Arya landed on her feet, and then unhooked the ropes from around her body before taking off her helmet. Soon afterwards, she found her bottle of water and gulped the whole thing down in no time as she monitored Gendry descended the rock.
"You have about twenty more feet, Gendry," she projected to him. To encourage her friend, Arya began to clap and shout for him. "Woo!"
Gendry laughed, and then turned to face her. "Shut up. You're distracting me."
The shouting stopped, but Arya continued to clap. When Gendry reached the bottom, she gave him his water. Gendry unhooked himself and took off his helmet as he poured water on his body. Entranced by what she saw, Arya's eyes followed the water as it sluiced his skin. The water made his chiseled body glisten as it moved across his torso. Gendry began to stretch his muscles as Arya noticed how taut and prominent they were. He wore his shorts low on his waist and if they went down any further…Arya swallowed slowly.
Arya pulled her gaze away from Gendry's body and started putting items into a small backpack.
"Come on," she said as she put the backpack straps on her shoulder.
Gendry packed his things as well. "Okay, I'm ready."
"I believe we are in the lead," Arya announced as she looked around the forest. They were on an obstacle course through the woods and all of the young adults had been paired off. Of course, Arya and Gendry chose to be partners. Gendry looked at the map and turned at Arya.
As he spoke to her, he pointed to the paper, "This is the last place we have to go before we finish," he leaned over Arya's shoulder to look at the map as well.
Arya moved away from him ever so slightly, and then discussed strategy with him. "We should run the rest of the way," she thought aloud. "We'll get to the boat quicker and we can use that extra time to rest when we row across the lake if need be."
"I was thinking the same thing," Gendry concurred. "Pine trail will be the best route to take. Mostly everyone will avoid it because of the incline and rough surface."
The two went about their way as they ran to the lake taking Pine trail. Gendry had longer legs than Arya, but she could keep on with him. They were careful as they ran over the rocky surface and increased their stride when they approached the incline. Within 25 minutes, the lake appeared. Hurriedly, Arya and Gendry got into the boat and didn't bother to take their bags off as they rowed away quickly.
When they reached the sand, they jumped out of the boat and ran to the finished line. Excitedly, Arya and Gendry gave each other a high five before tightly hugging one another.
"Why does it surprise me that you two finished first," said a camp counselor named Francine. "It is almost unfair the way you two dominate these challenges."
"I know, right," Camden agreed. "If we didn't split you two up from time to time, you would always win them."
Arya and Gendry were notorious for how well they worked together. When they were paired, they always finished first and collected whatever prizes were given. If they were split up, they interchangeably finished one and second and sometimes third, but never any lower than that.
"We do always win the challenges when you guys don't split us up," Arya smirked as she stretched out her body. She went to lie down on the ground and Gendry went over to help her. He straddled her right leg while keeping her left straight and slowly pushing it towards her body. "Harder," she demanded in a soft tone.
"I will once you relax," Arya groaned when he pushed her leg further back. "Gods, I'm trying to loosen you up because you are so tense."
"No," she refuted. "You're afraid to break me because I'm so small. I can handle you, Gendry. We've done this a thousand times."
"I know," Gendry chuckled. "It's easy to forget how flexible you are." He let Arya's leg rest on his shoulder for a moment, before laying it on the ground and moving to stretch her other leg.
"Then stop forgetting," she slapped his on the arm. "You're the only one who knows how to stretch me out properly when you aren't taking it easy on me. Just because you are big, doesn't mean I can't handle you."
"I take it easy on you at first, so you can handle me when I stretch your muscles," Gendry said. "We both know how sore you get every time I am done with you."
"Have you ever heard me complain?" Gendry nodded no. "Then, stop taking it easy on me."
Camden started choking on his drink as Francine gave them a weird look.
"What?" Arya looked at Francine and the girl blushed embarrassedly before turning away.
"Nothing," she lied as a looked between her and Camden was exchanged.
After she was done being stretched by Gendry, and then returned the favor, Arya went to go take a shower. The water was steaming hot and she was in heaven. An abundance of soap and shampoo was lathered on her skin and in her hair and she washed all of the grime away.
Blissfully, she lay down on her stomach as she sniffed the fresh laundry after she got out of her shower. The clothes were so warm and smelled so nice. She couldn't imagine anything better at the moment—well, she could imagine something better. Quickly, the Stark girl threw on some clothes and went to look for Gendry.
He was walking to the cafeteria when Arya decided to sneak up on him and give him a hug. From time to time, Gendry would tell her how stealthy she was and that she moved without making noise. As Arya got closer and closer to him, a smile broke out on her face and she quickened her pace. When she was directly behind him, she wrapped her arms around Gendry and hugged him from behind.
"Gotcha, Gendry," she shouted. Gendry jumped in her arms and then tore Arya's arms from his body before putting space between them.
"Seven Hells, Arya," Gendry ran a hand through his hair.
"Did I scare you?" She teased as she grinned broadly.
"No," he answered.
"Yes, I did," Arya stuck her tongue out. "If I didn't you wouldn't have jumped."
"That's not why I jumped," the young man refuted.
"Then why?" She crossed her arms and waited for him answer so she could shoot it down.
"It's nothing," he denied as he tried to walk away, but Arya caught his arm. Although he was stronger than his friend, he chose not to pull away.
"It is something," she contradicted. "Tell me what it is."
Gendry struggled to find the words. "You're different," he provided vaguely.
"You think I've changed." Arya crossed her arms. "That's why you don't want me to touch you."
"Yes, you've changed." Gendry smiled in relief not knowing they were having two different conversations. "That's why I jumped."
"I'm confused; you were acting all normal and like we were best friends earlier and now you are telling me that I've changed and not to touch you," Arya shouted angrily. Gendry's eyes widened at the misunderstanding.
"NO, that not what I meant," he immediately denied. "You still are my best friend—that hasn't changed."
"Then what in the seven hells are you talking about?" Arya held her hands out in front of her in confusion.
"Why do you have to make this so hard!" Gendry paced back and forth.
"You're making this hard," she said incredulously.
"Arya," he called for her attention. Gendry snapped his fingers and pointed two of them to his eyes for Arya to follow. "You've changed," he said quietly as he eyes scanned her and his hand gestured towards her body.
Arya had been at Wholistic Core for a year and she looked different than when she first got there. Rather than her hair being an inch short, it now came to her chin and was styled in a bob. She was slightly taller, but her athletic physique remained and complemented her figure. Arya's face had filled out some, but not too much. Most importantly, she went from barely having any breast to having a b cup.
Her eyes had widened at the implication.
"I love being your friend," Gendry began. "But, it's distracting when you touch me, especially when you hug be from behind and your—you know—is on my back."
Arya didn't know what to say. "I don't touch you that much," she denied.
"Uh, yeah, you do," he contradicted. "But, usually, I'm prepared for it. And you lay on be a lot when we are alone. I really don't mind, but it can be a distraction sometimes. I know you don't try to have that impact on me and I try not to take it that way, but I'm still a guy, so my body is going to respond." He ran a hand through his hair. "I guess I wouldn't notice so much if you still wore your old clothes."
By her fifteenth birthday, Arya had outgrown the clothes she arrived with. When she went shopping, it was clear that her taste had changed as well. Her new items weren't overly feminine, but they were did accentuate her features in a favorable way. She now wore fitted shirts and tank tops. Her shorts hugged her skin comfortably and were mid thigh. Her pants no longer hid her figure, but highlighted it.
Time had been very favorable to Arya and, unsurprisingly, without her notice. Although she wasn't aware of her matured body, the guys at Wholistic Core clearly had paid attention.
It all made sense now…why guys who never uttered a word to her suddenly wanted to be her friend. They'd try to include themselves in the activities she did with Hot Pie and Gendry or talk to her, as she was on her way somewhere. There were even times where they'd invite her to join them to eat, play games, or small get-togethers. The logical conclusion would be that they were trying to be her friend, but Arya was never receptive to their attention when it became individualized or suggestive conversation about dating or hooking up. Shortly after that, the guys disappeared.
Arya never thought anything of it besides believing she wasn't entertaining or cool enough for them. It didn't bother her anyway because she enjoyed spending most of her time with Gendry and Hot Pie.
But, with Gendry's revelation about how her body did...things to him, that put everything into perspective.
