Chapter Ten: Distraction
She was circling the fork against the table for the last ten minutes, staring dreamily at nothingness, and as expected, her face expression kept on coming back the way it was even if she tried her hardest to look indifferent about it, her mind had a one-way ticket through one defined path, and it came back to it hardly every three minutes, and four minutes at best, she counted.
Her adopted brother finally had it, and slammed his hand across the table from her, making Arya snap her head toward him. "Knock it off!"
Arya coughed, regaining her posture, grabbing the fork and knife and digging into her omelette, but unwillingly, much to her own annoyance, it came back.
"Aryaa..." he warned.
She sipped a gulp of juice for distraction, but she wasn't strong enough to fight it any longer, she snorted and covered her mouth with a hand, trying to hide the toothy grin this time.
"Gods," he turned to Robb with pure irritation, "Dude, tell your sister to stop smiling like a retard! It's getting uncomfortably creepy."
"She's your sister too," The auburn haired was busy smiling himself, tabbing on his phone, Arya can swear she could feel Jeyne's aura coming out of the device.
"She's more sister to you than me."
"Thank the gods for that," Arya said, and couldn't stop a giggle at the end of her sentence.
"Giggles too?!" Theon exclaimed, "That's it, Ar, we're no longer best friends, you ended that."
"We never were," she struck her tongue at him, still smiling, "And besides, I do smile often."
"No you don't." Rickon frowned, eating two donuts at once. "You never smile, it's kinda scary."
"Jon," Arya turned to her brother for support, who was standing against the counter and texting someone, "I smile, right?"
"Yeah, yeah," he said distractedly, then looked at who was talking to him, "Wait you? No."
She rolled her eyes, "None of you know me."
"Did you beat that hot instructor or something?" Sansa said, slicing her bacon in perfect portions and eating like a professional food taster.
She did not answer. The more she gives away, the further they get to the actual reason.
"Or did you kick Ramsey's ass?" Robb added, still grinning at his phone.
"Oh I did," she smiled wider, "Three weeks ago; I smashed his balls and sent him to the hospital."
Rickon high-fived her.
"That motherfucker." Theon said in disgust, everyone knew how the bastard bullied him in Highschool, now that Ramsey was held back for countless years, it was Arya's turn to deal with him being a constant pain in her ass. Theon wiped his imaginary tears, "I'm so proud of you." he said with a soft tone, then he turned strict."We're back on BFF statues, but it's under observation for now."
"Is he dead?" Jon asked.
"Nope, unfortunately."
"Then you didn't smash his balls right," Robb said, "That fucker is a waste of oxygen."
"C-could we not talk about him here, please?" Sansa said, terrified.
Everyone groaned.
Bran entered the kitchen with so much sunshine in him the sun itself was jealous. He made a clumsy tap dance, followed by a lousy moonwalk that probably made Michael Jackson wince in his grave.
Theon grabbed Robb from the shoulder, wide eyed. "Our little brother finally came out of the closet, send him to Broadway, now."
Bran pointed a finger at him, "Got to a hell," he spun around and flashed his hand in the air, showing the new tattoo on his wrist, it was a faint moment but Arya caught the words 'Hi, I'm Meera' "It's Meera."
"Who's Meera?" half of them were confused.
"Is she your weird friend's hot sister?" Theon asked.
"I thought it was Meena," Robb frowned, "Wait hold on, the girl is a college graduate."
"Yes," Bran said, breathless.
"Oh gods, a pedophile?" Theon made a foul face, "I could press charges and send her to jail for it, nobody messes with my lil bro."
"She didn't molest me!"
"How could you know, slick? You were seven when she knew you-" Theon said, and Bran yelled 'Nine!' and resumed anyway. "She could've taken advantage of you and you won't notice, being the innocent shit you are."
"Stop it." Bran yelled.
"At least we all know who's gonna wear the pants in the relationship." Jon commented.
"I second that." The distracted Robb agreed.
"She is a bit too tough." Sansa added.
