Game of Thrones: Crossroads
Chapter 28 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.
Reviews
Veridissima: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, damn, when you said that I realized I had missed out on a perfect opportunity :)
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it; well, it shouldn't really be a surprise.
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.
Chapter 28
If Arya had been angry before, it was nothing compared to now. She couldn't believe it; she spun around to face Gendry.
"You, I can't believe it!" She screamed. "You've ruined everything; after I worked so hard, you've ruined it all!"
Gendry was shocked by this outburst. "What the hell are you talking about, ruined what?"
Arya froze as if she just realized what she was saying. Following their little encounter with both groups they had tried vehemently to defend themselves but in the end if backfired terrible on them. Now neither group would talk to them and they were on their own. What was worse; they knew it was only a matter of time before the rumours started and things would get very difficult.
Arya quickly shook her head. "Nothing, it doesn't matter."
"Arya." Gendry tried to reason with her. "Listen to me, whatever is going on, I can help you…"
She glared furiously, grey eyes blazing. "No, you can't, you've just proven that, all you've managed to do is ruin everything; this is something I had to handle myself, I was so close and now it's all gone, thanks to you! I can't even try and rebuild what I lost."
Gendry shook his head. "I didn't come out unscathed either, or did you not notice I've been kicked out of my group of friends too."
"Please, you can easily get back with them, or are you so blind you can't see your brother and Shireen are eager to forgive you and they could convince the others."
Gendry sighed and then, after silence from both of them, not seeing how things could get worse at that moment, they simply kissed again before leaving the classroom.
Sansa couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was sitting at the table she normally sat at with her friends; when suddenly Margaery and her cousins, who had left earlier, returned. When they returned, they dropped a bombshell, her sister had betrayed them and, what was more, was found claiming to be the girlfriend of her old friend Gendry. It was all too much, she just sat there stunned, unable to comprehend it, Arya had finally awoken and worked hard to be close to Sansa; she had never been happier, having her sister with her. But now, now she'd gone and thrown it all away, worse than that, to fall back in with that crowd; the ones who had potential but stifled it and ridiculed Sansa and her friends. Then she heard that Gendry's crowd had caught them too and had seen Gendry's actions as him betraying them, so they were on their own now. She felt a sudden pang of regret and worry. How would her sister cope with this, she could see the expression on Aegon's face and knew that things were likely to get very ugly, very fast. Worse than all that however, was the rumours, Margaery, her cousins, Bella and Ros all immediately began gossiping, making suggestions and theories for why Arya and Gendry were dating. A few were feasible, others outrageous and one, from Ros, which chilled Sansa to the bone.
"Maybe he's got her knocked up." She remarked with a sly grin. "After all, they've been sleeping together for some time, if you remember what we heard."
Sansa grimaced, not wanting to think about that, or about Ros' words, they couldn't be true, they just couldn't. She didn't want her sister to have to go through that.
Gendry sighed as he and Arya walked through the school, doing their best to studiously ignore those staring and whispering about them. Harder to avoid where those who directly mocked them or tried to split them up, mostly due to nasty rumours being spread by Sansa's friends. Lunch was nearly over and Gendry knew he and Arya would have to separate for class soon.
"Well, this'll be awkward." She remarked after he had walked with her to her class. "If this keeps up, mum's likely going to hear about it, that's not a conversation I'll be looking forward too."
Gendry smiled sympathetically and said he'd see her after school; Sansa wasn't likely to wait around and drive her home anymore. They shared a brief kiss and Gendry began walking to his class. He was about halfway there when he froze. Walking towards him, eyes blazing, was Edric Dayne, the truth about him and Arya was out now, he already knew about his friend, or was it former friend's, crush on Arya, so he knew, more or less what was coming. Ned did not disappoint; it was only Gendry's larger build and height that prevented the punch to the jaw from knocking him to the floor.
"You…I, I can't believe you!" He snarled. "You betrayed us, for her…and you knew, you knew about…!"
Gendry didn't reply, nor did he fight back, despite Edric clearly wanting him too. Edric was about to lash out again but the teacher arrived and he was forced to stop, but he glared sullenly at Gendry throughout the entire class.
The end of school couldn't come soon enough for either of them and as they walked towards the school entrance, keeping up appearances since their secret was out, they were holding hands. Arya had to admit, while she was mad at Gendry for everything he had done and what he had ruined for her, she couldn't help but note he at least had the decency to be apologetic about it; not to mention he seemed regretful about the blackmail, but that didn't stop him from using it as a reminder.
'Why did I ever let myself get interested in those stupid dance classes, none of this would've happened if I hadn't.' She cursed herself.
Her anger at Gendry, she couldn't help but notice, was met with acceptance by him. He never defended his actions and always seemed to accept her anger for what it was. In a way she was surprised; but also relieved, the more she let her anger out, the better she felt afterwards. However it was then a fresh annoyance appeared, before they could leave, Aegon. Before he could speak Arya snapped at him.
"What do you think you're doing, get out of the way."
He glared. "I don't think so; I can't believe you Arya, you're dating this…this trash, when you could've had something great with me. I don't get you, I mean really. Listen, I can give you another chance, put in a good word for you with the group, spin some story. All you have to do is ditch this loser and go out with me instead."
He smirked after that, thinking she couldn't possibly refuse.
Gendry tensed and watched Arya; he could see her working it out. Aegon was giving her a chance to go back and try and salvage whatever she was trying to do, but what Aegon didn't know was the blackmail. Gendry wondered briefly if Arya would agree to his offer, or did she assume Gendry was indeed man enough to follow through on his threat with the recorded secret. It turned out she felt the latter since at that moment she glared.
"Go out with you, I told you Aegon, I'm not interested, now get the hell out the way before I make you!" She yelled. "Oh and you have no right to talk about Gendry like that, I should…"
Arya looked like she was about to attack Aegon but Gendry held her back and when she glared at him, he shook his head.
"Don't, he's not worth it."
Aegon smirked and looked like he was about to reply when another voice spoke up.
"Alright, that is enough, shows over everyone, time for you all to go home, that includes you Mr. Targaryen."
It was Catelyn Stark. Arya could see right away, on her face, that her mother had heard everything, all the rumours, and then this argument. She groaned, things just got more complicated. Finally, as the hall began to empty out and Aegon left her mother turned to her.
Catelyn smiled lightly. "I'll take you home Arya, I'll be in the car."
Arya nodded and her mother left. Arya then turned to Gendry.
She shook her head sadly.
"Well that could've gone better."
"Ya think?" Gendry remarked sarcastically.
Arya sighed. "Well, thanks anyway, mum takes her job seriously. If I had attacked Aegon there…She wouldn't have hesitated to give me into trouble too. You managed to hold me back, long enough for only Aegon to get in trouble."
Gendry nodded smiling and then, surprisingly she embraced him. He did the same and they shared a brief kiss; before she whispered.
"You're still an asshole though."
Gendry sighed. "No argument here."
Arya then stepped back, said goodbye and headed out to the parking lot. Gendry waited a few minutes then headed out himself. Well, things had just taken quite possibly the worst possible turn.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.