Chapter 47
Sansa Stark POV
Valentine's Day is this Sunday, and it's the first time I've been in a relationship for it. Does Ramsay expect me to get him something, or is that his job? If he does get me something, will he expect me to do things for him in return? Probably.
"So I was thinking I could take you to that new Italian place that's supposed to be really good for Valentine's Day," Ramsay says as he's driving me home on Wednesday. "I already made the reservation."
Shit that's a lot of carbs. "Yeah that sounds good," I respond. "I haven't been yet." I feel bad saying no since Ramsay already made the reservation. Plus, I don't have an excuse as to why I don't want to eat that kind of food.
"And then maybe… we could go back to my place. My dad and stepmom are leaving town that night."
"Yeah, sure," I reply. I'm anxious about what'll happen at his place, but I feel like I can't say no. I've found that with Ramsay, it's easier for me to just agree. "I'd love to meet your parents."
"My stepmom is annoying, and my dad is a dick. That pretty much sums them up."
"Well, I want to know more about you," I say. I feel like he never talks about his home life. "You have dogs, right?"
"Yeah we have 5, but I kind of ignore them when they cause trouble. They need to learn how to act before I can give them what they want." That's troubling, does that mean he doesn't feed them or take them out when they annoy him?
"When did your dad marry your stepmom?" I ask to change the subject.
"Last year," he replies. "They're having a baby."
"Oh that's so great."
"It's really not. That's all they'll be focusing on when he's born." Yeah, that tends to happen when people have a baby. We pull up to my house.
"Bye," I say, giving Ramsay a kiss.
"Bye babe." I walk into my house and go up to my room.
"How's it going with Ramsay?" Arya asks when I come in. "Are you excited for Valentine's Day?"
"Yeah, I guess," I reply, setting my stuff down.
"What's wrong?"
"I just…" I start, laying on my bed. "He wants me to do a lot of sexual stuff, which I should have expected. I guess I just hoped he would be understanding when I said I wasn't ready."
"What does he want you to do?"
"Just like, handjobs and oral. I know it's either do that stuff or not have a boyfriend at all, but it still sucks."
"Have you told him you don't want to?"
"Yeah," I say, shrugging. "He gets really upset, it doesn't really go anywhere."
Arya isn't sure what to say. I know she's only 12 and doesn't really know how to respond, but I tell her everything.
"Is this what dating is like for everyone in high school?" Arya asks me.
"I want to say no," I respond. "But I'd be lying if I said that." Arya doesn't respond to that. I feel bad, but I can't lie to her. I'm glad she doesn't have to worry about this stuff yet.
Jon Snow Stark POV
I was going to get Ygritte a flower from the school booth this week for Valentine's Day, but I can't now that we broke up. Every year the student council sells roses that students can buy for their friends and significant others that are delivered for Valentine's Day to classrooms. I'm not a fan of it, it seems very performative.
I agreed to pick up Sansa after cheer today since it coincides with the end of rock climbing practice, and I'm obviously not taking Ygritte home anymore. I'm a little sad that we broke up, but I think it was the right decision. I'm sitting outside on a bench, waiting for Sansa when Daenerys Targaryen walks out of the South entrance. She sits down on the bench next to me.
"Hey," she says to me. "What's up?" I'm not sure why she's talking to me.
"Just waiting for Sansa," I respond. "Where is everyone else?"
"They're still getting ready, I'm just waiting for Cersei. She's almost done with her newspaper meeting, and we're getting dinner tonight."
"Oh cool," I respond. There's a long pause.
"Where's your girlfriend?" Daenerys suddenly asks me. "Normally I see you with her."
"Oh, we broke up."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"It's okay. She's great, I just felt like we didn't have much in common."
"Really?" Daenerys asks me.
"Yeah, I deal with a lot of stress with my family and I felt like she couldn't relate to any of that or empathize with me."
"I know what you mean," Daenerys responds. "I'm always dealing with stuff with my dad. It feels like no one understands, so I don't really bring it up anymore." That surprises me, I thought her life was perfect. I knew her father had some issues, but I figured it wasn't a big deal when you're as beautiful and rich as Daenerys Targaryen.
"Sorry about that," I say to her. "That must be rough." I don't want to ignore what she has to say and have her feel like I don't care, but I also don't know how to respond.