Rickon finished and now it was the poor lemon cakes' turn to be stuffed in his mouth. "Dude, she's gonna own you."
"Seven hells, can someone be supportive here?!"
"We are your siblings for gods' sake." Theon said lazily, "Go find Catelyn for that."
"I'm happy for you." Arya said pleasantly.
Bran was startled, he pointed at her and stared at everyone else. "What's wrong with her?"
"Beats me." Robb said, equally oblivious.
"You should join Jon's 'You know nothing' team, dimwits." Theon interrupted, "Gods know what Mag did to her yesterday, and I fear to say, she to him."
"I do know some things!" Jon exclaimed.
"Wait what?!" Robb was beyond confused.
"You found Mag?!" Sansa quickly said after.
"What?" Arya tried to look surprised herself.
"Hey, I did see you sneaking out last night." Rickon informed.
Everyone was staring at Arya by now, it was stupid to trust Theon with this, she immediately got her mind together, "Nice try, Theon."
Theon was unyielding. "Hey it's obv-"
She cut him off, turning to her half brother again, "Jon, did I find Mag?"
Jon suspiciously shook his head at once, "You? Found Mag? Pffff of course not." His lie was obvious and Arya was fighting a face-palm.
For her surprise, Jeyne Poole was her rescuer; she entered the kitchen barefoot, with messy hair and narrowed eyes and went to the fridge immediately. "What are you idiots shouting about this early in the morning?"
"He's too happy, I'm done here." Was Theon's prepared excuse, he stood up immediately and made his way out.
It was nothing wrong, nobody noticed, nobody thought it was strange, but Arya did. Now that she remembers, every time Jeyne would join a conversation Theon would perfectly draw back, and no one would ask why. Arya still couldn't understand how she didn't see any of it. He was straightforward avoiding her.
"Are you hungover?" Jon asked her, confused to the fact that nobody went out yesterday.
"Take a guess." She muttered, watching Theon's back leaving with a longing look, Arya saw and couldn't believe it. She must've always looked at him like that. Gods, Theon's concealing of this matter was too perfect.
Bran walked excitedly to her and showed his tattoo, hoping for positive feedback. She groaned, rubbing her head, "Who the heck is Meera?" she said, "What dull first words."
Bran sat on the table in despair, after a lazy walk of shame.
"You went out without me?" Sansa asked as soon as Jeyne sat on Theon's chair, which wasn't the only one empty.
"Damn fucking right I did." She said rudely, looking at Theon's half eaten food plate for a long time, and ate from it slowly. Arya began thinking this whole family was a bunch of oblivious idiots. It was right there in front of them, but nobody bothered to look twice! "Since the whole godsdamn family ignores me since I came – uh ah – don't fucking try to sugar coat shit, all of you, thank you so much for excluding me out of everything lately."
Everyone was silent. Staring at her like it was a Jeyne imposter sitting with them. Poole, as far as everyone knew, was an extension of Sansa, the fluffy, fake, girly friend of the family that didn't add anything to an argument, and always agreed to whatever Sansa said.
"Who... are you?" Robb said in shock, like he didn't recognize who was talking. "What did you do to our sweet Jeyne?"
"I'm someone who needs a fucking Panadol," Jeyne grunted, ignoring Sansa's attempt to hold her hand and stood up, walking where Theon went. Arya knew damn well there was no panadol at that side of the mansion.
"Since when did Jeyne turn into an Arya?" Jon spoke shortly after.
"I think those two switched personalities," Robb pointed at Arya.
"Seven save us." Sansa prayed, with a serious manner.
"You know nothing." Arya said tiredly after, unable to process how everyone around them was so blind, even she herself was, before yesterday happened.
She was leaving as well when Sansa called for her, "Wait, we should make it up for her!"
Arya groaned. "She's leaving tonight, remember? Spring break is over and she probably missed Winterfell." It was a lie. Today was the last day Jeyne would see her soulmate before she leaves, and without him even noticing her. Arya wasn't sure if Jeyne knew or not, but she probably felt all what she was feeling around her own soulmate, she could relate.
