then patted the bed for her to sit next to him.

'In my dreams, we made love on this bed,' she thought.

Arya sat on the bed and Gendry picked up a cookie and positioned it in front of her mouth. She wouldn't open her mouth.

"Come on," he coaxed as he pressed the cookie against her lips as he laughed.

Looking him directly in the eyes, Arya sat a hand on his hand that held the cookie and opened her mouth before slowly taking a bit of it. Every last bit of the cookie was thoroughly chewed, as Arya never broke contact. She gulped down the treat, and then licked her lips. She opened her mouth to be feed the rest of the cookie.

Gendry cleared his throat and stood up.

"Uh," he handed her the rest of the cookie. "I have to go help Yoren with something."

She stared at the door long after he left.

All hell broke loose in April.

"What do you mean you are leaving in two day," Arya yelled. "The program doesn't end until June,"

Gendry tried to put his hands on Arya's shoulders, but she shook him off.

"Don't touch me!"

"Arya, I just found out about this," he tried to explain. "Leslie said that I would make a great group leader and that I could go to the training seminar if I was interested."

"So," Arya glared. "Why can't you go next year?"

"I could go next year, but either way after June, I won't be here anymore." Arya stopped and looked at him. "You can be in this program up until you are twenty-two—I'm twenty-three. Leslie only let me stay another year because I was twenty-two when the next cycle started."

"I don't even know you were interested in being a group leader," she said in a leveled tone.

"I wasn't," he admitted. "But, these people here—they treat one another like family. They love one another like family. I never had a family."

"I can be your family," she declared passionately.

Gendry lowered his head. "You wouldn't be my family," he announced. Before Arya's heart could break, he then said, "You'd be my lady."

The people here felt like brothers and sisters and the feelings he had for Arya was not what a brother had for his sister. Gendry needed her to understand that the offer she provided was not one she could fulfill, as he wanted more from her. To pretend as if they could deny reality would do neither of them any good. He was leaving to be apart of a family. He was leaving in order to prevent himself from crossing that line.

Arya heard him loud and clear. The words translated easily enough. If he stayed, she would become his woman in every sense of the word. It was only a matter a time. It would also land him in jail. Most importantly, he wanted to finally have a family. He wanted a family like the one she had back at home.

For the next two days, she avoided him like the plague. Arya understood why he was leaving, but it still hurt nevertheless. An hour before he was set to leave, she hugged him as she nestled her head against his chest. Tentatively, he placed a kiss on her forehead and that sat like that until he car pulled up.

Two months later, she sat at her last meeting and listened to Leslie talk. The last big meeting included family members as well.

"Okay, now we are down to our last award," she said excitedly. "This person has shown model behavior, completed every assignment exceedingly well, and has gone above and beyond for her fellow peers. This person has taught other campers new skills or has helped them practice it. Even went as far as teaching two of her fellow peers reading comprehension," Arya's head snapped up. "I present the award for Most Outstanding Citizen to Arya Stark."

A round of applause was made for Arya as she accepted the award.

"Do you have anything you would like to say?" Leslie warmly hugged Arya.

Arya was choked with emotion and bit her lip in order to contain her emotions. "I didn't think anyone noticed," she replied to the executive director.

"We've noticed," she assured.

"Umm," Arya looked at the award. "Honestly, I was just having fun and enjoyed helping out people when they needed help. I never thought I would get an award for it."

Out of habit, she looked for Gendry in the crowd, but he wasn't there.

Her eyes came across a girl named Jenny Barenbaum. A couple of days after Arya and Gendry first kissed, she saw Jenny flirting with Gendry. Only now did she realize that it was jealously. She had been jealous.

After the award ceremony was over, she got into a car with her family and half way listened to them as they congratulated her on her award.

As the airplane descended above the clouds, Arya wondered if she would ever see Gendry again.