And the things her mother tried to put into perspective. Shortly after Arya's sixteenth birthday, Catelyn tried to explain to her that her body was changing and Arya should be aware of the impression she gave the boys her age. Arya brushed her off and said that she didn't know what she was talking about—boys weren't interested in her and less interested in her body.
But, she couldn't be further from the truth. If even her own friend looked at her in a sexual manner and had to control his urges, her body had to be somewhat appealing like Gendry implied.
Unlike Gendry, a boy decided to let his urges fly wild and tried to kiss her.
Gendry watched as Arya paced back and forth as she ranted about the brave boy who dared to steal a kiss from Arya.
"Can you believe the nerve of him," Arya harshly whispered.
Her friend shook his head no in amusement.
"It's not funny, Gendry." It infuriated Arya that someone would try to kiss her without her consent. She wasn't even interested in dating, kissing, or anything else. If she wanted to kiss someone, she'd let him know.
"Yes, it is," he grinned at her while he sprawled across the loveseat.
Daggers were shot his way from Arya's eyes. "It's not like I'm pretty either. The only reason guys would want to kiss an ugly girl is to persuade to have sex."
"Excuse me?" There was a deep frown on Gendry's face. "Arya, I don't know told you that you were ugly, but they're flat out wrong."
"How about the whole entire city of Winterfell?" She looked at Gendry pointedly.
"Then the whole entire of city Winterfell is wrong," he said adamantly.
"Gendry, you don't have to defend me because you're my friend," she supplied, and then flopped on her bed. "It's nice that you'd say that to make me feel better, but it doesn't help. I'm ugly and I know it. Guys are only interested in me because they think I have a nice body."
Gendry got up off of the couch and sat next to Arya on her bed. He leaned over her as each arm was placed on a side of her body and said, "I can say with absolute certainty that even without looking at your body, your face is very attractive."
"Gendry," she groaned. Arya didn't want to hear this anymore.
"You remember what you told me about that Ned guy," he reminded. "That was before you…developed. And he wanted to kiss you."
"That was because we were drinking—he thought I was drunk," she retorted.
"You have an answer for everything." Gendry shook his head as Arya's grin.
"Okay," she sighed. "Even if guys find me attractive, that doesn't give them the right to put their mouths on me."
"You're right, it doesn't," he agreed. Arya rubbed his arms as she looked up at her best friend. "He was wrong for that."
"I've never thought about what my first kiss would be like, but I don't want it to be with some random guy who I don't even like." In thought, Arya bit her lip.
"I agree," he murmured.
Gendry didn't like the look in Arya's eyes when her gaze fell upon him.
"What?" He asked suspiciously.
"Kiss me," she grinned.
"No." Gendry tried to get up, but Arya held on tight to him.
"Come on, Gendry, I like you and you like me," she supplied.
"As friends," he nearly shouted.
Arya glared at him. "Shut up," she mouthed. Gendry wasn't supposed to be in her room. But, for the last few months, they've been sneaking into each other's rooms at night to hangout. "And who cares if it's just as friends. This is my first kiss—not yours. If I want it to be with a friend, so some guy I don't even like isn't the first, then that is my choice. You already had your first kiss with someone you wanted it to be and I want mine to be with you."
A telltale blush crept upon Gendry's face.
"No," Arya said in shocked. "You've never been kissed."
"There was never in girl I wanted to kiss," he said before giving the thought further consideration. "I mean, there were a few, but I didn't have a chance."
"So, that means…" Arya raised her eyebrows.
"It means that I never had sex either," Gendry mumbled as he hung his head in embarrassment.
Arya propped herself up on her elbows. "Gendry," she grabbed his face and forced him to look at her before running her fingers through his hair. "I'm your best friend; I'm not going to judge you for not having sex at a certain age." She hugged him, and then made her weight pull Gendry to the bed. She whispered in his ear, "Let me be your first kiss—it's better than someone you don't like."
Gendry turned to face her. "Arya, I'm twenty-one and you're sixteen. I'm five years older than you. That's illegal."
"One: It is not illegal," she denied. "Two: It's just a kiss. Three: And even if we did more, the age of consent is sixteen. Not only am I sixteen, I'm clearly consenting. Gendry, it's just a kiss between two friends; why are you being such a baby about this?"
Loudly, Gendry exhaled into the air as Arya saw defeat in his eyes. "Fine."
In anticipation, Arya's licked her lips and reached for Gendry. Gendry's forearm rested above her head as he sat the other one next to Arya's hip. Arya's breathing slowed in anticipation.
He placed a quick peck on her mouth.
"That's not a kiss," Arya cried in disbelief. "That's how you would kiss your family."
"Well, then how do you want me to kiss you," he asked, but it was clear that he wasn't looking for a real answer. "And why does it matter anyway if this is supposed to be a kiss between friends?"
Arya smacked her lips. "Because it does…I don't want the most memorable thing about my first kiss to be me asking my best friend to kiss me."
Gendry groaned, and then mumbled "fine" as he descended upon her mouth again.
Arya's heart dropped as she crossed the finish line; some groups finished before her and Gendry.
They'd place eighth.
"Seven hells," Arya swore as she threw her bag on the ground.
In frustration, she ran her fingers through her hair as she paced back and forth. As of lately, she and Gendry were experiencing a losing streak of sorts. For six races straight, they hadn't placed in the top three. Hell, they hadn't even cracked the top ten. The first time they'd lost, they'd finished thirteenth.
That came as a surprise to everyone.
Especially Arya, but Gendry wasn't shocked. He quietly walked away as other teams celebrated.
They weren't even working well with others, but it wasn't as bad as one another.
One of the purposes of the challenges was communication, which Arya and Gendry were failing miserably at. They weren't talking. Sure, they'd speak to one another and have basic conversation, but they weren't effectively communicating and, consequently, they struggled to perform well. Stuff that used to come so easily to them eluded them. They couldn't agree on anything: what to do, how to do it, and when to do it.
Arya crouched down and rested her elbows on her knees and held head in her hands.
Everything was all fucked up.
"Well, at least we finished in the top ten this time," Gendry's voice said from above her. "Maybe we'll get out of our rut soon."
Arya looked at him, and then stood up.
"I doubt it," she replied, and then walked away.
Gendry clenched his jaw, and then kicked the ground.
Later on that day, Arya decided to take a swim at the rec center. She needed to work off some steam from today's loss and that seemed to be the best way.
She just didn't understand it: why weren't she and Gendry communicating well. They used to talk so easily and, sometimes, they didn't even need to say a word. Now when they spoke, it was as if they were speaking in two different languages.
But, deep down, Arya knew. It was impossible to disregard something so obvious, but she was unable to be that honest with herself.
Arya decided to take the back door out of the rec center basement. As she ascended the stairs, Arya saw Francine gesture to Hot Pie so that she could talk to him. Abruptly, Arya stopped where she was, and then took went back down a few steps. By nature, she was noisy; especially when it came to people she cared about, so yes, she was eavesdropping.
"What's going on with Arya and Gendry," Francine inquired.
"I don't know," Hot Pit, admitted honestly. Arya could hear the uncertainty in his voice.
"You don't know if they've had any disagreements or falling outs," she questioned. "You haven't seen anything."
"No," he said. "It was like one day everything was fine and the next, something wasn't quite right between them."
"What do you mean," she asked.
"To be honest, I don't know, but it was a super weird. Arya and Gendry always have little arguments, you know, and not to say that they'd argued or anything because, like I said, I don't know, but it felt real and serious this time…whatever it was that they'd gotten into it over. And it's like, Gendry wants to talk about it or, wanted to, but Arya always shut him down, so he just doesn't even try anymore. And I don't know whose fault it is or if it's anyone's fault, but they just don't talk like they used to."
"Really," Francine said.
"Yeah," he confirmed. "And like I said, it's weird because they still spend most of the time together. I mean, they talk, but they don't talk if that makes any sense."
"It does," the older woman assured. "So, you haven't said anything to them about it?"
"No," he stated. "At first, I thought that they'd get over it and make up…well, I hoped. That's just how it's always worked and I don't know how to make them talk. Even though we're close friends, Arya and Gendry have always been closer ever since day one. They understand each other better and, whatever issues they had, they always sorted that out on their own. But, things were never this bad; they argued over petty stuff and would make up a second later. But, I don't even know if whatever they're going through is petty or not because they don't talk about it."
