BRAN

Bran is in his last year in college so he decided to do something outside the box. Something fun and something his parents might not approve of.

His parents, Eddard and Catelyn Stark seemed to have planned everything step by step. You need to do this, you need to do that…blah, blah, blah. His older siblings did that, well, except Arya, but he didn't have the balls to stand up to them the way she did.

His eldest brother, Robb was to take over their family company, and their Dad had him take business administration before proceeding to law which was definitely in Robb's domain, as he liked being in charge.

Their cousin/adopted brother Jon, who was the same age as Robb, joined the military like their Dad's brother, their Uncle Benjen.

His sister Sansa took up Finance Accounting which she seemed to be happy about. Not many would have thought a cheerleading captain in her high school years would take up a program with so much math involved.

His other sister Arya was asked to take up the same program as Sansa's, because as their Mom had insisted that they were girls and they should know how to handle money, especially when they get married and whatnot. Arya ended up taking the same program, much to her dismay. But she did something, risky. She went took up Finance Accounting on the first term of school but shifted to the Architecture program on the next term, and their parents never found out until she graduated last year.

Their youngest brother Rickon was still in his senior year in high school, enrolled in a super old private school in Winterfell, Torrhen Stark Academy. He considered it old because it's the same school his Dad and his siblings went to when they were in their basic ed years.

They also have a foster brother, Theon Greyjoy. Bran's parents offered to foster over him, so he lived with them, eat the same food, given his own bedroom, and sent to the same school as they were. Theon came to live with them after his Mom died as his own father was mentally unstable and no relative of him would care to take him in. He was also the same age as Robb and Jon, so they were often seen together. And in college, he took up a program that's business related. And even though, he's moved out of their house, he often visited when everyone else comes home.

Bran himself was asked to take up Business Marketing so that he can help his brother in their family business in the future. He never liked it, of course, and did the same thing his sister Arya did and shifted a degree program to Structural Engineering. But unlike Arya, his parents found out about a week after the second term began. He got the initial scold from his Dad saying he's ruined their plans for them and the family business and all. But thankfully, his Mom took his side and insisted that he should choose a program that he likes. And of course, like the good brother that he was, he never snitched on Arya as she made him a deal about starting a construction business as partners.

Currently, Bran was enrolled in the University of White Harbor, the most prestigious university in the region of the North. Located, of course, in the coastal city of White Harbor, the largest city in the North. Now with all his older siblings graduated and living their own lives in Winterfell, he was the only one left among his family in the flat unit, as their parents had bought a unit outside campus to house them while they attend college. And since he was alone, his Dad allowed a son of another business partner from Torrhen's Square to bunk in with him.

His roommate, Beren Tallhart, was a polar opposite of him. Unlike him, Beren was often at parties on the weekends, seeing girls and always on his phone talking to people. Bran was the nerd and introvert. He rarely went out on weekends, and if he does, it's usually on Slam Poetry stuff on he got some term project to finish. He mostly stayed in the flat, studying or playing videogames.

Beren offered Bran to come with him often, but he always declined. "Bran, how are you gonna get a girlfriend if you don't go out there and socialize?" He had said once.

Bran would only laugh. "I'm here to get a degree, not a girlfriend." He replied. "Stuff like that can wait until I graduate."

Beren shrugged. "Okay, dude." He said. "But you're missing out big time."

Yearly, the North region holds a Science Expo, and Bran decided to join representing the University of White Harbor. He didn't really want anything out of it, he just wanted to be exposed and do something far from his field, for fun. His project was in the Hydrodynamics and Chemistry field entitled, Water as Fuel. It's basically using water to fuel cars instead of gas. Turns out, all his endless days in the university library doing research paid off. And he won.

Last week, the University president, Marlon Manderly, told him that he will be featured on The Northern Herald and a journalist was coming over to interview him on Friday.

At first, Bran was like, hmm okay. He expected the journalist as someone who's wearing all black with a notepad and a hat with a piece of paper sticking out of it, and the word, Press written on it. He did not, however, expect to see a young woman in a green sundress and white cardigan.

