Chapter 38

TW: Medical problems related to EDs in this chapter

Sansa Stark POV

We're back at school, and today is Thursday, which means it's the first basketball game of the season. Cersei is throwing a party tomorrow night to kick off basketball season, apparently she does this every year. There's only about three weeks left until Christmas break starts. I'm kind of dreading the Christmas season, I slacked a lot on my diet over Thanksgiving break.

Ramsay and I have been texting a little bit. He's been so sweet. I know he seemed like a jerk when he was making fun of Theon, but that's kinda just how guys act together. I'm sure it's all in good fun. He and I have been texting about so many things, he's so easy to have a conversation with.

We're getting ready for the game in the locker room when it's revealed that Missandei is finally dating Grey Worm.

"What happened?" Daenerys asks Missandei.

"Many things," is all Missandei will say. "We went on a date over Thanksgiving break and afterwards one thing let to another." There's a shriek among the girls. I don't really know Missandei, but I'm happy for her. Apparently she's wanted him for a long time.

As I'm cheering in the first basketball game, I see Ramsay, Theon and Cersei in the crowd. I knew Cersei came to every basketball game to watch Jaime, and it's nice that Ramsay and Theon are also here now that football season is over. As we finish our last routine for the game, I start to feel really dizzy and lightheaded. I've been feeling like this off and on for a while this week. I somehow make it through the routine, but as I'm walking back to the bleachers, my vision goes black. I fall down, but I don't remember actually hitting the ground. Margaery comes over to me and I can hear her freaking out. She helps me up and I feel like I'm barely conscious. She walks me over to the nearby locker room and we sit down.

"What happened?" I ask her.

"You passed out a little bit!" She says. "Everyone else is finishing the winning routine, the coach said I could take you in here." She hands me some water and I start drinking. This must be because I didn't eat at all yesterday or today.

Margaery gets a protein bar out of her bag and tries to hand it to me. At first I wave it away. "Sansa," she says. "You need to eat something to get your blood sugar up. That's probably why you passed out." She's right. I take the protein bar and eat a couple bites. I don't even want to eat it, it feels wrong in my stomach. I guess my body feels weird consuming food after so long.

…

It's Friday, and I stayed home from school today just to be sure I was okay. It's nice to have a break, but it sucks that I have to miss Cersei's party tonight. My mom is making me drink Gatorade and eat decently, she arranged to work from home today. She doesn't know what caused me to pass out, but she assumes I must have been overworking myself and not drinking enough water.

A little after school would have ended, there's a knock at the door. I'm laying on the couch, and my mom insists on getting the door. When she opens it, Ramsay is standing on the porch.

"Can I help you?" My mom asks.

"Hello, Mrs. Stark," Ramsay says, extending his hand so she can shake it. "I'm Ramsay, I'm a friend of Sansa's and I just wanted to check on her."

"Sure, come in. She's on the couch."

Ramsay comes in, sits next to me on the couch and hands me a container. "I brought you some leftover stew my stepmom made," he says. "I thought you might like it."

"Thank you," I say. "You didn't have to do that. How did you find where I live?"

"Dany told me. I wanted to surprise you."

"I really appreciate it. I didn't know you knew what happened."

"I saw you pass out, and then Margaery and Daenerys told me what went down. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

I just smile at him. My mom is in the kitchen, but she can't quite see us. Ramsay gives me a kiss on the head. "I'll text you later," he whispers before walking out the door.

"Sansa," I hear my mom say after he leaves. "Who was that boy?"

"He's just a friend from school," I reply. "He hangs out with Daenerys sometimes."

"How old is he?"

"He's a junior, why?"

"I just… wanted to know. No one who's just a friend comes by like that."

"Mom, he's really just a friend," I pause, unsure if I should say what I'm thinking. "But honestly, I think he might like me."

"If so, I need to get to know him more," my mom says as she walks upstairs. God, why does she have to be so nosy?

Cersei Lannister POV

It's almost time for the party that I'm throwing to celebrate the start of basketball season. Sansa isn't coming, which I'm glad about. At least tonight I don't have to pretend to like her.

Dany is helping me set up, and she's sleeping over tonight. I wish she was my actual sister, it would be nice to have one instead of Tyrion.

Jaime and I turn 18 on Christmas Eve, and we're throwing a huge 18th birthday/Christmas rager the day before. Father's firm always throws a Christmas party every year in a fancy hotel ballroom, and we convinced him to make this year's event a joint party with our 18th birthday. He stopped really doing anything for our birthday when his law firm started throwing these Christmas parties. It's not like I need to have my daddy throw me a birthday party as if I'm 7 years old, but it would be nice if he acknowledged it. The most we get for our birthdays these days is maybe a piece of cake each with a candle and some spending money, as if money makes up for us not having a mom or dad around.