"And things aren't getting better," she provided.
"No," he said, sadly. "It's like it's getting worse and worse every day; I don't even know why they even bother to hang around each other anymore."
"That's unfortunate," Francine said as sincerity laced her voice. "Arya and Gendry used to be our shining example of trust and communication and now they're one of our worst." Arya's stomach dropped at Francine's words. "Well, thanks for talking to me, Hot Pie."
"No problem," he said.
"Do you want to talk about it," Gina asked, as she titled her head to the side and worriedly stared at her patient. Gina was Arya's mandatory therapist, which Wholistic Core assigned to every camper.
Arya gave her an expressionless stare. "Talk about what?"
"About what's been bothering you these past few weeks," she answered. "I'm concerned about you Arya. You're a very lively and passionate young woman and I haven't seen that in a while. The change in you has been almost abrupt."
Although therapy at Wholistic Core was mandatory for every camper, Arya enjoyed going. It may have been her job, but Gina seemed genuinely interested in Arya and what she had to say; she wasn't judgmental and very supportive as well.
"Does it have anything to do with Gendry," she inquired.
Arya gave her a startled expression.
"Ah…it does," she said, and then jotted a down a note.
"How did you know?"
"I get paid to be observant," she replied. "Even if I weren't, it really wouldn't have taken a therapist to see the major collapse in your relationship with Gendry. He went from being the leading man in every story to you not speaking about him at all. The abrupt change was disorienting and set off some alarms. Then it became even more obvious that you were actively avoiding any reference to him, which set off the rest. Add in your changed behavior and I'd have to be incompetent at my job not to put two and two together."
"Is it really that obvious," Arya asked in disbelief.
Gina gave Arya a small smile. "Arya, I could grab a random guy off of the street and he'd be able to tell that something was wrong between you and Gendry in less than a second; it's THAT obvious."
Arya looked past Gina and at the wall behind the older woman.
"Arya, keep in mind that it is my job as your therapist to look out for your mental well being. If do not want to talk about this, we won't. If you feel uncomfortable with the topic, we can talk about something else," she softly explained. "But, I do believe that it'd be beneficial for us to discuss your broken relationship with Gendry."
"Why?" Arya snapped her head to look at Gina.
"Why what?" Gina crossed her legs, and then rested her hands on her lap.
"Why would it be beneficial for me to talk about him?" Arya's defiant nature was making itself known and Gina picked up her notebook and scribbled an observation.
She stared at the young woman for a moment, and then wrote another one. "Because," she began, "Despite the strong façade you put on, it's apparent that you're falling apart and you miss him. It's clear that whatever happened between you two, you don't want to deal with it, but unlike other problems you've ignored before in the past, this one won't go away. You can't wish it away; what happened, happened. The question is: how will you deal with it? Will you continue to let it eat away at you or will you grab the problem by its horns and made it submit."
Gina's assessment of Arya's mindset and behavior felt frighteningly accurate.
"Gendry and I had sex," she blurted out.
At the revelation, Gina stopped writing in her notebook. After she processed the information, she lifted her head and looked at Arya, and then raised an eyebrow.
"You are by far the most intriguing patient I've ever had," she stated. "Of the many scenarios that crossed my mind, sex wasn't one of them. At the most, I expected you to say you two kissed."
"We did," Arya said.
"If you two didn't, I would've been very concerned," Gina admitted.
Arya shook her head. "No, I meant that it was originally supposed to be just a kiss," she explained.
For a moment, the wheels seemed to roll in Gina's head, and then she spoke, "Really? What initiated the kiss?"
"Some stupid guy," Arya began. "He tried to kiss me and I freaked out. I didn't want my first kiss to be by some strange guy I didn't even know that well. And when I was ranting to Gendry about it, the idea to have him kiss me popped into my head. If Gendry kissed me, it'd be on my terms. So, I asked him and he agreed. Well, not right away, but I convinced him."
As if writing a timed essay for an AP exam, Gina scribbled furiously. Arya could see the wheel's rolling in Gina's mind. The older woman's eyes switched back and forth between Arya and the notebook before she jotted down her final note.
"So, why Gendry," Gina finally asked. "Why did you ask him to kiss you?"
Apparently, Arya's confusion was easily read on her face.
"Why not Hot Pie," Gina suggested.
Arya widened her eyes, and then shook her head no at the ridiculous suggestion. "He's Hot Pie," she weakly offered. "I asked Gendry because I trust him."
"But, not Hot Pie," Gina countered.
"No—well, I trust him too, but it's different with Gendry," Arya defended.
"Why," Gina challenged. "Why is it different? Why do you trust Gendry more? Hot Pie is your best friend too, so why didn't you ask him? According to you, you trust him as well just not as much. Do you think he would've told anyone?"
"No," Arya almost shouted. "I'm not saying that—I didn't say that."
"Then what are you saying?" Gina sat back in her chair and crossed her arms. "Help me understand so I can help you."
"I don't know," Arya shrugged. "Earlier in the week, Gendry had admitted he was attracted to my body," she revealed. "And when were discussing Jacob, the guy who tried to kiss me, I was feeling insecure about my looks and Gendry was just so reassuring. And letting me know that he found my looks attractive as well and I—I just asked him to kiss me because it seemed like a good idea at the time."
"You regret asking him to kiss you," Gina asked carefully.
"Well, if we didn't, then we wouldn't have had sex," Arya explained. "And it wouldn't be like this."
"Like what," the therapist inquired.
Arya shook her head at the loss of words. "Like, like we can't even talk anymore and when we do it's awkward and forced."
"Was it awkward and forced that night it happened?" With a trained eye, Gina tried to gauge Arya's reaction. The older woman watched what Arya said and didn't say.
"No," she admitted. "We were comfortable and just let stuff happened naturally."
Nervously, Arya rubbed her hands.
"So, you two kissed and got carried away," Gina speculated.
"Not exactly." Arya shifted uneasily. "When he kissed me the first time…"
"The first time," Gina interrupted; as she looked up from her notepad.
"Yeah, the first time," Arya repeated. "The first time wasn't a real kiss. Gendry just gave me some bullshit ass peck on the lips. I know it was supposed to be a kiss between friends, but come on, it was my first kiss, I was expecting more than that."
"Well, you definitely got it." At this, Arya blushed. "So, I'm guessing you made him kiss you again?"
"Yes," she confirmed. "And that is when things…escalated." Arya looked indecisive about how much she wanted to tell Gina, which the woman picked up.
"Arya, you don't have to tell me more than necessary," she explained. "Like I said, I want you to feel comfortable…and ready. But, I also don't need to know more than you two had sex. That statement is sufficient on its own."
"I know," Arya said. "But, you also said it would be beneficial for me to talk about and it includes sex as well."
Gina looked at Arya in surprise.
"Well then, start whenever you are ready."
Gendry groaned, and then mumbled "fine" as he descended upon her mouth again. Arya grabbed his head with one hand and his hip with another. Experimentally, their lips moved against one another to test out what felt right. Gendry slightly moved his head to the side to get a better angle and Arya noticed how Gendry's goatee lightly tickled her face. Recently, he decided to grow it to try something new. At first, she hated it, but it grew on her over time without her noticing it. Now, she liked how it felt against her skin.
Slowly, they broke apart. Gendry's lips hovered above Arya's as he looked at her intently. She felt his warmed breath caress her skin while her hand tightened on his hip.
"That wasn't so bad, was it," Arya whispered, as she stared at his lips.
In the deepest pits of Arya stomach, the butterflies did a ritualistic dance to the unfamiliar feeling that had suddenly taken ahold of her. Arya's throat tightened as she tried to understand what was going on with her.
"No," he agreed, and then after a moment of hesitation, captured her lips again.
At this, Arya's nerves calmed as Gendry slid his tongue into her mouth. The sensation was new and foreign, but it also felt nice and warm. She liked how it felt against her own. In the back of her mind, the rational part of Arya wanted her to stop and ask Gendry what they were doing. It was supposed to be one kiss—one REAL kiss—and that was all. And yet, she couldn't find herself to care to ask as Gendry deepened the kiss and his lips made her body feel things it never felt before.