Bran was completely awestruck at the sight of her.

"Hi," She greeted with a warm smile. "I'm Meera Reed, the journalist who's going to do your interview." She held out her hand to shake. "You must be Brandon Stark."

"Um, yeah," He said, shaking her hand and forcing out a smile. "I—yes, I am." He cleared his throat. "But, you know, just—um…" He faltered.

Meera raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"It's Bran, for short." He finished.

She chuckled. "Noted."

The interview was arranged to take place in-campus for convenience. But he was surprised to know that she had found her way around without stopping for directions.

They both sat by the wooden set of tables, across each other, in the campus' main quad, where it's shaded during the afternoon.

As they sat, Bran got a good look on her. Meera had curly brown hair that fell down to her shoulders and she had the greenest pairs of eyes he had ever seen. She's beautiful, he thought. And he assumed that she's probably older than she looks.

He was staring intently at her that he didn't notice her asking him a question until she snapped her fingers in his face.

"Hello?" She called.

Bran snapped back to reality. "Um, I'm sorry, what?"

"I asked if you had classes today."

"Oh, I did," He answered. "My class schedule ends at 3pm on Fridays."

"Cool." She agreed. "More time to avoid weekend traffic."

"Yeah, exactly." He cleared his throat. "Anyways, you seem to know your way around here." He noticed.

"I went to school here." She replied, matter of factly. "Graduated four years ago. My brother's also here, he's in the same year as you."

Meera pulled out a binder and an audio-recorder from her sling bag and placed them on the table before asking him personal questions about his family and where he grew up.

Bran answered that he grew up in Winterfell in the Stark Manor, so yes, it was implemented that his family was rich because a manor is also classified as a palace back when aristocracy the form of government. He was raised with his four siblings, a cousin, and a foster brother and that his parents were very business-minded people.

"So what motivated you to win this year's Science Expo," She asked. "Despite this project not being in your field of study?" She asked.

"I never really thought much about winning it." Bran answered. "For me, it was mostly just putting myself out there. I mean, it's my last year in college, I just thought about doing something people might remember me for. Because growing up, I've been socially-awkward at crowds, I don't go to parties and drink. I just stay in my place and study or play videogames, or I'd go back to Winterfell in the weekends with my folks."

Meera nodded as she jotted down notes on her binder. "How did you come up with the idea of this project, Water as Fuel?"

"Well, it's a weird story." Bran chuckled. "It was based on my many 'what-ifs'." He quoted his hands in the air. "I was stopping for gas in Moat Cailin, on my way back home. And I got thirsty and bought bottled water from a convenience store nearby. And it came to me, what if water was used as fuel?"

"That's actually an interesting story." She commented. "But you do realize that if this is commercialized, gas and oil companies would shut down? Because, I mean, water is everywhere and it's free. Especially here in White Harbor, you could just scoop out water from the White Knife River or from the shores. What are your thoughts on that?"

He was aware of that, but he made it clear that he was not selling to commercialize as it would shut down Dornish oil companies and he didn't want to put people out of business.

Meera had asked a few more questions and he answered them carefully and thoroughly. Afterwards, she closed her binder, put down her pen and turned off her audio-recorder.

"Well, it was a rather interesting interview," Meera said. "If I must say."

"This is the first time I'll be featured in the paper." He pointed out. "The Northern Herald, no less. How cool is that?"

Suddenly, a voice called behind him. "Meera?"

Bran turned and he saw a young man with dirty blond hair and green eyes same as Meera's but he had eyeglasses on. And he was carrying a few books and a potted plant, and his backpack was slung on one shoulder.

"Hey," Meera greeted.

"What are you doing here?" The young man asked. "And did you even get on campus?"

"I'm an alumna to this institution," Meera replied. "Of course, I can get inside. And I'm doing my job." She gestured across the table to him.

The blond guy turned to him. "Oh."

Meera motioned her head to the blond guy. "This is my brother, Jojen."

