Chapter 16

Jaime Lannister POV

I can't believe Bronn and Cersei hooked up last night. They didn't go all the way, but for me what they did is just as bad. Bronn must really not care about our friendship, even after I told him literally my biggest secret. I trusted him, I can't believe this. I know better than anyone that you can't help who you're attracted to, but he could've shown me even the smallest bit of respect.

I decide to go over to Tyrion and Oberyn's place one day, Bronn is going to be there but he doesn't know I'm coming. I figured that's the best way to confront him. I don't want to fight him, I just want him to know that he hurt me and made me feel disrespected.

Oberyn lets me in and Bronn immediately goes pale when he sees me. "Hey man," he says. "How's it going?"

"Don't pull any of that," I say. "I know you know why I'm here."

"I do," he says. "And by the way, I want you to know Cersei instigated what happened. I know you're whipped by her, but you can't put all the blame on me."

I know he's right, but I'm here confronting him because I know confronting Cersei won't do anything.

"She was drunk," I say. "It's not like she could really give consent."

"So was I," he says. "Plus, she's always drunk. What did you expect?"

That makes me so angry, I start to walk towards him when Oberyn stops me.

"Come on, that wasn't cool," Oberyn says to Bronn. "You shouldn't have hooked up with her, I don't think it matters who was drunk."

"Look, she's single," Bronn says to me. "It's not my problem that you're fucking your sister and you're too afraid to admit it."

The room goes silent, I can't believe he went there. I'm livid.

"I don't know why you feel the need to make stuff up," I say, trying to act calm. "You fucked up, just admit it and apologize."

"I didn't do anything wrong," he says. "I have more of a right to hook up with her than you do."

I want to punch him. "Will you shut up?" I ask. "I don't even know what you're talking about."

"Sure," Bronn says. "I can tell everyone about you two, and you'll be an embarassment to the whole campus. It's your choice."

I pause, this isn't going anywhere. "Stay away from her," I say, leaving.

I get home and Cersei's on the couch, drinking a beer. "Hey," she says when she sees me. "Are you okay?"

"Not really," I say, sitting next to her. "You really shouldn't be hooking up with Bronn, he's using you."

"I know," she says. "I know exactly what he wants, I just also know how to use it to my advantage."

"Well I don't want you to hook up with him again," I say. "I feel like I have the right to ask you to do that."

She pauses and avoids eye contact with me, I know she doesn't like being told what to do. I almost feel bad for trying to stand my ground and tell her how I feel about this situation.

"I can't promise that," she says. "I have the right to be with him just like you have the right to be with girls."

"You'd be okay with that if I was with another girl?" I know she wouldn't be, and her silence confirms that.

"Please don't try to be my boss," she says. "Dany's already doing that enough, I don't need it from you."

I sigh and look up at the ceiling, I wish I knew how to get through to her and stop her from self destructing. I love her literally more than anything or anyone else in this world, I don't know what I'd do if I lost her.

"I just love you so much," I say to her. "I can't imagine my life without you in it, it scares me to think about that."

"I know," she says. "But I'll be okay, I promise." There's a pause and she starts kissing my neck.

"Dany's in class," she whispers in my ear. "Want to go do some stuff?"

I just nod and we start making out. We don't even make it to the bedroom, it all happens on the couch. I hate that she has this affect on me and all of our serious discussions lead in this direction, but I can't seem to stop it. She knows it, too. She's using my feelings for her to her advantage just like she does Bronn's.

Sansa Stark POV

I want to look into getting into modeling again. I was supposed to do a modeling camp over the summer, but obviously that didn't work out. I want to see if there's anyone who'd want to do test shots with me, that way they can get photography practice and I can get modeling practice.

I'm out on a walk with Joffrey, we've been enjoying that lately even though it's been getting chillier. "Watcha thinking about?" He asks me. "You've been a little quiet lately."

"I've just been thinking about how I want to try to get into modeling soon," I say. "I've been doing more research on it."

"Really?" He asks. "You never told me you were interested in that."

"Yeah," I say. "I was planning on going to a modeling camp this past summer. That obviously didn't work out because I was in treatment."

"Sorry you couldn't do that," Joffrey says. "Maybe next summer."

"I really hope so." There's a pause.

"Although," he says. "Are you sure you're skinny enough?"

"What?"

"I mean," he says. "I think you're cute, but aren't most models really skinny?"

"Some are," I say. "But I feel like that industry is getting more accepting."

"I mean, if you want to be a plus size model then that's cool too. I just didn't think that would be the route that you'd want to take."

"I'm not plus sized," I say. "I'm not as skinny as I used to be, but I'm definitely not plus sized."

"In the modeling world you would be," he says. "At least, I think you would be. I don't know much about it."

I pause. "Maybe you're right," I say, quietly. "Maybe I'm not skinny enough."

