Chapter 12

Sansa Stark POV

Today is the day of our Halloween party, and Arya, Myrcella and I are getting ready. Gendry is driving Podrick and Joffrey, and they'll stay over if we drink too much. I know there's an implication with guys sleeping over, but I really don't think any sex will be happening. I definitely won't be ready, I think the most that will happen is maybe some fooling around.

The guys arrive, and Gendry walks in with a couple of bottles of liquor while Podrick helps him with a case of Mike's Hard Lemonade. "What did you get?" I ask Gendry.

"Some tequila for margaritas, and some vodka," he says. "That's what I figured would be good."

"We also got some Mike's Hard for you girls," Joffrey says, giving me a hug and kiss. I can tell that's supposed to be a backhanded joke, but I laugh it off.

"If that's what you tell yourself," I say. "That's fine by me." Joffrey doesn't seem to find that joke funny, but he started it.

As the night is getting started, Gendry and Arya go outside to the back porch to smoke cigarettes. Podrick eventually also goes out there to smoke weed. We start making drinks when everybody is back inside.

"So how do you guys like Winterfell?" Podrick asks Myrcella and Joffrey.

"It's good," Myrcella says. "Better than my last school, bullying was a big problem there."

"And this place is better?" Gendry asks.

"Oh, definitely," Myrcella says.

"I don't know," Joffrey says. "I liked our old school."

"Of course you did," Myrcella says. "You were popular, I wasn't."

"Well you were awkward," Joffrey says. "And you were skin and bones so people thought you were a weirdo."

I can tell Myrcella doesn't like that, so I give Joffrey a look. That makes him quiet down a bit. That defintiely wasn't a good thing to say to someone who is recovering from an eating disorder, he better not say anything like that to me.

"I miss Jon," Gendry says. "He was always fun at parties."

"Sure," Arya says. "When he wasn't babysitting everyone."

"He was just protective over you guys," Gendry says. "He wasn't always like that."

"I find that hard to believe," Arya says.

"He always babysat me, no matter where we were," I say. "He'd be doing that now if he were here."

Podrick laughs at that. "Do you guys want to play a game?" He asks after a pause. We all agree and get the games out, setting them on the table to decide which ones to play.

Myrcella Baratheon POV

Everythings been pretty fun so far tonight, I'm glad Sansa had this party. Podrick and I have been talking more, he even rested his hand on my leg a little bit. Joffrey hasn't been bothering me much besides a couple small digs at me, which is better than I'd hoped for.

"Jesus Christ you did not just put that answer down, Pod," Gendry says, laughing. We're playing Cards Against Humanity and Podrick put down a really offensive answer, but it was really funny and it worked for the prompt. "That's so fucked up."

"Did I not win that round?" Podrick asks. Sansa and Arya are laughing so hard, Joffrey just rolls his eyes.

"You won," Gendry says, handing him the prompt card to mark his win. "Congratulations."

I go to the kitchen to grab another drink when Joffrey walks in. I'm glad Gendry got Mike's Hard Lemonade for a basic bitch like me.

"You know those have a lot of sugar," Joffrey says to me. "Be careful with that, you're getting a little chunky." I glare at him. I know he just wants to get a reaction out of me, but those words still hurt.

"Careful saying stuff like that," I say. "You know Sansa will rip into you if she hears that."

"Whatever," he says, leaving the kitchen. I'm starting to tear up, but I stop myself because I don't want to mess up my makeup.

I walk out of the kitchen and sit back down next to Podrick. "You okay?" He asks.

"Yeah," I respond. "I'm fine." We keep playing Cards Against Humanity.

…

Everyone kind of broke off into their respective couples after we finished playing, I think everyone wanted some alone time together. I went to the bathroom, and then I headed up to Sansa's room to get ready for bed. I assumed Podrick was doing the same in Bran and Rickon's room until I hear a knock on the door.

"Come in!" I say, thinking it's Sansa. Instead, Podrick walks in. "Oh, hey."

"Were you okay out there?" He asks me. "You seemed upset about something, and I just wanted to make sure."

"Oh, I'm fine," I say. "Sometimes the things my brother says get to me, but I'll be okay."

"You sure."

"Yeah, I'm used to it. It's been like that my whole life."

"That sucks," he says. "You shouldn't have to be used to it. I know siblings don't always get along, but he could at least try to be civil. Especially when you're trying to have fun with your friends."

It means a lot to hear him say that, especially with how much Sansa's been invalidating the things I've been through with Joffrey. I know she's dating him and she likes him, but she could try to be understanding.

"Thank you," I say. "That's very sweet, but I'll be okay."

"For what it's worth," he says. "I think you're gorgeous, and smart, and so sweet." I blush, looking down. He walks up closer to me.

There's a pause as we look into each other's eyes. "Can I kiss you?" He asks me.

I just nod, and he leans in and kisses me. He's an amazing kisser, I can tell he has experience like everybody's been saying. I like this, and I really don't want it to stop. So I don't stop, I keep kissing him.

Sansa Stark POV

Myrcella went to the bathroom and then I'm assuming to go to sleep, and I'm not sure where Arya or Podrick went. Joffrey and I are throwing away a little bit of trash in the living room, but we stop when we see how late it is and how tired we are.

"I didn't realize how late it was," Joffrey says. "Are you tired?"

"Yeah, I am," I say. "I'll deal with all this tomorrow. Let me show you where you're sleeping."