"I know, that's why we all should go out together."
"No." Robb immediately rejected, "The girl needs to leave sober and unmolested, and that's impossible if you take those morons out."
Sansa was persistent. "We won't take Theon this time." That won't help either.
"No." Robb was unmoved, "We'll stay at home and spend time together, my fiancé is leaving too, we'll spend all night with the two Jeynes, a family sit down, no clubs, nor parties."
Arya was instantly bored with the idea, she left them and hurried to the garage, smiling at her perfectly black car, it reminded her of Gendry, heck, everything reminded her of Gendry, and what he did to her the last time she saw him.
It was almost as if the wheels found their own way to Flee Bottom's, the whole ride was agony, what once was ten minutes seemed longer than two hours, the smile refused to go away, so did the urges she was having. She had to see him, fast, before she lost her entire wits.
Her heart became heavier with the first sight of the club, nobody came in this early in the morning but she knew the band took this time to rehearse, she had to see him, she promised.
Her body drove itself inside, with butterflies turning her stomach crazy with every closer step, she pushed the door open with perhaps too much force and was delighted by the music that entered her ears, even if Gendry wasn't singing, the sound of his keyboard was almost arousing.
It wasn't a real track, just some note practices, but she did not care. It was always pleasant to see Gendry working and being focused over something. It was so... hot.
His arms moved, tabbing on the keys side to side, Arya loved to see those muscles contracting and releasing, especially with the lights shining at them, he took heavy breathes and shook his head every now and then, his lips moving with the lyrics, and finally he noticed her, standing in front of the bar and eating him with her stare. He flashed a half smile and flicker of light shone in his pure blue eyes, not even a few seconds later their moment was interrupted.
The music stopped, Edric sighed and rubbed his face, and turned to his brother. "What was that?!" he demanded.
Gendry put his hands on his knees and shrugged carelessly, "I got distracted."
"Gods, he's been like this all morning." Bella said, annoyed. "Get a fucking grip, Gen."
"This is not what I want to get my grip on." He folded his hands across his chest and leaned back, taking a stealthy glance at Arya.
"Oh really? What about mine? On your insolent neck?" Mya glared at him, moving closer but Barra struggled to stop her.
"I'm sorry okay." Gendry put a hand in front of him.
"We're all just tired." Barra whispered.
"Tired of Gendry's fuck ups, you mean." Mya rolled her eyes. "Did the lady finally blow you or something?"
"Mya!" Barra yelled, looking at Arya. "She's right there!"
Mya went for the microphone. "If your name is Arya Stark, stop distracting my already retarded brother, we're trying to make a living here!"
"Hey, don't talk to her like that." Gendry said defensibly.
"Oh please Gen, that was my super sweet persona, wanna see my heartless bitch one?"
Edric huffed, "Just calm down. Take five."
"He better come back playing better than Jordan Rudess in those five!" Mya yelled, walking to the bathroom.
Gendry jumped from the stage and took a short time to settle himself next to her, Arya was already seated and looking away, with too much pressure not allowing her to face him. He leaned in, his arm right in front of her, "Giving me a hard on in front of my siblings is not fair, m'lady."
That voice. Godsdamnit, the way he says m'lady was ridiculously sexy in her ears. Everything about him was sexy. "I didn't do anything; you're just a horny jerk."
He leaned in more, whispering in her ear. "Only for you."
She gulped, scratching her cheek to hide herself, hide her immediate reaction to whatever he told her, hide how she was already turned on.
Arya tried to glue her eyes on the bar in front of her, but they kept drifting away to what caught their utmost attention, she could never control it.
"Only side glances now?" his voice was soft, and lustful. He eventually sat, his body too close and attached to her side. "As you will, let's play your cruel game."