Jojen held his hand for a shake, then realized he had a smudge of soil from the clay pot he was holding, so he wiped his hand on his trousers before actually shaking Bran's hand.

"Hey, man." Bran acknowledged. "I'm—"

"Brandon Stark," Jojen interjected. "I know. By the way, your project was fucking awesome."

Bran smiled. "Thanks." He then pointed at the potted plant. "What's with the plant?" he asked.

"I'm a Botany major," Jojen explained. "This is for Plant Science."

"Yeah," Meera agreed. "And my flat is slowly turning into a garden."

Jojen cleared his throat. "Anyways, I need to go." He said. "See you in the flat."

"Jojen, it's Friday." Meera told her brother. "Don't you have somewhere else to go?"

Jojen raised the potted plant higher. "Plant Science in the garden. Leave me alone." He said before leaving.

Meera snorted and turned back to him. "Honestly, I couldn't get him to go out and socialize."

"You sound exactly like my older brothers." Bran said before he could stop himself.

"Excuse me?" Meera asked as if she'd misheard him.

Bran shrugged. "They always tell me to go out and socialize." He said. "But I don't like going to parties or drink alcohol."

"I think you and my brother would get along." She pointed out

"I don't do Plant Science." He brought up. "I'm more into math and puzzles, building a tower out of toothpicks and glue gun kind of thing than frat parties."

Meera laughed. "There are other ways to socialize rather than attend parties, you know."

"I know that," Bran said. "The only social gathering I've gone aside from school stuff is that Slam Poetry Jam in Starkgrand."

Starkgrand Coffee is a coffee company and coffeehouse chain own by their family. It was a small family business that slowly grew and became a chain. It was founded by Bran's great-great-great grandfather, Beron Stark, with the tagline, we, Northerners know how to stay warm in the winter.

"The Starkgrand hosted Slam Poetry Jams?" She repeated. "I didn't know that."

He nodded. "Twice a month on a Saturday, they do."

"If I had known that, I would've been there." Meera said. "I love Slam Poetry Jams."

"They only started hosting about two years ago."

"Of course, they only started once I got out of school." She mumbled, then sighed. "Anyways, it was a great interview and—" She checked her wristwatch for the time. "Oh, wow. That ended earlier than expected. It's only 4pm." She huffed. "And Tyrek's not picking me up in an hour."

"Who's that?" He asked curiously. "Your boyfriend?"

"No!" Meera countered. "Seven hells, no. He's my boss."

"Your boss gives you free rides?" Bran raised an eyebrow. "That's…unusual, I guess."

"I know it's weird." She said. "But he always insisted."

"Okay, so it's either he's really generous or he actually likes you." He assumed.

"I've had colleagues of mine who tell me that." Meera admitted. "But, honestly, I don't wanna know."

There was a brief silence, but Bran decided to break it.

"Um, so anyway," He spoke up. "I'm heading to the Starkgrand to get an espresso. It's not that far, it's only—"

"Three blocks away." They both said at the same time.

She nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"Well, you still got an hour." He pointed out. "You can come with me if you want." He offered.

Meera smiled. "I'd love to." She answered. "I got nothing better else to do to pass time anyway."

MEERA

Meera had never met someone so mature and very devoted to his studies and the amount of effort he puts into his work just so he could stand by his own feet.

All her life, Meera had that mindset. She didn't think much about their family business, which was a berries plantation, but she wanted a life away from it. A path she had forged on her own, not actually planned for her. Her parents, Howland and Jyana Reed, seemed to have that idea, because she was the eldest, and the one who can easily interact with people than her younger brother Jojen.

But when she graduated high school, it was only then, did she have the courage to face her parents about what she wanted to do with her life. She wanted to affect and touch people with her words, so she took up journalism in the University of White Harbor.

Meera graduated with honors and got a job at The Northern Herald in White Harbor. She was a reporter for two years, before being transferred to feature writing.

She became very close friends with two of her colleagues, Gwyn Whitehill hailing from Highpoint, and Lyra Mormont from Bear Island. All three of them were an unusual trio, mostly because they have different personalities and physical appearance.

