10 THINGS SHE HATES ABOUT GENDRY
Hi guys, here is another chapter, next one should be up during the weekend. Now, our 'heroes' were about to leave the party in the last chapter, let's see what happens next !
Chapter 6
Gendry had managed to sober Arya up a little bit, and was now driving her home in her car. They were listening to the radio, which was playing old rock tunes.
-I should do this, Arya said as she pointed to the radio.
-Do what ? he asked as his eyes remained on the road.
-This ! she insisted.
-Start a band ?
-No, install car stereos, she playfully answered. Yeah, start a band. My father would love that.
Gendry parked the car in front of her house, yet they did not move. He turned off the radio and turned to her.
-You don't strike me as the type that would ask your father for permission.
-Oh, so now you think you know me ?
-I'm getting there.
-The only thing people know about me is that I'm scary, she chuckled.
-Yeah, well, I'm no picnic myself, he answered with a shrug.
She turned and they were lost in each other's eyes for a moment.
-Uh… So… what's up with your dad ? he asked awkwardly. Is he… Is he a pain in the ass ?
"Great, Gen. Subtle and smooth as always" he chastised himself.
-No, he just wants me to be somebody that I'm not, she answered as she looked away.
-Who ?
-Sansa, she mimicked in a high-pitched voice.
-Oh, Sansa… No offense or anything… I mean I know everyone "digs" your sister, but she's without.
Arya looked at him, surprised that he would say that. A small, true smile appeared on her face. Maybe he wasn't that bad after all. He made her laugh, he took care of her, and he wasn't bad looking.
-You know, she said, you're not as vile as I thought you were.
He chuckled and nodded. Arya then leaned forward and closed her eyes, patiently waiting for him to close the gap between them. Gendry looked at her face, so peaceful right now, and her lips that hadn't ever look more kissable and desirable than tonight. Seven Hells, he wanted this, badly, right now. He needed this. But he didn't move. He couldn't, not like this. He turned away with a sigh.
-Maybe we should do this another time, he said slowly.
He didn't miss the flash of hurt, sadness, and anger in Arya's eyes. She didn't say anything as she got out of the car and stomped to her house.
A few minutes later, Jon's car was parked in front of the house. The whole ride had been spent in a tense silence. Now that Jon had stopped the engine, it was even worse. Sansa didn't move, awkwardly looking straight ahead.
-You never wanted to go horse riding with me, did you ? Jon finally asked.
-Yes, I did, Sansa softly answered.
-No, you didn't.
-Okay, no, not actually…
-Well, then that's all you had to say ! he exclaimed, frustrated. Have you always been this selfish ?
-Yes, she muttered.
-You know, just because you're beautiful, that doesn't mean you can treat people like they don't matter. I mean, I really liked you, okay. I defended you when people called you conceited, I helped you when you asked me to, I learned Valyrian for you and then you just blow me off so you could…
She grasped the nape of his neck with her right hand and crashed her lips against his. Damn, he was Seven Hells of a kisser ! They slowly pulled back, she had this shy smile on her face, he was dumbstruck.
-Thank you, she softly said before she got out of his car and walked inside.
-And I'm back in the game ! he laughed excitedly once she was in the house.
The following Monday morning, Arya arrived inside Petyr Baelish's classroom as usual, only everyone was looking at her like she was the most popular person on the planet.
-Arya, milady, you sway to the rhythm of me heart, Bronn – one of the Rasta team – greeted her.
-Dance for me, cow-girl, Thoros – cowboys team – smiled at her.
-Ari, babe, what do we owe you for the table dance ? Joffrey added as he looked her up and down.
She sat down, trying to keep her breathe even, in order not to kick the blond prick where the sun doesn't shine.
-All right, not that a give a damn, but how was everybody's weekend ? Mr. Baelish asked.
-Oh, I don't know, Joffrey answered. Maybe we should ask Ari.
-Unless she kicked the crap out of your dumb butt, I don't wanna hear about it, the teacher replied. Okay, let's open up your books to page seventy-three, sonnet one hundred and forty-one. And listen up. "In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes/For they in thee a thousand errors note/But it is my heart that loves what they despise/Who, in despite of view, is pleased to dote". Now, I know Shakespeare's a dead guy, but he knows his shit, so we can overlook that. I want you all to write your own version of this sonnet.
Everyone started to protest. The teacher stopped walking in the middle of the classroom and sighed without even turning.
-Yes, Miss I-Have-An-Opinion-About-Everything ?
-Do you want this in iambic pentameter ? Arya asked.
-You're not gonna fight me on this ? he asked, surprised.