Without realizing it, Arya had maneuvered body under Gendry's in order to move her leg so that she could cradle his hips between her legs. Unintentionally and, in a minuscule fashion, they began to grind their hips against one another. The longer their kiss wore on, the more their grinding intensified. A throbbing sensation grew between Arya's legs as she wrapped her legs around Gendry's waist. It was clear that Gendry was just as aroused as Arya; she felt his hardened manhood as she grinded herself wantonly against him.
Desiring to feel his skin, any piece of his skin, Arya slipped her hands under his shirt and rubbed his back absentmindedly. Gendry was briefly distracted by her touch before he dipped his hips and made Arya moan into his mouth. Gendry took this opportunity to open Arya's mouth wider, which didn't take much coaxing as she hungrily kissed Gendry back.
Slowly, as Gendry kissed Arya, he moved her hands above her head, and then held both of them with one hand. He then raised her shirt up and Arya's stomach jumped when he rested his cool hand on top of her stomach. Arya had no clue if she should feel worried that anticipation, not fear, coursed through her body. Or the fact that she didn't want it to stop—she wanted more.
She wanted him.
Hesitantly, Gendry's hand slid down her stomach and stopped at her shorts. With unsure eyes, Gendry looked at her.
Arya slightly lifted her hips and nodded.
His hands shook as he unbuttoned, and then unzipped her shorts. Carefully, he picked up Arya's hips as he pulled them down. Without a second thought, he tossed them over his shoulders, and then leaned in to kiss Arya. As they kissed, Gendry caressed her thighs. Arya wrapped her leg around his waist and pulled him closer. In a reluctant manner, Gendry pulled away and kissed her neck, then her collarbone, between her breasts, and down her stomach. Turned on by the attentions of his mouth, Arya moaned as she gently rested a hand on his head.
Even the kissing noises he made as he trailed kisses down her body got her excited.
Gendry then leaned back on his legs and picked up on of Arya's leg and kissed her calf muscle. His next kiss was placed on her knee, and then her inner thigh. Gently, his teeth bit her skin, and then feathered kisses closer and closer to her crotch, which frustrated Arya because she knew he wasn't actually going to touch her vagina…yet. After a while, he dropped her leg, and then showered the same attention to her other leg.
"Gendry," she whined.
Arya just wanted the teasing to end.
"Gendry," she repeated through clenched teeth when the initial pleas fell on deaf ears. She was on edge and just wished he would ease her tension between her legs.
He grinned at her.
"Be patient," he said in a low, authoritative tone that turned Arya on even more.
He kissed the crotch area on her panties and Arya simultaneously gasped and jumped at the touch of his lips through the thin garment. Gendry kissed above the panty line as he looped his fingers inside the top of her underwear and slowly pulled them down.
Her panties were thrown on the floor.
It felt unusual for the cold air to hit her moist nether lips, but the thought immediately escaped her mind when Gendry inserted a finger between her legs. Slowly, he moved the digit in and out of her as he focused on her pleasure.
Appreciatively, Arya moaned.
At Arya's favorable reaction, Gendry inserted another finger to which she opened her legs wider as she watched. The second finger heightened her pleasure and her breathing hitched. Arya grabbed his hand and tried to pull him close to take him in deeper.
"Be patient," he repeated a second time.
Arya groaned in frustration.
Due to her impatience, Gendry added a third and Arya just about lost her mind.
"Oh my Gods," she said breathily. "Oh my Gods."
Firmly, Gendry held her hips down with one hand as he stroked Arya. She excitedly gasped at the increased friction as she shut her eyes and whipped her head to the side.
"Gendry," she cried out.
His cock hardened at the way Arya said his name. It was already semi-hard, but Arya's gasps and how she called out to him sounded so hot. She was really into what he was doing. Gendry thought it would've been bad since he had no idea what he was doing; everything he was doing with Arya now came from all of the porn he's seen over the years.
Gendry was becoming even harder at the wetness between her legs. It was so slick and moist and he just wanted to take his dick out and slide into her. But, he didn't think she wasn't ready for that. They had already gone too far as it was and he didn't want to cross that line and have her hate him for it. Gendry decided that he'd finished her off first, and then rub one out after he went back to his room. He was a little insecure about doing that sort of thing next to her and he didn't want Arya to feel pressured to reciprocate.
Just as Gendry increased his speed to make Arya cum, he was curious as to how she tasted. Who knew the next time when this would happen again or if? Maybe it was selfish, but he decided to capitalize on the moment and put his head between her legs.
Arya slightly jumped at the unexpected sensation, but enjoyed the change of pace. For a guy with no sexual experience, Gendry sure as hell knew what he was doing and came off very confident and assertive. She liked it.
Gendry alternated with having his tongue use broad strokes and sucking on her clit as he grabbed her legs and pushed them close to her chest. Momentarily, he picked up his face, and then looked at her before giving her vagina a kick peck and winked. Arya would've laughed if she weren't so on the edge like she was.
Delicately, Gendry lowered one of Arya's legs as his tongue's strokes became even firmer. Although mostly distracted by Gendry's talent at eating out, Arya looked down and saw Gendry jerking off. She couldn't actually see his penis that well since they were still in his shorts, but Arya knew what he was doing. Any other thought on the topic erased when Gendry inserted his fingers back in her as it worked side by side with his tongue.
Unexpectedly, Arya felt her orgasm overcome her.
"Oh—Oh," Arya began. "Gen—oh m…" the rest of Arya's statement was cut off as she silently cried out at her climax. Gendry continued to lick and rub as she rode out her orgasm.
Contently, Arya sighed as she faced Gendry with closed eyes. That was truly amazing.
As she basked in the afterglow of her orgasm, Arya heard Gendry zip up his pants.
Quickly, she opened her eyes. "What are you doing?"
Confused at her question and tone, Gendry shrugged. "Zipping up my pants," he said as he buttoned them.
"No shit," she said dismissively. "Why?"
"You came," he said as if it was the most obvious answer.
"And you didn't," she retorted.
Gendry's eyes balked at her statement. "Oh no, Arya, you don't have to do that; I'm fine, really. I can finish myself off later on."
"What," Arya's tone took on an edge. "You don't want me to touch you?"
"What?" Gendry was in disbelief. With Arya, it could go from zero to sixty in a second flat. He had no clue why she'd think that. "Arya, you've got to be kidding me; you're fucking sexy. You touching me would be the hottest thing ever."
"Then take your shorts off," she demanded. "It's only fair. You took mine off."
Gendry looked at Arya and saw that she wore her shirt and not shorts or panties.
"Arya, I don't want you to feel pressured to do this," he explained.
Arya ignored his words as she scooted closer to the edge of the bed and pulled Gendry closer. "As if anyone could make me feel pressured to do anything," she replied. "Do you want me to touch you?"
Gendry sighed. "Arya…"
"Gendry," she interrupted. "Yes or no?"
At her question, the he nodded yes.
"Then stop making this so difficult," she said as she looked up at Gendry. Arya then looked at his shorts and saw the imprint of his erection. Slowly, she traced the outline of cock as Gendry involuntarily jerked his hips. Carefully, she put a little pressure on his erection, which made him groan.
"Arya," he whimpered.
She widely grinned at him.
The imprint of his cock looked massive and Arya unbuttoned, and then slowly unzipped his shorts. She pulled down his shorts and Gendry stepped out of them when they hit the floor. Arya then pulled his down his boxer briefs and visibly balked.
Uncertainly, she stared at Gendry. She didn't plan to have sex with him, but he could hurt someone with that thing. The most she was going to do was take him in her mouth, but Arya was having serious second thoughts about that.
"Is something wrong?"
Gods, that thing was longer than her face.
"No," she lied, and then moved to the middle of the bed. "Sit down." She patted the bed and Gendry obeyed.
Arya watched as Gendry's cock bobbed at movement. Not only was it long, it was wide as well. She'd seen penises before, but they were never that imposing.
What did she just get herself into?
Mentally, Arya gathered herself, as she reached into her nightstand and pulled out a bottle of lotion. "Show me how you liked to be touched," she said as she handed him the bottle.
