Chapter 44

Jon Snow Stark POV

When I woke up on New Year's day, Ygritte was gone. I think she had Tormund pick her up. She fell asleep in my parents room that night. I was upset that she left, but we talked things out on the phone that night. We're both so different, I'm not sure how long things will work between us.

Ygritte and I are eating lunch with Sam and Gilly, it's the first day back at school after winter break. I've been hearing people gossiping and whispering about some party over the break, but I'm not sure what the big deal is. There's always some party that people are talking about, and it's usually the Lannister's. I honestly couldn't care less what went down. Ygritte lays her head on my shoulder, and I can tell she wants me to put my arm around her. I don't feel like doing that, so I just give her a kiss on the head.

"Gilly," Sam says. "My parents want to have you over for dinner soon so they can get to know you."

"That sounds good," she replies. "I'm excited to meet them."

"I'd love to meet your dad someday soon, I'm sure he wants to meet me."

"Yeah, maybe someday soon." She's brushing off that idea, which seems odd. Why doesn't she want Sam to meet her dad?

"Hey," Ygritte says, nudging me. "You seem quiet."

"Oh, I'm fine," I say. "Just stressed out and thinking about what to get Sansa for her birthday. It's in a couple weeks."

"Oh, I can help you shop for her," Ygritte says. "I may know better what to get."

"Okay, that would be helpful," I reply. I don't want to go shopping with her, but I can tell she means well so I will. I just don't know if this is the right fit for me anymore, but I feel like I should try to work it out with her because I like her. And I can't just leave her without even trying, she was my first. This is so complicated, and it's why I wanted to leave dating for after high school.

Sansa Stark POV

My birthday is in less than two weeks. It's my lucky birthday, I'll be 15 on January 15th. I bring up that my birthday is coming up during lunch.

"What are you doing for it?" Margaery asks me.

"I really didn't have any plans," I reply. "I thought I might just go shopping with my mom and sister or something."

"We should do something," Daenerys chimes in. "You shouldn't be without friends on your birthday."

"I don't know what I would want to do," I say. "I didn't have any ideas."

"Would your mom be okay with some of us coming over?" Margaery asks.

"I'd have to ask, but it sounds fun."

"Let us know," Daenerys says. "It would be fun to do something."

I really do want to do something for my birthday, even though the food aspect gives me anxiety. I've been throwing away most of my lunch at school since my mom is on to me.

"Oh!" Margaery suddenly yells. "Did you guys here what went down at the Lannister's New Year's party?"

"About the foursome?" Daenerys asks. "Yeah, that was nuts!"

"What?" I ask, suddenly tuning in. I have no idea what they're talking about.

"Some guy who wasn't invited crashed the New Year's party and had a foursome with three girls in one of the bedrooms," Margaery says, turning to me. "Apparently it was his first time."

"Whoa, what?" I ask, shocked. "How did I miss that?"

"You were probably off with Ramsay," Cersei says. And she's right, I was. "Everyone was kind of off doing their own thing, it was after midnight aparently."

"Who was it?" I ask.

"He goes to our school," Margaery says. "P something."

"Podrick," Daenerys says. "Everyone's talking about it. If people don't know his name now, they will."

I'm shocked. Podrick is one of Jon's friends, I can't believe someone he knows did something like that. Jon doesn't hang out with people like that, this is seriously crazy.

Cersei Lannister POV

I don't want to be with Euron anymore. I never really wanted to be with him, but now he either bores me to death or he just annoys me every time he breathes. The sex isn't even that good, we honestly don't have that much sex because he's not good at it.

"I'm breaking up with Euron after school today," I tell Jaime as we're walking to class after lunch. "He's supposed to take me home, but I wanted to ask if I can ride with you."

"Of course you can," he replies. "Why are you breaking up with him?"

"I'm so bored, Jaime. I never really liked him, and the sex wasn't even good." I can tell he's trying not to show how happy he is.

"Well you should break up with him if you're unhappy."

"I will. Will you pull up to the back parking lot after school so I can get in the car after I dump him?"

"Yeah of course." We stop at my class and he gives me a very subtle and quick hug.

Euron meets me outside of my last class when the bell rings. We get out to his car, I need to do this before I get in.

"Euron," I say. "I don't think we can be together anymore."

"What?" He asks me, stopping.

"I don't think this is right for me, I'm about to leave for college and I need to focus on my life beyond high school."

He takes a deep breath, I can tell he isn't happy. "Is this about Jaime?" He asks me.

"What?" I'm playing dumb. "Why would this be about Jaime?"

"Don't play dumb, Cersei. I know, okay? Everyone knows, and you can at least tell me the truth." As if on cue, Jaime pulls into the parking lot.

"It's about me and my life," I reply, walking off. "That's it."

"Cersei!" He calls after me. I get into Jaime's car and we drive off.

…

I'm trying to fall alseep, but I'm having a hard time. I always sleep better when I'm with Jaime, but I can't go in there every night. It doesn't make sense that I can't sleep, I'm so tired. It's not that I'm sad that I broke up with Euron, I actually couldn't care less about that. I don't feel like myself, and my stomach has been bothering me too. I think I'm just about to get my period, it was supposed to come a few days ago.

I'm honestly counting the days until we graduate and get to leave for college. I can't wait to be away from father and Tyrion. I know Jaime will want to come back and visit, but we would never set foot back in this house if it were up to me. I feel lucky that my family has enough money to pay for college and to pay for me and Jaime to live in an apartment together, but that doesn't change the fact that I can't wait to leave. I'm so glad I won't be stuck here, like Dany. I feel bad that she feels like she has to stay here, but I would never make that sacrifice. Maybe that's selfish, but it's what you have to do to get anywhere in life.