Arya

She didn't see Gendry for the rest of the day. When the last bell rang, she stood on the steps outside the front entrance looking for him. And Hot Pie, you're looking for Hot Pie too, she told herself. The crowd was immense, students flowing past and nearly knocking her down the concrete steps. Balance, Arya. Balance. Remember what Syrio says. She placed her feet shoulder-width apart, and braced her hips, centering her gravity to make it harder to fall. Prepared now, she recommenced her search. She spotted Sandor climbing into a bus, tall frame bunched under the low roof. Gendry would give him a lift, but Sandor had always remained tight-lipped over where he lived so Gendry hadn't pushed it. Over by the road she saw Margaery Tyrell climbing into her brother's waiting car. The ex-principal's younger brother was sitting shotgun. The man lurking in the pick-up on the opposite side of the street was Mr. Frey, collecting his many children from school. As Arya watched, the pick-up bed rapidly filled up with boys and girls of varying ages. Her mother had warned her to stay away from the Freys. Arya had agreed with her. Usually, any warning from Catelyn was considered something of an encouragement, but not when it came to the Freys.

There! She spotted Gendry and Hot Pie over at the student parking area, climbing into the Nova. As quick as she could, Arya threaded her way through the diminishing crowd towards them. They'll wait for me.

As she cleared the crowd beside the parking area, however, the Nova's engine rumbled to a start and it drove away. Gendry drove it away. For a second Arya stopped, staring slack-jawed at the back of the car as it shrank away. Her stomach clenched as if it had received a punch. Then Arya's mouth snapped closed. He's not doing this to me. For a car, the way to the exit was basic enough, but it did necessitate a few turns. Arya could take a more direct route across the intervening four lanes. Through the rear window of a parked car, she saw the Nova drive past the parked cars towards the exit, and she started running. She narrowly avoided getting clipped by a car going down the first lane she ran across, so as she threaded her way through the parked cars Arya cast a quick eye to the left and right of the next road. The nearest car was far enough away, so she sped up. She reached the final lane just as the Nova was turning. She waited at the edge of the parked cars until they had nearly drove by, and then stepped out in front of the car. Gendry slammed on the brakes, but Arya doubted much damage could be done since he wasn't going very fast in the first place. There was a pause, and then the driver door opened. Gendry appeared, mouth open to exclaim, but Arya got there first.

'What the hell, Gendry?' she shouted. Gendry closed his mouth, then opened it again.

'I didn't think you were coming.' he said.

'What, was I going to fly home?'

He grimaced. 'I thought maybe Ned Dayne'd give you a lift home.'

Arya felt a strange, fizzing feeling skitter down her spine. So she agreed to go to the dance with Dayne, and suddenly Gendry wasn't her friend anymore? Sansa would break, would go to Gendry and tell him she'd turn Dayne down if only Gendry would remain her friend, but Arya was made of harder stuff. Her face darkened with anger, and she stuck her middle finger out at him.

'Go fuck yourself, Gendry!' she yelled. She lowered her arm, then turned on her heel and walked away before Gendry could recover. She trotted through the parked cars towards the school bus. Please don't leave, please don't leave. Just as she stepped onto the pavement the bus doors swooshed shut, and the bus itself pulled away.

'Oh for GOD'S SAKE!' Arya roared, bunching her hands into fists. This isn't fair this isn't fa-

'Arya, are you OK?'

She turned. Edric Dayne was standing half in, half out of his own car, one hand on top of the open door. Arya scowled.

'I missed my bus.' she said. Her mouth twisted into a petulant frown. 'And Gendry drove off on me.'

Dayne raised his eyebrows. 'Really? I thought you and he were friends.'

'I thought that too.'

'Would you like a lift?'

Arya sighed. 'Yes please.' This boy thing isn't as easy as I'd thought it would be.