After Gendry squirted the lotion in his hand, he lathered his cock a bit, and then held the base as he firmly stroked himself. In concentration, he closed his eyes and threw his head back. Intently, Arya paid close attention to what Gendry did and the reaction that coincided with his touches. As she studied him, her unease gradually washed away. Gods, it turned Arya as she watched Gendry touch himself and the pleasure it clearly gave him. She wanted to give him that as well. If it was even possible, he was more erect and, although she was still a little nervous due to his size; Arya was now ready to tackle the challenge.
Softly, Arya rubbed his leg as she watched him and moistness accumulated between her legs at the noises he made. When Arya's anxiety left completely, she inched her hand towards his cock until it touched his dark, thick pubes, and then rubbed the base of his cock with her knuckle.
Now, she was intrigued.
Abruptly, Gendry stopped as opened his eyes. "Arya," he gasped.
"I think I got the gist of it," she assured as she swatted his hand away. Arya picked up the bottle of lotion and squirted some in her hand and grabbed him. She could barely fit his cock in her hand. For a moment, she struggled to stroke him the way he liked, but then found a rhythm after successfully mimicking Gendry's earlier actions, which made Gendry's hips thrust into her hand and his breathing pick up.
Due to basic sex education, Arya knew that Gendry was uncircumcised. As she rubbed his cock, the way the skin moved, captivated her. She found it both weird and fascinating. It was velvety, but the organ underneath was rock solid. Curiously, Arya pulled the foreskin down. Up and down she moved the foreskin as if she were trying to understand it. Arya then looked closely at his penis to examine it. There were prominent veins on his penis and she used her finger to trace it with her other hand.
"Arya," he choked out.
She then took his balls in her hand and carefully cupped them; they were slightly warm and heavy.
"Fuck," Gendry grunted.
Arya held the base of his cock with one hand as she sped up her pace. She heard his breathing increase before she drastically slowed down and took the head of Gendry's cock in her mouth.
"Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit," he chanted as he clutched the sheets.
For a few seconds, Arya sucked the head of his cock before licking his shaft. Taking a penis in her mouth was a strange experience, but oddly enjoyable as well. It made Arya feel powerful. Although Gendry hadn't been in her mouth that long, it felt like her was at her mercy.
Only for a moment, she was hesitant about taking more of Gendry in her mouth, but she couldn't turn down the challenge. She was going to prove that she could take all of him, well, most. There was no way she was going to fit all of Gendry in her mouth and she wasn't going to try either.
Arya positioned herself between Gendry's legs and grabbed the sheet and wiped the excess lotion off of his penis. After she finished, she slipped his cock back in her mouth, and then placed her hand right below her mouth. In unison, she moved both her hand and mouth as she tried to take as much of Gendry as she could. She heard Gendry's head hit the backboard as he groaned in pleasure.
"Just…just," he stuttered. "Make your grip a little tighter," he helpfully suggested.
As instructed, Arya tightened her grip. "Like this," she asked, making sure she was stroked him to his liking.
Gendry placed his hand over hers, and then squeezed her hand to show her what he liked. "Like this."
After Gendry removed his hand, Arya's grip didn't loosen and she went back to sucking his cock and she stroked him. Arya rotated between sucking the head of his cock and putting pressure on it with her hand.
Gently, he rested a hand on her head as he watched her head bob up and down. It was just so fucking hot for Gendry watching her blow him. Despite her inexperience, the blowjob was pretty enjoyable, which was in part due to her enthusiasm. The other parts were the experience itself and how hot it was for his cock to slide in and out of her mouth. A mischievous glint entered Arya's eyes as she licked Gendry's shaft.
Gendry penis slid out of her mouth as Arya raised herself up on her hands, crawled forward, and straddled Gendry. His cock stood erect between them.
Tenderly, Arya deeply kissed Gendry.
"Take off your shirt," she said against him mouth as slipped her hands under his shirt.
Gendry looked at her questioningly. "Arya?"
"Do you find me attractive, Gendry," she asked, as she stared him deeply in the eyes.
Gendry swallowed.
"Yeah," he choked out.
Arya licked her lips.
"Do you want to fuck me?" She tucked a strand of her behind her ear as she whispered in his. Seductively, she nibbled on his ear and Gendry groaned before he nodded. "Say it. Say, 'Yes, I want to fuck you.'"
"Yes, I want to fuck you," he parroted.
"Good," she grinned, and then moved to sit on his thighs. "Now, take off your shirt," she demanded. Arya pulled up his shirt and Gendry helped her get it off. They then discarded her shirt as it joined the other pieces of clothes on the floor. Expertly, Arya unclasped her bra and threw it to the side.
Arya rose up on her knees and grabbed Gendry's shoulders and balanced herself. Gendry placed one hand on her hip and the other on his cock and steadied it as Arya impaled herself on it.
A slight cry of pain escaped her lips.
"I'm okay," she assured to Gendry's worried gaze. "You're just very big and I have to get used to you." Arya let her body get used the foreign organ in her body before she moved up and down on the first three inches. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and moaned. Gradually, she took more and more of Gendry as her body accommodated itself to his length and girth.
"You okay," he asked after Arya took all of him. She nodded yes, and then began to rock her hips back and forth.
"Fuck," Gendry practically shouted. It was an almost indescribable feeling when Arya's vagina sheathed his cock. She was so unbearably tight and warm. Gods, he was ready to lose it.
Arya exhaled as she tried to focus on anything except the pain. It wasn't all pain or mostly, but it was enough to distract her. She wondered how long it would take for that to pass and so she could fully enjoy herself.
"You better not cum," she threatened when she looked at Gendry's face.
"I'm not," he said defensively, and then kissed her. Gendry read the slight distress on her face, which concerned him. "Let's get you on your back; it'll be easier that way."
"I doubt it," Arya commented, but she allowed Gendry to do as he suggested.
In retrospect, it turned out to be a better idea. Gendry was able to control the pace better and stretch her out properly. After about five minutes, Arya no longer felt any pain. Eagerly, she wrapped her arms and legs around Gendry as he moved slowly within her. Gendry gave her his full length as he gently slammed into her.
Wantonly, Arya spread her legs widely to encourage Gendry to go deeper.
"Fuck, Arya," he groaned, and then pushed her legs into the bed as he pumped into her with measured strokes.
Arya watched as Gendry disappeared into her and she couldn't believe she was taking him so well or at all really. This honestly wasn't what she was expecting when she asked him to kiss her or to give her a real kiss. Hell, even she decided to blow him, it wasn't in her plans for him to penetrate her.
Carefully, Gendry positioned Arya on her side and entered her again. She gasped at his re-entrance and how the pleasure seemed to change, in a good way, with the new position. Gently, his knee nudged her leg to she could lift it higher and she moaned into the sheets when she took all of him again. Arya enjoyed the intensity of their encounter and her pleasure. As he penetrated Arya, Gendry rested a his hand on her hip and his forearm above her head, and then whispered into her ear:
"Are you still okay," he asked in a low, concerned tone.
"Uh huh," she said almost incoherently. Arya moved her hips back against Gendry and met him thrust for thrust. As Gendry pulled her up on her knees, Arya propped herself on her elbows without a break in rhythm. She never knew how hot the sound of slapping flesh was until now and, unintentionally, she pushed back harder against Gendry. His hands involuntarily gripped her waist tightly as he matched her pace.
Unexpectedly, Gendry leaned back on his legs and pulled Arya up with him.
"Shit—fuck, holy hell, Gendry," Arya sobbed delightfully. Gendry held Arya against his chest and he hooked his arms under hers. Unrelentingly, he drilled into her. "Gods!"
"You want to sit on it," he whispered in her ear. "You want to ride it?"
"Yeah," she moaned. Gendry slowly pulled out of her and lied on his back.
"Come here," he gestured as he gazed at Arya.
Arya threw a leg over his body and straddled him. This time around, she slid down on his cock easily.
Lightly, she rested her hands on his chest as she sank down on Gendry and took him as deep as possible. Simultaneously, the two groaned at the same time. Although taking him was easier than the first time, she had to get used to the position again. Once she did, Arya rocked her hips back and forth. Gods, she loved the feeling of Gendry inside her. She felt comfortably full and it was so amazing. Arya let herself get lost to the rhythm as her hips moved on their own accord. Her legs started to ache, but she didn't care, she was going to ride Gendry until her legs gave out.