Meera was short in height and that's because their family was descended from the Crannogmen or the swamp people who have adapted to the marshy terrain of the Neck, the southernmost part of the North region. She had inherited her mother's curly brown hair, the same way her brother had their father's dirty blond hair, and they both had their father's green eyes.

Gwyn is a year older than Meera. She has strawberry blond hair always tied in a ponytail and is the happy-go-lucky and the blabber-mouth one among them. While Lyra, is a year younger than her and is taller than both Meera and Gwyn and is the straight-forward one in their group. She had the typical Northern girl image with her long dark hair, blue-grey eyes, and a lanky frame.

And both of them are convinced that their editor, Tyrek Lannister had a bit of a thing for her.

"It's not a bit, Meera." Gwyn argued as she leaned on the divider that divided hers and Gwyn's workplace. "It's more of a 'like like' kind of thing." She quoted her fingers in the air. "And I think it's so sweet."

Lyra, who was in Meera's workplace, made a face at her. "Hmm, I thought gingers like you have no soul."

"What the fuck has that had to do with me, Lyra?" Gwyn demanded. "Ginger sounds offensive, I prefer the term kissed by fire. Now that's poetic."

"Okay," Meera interrupted. "Would you both just get back to work?" She pleaded. "I need some peace and quiet before I go back to my alma mater."

Suddenly, Tyrek came by dressed in his usual long-sleeved polo and striped necktie. He stopped at his tracks and turned to them. "Oh, hey," He greeted. "Just the people I was looking for."

"Good afternoon, sir." Gwyn greeted.

Tyrek nodded, then turned to Lyra. "Lyra, your travel's been approved. You need to hit the road if you're gonna book the last trip for the day."

"Of course, sir." Lyra said as she stood.

"Where are you going?" Meera asked.

"Skagos." Lyra answered.

She blinked as if she'd misheard. "You're going to Cannibal Island?"

"Former cannibal island." Lyra corrected. "They don't eat people anymore, their ancestors did that. And yes, I got someone there who can get me next to the mayor of Deepdown," She explained. "Whose authorities had caught illegal immigrants from the United Free Cities. Anyways, catch you guys on Monday." She said before leaving.

Tyrek turned to Gwyn. "Gwyn, there's a fire in the Dreadfort dump, methane leak."

"Methane?" Gwyn repeated.

"Yeah, I need two paragraphs of that blotter."

"You got it, sir." Gwyn said before returning to her seat.

Tyrek checked his wristwatch. "Alright, it's almost three." He said. "Meera, come on, let's go."

"Um, where are we going, sir?" Meera asked.

Tyrek shrugged. "Don't you have an interview with that Science Expo winner in the UWH?"

"Yes, but I can manage." She insisted.

"I'm heading to the Merman's Court." Tyrek explained. "UWH is on the way so you can hitch a ride with me. I'll meet you in the carport in five minutes." He said before leaving for the elevator.

The Merman's Court is what the locals call the White Harbor City Hall. It was called such because its façade and interiors are ornamented with sea creatures.

"Godsdammit!" Meera cursed as soon as Tyrek was out of earshot. She didn't really have a choice.

Gwyn popped up from the divider again. "Girl, I told you."

"Gwyn, please," Meera said as she gathered her stuff. "Just work on that two paragraph methane leak."

"Just go already, Reed." Gwyn smirked. "He's waiting for you."

Meera rode the elevator to the lobby, got out the carport and sure enough Tyrek was waiting for her. He made her sit in the shotgun, to which she felt very uncomfortable but never said anything about it.

"You comfortable?" He asked.

"Yes, sir." She lied.

"Meera, how many times do I have to tell you?" Tyrek reminded. "Call me Tyrek, not sir."

She never answered and there was a moment of silence.

"So, anyways," Tyrek broke the silence. "What are you doing tonight?" He asked.

Truthfully, Tyrek had asked her that question far too many times that she had almost run out of excuses. And he usually asks her on her work cubicle, so technically, Gwyn and Lyra can make up excuses and alibis for her.