That's part of why Dany and I are so close. I was there for her during her father's breakdown, and she stayed with us a lot before she was able to take care of herself. A family friend would stay with her at her house sometimes, but she preferred to stay with us. I'd do anything for that girl. Well, almost anything.

Jaime and I are also throwing this basketball season party to celebrate that we got into a university about a two hour drive away. We plan to live together during college under the guise of saving money, even though everyone knows we don't need to save money. I don't know what our excuse will be to live together after that, and I also don't know what I'm going to do about Euron betwee now and graduation time.

I'm excited for college, we can finally do what we want and we won't have to sneak around. Dany applied to the same college, but she applied late so she's still waiting to hear back. I'm sure she'll get in, she helps a lot with the homeless community by joining fundraisers and charity drives, and her grades are decent. I can't wait to spend 4 more years partying and enjoying myself, but without having to worry about our parents. And I'll finally be away from Tyrion, God that's the dream.

Jaime Lannister POV

The party is kicking into high gear, Cersei always goes all out for basketball season. I'm standing around with Ramsay, Theon and a couple of guys from the basketball team while Cersei is off with her friends and clinging onto Euron's arm. I wish she could be on my arm instead.

Grey Worm walks up to us. "Ramsay," he says. "Myranda is here, she wants to talk to you."

"Tell her to fuck off," Ramsay responds before taking a big swig of beer. He's getting tipsier. "I dumped her for a reason, and I've moved on. I already have my eyes on another."

"Who?" I ask.

"Sansa Stark," Ramsay responds with confidence. That gets Theon's attention.

"Really? A freshman?" Theon asks. Ramsay is the type of guy who you wouldn't think would go for a freshman.

"She's so sexy, and she'll be queen of Winterfell High one day," Ramsay has this all figured out. "I don't care that she's a freshman. I'm a great teacher."

"At what?" Theon asks.

"You know what, Reek. God, how are you such an idiot?" Ramsay responds, playfully shoving him. "I think she's into me, too. I just have to lock her down. That was the plan tonight, but she's not feeling well. I'll be asking her out very soon."

I know Ramsay is bad news, but I could see Sansa falling for him. He can really turn on the charm, I've seen him do it.

Cersei and I make eye contact from across the room and she waves me over. It's time for us to announce that we got into our top choice college.

Cersei goes up to the front of the room and clinks a knife against her glass. "Everyone, listen up!" She yells. Everyone goes quiet. "Jaime and I have an announcement to make."

I look over at Jaime and smile. He pulls out the acceptance letter from a drawer behind us and says, "We got into Southwestern University!" A series of cheers erupts from the room. Cersei and I cheers and take a drink from our glasses. It takes everything in me not to hug her and kiss her right now. I couldn't be happier about this outcome, college is the first step to our life together.

Cersei Lannister POV

Dany and I are drinking wine in my room after the party, just laughing and having fun being drunk. Ramsay, Theon and Grey Worm stayed over, but everyone else went home. We tried to get Missandei and Myranda to stay, but they're crashing at Missandei's place.

"I can't wait for college," I say to Dany. "If you get in, which I know you will, we're going to have so much fun."

There's a pause, and Dany's expression drops. "Cersei?" She asks me.

"Yeah?"

"I decided to take a gap year after graduation."

"What? I thought you also applied!" I'm so angry, she promised me.

"I did! If I get in, I'm deferring."

"But, why?"

"I need to make sure my dad is okay, he isn't ready to return to this house yet without me. I can spend those two semesters doing charity work and easing my dad into living alone again. I'll come visit all the time. Plus, Daario asked me to be official the other day. I want to stay close to him and see where it goes."

"So you're choosing a guy over your best friend?" I'm getting really angry now.

"Cersei, no! That's just one plus for me. The main reason is my dad."

I think for a second. I'll miss Dany so much, it really pisses me off that she would do this. But I also know I would do the same for Jaime if he needed it.

"How am I going to survive the first year of college without you?" I ask her.

"You'll have Jaime," Dany replies. "You know you can handle anything, Cers. You'll completely destroy anyone who gets in your way, I know you can do it. You've done it your whole life, with very little help from me."

I know she's right, it's just that going to college together was always the plan. This just proves to me that the only person who will ever be consistent in my life is Jaime. The thing I want most in life, above all else, is to be with him.