Feather light kisses were placed on her neck as Gendry's hand ran up and down her back. Arya grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. After she intently stared at him briefly, Arya leaned her forehead against him as she felt her orgasm build. Gendry sensed both her fatigue and her nearing climax due to the uneven rhythm and her increased breathing.
Firm hands grabbed her thighs as Gendry picked Arya up and held her against the wall. He pounded into her without abandon. High-pitched cries came from Arya's throat as her nails embedded in his back and scratched it.
Gendry kissed her to mute her cries when she came.
When Gendry was through with her, Arya was a heap of bones on the bed. Tiredly, she stared at him as he stroked his cock to cum. Arya struggled to get up as she draped herself on the side on Gendry's body and leaned her head on his shoulder. She placed on Gendry's cock, above his own hand, and moved her hand up and down in rhythm with him. After a few moments, a couple grunts escaped his throat cum shot onto his stomach.
Wordlessly, the two friends stared at each other. Arya contently looked at her best friend. What just happened between them was unbelievable. She knew sex could be great, but to actually experience and her first time? Most of the stories she heard it was either bad or okay when both parties were beginners, but for her, it was phenomenal.
Arya couldn't wait to do it again. Of course, it wouldn't be tonight, she could barely move let alone muster the energy to fuck Gendry senseless again…or be fucked senseless again.
This change in their friendship was interesting.
At this thought, Arya stomach tightened.
Tonight was great, but what if that was only tonight? What if this change between them led to something worse and ruined them? Arya's heard that sex changed many relationships for the worse and she couldn't lose Gendry because of one night. He was her best friend. He meant the world to her and she didn't know what she'd do if they weren't close anymore.
This was a bad idea.
A very bad idea.
"Hey, Arya," Gendry said softly, as he interrupted her thoughts. "I'm going to get dressed and leave. It's super late," he informed.
Arya nodded in disagreement. "No, stay here. Like you said, it's late. Go to sleep: I'll wake you up an hour before the wake up call," she offered.
"Are you sure," he asked unsurely.
"Yeah," she confirmed.
Gendry smiled at her. "Thanks." He got out of bed and put on his boxer briefs, and then settled comfortably under the covers with her.
Arya thought was acting irrational and get over it by the morning. But, when Gendry crept out of her window 5:30 in the morning, her fears were heightened. She hadn't gotten any sleep all night as she thought of everything that could go wrong.
As Arya took a shower, a hand went to touch her vagina. It slightly ached along with other parts of her body. Scenes from last night rushed through her mind along with her fears that manifested themselves in her after their encounter was over.
A knot formed in her throat as she tried to dismiss her anxiety, but it only became stronger. She couldn't lose Gendry. She wouldn't lose Gendry. They could pretend like last night never happened and everything would be fine.
Right?
"Just to make sure I understood you correctly," Gina began as she looked at her notepad in confusion. "You're telling me that you pretended the night that occurred between you and Gendry never happened in order to prevent from losing him, which resulted in ruining your friendship with him to the point that you two have difficulty talking?"
"Correct," she confirmed.
Gina blew out a puff of air. "I'm just going to be blunt here with a dash of unprofessional, but you do know that logic is majorly flawed, right?"
"In retrospect, yes," she agreed embarrassedly.
"Arya, we are running short on time," Gina informed, as she looked at her watch. "But, I'm going to give you some advice, which goes against our patient-therapist dynamic of letting you reach your own conclusions and solutions." Gina leaned forward and spoke in a serious, authoritative tone. "You have the compulsive need to control everything and have it happen on your terms and life doesn't always happen that way. Trying to force its hand only makes it worse. Rather than talking to Gendry and discussing the very big change in your friendship, you took it upon yourself and decided to pretend it never happened—never mind how he felt. Have you even spoke to him about that night?"
"No," she admitted.
"Has he ever brought it up," Gina inquired, despite knowing the answer.
"Yes," she said.
"And you shut him down," she asked.
"Yes."
"Do you see the problem here," Gina rhetorically asked. "You and Gendry's relationship was based upon openness and communication and you shut both of them down when you decided you knew what was best without consulting him. You refused to acknowledge that night and let him speak about it. How do you think that makes him feel, Arya? All throughout that night you reassured him that you wanted to have sex with him and even initiated some of it, but then the next day and all of the subsequent days, you've pretended it didn't happen. Have you ever wondered that he may blame himself? That perhaps you did feel pressured to have sex with him, but was afraid to say no? Or that it was so bad that you don't want to talk about it?"
"But, that's not true," Arya exclaimed.
Gina shrugged. "But, Gendry doesn't know that, does he? All he has are his thoughts and the fact that you won't even talk about that night." After letting Arya marinate in her words for a bit, Gina said, "Your ill advised actions says that Gendry is important to you, your camp counselors concerned discussions with me about you and Gendry says that as well, my observations also supports the importance of Gendry's friendship and the influence he has over you, and most importantly, your own words. So, rather than letting your fears of losing him conquer you, apologize to him and explain that you were afraid. I know that you'll get a better outcome because the path you chose to go down hasn't prevented anything—more like escalated it."
Arya thought about Gina's words.
"But, what about the sex," Arya asked.
"What about it," the older woman looked confused.
"What if we had sex again…what if I want to?" Arya nervously bit her lip. "I'm not ready to date?"
Her therapist smiled at her.
"And you don't have to," she answered. "The only thing that matters is that you two WANT to have sex and that both of you are comfortable with whatever happens during these encounters." Gina looked at her notes. "Arya, do you know what I gathered from your story?"
"No," Arya stared at her therapist curiously.
"That your trust in Gendry is so deep, you not only asked him to be your first kiss, you gave yourself to him willingly and without fear; you craved to explore your sexuality with him. Do you know how hard that is even with adult women? So, if you trust him with those two very big things, why couldn't you trust him to maturely deal with the consequences of that night?"
Arya rubbed her palms nervously. "I—I don't know."
"Because you're afraid of what you can't control," she supplied. "Arya, if you want to have sex with Gendry, have sex with him. Not only is it natural, it's healthy to explore your sexuality with someone you trust and enjoy being with—it doesn't have to be anything more than that. You don't have to date him. Not many girls your age have someone like that in their life and, consequently, end up having bad sexual experiences and overall troubling experiences with sex as they grow older."
At this, Arya nodded that she understood.
"But, I cannot stress how much you need to repair your relationship with him first before you try to get him out of his pants again, Arya," she said.
Arya held the tree as she stretched her calf muscles.
Twentieth place?
For fucks sakes!
Deeply, Arya breathed as she leaned against the tree. Talking to Gendry was harder than she thought. Despite her realization of why their relationship was sour, talking to her best wasn't any easier; in fact, it was so much harder. Arya was ashamed admit that it was her fault why they weren't communicating and failing at activities they used to excel at. She was the one being stupid.
And if it were even possible, the truth made them perform worse at the challenges. Well, it made her worse, which didn't make any sense. Perhaps it was because Arya was too busy overthinking everything and not trusting her own judgment. But, then again, her faulty judgment was what got them here. Even now, she doubted herself. She seriously just needed to talk to Gendry and get it over with. What was the worst that could happen considering that she already lived through it?
Arya raised her head when she heard Gendry's voice. He laughed audibly at some joke or shared joke as the group walked towards his cabin. Gods, it's been so long since she's seen him smile and even longer since he's laughed. He looked genuinely happy unlike the times they spent together. Arya hated herself for making him so miserable because of her own inability to properly address what had happened that night—for trying to pretend they hadn't been together.
Although she couldn't see his eyes from a distance, she knew they were a bright, sparkling blue. His eyes were always that way when he laughed and smiled. And she knew that there were crow's feet around his eyes. And that he laughed with his body.
Every time Arya thought about her behavior, she couldn't believe how stupid she'd been. Gendry was her best friend and they always talked about their issues and settled whatever had troubled them.
Quickly, Arya shoved away her thoughts and looked up again to stare at Gendry. When she did, her and Gendry made eye contact. As soon as they did, she saw a piece of him sadden. It wasn't apparent to others who didn't know him as well as Arya, but Arya could tell. His eyes dimmed a bit and his smile faltered somewhat. Her stomach dropped at this. Behind the sadness was uncertainty and traces of anger.