"My brother and I are going back home in Greywater Watch." She lied. "I promised my Mom and Dad that I'll teach them how to brew fresh tea out of dried leaves."

Tyrek Lannister, despite growing up in Lannisport in the Westerlands, a younger cousin of the country's First Lady, Cersei Lannister-Baratheon, and the Lannister family being technically one of the richest in all of Westeros thanks to their gold mining business, Meera didn't know why Tyrek moved North and worked as an editor for a Northern newspaper.

He seemed nice enough and kinda handsome with his curly blond hair and green eyes, but he's not really her type of guys. And the male line of the Lannister family kind of had a bad rep.

"Oh, that's a bummer." Tyrek said as he pulled over near the University of White Harbor.

Meera got out of the car. "Thank you for the ride, sir—" She stopped herself when Tyrek raised an eyebrow at her. "—I mean, Tyrek."

"Good." Tyrek smiled. "I'll pick you up at five." He winked at her then closed the shotgun door and drove off before she could even protest.

Meera took a deep breath before entering the University of White Harbor.

Nothing much changed. It was still the same. Students were hanging out in the Main Quad both the lawn and the tables, ivies were still growing on the facades of some buildings, the giant clock with Roman numerals was still one of the highlights of the Old Main Building besides its portico with the large columns, and the statue of the university founder, Desmond Manderly still stood in the middle of the Main Quad. Just like old times, she thought.

As it turned out, Brandon Stark was waiting for her by one of the tables in the Main Quad.

Now being from the richest family in the North, Meera didn't expect him to be so simple.

She remembered the other Starks when she was still studying in the UWH. The eldest, Robb Stark, was in her year. And that guy always dressed corporate, like he's off to a meeting with the president's cabinet members and had killer confidence that always made people look his way. As for the Stark girls, Sansa and Arya were more of princesses in modern clothes, except Sansa was the definite scene-stealer, and Arya was the one who can blend in with the crowd and was very outspoken.

Bran was different. She got to know him first before the interview. He didn't dress all Ritchie Rich like his brother Robb, he wasn't a scene-stealer like his sister Sansa, and he wasn't outspoken like his other sister Arya. But Bran is known in UWH for his academic achievements as he'd topped every exam he took and his highest recorded GPA was 4.9.

Even sitting across him, Meera could tell by the way he carried himself that he was introverted and an easy-going guy. His auburn was slightly unruly, like he just rolled out of bed and hastily combed his hair with his hand and his blue eyes sparkled with curiosity, like he was analyzing her every movement. And he was absent-mindedly fidgeting with the sleeves of his grey sweater.

When she interviewed him about his project, Meera had never heard about it before. It seemed like a scientific breakthrough altogether. But it came with a flaw, so he decided not to commercialize it seeing that it would shut down probably all the oil companies.

Just as they were finishing up, Meera saw her brother holding once again, a potted plant. She loves him but if he brings any more dozens of fucking potted plants in her flat, she's going to throw it all off the balcony.

Afterwards, Bran offered if she would like to come with him to the Starkgrand Coffee while she waits for Tyrek.

Meera didn't know why but she agreed, even if she only met him that afternoon. She was usually keeping her guard when going with people she barely know, but with Bran it was different. She felt at ease and relaxed and he seemed like a nice and decent guy.

Since it was only three blocks away, they get there by walking.

"I miss doing this," Meera admitted. "Walking from school to the Starkgrand to get coffee. It was my after-school routine, you know."

"Really?" Bran's face lit up. "Me too. But when my Mom found out, she told me to stop and that I shouldn't be drinking coffee everyday." He snorted. "I don't know how she'll react if she ever finds out how many cups my sister Arya can drink in one day. That girl lives off coffee."

Meera frowned at him. "How many cups can she drink in a day?" She asked.

"Minimum of five." He blurted out.

She gasped. "What?"

"I know," Bran said. "Sometimes she drinks more when she's burning the midnight oil for a school project."

"Wow, your sister's one tough cookie." She declared. "I'll give her that."