The strength of the feeling she received was shocking, Arya thought that her body reactions would ease down a bit but they only seemed to come back stronger, and more overwhelming. She swallowed, fantasies and flashbacks going on a race inside her head. How he pushed me against the wall almost too roughly, and devoured my mouth like it was the only thing he saw. How he grabbed my hips in his strong hands, and traced my skin; that loved every contact and wanted more, with him grinding his body against mine, in those, insane, beautiful motions.
Arya bit her lips, suppressing a groan, which eventually came out as a soft humming sound. She fixed herself in her seat to get herself together, her insides throbbing painfully at the memory, the movement caught Gendry's attention, he immediately turned to see what made her make that awful noise.
Arya took her chances, and glanced at him, and those eyes were so dark she barely saw the striking blue in them now, suddenly feeling very intense under that damn lustful gaze, Arya gulped again and rubbed her neck, trying anything to distract herself from what she had gotten herself into.
She felt Gendry's head moving closer, way closer, his hot breath heating her jaw, and Arya knew she was doomed, but another unexpected person rescued her.
"Oh Arya, you're here."
As thankful as Arya thought she would be, it felt a little irritating, she wanted to be interrupted but at the same time she longed for it to continue, the inner turmoil continued as she took a glance at Mycah, now in the club uniform and a friendly smile on him.
Arya forced one of her own, trying her hardest to ignore the walking sex provocation sitting at her side. "Look who's finally here."
"Yes and on duty," The butcher boy said, glancing at Gendry and back at her, "Am I interrupting something?"
"No."
"Yes."
She glared at Gendry, "How's the job?"
Gendry grunted at that.
"Insane," he answered, trying his hardest to look mutual under Gendry's deadly stare. "Yoren says that I'm not half as good as you were, and he keeps taunting me about it."
"Ha! Really?" she smirked at herself, giving him a wink. "You've got a long way to go, Ginger."
"Y-yes." By now he was terrified, but managed to blush anyway. "You're staying for long?"
"Nah, I have kickboxing practice, some other time."
"Come often okay?" He smiled, "Do you want anything for now?"
Arya had half a mind to test his skills and as for a Lemon Drop, but Gendry did not let that happen. "No she doesn't."
Mycah slowly left from the tension, Arya still didn't turn to him, whining. "But I'm thirsty."
"God." He looked almost in pain, "Why does that sound so good in my head?"
She smiled widely and if possible, turned even more away.
"So kickboxing?" His hand was under his jaw and the gaze still there.
"Yes, I know, not very attract-"
"Sexy." That hoarse voice again. "That's so... sexy."
By now the feeling she had south was unbearable, but she still had a decent control. "That's a first..."
"Just..." He reached for her hand, rubbing the bruises with his thumb, very gently, and to her utter shock, he draw her knuckles near his mouth and kissed them, one by one, slowly, and sensually, his eyes not unlocking with her wide ones. "Don't hurt yourself."
Seven goddamn hells, she was about to jump him right then and there, but his siblings and Mycah were around, and Arya couldn't risk that, so she came up with a tactic. "So what do you think about Mycah?"
"Who?" he frowned, turning to where she was looking. "Oh him... that little shit, he's all over you."
She was amazed by how he noticed so fast, with one conversation. "How would you know?"
He quirked a brow knowingly. "Please, just look at him, the despair is radiating off and it's pathetic."
"He's my best friend." She said, glad that he was a little less horny with this subject, so she continued. "Though, he confessed to me when we were in Highschool, he's not bad looking so-"
Bad decision, she immediately realized.
The moment she turned around, Gendry was out of his seat and there was no mistaking the desire in his voice, "I'm not interested with that." Arya was yanked from her chair, a strong hand on her upper arm, was slowly leading her to the end of the bar and into a very familiar place, she heard a click and her other arm was held as well, shoving on the backside of the hallway door.
There was no protest left in her, that's all what she wanted to happen since she came here, Gendry's hard body was sealed on her own, crushing her against the surface, a hot, needful mouth was plastered on her own, this time she did not bother to stop the moan that urged to come out.
