Chapter 15

Daenerys Targaryen POV

Cersei agreed to hang out with me on Black Friday. I know she's not happy with me, but I'm hoping she'll get over it after we hang out. We agree to meet at a local park since my dad is home and she wants to get out of her house. There's a bridge we like to sit under and talk at, we used to smoke there sometimes in high school.

I arrive and Cersei is already sitting under the bridge with a can in a paper bag. She looks like she's still in high school, and not in a good way. She just looks really immature. I hope that's soda in that can, but I doubt it.

"Hey," I say walking up and sitting next to her. I put my arm around her, but she doesn't hug me back. "What's up?"

"Not much," she responds coldly.

"How are you?" I ask. "I missed you."

"As good as I can be," she responds, smoking a cigarette.

"How was your Thanksgiving?"

"Boring, annoying. You know, the usual."

"Cersei," I say to her. "I know you're upset that I didn't come to Thanksgiving at your place, but please talk to me."

"Do you even want to talk to me?" She asks.

"Of course," I respond. "Why else would I have invited you here?"

Cersei takes a deep breath. "It's just," she starts. "You know how hard it's been on me lately, and you know it's already hard for me to be around my family despite that. I just really wanted you there, and I feel like you're abandoning me for Jon."

"Cersei, you know that isn't true. You know I love you, and you're my sister. I know you know why I stayed, that it was for my dad. I know you're going through a lot, and I'm sorry. I just don't see why you're taking it out on me."

I pause, I don't usually stand up to Cersei like that, so I'm preparing for her to lash out at me. She doesn't she just tears up. That's almost worse.

"I know," she responds, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry, I just wish you were in school with me."

"I know, and I will be next year. My dad is doing great, and I feel confident that I can leave during the summer."

"Maybe we can all three get a place together," Cersei says. "One with more room."

"I'd love that," I respond. "You won't be able to get rid of me." I playfully push her, and she laughs. I haven't seen her laugh in a long time.

"Cersei?" I ask. She looks at me. "What's in that can?" She takes part of it out of the bag and looks at it.

"Beer," she responds, taking a big swig. "I don't need you to judge me."

"I'm not, I'm just worried about you."

"Why? I'm on vacation. We've always drank, I really don't understand why you've been so uptight about it lately."

"I just, don't think you've ever drank this much."

"Well, then you haven't been paying attention. You drank just as much as me in high school, and it's what you're supposed to do in college. I shouldn't have to explain this to you."

I take a deep breath, I feel like there's no getting through to her. "Just, be safe okay?" I say to her.

"Always," she responds. "You know me." I do know her, and I'm not confident she'll take my advice.

Cersei Lannister POV

Maybe I haven't been a good friend to Dany lately, but I feel like she's been abandoning me. She completely went back on her word when she decided to take a gap year, we promised each other we'd go to college together. I apologized to her because I know I've been a little harsh, but I still wish she had kept the promises she made to me.

We're back at school for a couple weeks before winter break. I wish we could have just stayed back at Winterfell, it's only like two weeks of classes before we have to drive back again. I'm in the library doing some studying for finals when Bronn comes up and sits next to me.

"Hey," he says. "What's up?"

"Just, studying for finals," I respond. "How about you?"

"I just got done. Do you and Jaime want to come to a party tonight at our dorm room? It's just going to be a few people."

"Yeah, sure," I respond. "I'm sure Jaime would be down."

"Cool," he says. "It starts at 8." It makes me feel good that Bronn invited me to something, maybe I don't just have to leech onto Jaime's friends. Maybe they can be my friends too.

…

Jaime and I are walking to Bronn and Jorah's dorm for the party, they're dorm is in walking distance from our apartment.

"I'm excited to be going to parties again," I say. "I'm hoping it'll make me feel better."

"I hope so too," Jaime says. It sounds like he feels uneasy. "So Bronn personally invited you."

"I mean, he invited both of us. Why? Is that a problem?"

"No, I just… he told me the other day he thinks you're hot."

"Okay…" I respond, chuckling. "So do you."

"I know," he says. "It just made me a little jealous." I understand where he's coming from, but I feel like he has no right to stop me from doing anything with anyone, since I have before. We arrive at Bronn and Jorah's dorm, and it's pretty small. Only a few of their friends are there drinking and playing games.

After a while of drinking, I decide to head to the lobby area on their floor where there are some couches and chairs. I sit down on a couch and close my eyes. I like hanging out with them, but it was getting a little loud. I didn't tell Jaime I was taking a breather, I didn't want him to stop enjoying time with his friends because he feels like he needs to look after me.

"Hey," I hear from behind me. I turn around and see Bronn walking towards the couch. He sits down next to me. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I respond. "Just taking a breather."

"Thanks for coming," Bronn says. "It means a lot."

"I'm glad you invited me, I needed to let loose."

"Jaime really raves about you," he says. "I wanted to get to know you more." He's really cute, maybe he and I could have something. I go with my instincts and lean in, he pulls away from me.

"Oh," I say. "Sorry. Did I misread?"

"I mean," he starts. "I like you, and you're hot. I just don't think it's a good idea, me being best friends with Jaime and all." He gets up and goes back into his room.

It hits me that Jaime probably told Bronn something about us. That really upsets me, I still don't want anyone to know. I'll have to talk to him about it later, I don't think he has any right to keep me from hooking up with or even dating guys. I definitely don't want everyone at school knowing about us, it was bad enough in high school. We did some awful things to keep our secret, some of which were Jaime's idea. What was he thinking?