"We had a coffee machine in the flat." He brought up. "One time, I hid it because she was drinking too much coffee."

"Did it work?"

Bran shook his head. "She screamed at me and then went to Starkgrand to buy coffee."

Meera chuckled. "Of course."

The Starkgrand Coffee branch was located at the corner of the street. And because it was Friday, there were more people than usual. They both ordered their respective coffee choices. Bran ordered a caramel macchiato and a few brownies they can munch on, while Meera went for a flat white.

They picked a table in the far corner because it was quieter and sat across each other.

"So, what's your story?" Bran asked out of nowhere.

Meera looked up from her flat white. "I beg your pardon?"

"You said you'll be waiting for your boss to arrive." He said. "Until then, we can talk to pass the time."

"Why my story?"

"You already heard mine earlier." He pointed out.

"Hmm, there's not much to tell." She said as she took one brownie. "I grew up in Greywater Watch—"

"That swampy town in the Neck?"

"Yeah," Meera continued. "With my brother Jojen—you've met him. And our backyard is mostly covered in different kinds of berries."

"Hey, you're the family who owned that berries farm in the Neck." Bran said in awe. "That's so cool. Now, please tell me you have at least helped your workers pick."

"Oh, I have." She confirmed. "Of course, I have. A couple times a week, actually. And I think the workers are growing on us being in the fields all the time."

"Must be fun." He wondered. "It won't be ideal for me and my siblings though. Our dogs follow us everywhere and they'll probably ruin most of the plants."

"You guys each have dogs?"

"Yeah," Bran nodded. "Well, except Theon. He likes dogs well enough but he doesn't trust himself with the responsibility of owning one." He cleared his throat. "Anyways, weren't you interested in running your own family business seeing that you're in the paper press?" He asked.

"It was brought up to discussion right before I applied for college." Meera recalled. "My Dad had the intention of me running it when he retires, but…" She faltered.

"But?"

"I said no."

"Why?" Bran asked.

"Don't get me wrong, I love it there." She admitted. "It's just…it's not something I want to do."

"What did you wanted to do then?"

"To write and touch people with my words." Meera answered. "That's why I took up journalism in college. Graduated with honors and then poof! I'm at the Northern Herald." She finished. "My brother is the one who's actually interested in running the family business. That's why he took up—"

"Plant Science." Bran interjected. "Got it."

"Botany." She corrected.

Bran was about to ask another question but someone interrupted him.

"Stark!" A voice called. "Hey!"

They turned and saw a guy with shaggy brown hair wearing a brown leather jacket approached their table.

"Oh, gods." Bran cursed under his breath, then forced out a smile. "Beren, what's up, man?" He greeted with false enthusiasm.

The guy, Beren gave Bran a fist bump before glancing her way, smiling. "Holy shit!" He cussed, then nudged Bran. "Is this your girlfriend?"

Bran turned red. "What? No—!"

"Why have you kept me in the dark all this time?" Beren asked. "We live in the same flat, man. You can always tell me anything."

"Tallhart, shut up!" Bran raised his voice. "She's not my girlfriend." He explained. "She's the journalist doing my interview."

Beren looked embarrassed. "Oh, fuck." He turned to her again. "I'm sorry."

Meera snorted. "It's cool." She assured.

Beren cleared his throat. "Anyways, I need to go. Those guys are waiting for me." He said, gesturing to about five guys on the sidewalk. "They said there are free and unlimited shots of tequila in the Old Mint tonight. Can't say no to that. Catch you guys later." He said before leaving.

"I'm so sorry about that." Bran apologized. "I mean—"

"Bran, it's okay." She assured. "I totally get that. And I'm going to guess, he's one of those people who if you're with someone, even a friend, they pretty much assume you're dating that person, correct?"

"Accurate," Bran confirmed. "And it's fucking annoying. I hate it when it happens."

"I know, right?" She said. "My brother does that to me. Just because some colleague of mine went with me to buy coffee, he automatically thinks that guy's my boyfriend."

"So…you don't have a boyfriend?" He asked.

