Christmas was definitely coming, he could feel it in the air, but just like his youngest sister, Robb wasn't really in Christmas mood either. He just wanted to get through on it safely and calmly, because for what was coming after, well, he needed to stay strong. He tried to pretend that everything is okay, and it wasn't that hard as Jeyne actually thought that everything is perfectly okay between them.
But things already started getting worse in the first morning after their arrival. He was walking down the stairs to have breakfast, when he heard loud voices from the dining hall, it seemed like his whole family had been into a huge fight:
"I'M SURE IT'S A CARTIER!" - Sansa screamed hysterically.
"I don't think it would be a Cartier, those are… Well, you might be right" - that was Jeyne.
"Holy Mother of God, how could he afford a diamond ring?! I hope he didn't do anything illegal… " - his mother said, obviously.
"Fuck that damned ring, is it that important where he got it?" - he heard Arya's annoyed voice.
"Arya, I've told you several times, don't swear like a sailor!"
Robb stopped. He could figure out right away what's been going on: Jon proposed to Ygritte, she said yes, and everyone learnt about it that morning. He took his phone to look for evidence and soon he found it on Facebook: a photo of a beautiful, simple white gold ring with an arrow-shaped diamond on a pale hand, posted about an hour ago. A life event was added too: Jon Stark and Ygritte Wilde are engaged.
So it happened. He knew it would happen soon, yet it felt so… Strange. It became real, official and it made his anxiety grow bigger. He even thought for a minute about skipping breakfast, but then he decided to take a risk and enter to hell (sorry, to the dining hall).
"Robb, have you heard? JON PROPOSED TO YGRITTE THIS MORNING AND SHE SAID YES!" - Sansa screamed when he arrived.
Every head turned to him. They cleary expected him to get excited about the news, but Robb decided not to make a scene (or develop the previous one) and sat down beside Jeyne.
"Yes, I did - he nodded. - Congrats for them."
"You don't seem that surprised at all - Sansa said with disappointed face. - Anyway, tell Arya that a proper wedding DOES require bridesmaids and…"
"Darling, calm down, it's not your wedding. Robb, did you too know about Jon's plan?" - his father asked.
"Well… Yes, I mean he mentioned he wants to…"
"Hell Robb, I'm sure he didn't just MENTION it! - Arya cut in. - At least to me he said he found the one and he wants to spend the rest of his life with her."
"Okay, he told me that too, are you happy now? Why do you ask, Dad, didn't he talk to you about it?"
"No, but honestly I don't mind, he's grown up and he can make his own decisions. He's happy with Ygritte and that's the most important thing. The details can be discussed after they returned from Paris."
It was obvious he didn't want to continue talking about the subject and Robb was very grateful to him because of it.
Seemed like the storm passed away, the breakfast continued camly. But it was just an illusion. Only some minutes after his mother said:
"Robb, could you help me out please?"
"Okay Mom, I'm coming" - he nodded and followed her.
Once got to the kitchen, Catelyn closed the door, looked into his eyes and asked what he's been afraid of:
"Look… Now that your… half-brother is about to get married, don't you think you should take a step further too?"
"Jesus, I knew it… - he muttered. - I'm sorry but my answer is no."
"Why not? You don't have to do it right away, I thought you should just plan out a proposal for next year. You and Jeyne are perfect together, why would you wait?"
"Because we haven't even gratuated yet!" - was the first thing that came into his mind but he already knew halfway it wasn't the best solution.
"Next year you'll graduate in Bsc and as we've talked about it earlier, there's no big need for you to do the Msc too. Besides, your half - brother didn't hesitated about this issue."
"I'm only 20, I don't think…" - he tried again, but didn't succeed.
"He's 20 too, and he's about to get married! Look Robb, I really appreciate what he's achieved, but you have to remember that you're the future representation of our family, and you have to…"
"I'm sorry I haven't started my professional carrer yet, you know, what I'll do DOES require a degree!"
Unless you're born for business, in that case you can start your own while at university.
"...take steps further too, people will think you're incompetent, which you are NOT, of course, but…"
"Mom, please stop! he cut in. - It's 2015, not 1815, I'm not missing anything if I don't get married by 22 or something…"
"CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE HOW I FEEL?! Your father is so-overwhelmly proud of him, of course, he's his son, but NOT MINE! He's the disgrace in my life, the scandal, yet he's the one who's making progress, who's pushing back YOU!"
"IT'S INSANE! - he felt like the situation itself was insane too, yelling at each other about nonsense things. - I have absolutely no intention to compete with Jon, he's my brother, I know you hate hearing this, but it won't change the facts! I'm happy for him, for the life he's built up, so please let me live my own!"
Before she could react anything, Robb stormed out of the kitchen backdoor, run upstairs to his room and slammed the door.
"Fuck it…" - he whispered.
He and his mother were really close, he hated fighting with her, he was her favorite. You don't pick from your children ONE favorite, but it was obvious Robb was Catelyn's favorite. The handsome and clever boy, straight A-student since elementary school, heir of the family business, future father of future perfect kids. They even looked very alike, with the shape of their faces, their wavy auburn hair and bright blue eyes. But exactly because of it, he skipped the whole "figuring out my shit" - phase: he's always been told what he should do and he did what people expected him to do.
At this point Robb even started to question his choice of faculty. Was Business and Management his true goal or he was just being the perfect firstborn again? He quite liked what he'd been studying, he had good grades, his summer internship was successful (Of course, at our OWN company), yet sometimes he wasn't sure if he really wanted this. Deep in his mind he knew it was insane, that others would kill for a family company which can provide you instant leader position, but he missed fighting for his dreams, like his brother or his best friend did.
The recent events made him realize the time came to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. And the first step was stepping out of a nearly non-existent relationship.
"Just hold on… - he whispered to himself. - Hold on until the goddamned Christmas is over. You can break up with her after that. You will seem a dickhead but that's it, life sucks. But if you don't want to go crazy, you have to break up with her. It's easier and more reasonable than dropping out of school and explaining it to your parents."
A/N: I know this chapter was shorter than usual, but I'm planning on updating again this week in return! :) I hope you liked it anyways!