We walk up to Robb and Jon's old room, and I get an extra blanket from the closet since it's a little chilly.

"I hope you had fun," I say. "Sorry it wasn't too crazy of a party, like the ones you're used to back home."

"I had fun," he says. "I always have fun being with you." He stands up and then leans in to kiss me. We make out for a while before I pull away, I don't want him to expect something of me that I'm not ready for.

"Joffrey," I say. "I'm not ready to have sex. I understand if that's what you want, but I can't. I'm sorry."

He pauses. "That's okay," he says. "I figured you weren't ready, Myrcella told me you were kind of a prude."

"It's just," I start. "My last boyfriend pressured me into sex with him, and it was a really bad experience."

"So you're not a virgin?"

"No."

"Oh," he says. "I thought you were. I am."

"I'm not," I say. "But I'm definitely not ready to have sex yet."

"That's okay," he says. "I just thought when we did do it that it would be special because I thought we were both virgins, that's all."

"Are you upset about that? I didn't even know you when I did it with my ex."

"It just makes me feel a little differently about you," he says. "But I still like you and I still want to be with you."

That's a relief. "Thank you," I say. "I'm sorry I'm not a virgin." Joffrey just shrugs.

"It is what it is," he says. "Can't change it now. Goodnight."

"Wait," I say. "Can I sleep in here with you? You were going to be the only one in this room anyway, and it would comfort me to be near you."

"Sure," he says. "That sounds nice."

"Let me go tell Myrcella," I say, walking out of the room. I really hope she doesn't mind the last minute change of plans.

When I walk into my room, Myrcella is in there with Podrick. They look very close, maybe he'll keep her company.

"Myrcella," I say. "I'm going to sleep where Joffrey is, is that okay? Don't worry, nothing crazy is going to happen."

"That's fine," she says, smiling. "Don't worry about it."

I smile and wink at her before leaving the room, I'm glad we were both able to find alone time with our guys. I just hope Arya isn't too mad when she sees the arrangement.

Arya Stark POV

"Are you sure you're okay with staying over?" I ask Gendry as I'm helping him get set up in Bran and Rickon's room. "You can always call an Uber."

"Nah, it's late," he says. "You know none of our parents care we're here, right?" We both chuckle because it's true.

"My dad would kill me and Sansa if he knew we had boys over," I say. "He specifically said only Myrcella could come over."

"What if I told Jon?" Gendry asks. I can tell he's kidding, but it's not funny.

"Please don't," I say. "I'm serious."

"I would never," he says. "Wouldn't want to risk not being able to do this again." There's a pause.

"So you had fun?" I ask.

"I really did," he says. "And I'm not even that drunk. I just don't want to risk driving late at night having drank at all, and I'm really tired." He sits on the bed and leans back, he is really really cute.

"I'm glad you enjoy hanging out with us even though we're younger," I say. "Especially me."

"You're my favorite one," he says. "I like you way more than anyone else that was here, especially Joffrey. No offense to them, but it's true."

"Really?"

"Yeah," he says. "Podrick and I are pretty close, but I feel like I have more fun with you."

"That's sweet," I say. "I appreciate that. Sometimes I feel like all of Jon's friends see me just as his annoying little sister."

"I definitely don't," he says. "I see you as a really badass and cool chick."

I smile at him. There's a pause as we look at each other, it's dark and quiet. I want to stay in here with him all night, but I know Podrick is supposed to sleep in here too.

"Maybe I should go see what Sansa and Myrcella are up to," I finally say. "Let you get some rest if you can."

"Good idea," he says. "I'm not sure where Podrick is, probably somewhere trying to make out with Myrcella."

I chuckle at that, they seem to be getting along really well. I know she wants that to turn into something, so hopefully it will.

Gendry and I continue to just kind of stare at each other, I can feel a sort of tension that I can't put my finger on. We've have had such a good time tonight, and I don't want that to end. I want to keep talking to him, I may even want more. I know I've had a couple drinks, but I've even been thinking recently that I might want to be more than friends.

Before I know what I'm doing, I walk forward. "Arya—" Gendry gets cut off by my mouth when I kiss him.

He pulls away at first, but he gives into the kiss when I reach up and grab the back of his neck. He's being really gentle, his hands just resting on my shoulders. I have an urge to get on top of him, but the door opens before I can do that.

"Oh shit," Podrick says when he sees what's going on. He then pauses and smiles at us. "Sorry, man."

We stop kissing. "Where are Sansa and Myrcella?" I ask Podrick.

"Sansa's asleep with Joffrey, but they aren't doing anything," he says. "Don't worry, I checked. Myrcella doesn't want to sleep alone, so I'm going into Sansa's room where she is."

"Don't you dare try anything," Gendry says. "I'll murder you."

"I won't," Podrick says. "But I will leave you guys to it." He leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.

I turn around and look back at Gendry. "Are you sure you're cool with what just happened?" He asks me, as if I didn't just throw myself at him.

"Yes," I say. "If you are."

"I am," he says. "Do you want to sleep in here? It looks like everyone's coupled up. You can sleep in the other bed, I don't expect anything."

I smile and get into bed next to him. "I'm fine right here," I say. "If that's okay with you."

"Definitely," he says. We close our eyes and fall asleep. Tonight was a good night.

A/N: Sorry this was long, but there was so much that I wanted to happen! Let me know what you think!