Gendry slowed down and said something to his friends, and then they said their good nights and parted ways. He stood still for a moment before he looked at her, and then made his way to his place. There were still traces of sadness, anger, and insecurity, but there was also a hint of curiosity as well.
Gendry sat down beside Arya, but made sure there was space between them. Arya was unsure if that was for her benefit, his own, or a combination of both. He sat his hands on his knees and looked ahead as he spoke.
"So, what do I owe the pleasure to," he inquired. "You spent weeks being angry at me and not letting me talk. Then you started avoiding me altogether and now you're on my porch. What gives?"
Arya opened the box on her lap and turned them towards Gendry.
It was her mom's cookies, his favorite.
"I apologize for my behavior and for the way I've been treating for a while," she said sincerely. "It was uncalled for and selfish of me. You didn't do anything wrong for me to behave that way and I'm sorry if I ever made you feel that anything was your fault."
At her apology, Gendry looked at his hands and clenched his jaw. "I didn't deserve that, Arya."
"I know," she agreed.
"You told me that you were okay with it and—and then you treat me like shit as if I did something wrong or messed up somehow," he vented. Although Arya absolved him of any blame for her behavior, it was obvious that Gendry had a lot to get off of his chest. "Arya, that was the most amazing night of my life and if I knew we would end up here, I wouldn't have even kissed you."
Arya's stomach knotted up.
"Gendry, words can't explain how sorry I am," she said. "I know I messed up. I was scared and it made me do stupid shit."
Incredulously, Gendry looked at her. "Scared of what?"
"That—that it'd change things between us for the worse. That terrified the shit out of me and I stupidly thought that if I pretended we never did it—never fucked—that…that everything would be normal. But, you wanted to talk about it and it made it hard for me to forget. You're my best friend and I didn't want to lose you because of one late night decision."
Gendry's facial expression softened at her explanation, but Arya could sense a part of him was still upset with her.
"Why didn't you just talk to me," he asked. "All you had to do was say something and we could've made sure shit didn't become bad between us."
"Gendry, it cannot be overstated how much of an idiot I've been since that night," she offered and gave a small smile.
Gendry nodded. "Yeah, you were," he agreed. "I just was so confused. You knew I was attracted to you and you kept pushing the issue that night. And—and I asked you if you were okay with what we were doing and you were said you were, and then the next day, it was like nothing ever happened. I couldn't even talk about it without you cutting me off or getting upset at me. I felt used. And I thought I must've been really bad that you wanted to forget."
"Are you kidding me," Arya laughed at the ridiculous assumption, and then she realized that she was the main reason he was insecure. "Gendry, you were incredible. Like, I kept asking myself if you were really a virgin. Even when you were…going down on me and did all that stuff with your fingers, you seemed very experienced."
Shyly, Gendry looked at the ground and grinned. "Really?"
"Yeah," Arya said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I didn't want that night to end. I…I liked the feeling of you inside me."
"I liked it too," he stated, and then clarified his comment. "I like being inside you."
Arya got slightly wet at his statement.
Gendry reached into the box and took a handful of cookies. He happily munched on the treats as the sat in silence. His anger dissipated, but Arya knew traces of hurt lingered.
"Apology accepted," Gendry said, and then looked to her. "Just…the next time you're scared, come to me first." For a moment, Gendry paused. "Well, I don't mean we're going to have sex again, but like…generally speaking. You mean a lot to me, Arya, and I'd do almost anything to prevent from losing you. I'd go crazy if we weren't best friends anymore—I missed you like hell when we weren't talking."
At this, Arya's eyes watered and you lunged towards Gendry and hugged him. "I missed you too."
Gendry chuckled, and then wrapped his free arm around her.
"Come on, let's go inside," he said, and then pulled Arya up with him.
Once inside, Gendry took the box of cookies from Arya, sat on the bed, and eat out of the box. In amazement, Arya watched, as Gendry scarfed down one-fourth of the box in what she presumed was a record time. She doubted that he breathed or chewed at all while he ate. She had to ask her mother to teach her the recipe.
"Gendry you need to slow down before you get sick," Arya cautioned.
"I'll be fine," he dismissed.
Arya rolled her eyes, and then walked around his room. It looked the same as the last time she was in it. His clothes were neatly hung in his closet, shoes lined up in a perfect row under his bed, and all of his books and papers carefully separated and put aside. Everything had a place and nothing was out of place.
Once, Arya asked Gendry where his cleaning obsession came from. He explained that before he came to live with his current foster father, he'd been in and out of a lot of homes. Some of them were complete slobs and he had to live in small bedrooms with other kids; others were neat freaks that'd punish you for the slightest things being out of place. For Gendry, being clean represented control. It was the only part of his life that he had absolute control over. Also, in some of his previous homes, they used to steal from him, the little he had, and claimed that his stuff was either lost in the mess or thrown away on accident. So, cleaning also helped him tracked his belonging: he knew where everything was and how to keep inventory. Lastly, it was one of the many ways he blew off steam.
"It doesn't make any sense," Gendry suddenly said.
"What," Arya said without looking at Gendry. She looked at an older picture of her, Gendry, and Hot Pie. Her finger lingered over Gendry's face, and then her own as she thought back to when they were less complicated.
"You spent the longest just being angry at me and cutting me off," he said. "Why were you ignoring me last week?"
Arya sadly smiled, and then looked at her best friend. "I was ashamed of myself and didn't know how to face you," she admitted. "I wanted to talk to you, but every time I thought about what I put you through, I just didn't know how to be around you."
"What gave you the courage to face me?" Gendry sat the box of cookies on his dresser as he looked at Arya.
"I missed you and I just thought that if I kept holding off facing you, then one day I'd never have the courage and would definitely end up losing you for good."
"Well, I'm glad you found it," Gendry said.
"Me too." Arya sat on the bed beside Gendry as he lay down. He groaned as he settled on the bed. "What's wrong with you?"
I'm full," he declared.
"I can see," she remarked. "Was it good?"
Gendry narrowed his eyes at Arya's teasing. He would've eaten that whole box if there were a chance he wouldn't get sick and she knew it. When he first tried her mother's cookies, he didn't expect them to be so delicious and addictive, but they were. After that, every time Mrs. Stark sent cookies, he always asked Arya for some. Eventually, she just started to share them with Gendry without him even asking.
This time, Arya made a special request for them for when she apologized to Gendry.
Loudly, Gendry groaned. "Do you want me to rub your stomach?" Arya grinned at him and placed her hand on his shirt. Gendry always got himself in this predicament over those cookies.
"Please and thank you." He closed his eyes and sighed at Arya's touch; he felt better already. Gendry's inner lion purred.
Contently, Gendry smiled as he felt Arya's hand through his shirt.
After a while, Arya's hand lost its rhythm due to tiredness and she switched to her other hand. Tenderly, she rubbed his stomach as she matched her earlier rhythm as her tired hand rested on Gendry's thigh. Instantly, Gendry's groin stirred. The young man cracked an eye as he looked at his friend who appeared to be focused on making his stomach troubles disappear.
One part of Gendry wanted to tell Arya to move her hand and the other wanted it to inch up closer and grab his cock.
Gendry said nothing.
He closed his eyes again and tried to ignore the rush of blood to his cock. Even if she took her hand off of his leg now, her touching him in general was problematic. Her hand wasn't that far north of his cock and a little travel south would solve his current issue. She'd rubbed him out before and do a pretty good job too.
"Gendry," Arya said softly.
"Hmm." Gendry opened both eyes and looked at her.
She definitely spotted his predicament.
Gendry looked at his betrayer, and then back at Arya.
"Umm," Gendry searched for something to say. "Ignore it, just keep rubbing my stomach."
Arya did as told as her eyes distractedly wandered to the bulge. Although it was only semi erect and completely covered, nothing could hide its imposing nature.
While Arya cock watched, unknowingly, her hand slipped under Gendry's shirt and she rubbed a little lower on his stomach. Eventually, her fingers lost its rhythm completely and flittered along his waistband as she visualized what his dick looked like. The hand that already rested on his thigh slid up and was less than an inch away from it. Fingertips from her other hand slightly dug beneath the waistband.
Gendry couldn't take it anymore.
He grabbed Arya's hand and shoved it into his underwear.