That only careless moment allowed Gendry to enter her mouth and thrust his hungry tongue inside. Their tongues were intrigued, dancing together in an animalistic way, and what a dance it was. Gendry forced her legs apart with his knees, his hands moving from her arms down to her waist and hip, Arya was by then dizzy, but the sensation was again the most passionate she had ever allowed herself to receive. His hands slid down and finally settled on her bum, pulling her even more into him as their unyielding tongues fought for dominance, and it was certainly the best fight she ever had, in the most sincere meaning. Gendry draw back and caught her bottom lip, sucking and then biting roughly and damn it to the hells she'd welcome it anytime, he wanted to trace down further into her jaw but the movement seemed too tiresome for him, "God, you're so short."
And then just like that, he lifted her up from her bottom like she was a dull, and placed her firmly on his chest, her legs wrapped around him instinctively and they were finally closer, more attached than they were before, Gendry moved on with his quest and licked her jawline like it was the tastiest thing he ever had, his groans turning louder each time Arya jerked her hips against him, wanting more, just, more. She was breathing loudly, taking in as much air as possible but Gendry didn't stop, his lips that she loved so much were then on her neck, sucking and his teeth scraping on her sensitive skin, and Arya never knew neck kissing felt so, utterly good. Huffs, moans, grunts were everywhere and she had no idea what belonged to whom, just the fact that Gendry was supporting her weight like she was nothing turned her on, his mouth was back on hers, and the battle resumed, and by now Arya was tired but she wasn't going to give in, hurried pants were fleeing from his lips as he spoke against her mouth in that damn gruff voice, "God, I want you so much, Arya."
Arya did not like to make this short break any longer, she wrapped her arms around his neck and clutched the hair at the base of his head and pushed his lips strongly against hers once more, more powerfully, she didn't know how she found it in her to kiss him even more passionately than before, circling her tongue with his and sucking his tasty teeth, her hands felt the strong muscles of his shoulders that reminded hers once again how perfect the man in front of her, or on her, undoubtedly was. His hips grinding against her was more rough and pleasurably painful, she did not care if they were in the back of a bar, she wanted him all in before this ended.
"Holy shit!"
She heard a bottle breaking against the floor.
She and her soulmate turned in an almost ecstasy to see Bella shaking at the sight."Holy fucking shit, guys!" she turned around and covered her eyes, "Oh gods, I need to wash my eyes with holy water!"
"Lord of Light, Bella!" Gendry yelled, frustrated and annoyed.
"Don't start, you ass!" Bella answered, "You've been gone forever and how in the seven hells would I know that you were fucking the lady against a wall!"
"This lady has a name!" Arya snapped.
"And this is a door." Gendry knocked on it for proof.
"Just..." she breathed heavily, going back to the exit at the end of the hallway, "Hurry up, would you? Our tour starts in a few weeks and you know how focused we should be." She managed straight words, and looked back, pointing awkwardly at them. "Continue... ahh, continue what you were doing. Think of it like I never came... use protec-"
"Bella!" Gendry yelled.
"Yes, yes, I'm out, sorry."
Arya's feet landed on the floor, and she forced her hands off of him, she was in no mood to 'continue what they were doing', not after hearing what his sister said, and managed her hardest not to sound pathetically sad as she felt. "Tour?"
He closed his eyes in defeat, "I wanted to tell you myself, when the time was right. But..."
"What was that about?"
"We're trying to build a name for ourselves outside of London, we'll start with the Wall of England, and to Braavos in Italy, and then I don't know where but production companies are coming in on us demanding to perform everywhere." He explained, not knowing that Arya already knew about it all.
"Sounds... fun." She said absentmindedly, "I wish I can go."
"Go with us?" Gendry seemed confused, "I'd love that but don't get me wrong, I don't think someone like you would enjoy it."
She glared at him.
"We'll go to strange places, and even with the fame, we're short of money and we'll meet all kinds of weird people..."
Basically everything she ever wanted to do.
What did he know about her? Nothing, he was her soulmate, and he knew nothing at all. He thought she won't like it, that she wants to stay here in this godsforsaken cage and pretend to be happy, all she every wanted was a soulmate who would take her away, and what did she gain? Someone who was going to leave her.