-No, I think it's a really good assignment.
-You're just messing with me, aren't you ?
-No, I'm really looking forward to writing it, she insisted.
-Get out of my class, the teacher groaned.
-What ?
-Out. Get out !
She grabbed her things and walked out.
-Thanks, Mr. Baelish, Joffrey said.
-Shut up.
The bell rang later and the teenagers filled the hallways. Jon and Bran were at their lockers taking what they needed, when Sansa walked by. She didn't stop, but her and Jon shared that look and that smile, making her blush a little. Bran then stiffened as another silhouette appeared in front of a locker, down the hall.
-What's wrong Bran ? Jon asked, concerned.
-She's here. I couldn't even talk to her at the party. By the Seven, what do I do ?
-Who's here ? Jon frowned as he looked the direction Bran was staring.
There was Myrcella Baratheon, taking books from her locker.
-You like the girl, don't you ? Jon asked.
-I love her with all my might.
-All right, Jon chuckled. Then go and talk to her. Besides, you could ask her one or two things about Ari. Tell yourself it's for the plan, it'll be easier not to freak out.
Then he shoved the poor guy forward with a good amount of strength, so Bran arrived just next to the blond sweet girl.
-Hey, he greeted her. Cool picture, he added awkwardly, pointing to the Shakespeare portrait on her locker door. What's that collar for ? Is that to keep him from licking his stitches ?
Myrcella just gave him the "really?" look.
-Kidding. No, because I know you're a fan of Shakespeare.
-More than a fan, she replied. We're involved.
-Okay. "Who could refrain that had a heart to love, and in that heart…"
-"…courage to make love known", she completed.
-That's Macbeth, right ? he smiled.
-Right, she smiled back.
-So, listen, I… I have this friend, and he likes your friend…
Jon watched from the distance as Bran and Myrcella started talking animatedly. He smiled and shook his head. Bran really was a good guy.
Later this afternoon, Jon and Gendry were sitting near the sports fields, where Arya was practicing fencing as usual.
-What did you do to her ? Jon asked.
-I didn't do anything, Gendry defended himself. She would've been too drunk to remember.
-But the plan was working, Jon groaned.
-Why do you care ? Gendry shot back. I thought you wanted out.
-Yeah, well, I did, but that was until she kissed me, he smiled goofily.
-Where ? Gendry smirked.
-In the car, Jon answered as the memory flooded his thoughts.
Gendry rolled his eyes. Bran jogged back to them at this instant.
-All right, I talked to her. I got the scoop.
-What did she say ? Jon asked.
-"Hate him with the fire of a thousand suns". That's a direct quote.
-Thanks, Bran. That's very comforting of you, Gendry grumbled.
-We don't know, Jon piped in. She could need a day to cool off.
Then they all had the reflex to jump back, when a fencing sword flew just where Gendry was standing a second ago. They turned their heads to see where it came from, and sure they spotted Arya, glaring at them.
-Maybe two, Gendry suggested.
The other two nodded hastily.
Two days later, Arya and Myrcella were walking out of class, and Arya ripped the prom poster from a wall as she walked by, not bothering about the "Hey!" Shae screamed after her.
-Can you imagine who would go to that antiquated mating ritual ? Arya groaned.
-I would, Myrcella answered, but I don't have a date.
-Do you really want to get all dressed up, so some Drakkar Noir-wearing dexter with a boner can feel you up while you're forced to listen to a band that by definitions blows ?
-All right, all right, Myrcella laughed. We won't go. It's not like I've got a dress anyway.
-You're looking at this from entirely the wrong perspective, Arya replied. We're making a statement.
-Oh, goody. Something new and different for us !
Arya laughed and they walked away to the car.
On the fields, Sansa was in the middle of archery practice. She was pulling the string back, focusing on the target, when she could feel a body too close to her.
-Hey there, Cupid, a male voice whispered in her ear.
-Hi, Joffrey, she politely greeted him.
-You're concentrating awfully hard considering it's gym class.
She released her arrow and turned to him.
-Can I help you ?
-I want to talk to you about prom, he casually said.
-Look, you know the deal, I can't go if Ari doesn't go.
-You sister is going, Joffrey smiled.
-Since when ? Sansa asked, shocked.
-Let's just say I'm taking care of it.
And then he walked away, leaving her in astonishment. He went to find Gendry, and put a big pouch of two hundred golden coins in his hands discreetly.
-Here. This should take care of the flowers, the limo, the tux, everything. Just make sure she gets to the prom.
-Do you know what ? Gendry replied as he gave the money back to him. I'm sick of playing your little game.