Meera shook her head. "Nope." She said. "I'm too busy with my job to have one, honestly."

"What?" Bran said in disbelief. "That's unbelievable."

"Why is that?"

"I don't know." He shrugged. "You've finished school, have the job of your dreams and…you're pretty."

Meera narrowed her eyes on him. "Are you mocking me?"

"No!" Bran said defensively, turning red again. "Gods, no! I would never—" He stopped once he saw her laughing at him. And his expression was adorable when he's embarrassed. "So maybe that Tyrek guy is a candidate?"

"What? No." She disagreed. "Seven hells, no. First of all, there's no way in seven hells am I dating my own boss. Second, he's of the Lannister Clan, and you know what they say about Lannister men. They're womanizers."

Bran frowned. "He's a Lannister?" He repeated. "Honestly, I'm more intrigued by how a Lannister moved North and lived in White Harbor."

"I've been wondering the same thing—" Meera started to say, then felt her phone vibrate from her pocket. She took it out and was not surprised when she saw who's calling. Tyrek, it read. "Well, speaking of the devil. I'll take this in a minute. Excuse me." She answered. "Hello, Tyrek."

"Meera, hey," Tyrek greeted from the other line. "Where are you? I'm right outside."

"Um, about that." She said, then came up with an excuse. "Well, the interview ended earlier than expected so I just went home. And I was cooking dinner, I forgot to text you. I'm sorry."

"Oh, it's okay." He asked. "What are you doing now?"

"Uh, I'm…packing my stuff because my brother and I are heading home tonight."

"Yeah, you mentioned that earlier."

Across the table, Bran was snickering.

Meera pulled her phone from her ear and covered its microphone. "I need help to get out of this phone call." She whispered at him. "You need to call my name."

Bran nodded and gave her a finger gun. Thankfully, he got what she meant. He leaned back on his seat and called in a moderate voice. "Meera!"

"What?" She supposedly answered.

"I need help with this thing." Bran added.

Meera pulled the phone back to her ear. "Tyrek, I gotta go."

"Okay, then," Tyrek said. "See you on Monday."

She hung up and heaved a sigh.

Bran clapped his hands. "You survived." He said. "Congratulations."

"Oh, thank the gods for you right now." She blurted out. "You saved my life."

He shrugged. "I do what I do."

Meera smiled at the fact that she had seen a goofy side of him and it's amazing. She took her coffee cup and raised it. "Here's to you epically mocking my boss."

Bran grabbed his cup. "Cheers!"

They clanked their cups together before drinking.

"So," Bran started to say. "Are you really going back to Greywater Watch this weekend?" He asked.

"No, I just told him that so he won't bother me the whole weekend."

"So you're basically running out of excuses, am I right?"

"It's getting here." Meera checked her watch. "Look, I need to go because my brother won't be cooking our dinner." She finished her coffee before standing up.

"Um, okay," Bran said, also standing up. "Should I get you a cab?" He asked.

"No, it's fine." She declined, slinging her bag across her shoulder. "I'll just walk home."

Bran raised an eyebrow. "You live close by?" He asked as they got out of the Starkgrand.

"My brother's still attending college so it had to be close to the UWH." She explained.

"Well, I can walk you to your place." Bran offered.

"Bran, I've walked home on own multiple times." She pointed out. "This won't be any different."

"I know, but still, I'd feel comfortable if I actually see you getting home safely." He insisted. "Oh, don't worry, I won't be a stalker, I promise."

Meera made a face at him. "What in seven hells are you talking about?" She asked. "Just, come on." She said, then pulled his hand as they made their way across the street.

"So, where exactly do you live?" Bran asked as they walked side-by-side.

"At the Greenwood Flats." She answered.

"Oh, I have a friend who lives there." He brought up. "Cley Cerwyn, do you know him?"

"Yeah, his flat is right across the hall."

She knew Cley Cerwyn, of course. Besides being their neighbor, his older sister, Jonelle was in her year while they were still attending college in UWH.

