Chapter 17

Jon Snow Stark POV

It's the middle of winter break, and I've been going through all the mail to see if anything came from Robb's school to tell me if I got in or not. I thought I would find out sooner, which scares me because maybe I just didn't get in. I want to go to college, but I'm also scared to leave my family. I know my parents rely on me to help take care of my siblings, and I'm scared they'll put that responsibility on Sansa when I leave. There are only 3 younger siblings after her, but it's still not something she should have to deal with.

I'm sitting on my bed reading when my dad walks into my room, the door was open so I guess it's fine. "Jon," he says, holding up an envelope. "This came in for you today."

I look up at him for a second, then it hits me. I quickly get up, grab the envelope from my dad and sit back down on my bed.

"Can I stay while you open it?" My dad asks me. I just nod while ripping the envelope open without even looking at him. I tear the envelope open and pull out the piece of paper from it. I skim it to get to the part where it actually tells me my status, why are these things so long?

"I got in," I tell my dad. "I got in!" My dad smiles and gives me a hug.

"Congratulations," he says. "Are you going to go?" I pause and just look at him, why would he ask me that?

"Of course," I say. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I didn't know if you wanted to see what Dany did first. You guys seem pretty serious."

"This was always the plan, dad. Plus, she's going to Cersei and Jaime's school. She had that plan before we even got together."

"Okay," he says. There's an awkward pause. "Well, congratulations." He walks out of my room. I'm not sure if he thought I would change my plans for Dany, maybe he's trying to be more excepting.

I pick up my phone and call Dany, I can't wait to tell her the news. "Hello?" She says when she picks up.

"Dany," I say. "Guess what?"

"What?"

"I got into Robb's school."

"Congrats!" She says. "Are you excited?"

"Definitely," I say. There's a pause. "But my dad asked me if I was changing my plans based on what you're doing."

"I mean, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want you to come with me. But I never expected you to change your plans."

"Do you think we can do long distance?"

"Of course," she responds. "And it won't be that long, just an hour drive." There's a pause. I feel like she has something else to say.

"Jon?" She finally says.

"Yes?" I respond.

"I love you."

I pause, I'm not sure what to say. I think I do love her, I just didn't want to rush her or do anything too soon.

"I love you too," I respond. I do love her, I was just scared to admit it. "We'll get through whatever life throws at us, I promise." I'm excited to start college, but I'm definitely not just going to give up on Dany.

Cersei Lannister POV

Tonight is Christmas Eve, and it's also Jaime and I's 19th birthday. Of course father is having a Christmas event, Dany agreed to come to this one so we can all hang out. Luckily she isn't bringing Jon and Sansa, I've dealt with them enough. I couldn't convince father to celebrate our birthday as well, of course he has to keep things strictly business so he can keep up his image.

Jaime comes up to me and Dany while we're talking. "Guys," he whispers. "I have some weed if you want to go below the deck."

"Hell yeah," Dany says. "Let's go." We walk outside with Tyrion and Shae following us. We go under the deck and start lighting up joints.

"How is it not being in school?" Tyrion asks Dany. "I bet that feels weird."

"It does, since I'm so used to having classes to go to," she responds. "But I'm ready to go to college in the fall. I'm ready to move on with my adult life."

"You'll finally be at school with us," I say, taking a hit. "I'm still mad at you for staying behind." I say it jokingly, but I am. Dany laughs, but it seems like she understands that I'm not joking.

"How's Jon?" Jaime asks. God, can't I just forget he exists for one night?"

"He's good," Dany says. "He got into the college Robb goes to."

"Oh, that's great," Tyrion says. "You aren't going there, right?"

"Nope," she says. "I'm going to Cersei and Jaime's school." He should know that, but he's too busy getting his dick sucked by Shae.

"She's said that so many times, idiot," I say to Tyrion. "It wouldn't kill you to at least pretend to pay attention." There's a pause, I can tell I pissed him off.

"So, Cersei," Tyrion says. "Did you get with Jaime's friend yet?"

"What?" Dany asks. Bastard.

"That guy Bronn," I say to her. "Apparently he told Jaime he's kind of into me. I tried to kiss him but he pulled away."

"Why would he pull away if he's into you?" She asks.

"I don't know," I respond. "He didn't want it to be awkward for Jaime since they've gotten really close."

Jaime quickly changes the subject, I know he doesn't like this topic. I wish Tyrion wouldn't bring up shit that he knows will make us uncomfortable. I know Jaime probably told him all about Bronn, Jorah and I. Tyrion is graduating this year, God I hope he doesn't try to intrude on our life any more than he already has.

Sansa Stark POV

Margaery's grandmother is hosting a Christmas Eve party at their house, and she invited me. That makes me happy, maybe she'll stay being my friend after all. I know Cersei and Jaime's father is having a party tonight too, and Dany will be there. She invited Jon, but he's staying home. I think he feels awkward hanging out with Jaime and Cersei.

"Is Gendry coming?" I ask Margaery. I haven't heard her mention him yet.