"Don't get all emotional about it, I know you like to do that." he says. "I'm just giving my perspective, you don't have to listen. I just want to help in any way I can."

"No, I appreciate that," I say. "Thank you. I'll keep looking into it."

"I don't think anyone else would care enough to tell you straight up," he says. "I'm just trying to do that, I know that's really what you want."

He's right, I do want him to tell me the truth. At least he's telling me the truth and not trying to make me feel good despite all the weight I've gained and how much I have to be monitored these days.

When I get home, I immediately go up to my mom's room. "Mom," I say. She's reading a book in bed. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," she says. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if we could look into me doing that modeling camp again for next summer," I say. "You know, since I couldn't do it this past summer."

"If you're sure that's still something you want to do," my mom says. "We can look into it. I just want to make sure that'll be okay for your mental health and your recovery."

That makes me uncomfortable, I hate that she had to bring that up. "It'll be fine," I quickly say. "I promise."

"Okay," she says. "Then I'll look into it after I talk to your dad about it, I need to discuss it with him first."

I'm not stoked about her asking dad about it, but at least I got somewhere. I smile and leave the room. I'm really glad she agreed to look into that again for me, it's definitely something I want to try to get into again. I should definitely lose weight if I want to be a model, I just need to figure out how to do that without my parents noticing that that's what I'm trying to do.

Gendry Baratheon POV

I really really like Arya, but I don't feel right after every time we hang out. It feels like I'm doing something I shouldn't be, especially if we fool around. I feel like I'm corrupting her, even though I don't think I'm pressuring her. In fact, I would argue she's pressuring me. Not that I mind, but she's definitely taking the lead.

I really liked fooling around with her last time. I can't believe she let me touch her chest, I didn't even realize she had boobs like that. She never wears clothes that show off her figure, so I never really thought about it. Well, not much. I can't say I've never thought about it. I just don't want her to regret the stuff we're doing in a few years, or even a few months. I feel like I should be the mature one and put a stop to it, even though I don't want to.

"How was your date with Myrcella?" I ask Podrick one day after school. He was in theatre today so we decided to hang out.

"It went well," he says. "She's so cute, she didn't know we were an official couple. She blushed when I asked her to be my girlfriend."

"That's great, I'm really happy for you guys," I say. There's a pause, I'm nervous to talk about what's been going on with me and Arya. "I've been hanging out with Arya more lately."

"I've noticed," he says. "You guys are in the hallway a lot together, I assumed you were dating."

"We're not," I say. "At least not officially. She doesn't want to define it, but she wants to fool around."

"Woah, what?" Podrick asks me, surprised. "You did it with her?"

"No," I say, immediately making that abundantly clear. "Definitely not. We just make out a little."

"I hope Jon doesn't find out."

"She's the one who's so persistent. I wanted to make her my girlfriend, but she said no."

"So you really like her?" Podrick asks me.

"I do, a lot," I say. "The fooling around is fun, but I want to properly date her." Podrick smiles at me like he thinks what I said is cute.

"Still," he says. "I doubt Jon will see it that way if he finds out."

I know he's right, but I'm telling the truth. I'd never want her to do something Arya doesn't want to do, and she's definitely the one pushing for all this. I feel like I should be the mature one and step away from what we're doing, but I really do like her a lot.

…

I'm going over to Myrcella's place to drop something off for her. She left a book in my car one day when I drove her home, once in a while I drive her home if Sansa can't and Arya doesn't need a ride. She opens the door when I knock on it, at least it wasn't Joffrey.

"Thanks so much," she says, taking the book from me. "Sorry I left it in your car."

"No worries," I say. "I was just with Podrick for a bit, he talked about you."

She smiles and blushes. "Good things, I hope?"

"Very good things," I say. "You guys are really cute together."

"Thanks," she says. "So Sansa told me you're getting closer to Arya."

"I guess," I say. "I don't want that to spread around, though. I don't care if people know, but she doesn't want to define it so I don't know what to say when people ask me about it."

"She doesn't?" She asks me. I shake my head. "Huh, interesting. My dad found out about Podrick, of course Joffrey told him."

"Was he mad?"

"No, he just wants to meet him next time we go out. I'm nervous, you know he can be kind of off putting."

"Yeah," I say. "But I'm sure he'll warm up to him. Good luck with that."

"Thanks," she says. "Bye."

I head to my car and head home. I know word travels fast around here, but I was hoping Arya and I's thing would stay between us. Like I said, I don't care if people know we're a thing. I just wish I could publicly call her my girlfriend instead of acting confused when people ask me about her. I might just start saying we're just friends, that seems easiest.

A/N: The next couple chapters are going to focus on Thanksgiving Break, so that should bring some drama! Thanks to everyone who is still reading, I love hearing your feedback! :)