"Look, I know this is shit, but I have to do this." Gendry had the decency to cup her face and look at her like nothing was wrong. "I promise you, when I come back, I'll be more famous, more wealthy, and I'll have a higher standard, and I eventually, I hope, that I can be fit for you-"
"Fuck off!" she pushed him away, turning open the door behind her, she did want to hear any more of that nonsense.
She heard the voice of her name but paid no mind to it, and quickly made it out in fury. He is leaving me, Arya thought in despair, he's leaving me here to rot!
"Arya don't be like." Gendry said impatiently. "I'll come back, I promise I will."
"I don't want you to come back!" she answered, "Just go away, we're... we're so different. I'm so..."
"Out of my league, I know." He finished for her, "That's why I'm doing this!"
No, you bullheaded fuck. She thought.You're so out of my league.
"Go, then, have fun." She climbed into her car, Gendry didn't make a move to step out of the door and for that she was thankful.
She would not beg him, she would not explain to him that traveling the world was her desire, he should've known that, or at least, asked about her opinion on the matter, not labeling her as a pathetic stereotypical lady and making assumption about what she wanted or not. The soulmate fate, which she considered a blessing not a few minutes ago turned to light of what it really was, a curse.
Later that day more people went victim at the Kickboxing Center, until Jaqen put a stop to that and defeated her eighteen times in a raw, until she was finally done, with the training, with herself, and with her godsdamn life.
Arya's lifeless body dragged itself inside the mansion, which she went out from earlier this day full of joy and happiness. And that smile... what happened to it?
Gone, gone for a long time.
Arya didn't know why she didn't immediately head to her room after hearing the noises in the hall, but instead walked to it. As much as Arya pretended she hated her siblings' behavior, but they were the most entertaining group of people she knew, and one of the best distractions she was provided.
As expected everyone was there for the gathering; her entire siblings and all the girls, Miranda, Margery, Myrcella, Jeyne Westerling, and finally Jeyne Poole, who didn't look any better than the morning, and was staring yearningly at Theon who came in with three bottles of Whiskey in his hands. Again, nobody seemed to notice how she was looking at him. Theon placed the bottles on the table next to numerous shot glasses and sat down with everyone else, settling as far as he can from his soulmate.
Arya sat down next to Jon, tired, defeated, bruised, and lifeless. He rubbed circles in her back and said nothing, knowing what to do when she was in this state.
"What the heck happened to you?" Margery immediately asked.
She did not bother to answer.
"Damn," Theon looked at her, "Talk about change of mood. Do you need some more guy advice, sis?"
"I need you to fuck off."
"You'll come around." He turned and opened the bottle, pouring full amounts in each glass. "Listen up, as we discussed, this is a game of truth – since Ned Junior refused to add Dare to the game – we'll take turns clockwise, and you're not allowed to drink unless what you say is proved interesting. Any questions?"
"Can you kill yourself?" Arya asked.
"No. Anyone else?" he said indifferently.
Nobody spoke, they were all just eager to get a drink, Arya can see. That was Theon's cue to continue, "Okay, I'm first to go."
Everyone settled themselves to sit comfortably, wondering what Theon would say and how surprising it might be, he did all sorts of nasty things, and never kept anything a secret. Unless...
"Alright, remember my sister Asha?" he said, looking annoyed. "First time we met she grabbed my balls."
The reactions were expected, gasps and 'ewws' were all over the place, Arya had no idea what she expected from him.
"What the fuck man!" Bran exclaimed, "Just... why?!"
"I have no idea."
"What did you do?"
He furrowed his brows like the question was simply stupid. "I flirted back, of course."
"WHAT?!" everyone yelled, expect Arya and Jeyne. Again, Jeyne's face was shaped in obvious annoyance and Arya was getting angry of how everyone refused to care.
"I didn't know she was my sister," He put his hands up in defense. "But she knew."