Jon Snow Stark POV

We're back at school for a couple weeks until winter break starts. Sam, Gendry, Podrick, Tormund and I decided to eat lunch outside today. Gilly is going to lunch with Ygritte, so it's a good time for us guys to hang out.

"What are you doing for Christmas?" Podrick asks Sam.

"I'm going to Gilly's house for just a bit," he responds. "She might come over to my house but my dad is still not that excited about us dating."

"Still?" Gendry asks. "It's been almost a year."

"Yeah," Sam responds. "He still thinks people who live on Gilly's side of town are lowlifes." I just shake my head. Sam's dad has always been kind of strict, but I didn't expect him to have this level of hatred for someone his son truly loves.

"What are you doing?" I ask Gendry.

"I'm going to Margaery's for Christmas Eve," he responds. "Then probably just trying to stay out of the way on Christmas day, as usual."

"Oh, how is it going with Margaery?" Sam asks. "You guys have been on a couple dates, right?"

"Yeah," Gendry responds. "l'm not sure if I should get her anything for Christmas. I'm not even sure if we're official yet."

"You probably should," Sam responds. "But that'll make her think you're official."

"Do you want to be?" Podrick asks.

"Yeah, I do," Gendry responds. "I'm just nervous, I've never had a real girlfriend. And I'm nervous to go all the way, I know she would expect me to if we're official."

"Are you telling me that you don't want to bang Margaery Tyrell?" Tormund asks. God, he doesn't have to be so crass about it.

"I mean, I do," Gendry responds. "I'm just nervous, and I feel like I can't be nervous because I'm the guy."

"Listen man, it'll be fine," Podrick says. "Just act confident, girls love that. If you pretend to know what you're doing, she'll think you do." I don't know if that's true.

"Jon?" Gendry asks. "What about you? Do you have any advice?"

"Just make sure you listen to her," I say. "If she likes something, keep doing it. Let her tell you what to do and what not to do." I'm not sure if that helped, but I feel like I should say something since I have the most experience out of all of them. At least, I think I do. I'm not sure about Tormund.

"Sam?" Gendry asks.

"I don't have any advice," he responds. "Sorry."

"You STILL haven't slept with Gilly?" Tormund asks, sounding shocked. "What is she waiting for, man?" I figured Sam still hadn't slept with Gilly, yet. He would have told me if he had.

"I really don't know," Sam responds. "Trust me, I want to know just as much as you do. I'm trying to give her time, but I wish she would at least give me a reason."

"I'm sorry, Sam," I respond. "I know that has to be rough."

"I don't want to pressure her," Sam says. "I just still feel like I don't know her like she knows me. I know we love each other, but I feel like I love her more since she won't even open up to me about her life."

I don't know what Gilly's issue is and I know Sam would never pressure her, but I still feel like she'll lose him if she doesn't open up. Not because she won't sleep with him, I know he doesn't have an issue waiting on that. He just can't help her if he doesn't know what the problem is, or if he doesn't know if there's a problem to begin with. I wonder if there's anything I can do to help, I want them to stay together and I want them to be happy.

Sansa Stark POV

I'm packing up as the bell rings after English one day when Mr. Baelish calls my name.

"Sansa," he says. I look over at him. "Can you hang back for a second?"

"Sure," I say. I finish packing up my things and walk over to his desk. "What's up?"

"I hope things weren't too awkward for you at Thanksgiving," he says. "I really wanted your aunt and your mom to work things out, and she felt better that I was there."

"It wasn't weird, I understand. I think it's a good thing, my dad is always encouraging my mom to mend things with my aunt. He misses his sister a lot."

"That makes sense, I'm sure it isn't easy for him." There's a pause.

"You know, Sansa," he continues. "I feel a really strong connection to your family. I know things didn't work out with me and your mom, but you could have been my daughter if they had." That's so sweet that he thinks of me as a daughter, it means a lot to me.

Margaery pokes her head into the classroom. "Sansa," she says to me. "Are you ready for cheer?" My last class period of the day is devoted to cheer, I like that you can do that with your schedule if you're not a freshman.

"Yeah," I say, turning around. "Bye, Mr. Baelish." He waves goodbye to me and I walk out of the classroom with Margaery.

"What was that about?" She asks.

"Oh, Mr. Baelish knew my mom when they were growing up," I respond. "He's engaged to my aunt."

"Woah what?" She sounds genuinely shocked.

"Yeah," I say. "He showed up at Thanksgiving because my mom invited my aunt."

"That's so weird."

"You think? He just happens to know my family." We walk into the locker room where the other girls are getting ready.

"Missandei," Margaery says as we walk in. "Do you think it's weird that Mr. Baelish is dating Sansa's aunt?"

"Um, yeah," Missandei says. "Why would he be dating your aunt?"

"I don't know how they met," I respond. "But he knew my mom growing up."

"I don't know," Missandei says. "That would really creep me out if a teacher was in my real life somehow."

I guess I understand why it's a little awkward, but I think Margaery and Missandei are misunderstanding him. It's a coincidence that he happens to be dating my aunt when my mom decided to try to build a relationship with her again, and I'm glad Mr. Baelish is in my life outside of school. He's really been helping me, and he's a good man.