-Okay, wait, wait, wait. You sick of, let's say, three hundred ?
Gendry clicked his tongue but snatched the money from his hands anyway.
In the following days, Gendry was always where Arya was. Library ? Hidden behind a shelf. Park ? Hidden up in a tree. Music and instruments store ? She was so much into the music of the guitar she was trying that she didn't notice him standing behind her, giving her that look. Book store ? He was there right now, on the other side of a shelf, waiting for her to notice him.
-Excuse me, have you seen The Feminine Mystique ? he asked her as the instant she arrived in front of him. I've lost my copy.
-What are you doing here ? she growled.
-I heard there was a poetry reading.
-You're so…
-Charming, he smiled. Wholesome.
-Unwelcome, she corrected.
-You're not as mean as you think you are, you know that ?
She stiffened. Yeah. She wasn't. But she didn't want him to know that anymore. She trusted him a tiny little bit, so he cracked her shelf, and now she was nearly defenseless in front of him, she had let him too close to her to stay entirely strong. However, she wouldn't make the same mistake again, and she had to put up her walls again if she wanted to avoid being hurt.
-And you're not as badass as you think you are, she shot back.
-Ooh, someone still has her panties in a twist.
-Don't for one minute think that you had any effect whatsoever on my panties !
-Then what did I have an effect on ? he carried on.
How dared he remind her of what nearly happened between them ? She had shown one moment of weakness, and there she was. So much for trusting people.
-Other than my upchuck reflex, nothing, she replied as she shoved a book in his hands and left.
The following day, at lunch, Jon and Bran were with Gendry getting their food.
-You're right, he was telling them. She's still pissed.
-"Sweet love, renew thy force", Bran quoted with passion.
The other two gave him a strange look.
-Hey ! Gendry grumbled. Don't say shit like that to me. People can hear you.
-Look, Jon said. You embarrassed the girl. Sacrifice yourself on the altar of dignity and even the score.
Gendry walked away with his tray of food.
-Listen, don't say shit like that to him. People can hear you, Bran told Jon.
Nobody knew that later, in a hallway, Gendry gave a bit of money to the school's band, convincing them to help him.
Later this afternoon, Arya was at her fencing training on the fields as usual. The school's band was hanging around not far. She was about to begin another match when an all-too-familiar voice echoed around the field through the loudspeakers.
Your cruel device
Your blood, like ice
One look, could kill
My pain, your thrill
The school's band started playing the tune, as Arya turned her head to find him. She eventually spotted the Greek-God-like body of Gendry at the top of the bleachers.
I wanna love you but I better not touch (don't touch)
I wanna hold you, but my senses tell me to stop
I wanna kiss you but I want it too much (too much)
I wanna taste you but your lips are venomous poison
You're poison, running through my veins
You're poison
I don't want to break these chains
She chuckled, trying to hide the slight blush on her cheeks, as everyone around was cheering for Gendry. By the Seven, the boy could be more stubborn than a bull !
Your mouth, so hot
Your web, I'm caught
Your skin, so wet
Black lace, on sweat
I hear you calling and it's needles and pins (and pins)
I wanna hurt you just to hear you screaming my name
Don't want to touch you but you're under my skin (deep in)
I wanna kiss you but your lips are venomous poison
You're poison, running through my veins
You're poison
I don't want to break these chains
Poison
One look, could kill
My pain, your thrill
The two Gold Cloaks – the town's cops – that were on duty in the school this day started chasing after him in the bleachers, however Gendry managed to escape them until he finished the song, jumping and running around as he sang his song for Arya.
I wanna love you but I better not touch (don't touch)
I wanna to hold you, but my senses tell me to stop
I wanna to kiss you but I want it too much (too much)
I wanna taste you but your lips are venomous poison
You're poison, running through my veins
You're poison
I don't want to break these chains
Poison (poison)
I wanna love you but I better not touch (don't touch)
I wanna hold you, but my senses tell me to stop
I wanna kiss you but I want it too much (too much)
I wanna taste you but your lips are venomous poison
Yeah, well I don't want to break these chains
Poison (poison)
Runnin' deep inside my veins
Burnin' deep inside my brain (poison)
Poisoning (poison)
I don't want to break these chains (poison)
Poison
(Poison) I don't want to break these chains (poison)
Eventually the Gold Cloaks caught him and dragged him away, most likely to detention. Everyone on the field clapped and cheered, and even Arya applauded.
So, what do you think ? Tell me in a review ! or a PM if you prefer. The song is 'Poison' by Alice Cooper. See you soon !