"Gods, it runs in the family." Margery said.
"It was interesting, admit it."
"Drink." They all said in annoyance, and he happily obliged.
"Alright new rule," Jon offered, "When it reaches Theon's turn, we'll skip."
"Hey!"
"Shut up, you sicken me." Robb said.
Theon did not like what he was told, not the slightest. He reached for another glass, glaring at Robb. "Jeyne is pregnant." He drank.
Jaws were dropped, everybody for some reason looked at Jeyne Poole.
Theon was startled now, no, nervous. "N-Not Jeyne, gods forbid!" he exclaimed, "But Jeyne!" he pointed at Westerling.
He said 'gods forbid', and he sounded scared by the fact Jeyne would ever get pregnant. But did anyone notice? Absolutely fucking No.
Arya was fighting the desire to slam her head against a wall.
Reactions came back, more surprised than before, Robb had his head in his hands, and Westerling looked uncomfortable.
"So that's why you got engaged." Margery spoke everyone's mind.
"N-No!" Robb said defensibly, "We were just waiting for a sign, and the pregnancy came at the right time! J-Just – don't tell father! Or worse – mother!"
Everyone nodded, Sansa had happy tears in her eyes, "Oh gods! I will be an aunt!"
Arya rolled her eyes, a new Stark in the family, just what they needed. Inside she would've been excited, but Gendry destroyed that.
"Alright, just move on already!" Robb urged, his face red. He whispered something in Theon's ear and he didn't even flinch. Robb probably threatened to expose him.
It was Margery's turn, she pursed her lips, and finally managed something. "I lost my virginity when I was twelve."
Nobody reacted, Theon snorted, "We want truths Marg, not known facts."
"Fuck off." She answered, thinking of something else. "Okay, how about this, my brother is gay."
There were snickers this time.
"Truths, woman, truths!" Theon said again. "The whole kingdom knows that."
"Gods," she clinched her teeth and looking at the drink, gulping, "My soulmate is six years younger than me, he's fat, and he's a prince." She drank, knowing that what came out was shocking.
"Tommen?!" Myrcella gasped.
"Yeah," she turned her lips into that weird knowing smile, "But he has potential."
Miranda spoke next, "My soulmate is gay."
There was a deadly silence, she continued, "I saw him at the concert molesting a teenage boy."
"Pedos! Pedos everywhere!" Theon cried.
"Who?!" Margery was shocked. "Is that why you disappeared?"
"Yeah, because I needed time to fully realize I'll end up sad and lonely." She shrugged, "His name is Lyn, still the hottest thing I've ever seen."
Margery looked disgusted. Arya never knew heterosexuals can be paired with homosexuals, that was a new fact.
Rickon was after her but he got ignored the moment he tried to speak, Myrcella talked with a blush. "I-I'm not a virgin." Again the whole group went on a rampage.
"Wait hold on." Margery interrupted, "I said something more dangerous and nobody gave a fuck! She's bloody twenty!"
"Marg, she's Myrcella." Theon patted her shoulder, Arya could see that the casual contact alone made Jeyne glare at her friend like Margery murdered her entire family.
This is ridiculous. She thought.
Jon spoke up, "A girl approached me once, I went into her apartment, we got our clothes, things got heated... but I didn't do it, and ran away, naked."
Arya groaned, "Seriously Jon?"
Jon nodded, "You're not more disappointed than I was."
Robb seemed pleased, "I like how Jon is responsible, you should learn from him." He glared at Theon.
"Did you French her? Or at least grabbed a boob?" Was Theon's response.
"The former..." Jon narrowed his eyes.
"Drink." They all said lazily.
Now it was Arya's turn, this was not good, there were balls grabbing, soulmates, heated things and Arya had to bring something new to the table, she had to get her hands on that drink before she goes insane. The Mag situation was out of the question, so she said the deepest secret she ever carried around, of her unspoken teenage memory.
"I had a crush on my Instructor." Arya said, with a tired voice.
Margery laughed. "I thought we settled on truths not facts."
