Game of Thrones: Crossroads
Chapter 37 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.
Reviews
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
Marina Ka-Fai: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, yeah, it's pretty sad; well, just wait, they'll get their comeuppance very soon :)
Veridissima: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it; glad you liked Shireen and Arya's friends. To be honest, since she has to live with Joffrey, Myrcella's not really surprised, yeah, he was, well just wait and see what's next :)
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it :)
Dr Rainb0w: Here you go :)
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.
Chapter 37
Arya sighed, it was Monday again, the whole week had been tense. She and the others had to endure insults, taunts and even whispers wherever they went. The Populars somehow, thanks to Aegon, knew about Gendry's bet and the blackmail too and began spreading that around. Yet despite all the tension and the efforts of the Populars to destroy them, Arya and Gendry remained together and stayed strong. Their friends helped too, even enduring rumours about themselves; together they proved that, no matter what secrets, true or false, might be revealed about them, they would stick together no matter what. Arya could see this was having an effect on Sansa; she was hoping it would. In fact, it seemed now all that was needed to get Sansa to leave those assholes she called friends, was one more push, something that would show that everything would be alright, that you could admit something and live with the consequences, no matter what they were. However she knew it would have to be something big, something she just couldn't come up with right now. She currently stood with Gendry, waiting for her first class to start.
"I can't believe they're still trying to split us up like that." She said with a frustrated sigh. "I mean, surely they see it's not working, you'd think they'd change tactics already."
Gendry nodded in agreement. "Tell me about it; I mean, it's not like I even have that recording anymore."
She smiled and kissed him. "I know, I mean, you don't need it."
It was then she noticed the somewhat sheepish look on Gendry's face.
She was confused, what was he looking like that for? She soon got her answer.
"To be honest Arry, I got rid of it about a month before you told me the truth."
She stared at him. "Wait so, for that month, I…Oh you gotta be kidding."
She shook her head and glared at him.
"You're a dick, you know that."
Gendry sighed; he had been enjoying their quiet, loving moment and commented on it. "That was short lived."
To his surprise, Arya then laughed and kissed him lightly. "I love you anyway."
Gendry smiled at that and kissed her back. It was then the bell rang and they both braced themselves for the onslaught of whispering, teasing and whatever else the Populars decided to throw at them. Gendry left for his class while Arya entered hers; she was still racking her brains, trying desperately to think of a way to end this torment and give Sansa the final push she needed. Meanwhile Sansa was sitting in her class, fretting about the way her friends were acting, especially towards her sister and her boyfriend.
'This isn't right, it's not fair.' She thought mournfully. 'I wish I could help them, say something, I shouldn't even be with them after that. But I can't, if I leave them they'll…But what they said, it's not true, surely it can't be, Arya still has all her friends, despite what's being said about her. But they would twist my story, making it worse than it is, but can I really just blurt it out.'
She was lost, she had no idea what to do.
Arya sighed as she left her latest class; as if the whispering and staring wasn't bad enough, what with the teasing and cruel mocking going on too; now it was lunch time. In the cafeteria it was always worse; due to the larger audience. She wanted to declare that she truly loved Gendry, she'd even say she always did and that the blackmail was a lie if that's what it took. The trouble with that was that some people probably wouldn't hear it and then more rumours would spread and the story would get twisted. She needed a way to inform the entire school at once, but the only way she knew how to do that was both impossible and would get her in serious trouble. As it turned out, she was quickly proven wrong on her first point. The impossible soon became quite possible. She had taken a roundabout route to avoid any more whispering and as such she had found herself passing the Principal's office, just as the door opened. In a hurry and not really paying attention, Principal Stevron Frey left his office without seeing her, or closing and locking his office door. Arya stood silent for a minute, wrestling with her thoughts and finally decided to damn the consequences, she'd live with them, this was her chance. She slipped into the office.
She closed and locked the door behind her, she didn't really think it would deter the principal, but it should by her some time. The moment she put her plan into action she'd be on a time limit anyway, every second counted. Wiping her hands on her jeans and mentally preparing herself she walked over to the microphone and controls for the school's PA system. She took a deep breath and turned it on, the sound of the PA system screeching to life would be heard all over the school, as would her message; but now she was on a time limit, the principal and any teachers would've heard it and right now Mr. Frey would be on his way back to the office.
"Hey, all of you listening right now. I've got important news; I know you all recognize my voice so you'll know what I'm talking about." She remarked. "I want to inform you all that everything you've been hearing about me and my boyfriend is bullshit, there's no blackmail, there was no bet, we love each other, we have loved each other for years, it's only now we've decided to go public about it."
She could just picture the faces of those listening, especially the Populars as she derailed their efforts. After all; who would believe someone would make such an announcement to the whole school and be lying, technically she was but that wasn't the point.
Smiling she continued. "So listen up, I'd appreciate it if you all left me and my boyfriend and all our friends alone, before we both decide to just kick your ass instead of being reasonable. Oh and Gendry…"
She smiled lightly and her voice softened slightly as she spoke again.
"I love you."
It was then she heard the rattle at the door.
"Oh, well, here's the principal, gotta go now." She said quickly before switching off the PA and turned to face the door as it opened. She actually had more time on air than she thought she would have.
Gendry was stunned by what he had just heard. He had to hand it to Arya, the plan was certainly something she would come up with. Bold, daring, reckless, yet well-intentioned. She had just announced her feelings for him to the whole school without any second thought. He was proud of her for that. He could see their friends smirking at him and also noticed the looks of dismay on the Populars faces as the whispers started up, but now about the blackmail or bet. Aegon looked livid, but at the moment Gendry couldn't care less. He had something more important to do. He quickly spoke to the others and they decided to accompany him. So, ignoring the Populars who tried to get their attention, likely to start some kind of insult, they headed in the direction of the principal's office.
Arya smiled as she opened the door to the principal's office, it wasn't as bad as she had thought it would be. She hadn't been suspended or given into serious trouble; all she got was two weeks' worth of detention. She could live with that, it wasn't like she hadn't got detention before after all. She guessed this surprising leniency was due to the fact she had been trying to stop people bullying her friends. Effectively trying to do something good, even though she broke the rules to do so. When she stepped out into the corridor she smiled wider as she spotted Gendry and all her friends standing there, smirking at her. Gendry stepped forwards and hugged her, lifting her off the ground.
"I love you too, Arry." He said as he kissed her.
She smirked back as he put her down and they began heading for their next classes together. They asked her about her punishment and she told them, when she saw their expressions she shook her head.
"Don't worry about it guys, trust me, it was totally worth it."
In her heart Arya felt her words were true, to her, it truly was worth it.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.