"Fuck all of the teasing bullshit," he said. "If you want to touch it, then touch it."
"Gendry…" Arya could hardly think with her knuckles pressed against his cock. Involuntarily, she rubbed it with the back of her index finger "I want to, but…I shouldn't."
"Why not," Gendry asked, as he rolled his hips up. Arya hitched her breath as he hand outside of his sweats tightened its grip on Gendry's leg.
"Because…"
"Arya, look at me." All while they spoke, Arya stared at his crotch. She had yet to look at Gendry's face since she became aware of his boner. Reluctantly, she tried to pull away, but her eyes never strayed and her hand never moved.
Gendry rolled his hips again.
"Can you stop that," she asked, voice slightly raised. "I want to, okay. But, it's not going to stop at just touching," she warned.
"And it doesn't have to," he replied. Gendry slid down his sweatpants and underwear together as Arya's resolved crumbled. She didn't want to rush into doing anything sexual again, but he forced her hand. She could control her urges while it was covered, but fully exposed to her?
Arya grabbed his cock and eagerly shoved it into her mouth.
"Oh, sh—" Gendry gasped at the unexpected sensation. He expected Arya to give him a hand job, not stuff his cock in her mouth. "Arya," he sighed.
Arya looked up for the first time since she first told him she'd spotted his growing erection. She saw that Gendry was propped up on elbow with his eyes half closed. Firmly, she pushed Gendry on the chest to make him lie down as she tried to take more of Gendry in her mouth.
From the sounds that came from Gendry, Arya knew that he was enjoying the blowjob. Inwardly, Arya smiled—her mouth was too full to give a real one. After a few minutes, Arya seemed to find a technique that drove Gendry wild as carefully thrust his hips up to meet her mouth.
Feeling much more confidant, Arya took even more of him, and consequently, Gendry's hips bucked.
"Oh my Gods," Gendry said, worriedly as he watched Arya gag as tears streamed from her eyes.
"Gendry," she choked out.
"I'm so sorry," he apologized. Hurriedly, he pulled up his sweats, and then went to his closet and grabbed a bottle of water. Gendry crouched in front of her as he rubbed her back while she gathered herself. Arya took a gulp of water. "Are you okay?"
Arya nodded yes.
"Sorry about that," he apologized again as he stood up. "I just—I just lost control."
"It's fine," Arya replied, as she sat her bottle on the floor. She reached for Gendry's waistband again.
"Whoa." Gendry backed up. "What are you doing?"
"Finishing what I started," she answered. Gendry looked at her like she was crazy. "I gagged." She shrugged. "It happens. That's what we call a learning moment, now come here."
Arya grabbed a handful of Gendry's cock, which deterred his attempts to resist her. In no time, her head was bobbing back and forth as he jaws began to ache. She simultaneously felt frustrated and relieved. Frustrated because she wasn't ready to stop and relieved because her jaws would stop aching once she did. Arya really didn't want to stop, but her jaws would seriously be killing her later on if she didn't. She learned her lesson the first time she blew Gendry. Stop while you're ahead.
Arya remembered when she first found out what a blowjob was. It disgusted her and she swore on all the things she cherished that she was never going to do it. Put a guy's penis in her mouth? The thing they peed out of? And what if they didn't wash down there? Or what about when they had sex with other people? It was gross?
And here she was eagerly taking Gendry in her mouth.
Everyone had to grow up sometime.
As if he could sense her tiredness, Gendry grabbed Arya's head and slowly slid out of her mouth. His erection stood proudly in front of her.
Carefully, Gendry pulled up his sweats.
"Take off your clothes," he instructed.
Arya obeyed.
Gendry went to his door and locked it. Because they didn't expect to have sex, neither one thought it was important to lock the door when they first came in. Arya was glad it occurred to Gendry because she wouldn't have even thought of it. She wasn't even supposed to be in his room in the first place. She could only imagine if someone walked in on them. When she thought about it, they didn't even lock the door the first time they had sex.
Before Gendry got back into bed with her, he took off his own clothes, and then got under the sheets with her.
Wantonly, Arya opened her legs for Gendry as he positioned himself between her legs. They kissed for a while as Gendry inserted Arya's vagina with his fingers. Tenderly, he rubbed in and out of her.
"Arya, promise me you won't freak out again if we do this," Gendry asked, as both of his arms held him up over her.
If?
"I promise, Gendry," she groaned.
"Arya," he said.
"Gendry," she complained. "How are you going to ask that right as you fuck me with your fingers? Why didn't you ask this when you decided this was going to happen, right before you told me to take off my clothes, before—ah," she moaned. "Before you took off YOUR clothes. Hell, even before you stuck your fing—"
Gendry kissed her.
"I get it," he said. "I'm being stupid. Sorry."
Arya's hands slid down his back as she moved her hips up. Her tongue made its way into Gendry's mouth as he removed his hand from between her legs and eased his cock into her. Arya slightly grunted in pain as she felt his blunt member spread her, but continued to kiss Gendry.
Gendry stopped moving and broke their kiss. Concernedly he said, "Arya…"
"I'm okay," she reassured. "Just do it like the last time, okay?"
"All right," Gendry promised, and then kissed her forehead.
It didn't take as long for the pain to subside their second time together. As sounds of slapping flesh and bedsprings creaking filled the room, Gendry rocked into Arya. Sweat clung to their skin as they passionately fucked. Occasionally, Arya begged 'harder' and 'deeper' while her legs were wrapped around Gendry like a vice grip.
As Gendry moved within her, Arya wondered if this was the natural progression of their friendship. Perhaps she was supposed to continue having sex with Gendry after the first time and tried to interfere with how things were meant to be. She didn't mean it in a romantic, sappy kind of way, but being with him felt so natural. And she did trust him with her body, exploring her sexuality with her. Arya had no clue if sex with him included a relationship, but as of now, it was of no importance to her. She got to keep Gendry as her friend and she'd now have him as her lover.
"You're thinking is distracting me," Gendry complained.
"You can tell when I'm thinking," she asked.
"Yeah," he nodded, as he rested his forehead against hers. "Now stop it."
"Okay," she promised, and then deeply kissed him.
Arya gave him all her focus.
"We probably set the time for longest completion," Arya joked after her and Gendry crossed the line.
Gendry chuckled as he took off his shirt and used it as a towel. Arya took a moment to admire him.
"Tell us, Diego," Arya began. "How bad did we place? Out of the top twenty—top thirty?"
Gendry looked at Arya and playfully rolled his eyes, and then drank some of his water before he threw it to her to share. Arya caught it and looked at Diego expectantly.
"Actually, you finished first and set a record time," he said as he looked at his timer.
"You're shitting me," Arya said, after she swallowed the water.
"Arya, language," Diego chided.
"I know, but WE. FINISHED. FIRST!" She went over to Gendry and raised her arms up in a celebratory fashion, which Gendry slapped each hand with his own. Their arms then smoothly lowered and turned into a hug. Arya held Gendry tightly as he gave Arya a bear hug while he lifted her into the air and spun around. Slowly, he lowered her as they smiled at their victory.
Francine walked over and looked at the two. "They've made up."
Camden stood beside Francine and Diego. "What worries me is how," Camden voiced. His co-workers caught the insinuation.
"Maybe were reading too much into it," Diego argued. "Gendry and Arya are two people who really get one another. We're complicating that; just because we see something, doesn't mean it's there."
"Whatever you say," Camden said offhandedly. "But, keep in mind, the inverse is true as well."
Francine took a deep breath. "Yeah, and we don't want to act without proof," she argued. "We can voice our concerns to Yoren and the others, but let's hold back on acting; we need to tread carefully either way."
Diego nodded in agreement as Camden considered her words.
They stared at Arya and Gendry as he helped her onto the ground and followed after her. Carefully, he put her leg on his shoulder and leaned forward. Arya suppressed a groan as she felt her muscles stretch and burn.
"Harder?" Gendry's hand gently gripped the thigh it held as he carefully pushed forward.
"Do you even have to ask?" Arya grinned.
"I know, but you know I'm afraid of hurting you," he said as he moved onto her next leg.
Arya leered at him. "How can you be afraid with how good you are at easing me into things?"
"If they keep this up, we may need to act before there's proof," Camden said, as he crossed his arms.
Diego and Francine didn't disagree.