Daenerys shrugs. "It is what it is," she says. At that moment, Cersei walks outside and Daenerys gets up to walk with her. "Bye." I wave goodbye to her. Sansa and the other girls walk out shortly after.
"Hey," I say to Sansa. "You ready?"
"Yeah," she responds.
"Is there some reason Ramsay couldn't take you home today?" I ask her. I want to know if he's acting questionable in any way.
"He had a lot of homework to get done," she responds, shrugging. She seems to not want to talk about him. We get in the car and drive home.
Samwell Tarly POV
It's the Thursday before Valentine's Day, and Gilly is coming over to meet my family finally. I'm pretty sure they didn't believe she was real. I'm nervous for her to meet my dad. He can be kind of a jerk, especially when he finds out people are in different social classes from him.
Gilly and I are on our way to my house, and I feel like I want to warn her. I don't want her to freak out, but I think she should know about my father. On the other hand, I don't want her to think that I look down on her social status because her family doesn't have money just because that's how my dad feels. I ultimately decide to not say anything and just hope for the best. My mom greets us sweetly when we come in. My mom isn't the one I'm worried about, it's my dad.
"Hi Sammy," my mom says as we come in. She turns to Gilly. "You must be Gilly, this meeting is long overdue! Sam hasn't stopped talking about you for months." God, really mom? I start blushing.
"It's so great to meet you, Mrs. Tarly," Gilly says, shaking her hand. My mom gives her a hug, which Gilly didn't expect. It catches her off guard, but she welcomes it. My father and sister walk down, which makes me incredibly nervous.
"Gilly?" My dad asks. Gilly just nods. "It's nice to meet you."
"You too, Mr. Tarly," Gilly responds, shaking his hand. My dad isn't the type to go in for a hug like my mom is.
We sit down to eat, and there isn't much conversation happening. That's typical in the Tarly household, there's usually a lot of tension. I guess that's better than yelling, which is usually the other option.
"Gilly, are you a junior?" My mom asks.
"I'm a sophomore," she responds.
"Do you know what you want to do?"
"Not yet. I love drawing with charcoal, but I'll probably have to get a job right when I turn 16."
"Why is that?" My dad asks.
"We struggle a lot financially. We have a lot of sisters and nieces living in the house, so I know I'll need to help out whenever I can."
There's a pause. I know this can't end well. "Where do you live?" My dad asks. I can tell he's scoping her out and trying to find out more.
"I live in the East district in a rental house," Gilly responds. "It's small but it'll make do." Oh no. No no no. My dad has a passionate hatred for the East district and everyone who lives there. He won't like that.
After a pause of silence and a couple more bites of food, my dad speaks up. "It's getting late," he says. "Why don't you take Gilly home?"
"Dad," I respond. "We aren't done eating."
"Go." He doesn't sound happy. I get up, wave Gilly along and we go outside to the car.
"What was that about?" She asks me.
"I didn't want to tell you this," I say as I start to drive home. "But my dad is very classist. He doesn't like associating with people without money. I hate that about him, and I was hoping he wouldn't find out."
"Are you ashamed of me? Is that why you didn't tell him?"
"Not at all! I'm ashamed of him, and I didn't want him to discount you over that."
Gilly starts to tear up. I feel awful. "I'm so sorry," I continue. "I didn't want this to happen."
We pull up to her house. "Bye," she says. "See you tomorrow."
"Gilly wait," I say, grabbing her arm. "You know this doesn't change anything with us, right?"
"It doesn't?" She asks.
"Not at all," I reply. "In fact, it makes me want to date you more."
"Why?"
"Because I love you," I blurt out. I don't know why I said that. "I'm sorry."
She just smiles at me. "I love you too." She gives me a kiss and walks inside.
When I get home, my dad is waiting for me on the couch. He's facing away from me and reading. "Sam," he says when he hears me come in. "Come sit next to me." Shit.
I sit across from him in a chair. "Why didn't you tell me you were dating a lowlife?" He asks me. "You know how I feel about that."
"I didn't think it should matter," I reply. "She's an amazing person."
"I don't care. You are not to see her anymore."
I just pause, then I get up and go to my room. I don't care what he has to say. I'm still going to see Gilly. She's beautiful and amazing, and I love her. Nothing will change that.