"Yeah, he is," she responds. "He had to work tonight, and he didn't really have a choice. They get really busy during the holidays. He just got off, so he should be here soon." Gendry got a job as a waiter this summer, I know his family doesn't have as much money as mine or Margaery's. It really sucks that he has to work Christmas Eve, though.

"How are things with Gendry?" I ask her. "Has everything you were worried about been working out?"

"Yeah," she says. "We had sex the night of the party at Dany's house?"

"How did it go?"

"It was pretty good," Margaery responds. "I could tell he was nervous, though."

"Was it his first time?" I ask her.

"No," she says. "But he had only done it once before, over the summer." That kind of surprises me, I didn't think Gendry had ever had sex before. I wonder who it was with, if he was in a relationship or if it was just a summer fling.

"Oh," I say. "That surprises me."

"What do you mean?"

"That he had done it before. I assumee he hadn't because he hasn't dated much, according to Jon."

"Yeah, I don't know details. Apparently it just kind of happened. So I heard Jon got into college." That was a quick change of subject, I feel like she's brushing me off.

"Yeah," I say. "He's excited."

"What does that mean for him and Dany?"

"I don't know," I say. I haven't really thought about that. "He hasn't mentioned breaking up with her or anything like that."

"I didn't mean that," Margaery says. "I just wasn't sure if that would change things since they'll be long distance."

"I don't think it will," I respond, shrugging. "They're pretty serious about each other."

"That's what she thinks."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know, Jon gives me the vibe that he just wants a girlfriend and Dany's pretty. Plus, she doesn't have great taste in guys."

"Jon never dated before Ygritte," I say. "He was actually pretty against it."

"No sane man would turn down Daenerys Targaryen."

Margaery looks over as Gendry is walking in. She waves at him, then turns and waves goodbye to me. She walks over and kisses him, and they walk off. I'm assuming they're walking to where her family is. Great, that means I have to sit here awkwardly until she decides to talk to me.

"Hey," I hear someone say as I'm sitting alone. I look over and see Loras sitting next to me. "How's it going?"

"I'm good," I say, surprised that he's talking to me. We haven't had a conversation since everything happenee and we've only seen each other in passing.

"Sansa," Loras says. "I'm really sorry about what happened last year. I didn't know how to come out, but I shouldn't have put you through all that."

I pause, I'm surprised he's apologizing to me. What happened last year really affected me, but I know he was also in a tough position.

"It's okay," I say.

"No, it's not. It wasn't right of me."

"I get it," I respond. "It should be in the past."

"Thank you," he says, smiling at me. He gets up to go find his family. I've never thought Loras was a bad person, but what he did really hurt me. I'm glad we cleared the air, I don't have room in my life to be angry at him. I have enough anger for Ramsay and Myranda.

Arya Stark POV

It's Christmas Day, and Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. That and Halloween, I always have a lot of fun with Halloween. Robb and Talisa aren't here this year for Christmas, which my mom is really upset about. They went to see Talisa's family. It's so weird how much my mom babies Robb, it's honestly a little creepy to me.

"Do you guys want to do presents before we eat or after?" My dad asks.

"Before!" Bran and Rickon start yelling. They always want to see what they got early.

"Okay, okay," my dad says. He and my mom go into the back room to get the wrapped presents. My dad has always been more of the fun parent, my mom has always been the stricter one.

Bran got a new game for Christmas and a couple shirts, Rickon got this building set that he's been asking for for months. Rickon says he wants to be an engineer when he grows up, I told him I think that's pretty ambitious. Sansa got earrings and a couple dresses, and Jon got a couple new games.

"Arya," my dad says, handing me a couple bags. "Here are yours."

I open the first bag, and it's a movie I've been really wanting. My mom was hesitant to get it for me, she said it was too mature.

"Thank you," I say. "I've been wanting this."

"We know," my mom says. "Now open the other one, it's from your sister and I."

I open the second bag, and it's a makeup kit. I try not to look disappointed, but I thought my mom and Sansa knew me better than this. Sansa should know I'll never use it. I look over at Sansa and she looks at me apologetically. I think this was my mom's way of hinting that she thinks I should be girlier now that I'm a teenager.

"Thank you," I say to my mom. "I'll use this for a special occasion." My mom looks disappointed at that, and I'm a little upset that she even got it for me.

We're eating, and of course I notice Sansa is picking at her food and hardly eating anything. I've always thought she was really pretty, maybe I should start eating like her. The boys at school say I'm built like a refrigerator. I'm thinking about all this when there's a knock at the door.

"It's Dany!" Jon says, getting up to open it. He opens the door and they hug and kiss. It's a little gross.

"Hi Dany," Sansa says. "Why didn't you join us earlier?"

"I was volunteering at a homeless shelter," she responds. "I go every Christmas and help them give out food."

"That's so nice," I say. "Can you maybe take me and Sansa one time?" I didn't expect to ask her that, but I really admire Daenerys. I want to help people like she does.

"Of course," she says. "I'd love to. I help there quite a bit." I smile at her, and we continue with our evening. I want to be someone who actually makes a positive impact on the world, and I hope Sansa will want to do that too. I don't want to be shallow like her and a lot of her friends.