As they walked, Meera noticed the used-to-be vacant lot across the Pearl Supermarket was now buzzing with people.

It had dozens of food stalls along the sides, cooking fresh food. On the center, were wooden picnic tables with people eating and chatting. And overhead, were several globe string lights and festival pennants.

Meera stopped at her tracks. "This is new."

"The Cornucopia Food Park." Bran informed. "It just opened last week."

"How come I've never heard of this place?" She wondered, then turned to Bran. "You've been here?"

"Last Wednesday." He admitted. "Remember that guy in the café earlier? He literally dragged me here to eat dinner. One of his many attempts to get me out and socialize."

"What kind of food do they have here?"

"A little bit of everything," Bran said. "From pizzas to burgers to shish kebabs to roasted chicken, you name it, they have it. Just please don't tell me you're vegan."

"My brother is, but I'm not." She pointed out.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "You wanna grab a bite then?"

She smirked. "Looks like I don't have to cook dinner."

They first had to find themselves a table before buying food. One had to sit while the other buys food as the place was starting to get packed.

Bran got himself grilled pork baby back ribs, beef tacos and chocolate milkshakes for the both of them. Meera went for the shish kebabs and quesadillas.

As they ate she texted her brother what he wanted her to buy for him. And his reply:

Jojen 18:30

Anything. As long as it doesn't have meat in it.

In the middle of their dinner, Meera remembered something.

"Hey, there's a question I forgot to ask you."

Bran looked up from his back ribs. "Okay, shoot."

"Where do you live here in White Harbor?"

His eyes widened for a moment, then snorted. "Just…close to campus."

"I know that." Meera said. "You're a student. But where exactly?"

"Just, you know…nearby."

"I told you where I live." She brought up. "And don't worry, I won't be stalking you."

Bran snorted. "Most people freak out when I tell them where I live here." He said before biting down the last of his pork back ribs, then pointed at one of the high-rise buildings with the light blue glass curtain wall. "Up there, on the thirty-fifth floor."

Meera nearly choked on her shish kebabs. "Holy shit!" She gasped as she put down her stick. "You live in a penthouse of the Aquamarine?"

He frowned at her. "That's the first time I've heard you use a cuss word."

The Aquamarine is the most high-end flat complex in White Harbor. And with Bran mentioning he lives in the thirty-fifth floor, only meant he's in the penthouse. Because the Aquamarine only had thirty-five levels.

"Well, I shouldn't be surprised at all." She said. "You're a Stark, I mean—"

"And now you're one of the people who freaked out."

"Sorry." She apologized. "It's just…not a lot of people can afford that."

"It's cool." Bran shrugged. "And it's my parents who bought it, so technically I myself couldn't afford it. And it's my last year in UWH. That means my younger brother's the one who's going to live there by next year."

Afterwards, Meera bought vegan quesadillas for Jojen. It took a while to find a vegan option in a food park mostly selling meat, but luckily she did.

"Thanks for walking me home." Meera said. "I have to admit most of the things that happened today were spontaneous."

"Very." Bran agreed.

"But I had fun." She admitted. "And it was great talking to you."

He nodded. "Likewise."

"I'll see you around." She said, before walking up the porch into the building's lobby.

Halfway through, Bran called out. "Meera!"

It made her turn back at him.

"Um, the Starkgrand will be hosting a Slam Poetry Jam tomorrow night." He informed. "And I was wondering if…" He faltered.

"If I wanna come?" She finished. "Are you kidding me? I'd love to."

Bran smiled wide. "Great!" He squealed. "So, um, should I pick you up or—"

"Sure." She agreed. "And then we can have dinner at the Cornucopia again right before we head to the Starkgrand."

"Of course." He said. "I had my eyes on those shish kebabs you were eating earlier. I think I'll have those tomorrow."

Meera laughed, then reached into her bag for her wallet, took out one of her calling cards with her phone number printed on it and handed it to Bran.

"What's this?" He asked as he took it from her.

"That is how you'll keep in touch with me." She explained, then walked back to the doors. "I'll see you tomorrow."