She was ignored, Arya continued. "I thought it was serious but I stopped once I realized he was thirty eight."
"Gods Arya!" Jon was horrified.
Sansa was flabbergasted. "H'ghar? That super sexy walking piece of hotness, a thirty eight year old?!"
"Seven hells, I need another drink." Margery hurried, "Come on, get on with it."
"No," Theon interjected, "Come on Ar, a crush. Pffft, top it up a notch, we're going scandalous level here."
She knew what he wanted. Arya was about to quit the game, but she needed that whiskey, she needed it too badly. One look at the bottle and her whole resolve was gone. Fuck it. "I met Mag four months ago, his name is Gendry and he's a walking talking utter piece of shit. Here, happy?" Arya took the whole bottle and drank almost a gallon of it. Her statement needed time be processed.
"I want my fucking car!" Robb broke the silence, to Arya's surprise, Sansa wasn't broken, but actually excited to have one of her favorite musicians as a brother in-law. And Jon fortunately stopped Arya from punching her at that, and soon after the teasing stopped.
By the time Bran and Sansa's turn were over half of them were drunk, nobody cared about turns after Arya's outburst, and they all drank uncoordinatedly but the truths kept coming.
Sansa admitted she had a sexual fantasy about Sandor which made Arya's truth not matter anymore, Bran confessed that Meera did flirt with him when he was a child, but she stopped. Robb admitted he never wanted the baby and Westerling left the room, then came back after he practically begged her and said that he wasn't expecting it but the idea of being a father was the biggest joy he had, that taught him to never dare to speak the truth to his future wife ever again. Westerling openly confessed that she hated Catelyn, and nobody bothered to ask why.
Then finally, was the main event, at least what Arya was looking forward to since she sat down. She was glad to see Jeyne already drunk and angry, and she hoped something will come out of her. She wanted a bomb, she craved it.
Jeyne poured whiskey and glared at her soulmate. "Theon fucked a servant girl when was fourteen."
Oooh shit. Shots were immediately fired, Arya saw the look on Theon's eyes.
Explode.
EXPLODE.
But Theon remained calm, much to her dismay. "Theon didn't fuck a servant girl." He smiled thinly at her, drinking.
Arya could tell Jeyne knew he was saying the truth, just exactly how she could tell about Gendry, but the girl had too much anger in her.
"Alright fine." She drank again, not even thinking of what to say next. "You have been ignoring me for years, and-" she pointed at everyone. "Nobody seems to give a flying fuck!"
There were no words spoken, nobody knew what the hells those two were on about, but Arya did, and Arya enjoyed it.
Her brother's cool was slowly fading. "Theon had his reasons."
"I want to know your fucking reasons, you stupid fuckboy!" she was yelling at that point. "Was there a time of your life where you actually said the truth, huh?"
Arya was sure, by now, that Jeyne did not know. The girl had no idea why she was acting this way around him, it was evident. She probably believed, just like everyone else did, that Theon never got his tattoo. Even his own soulmate was fooled by his ploy.
"You know what, Jey, you're so full of shit yourself!" Theon shot back, "Why don't you ask an actual question that you don't already have the answer to?"
"It can't be just me, it can't!" Jeyne was close to tears, angry tears, Arya knew. "Why do I feel like this with you, and you don't even care? It doesn't make any sense! Why?"
"Because.." Theon closed eyes, Arya sucked in her breath, she'd never seen Theon angry before, not when he was bullied to no end, not when his uncles and sister abandoned him, not when his favorite team lost a championship match, not when Robb broke his arm when they were children, never. But now, he was furious. "Because I'm your fucking soulmate damn it!" And for the first time ever, he shouted.
She heard furniture moving, people were scattered everywhere, Jeyne was crying and cursing in multiple tongues, everyone was yelling around her, Theon went out of the room after breaking some chairs, and kicking the Direwolf statue to pieces, with her older brothers trying to calm him down. Arya was dizzy, and grinning widely.
That was one hell of a distraction.