Chapter Seventeen: Hitting a New Groove

Loras's Point of View

It's now October. Renly and I have been broken up almost two months. In that time we have seen each other five times and three of them were dates. Those dates were not anything fancy, just a casual dinner and movie or a stroll through the park.

We were happy just to be with each other, we did not need to taint those moments with sex. Neither of us, to my knowledge, is seeing anyone else. Renly told me he craves Oberyn's touch, but they have not been together.

Aside from that, the only things that changed in my life are that I am doing extremely well in school, and I am a member of the Student Government, with Robb as the president. I like being involved more than I thought I would.

Politically, in the last month I have gone, along with my sister, to the National Capitol to dine with the President and his family. I have started three new scholarships which my family is going to fund. One of which is for unwed teenage parents who want to go to University. I did that one for Robb.

Robb lost his scholarship funding because the organization found out about his child. Margaery and I put our heads together to fight the issue. Robb now has money for University; he just has no idea where it comes from because we are anonymous funders.

It's difficult to maintain a social life and be the representative of my country. I try every day not to embarrass my parents and bring shame to the family. But Illyrio says I am doing a good job. He has never seen more get done by an Ambassador.

School has been great. I am doing so well with my classes I have been asked to stay after on Wednesday's to tutor. It's great. I like giving back. Unfortunately, Quentyn found out about my tutoring and flunked a class so I would tutor him. I could not openly refuse so I am meeting him after school today.

"Damn it," says Robb.

He is digging through his locker.

"What is it?" I ask.

"My shirt is gone again."

"That's the third time this week," I say.

"Damn," says Robb, "I really didn't want to go to the doctor in my school uniform."

"Doctor? You or Tor?"

"Me."

"Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, it's just a physical. But now I have to go in my uniform."

"I can help you out," I say.

I walk to my locker with Robb behind me. I remember after the second time a shirt was taken I let him put a shirt in my locker in case this happened again. It's still there folded up at the top. I hand it to him.

"Thanks, you're a life saver. I owe you one."

"Get rid of Quentyn for me," I beg.

"Sorry, doctor's appointment, I have to run," says Robb. I chuck a book at him. He laughs as he rounds the corner and disappears. Jerk.

The corridors are pretty much cleared out save for a few drama students who are heading to the auditorium for play rehearsals. Among them are Meera, Sansa, and Arya. Margaery had to drop out of the play due to her princess status, but he she is signed up to help with hair, makeup, and costumes. They almost said no to her, but they realized they would be stupid not to have her.

I am supposed to meet Quentyn in the library for tutoring. We tutor for an hour every Wednesday. Sometimes it's just us and sometimes I am joined by the other boy I am supposed to tutor. He has been a no show the last two Wednesdays.

"We pledge alliance to the Robb Stark fan club," comes a chorus of voices from a nearby classroom. What?

I turn around to check out what's going on. A door is cracked enough for me to spy. About forty girls are crammed into a small classroom where a headshot of Robb is taped to the whiteboard. It's his yearbook photo. What?

"We pledge to love Robb, and to respect Robb. We will not invade his privacy, enter his home, or touch him…"

A Robb Stark fan club? I am not one hundred percent familiar with Americans customs but I am sure this is not normal behavior. It actually borders on creepy. Still, now that I am here I cannot look away.

"I took a shirt from his locker," says a girl when the pledge is finished. She holds up Robb's Ironborn T-shirt that was taken yesterday. Robb really likes that T-shirt. Jon bought it for him.

Several girls try to smell it. This is so bizarre.

"It even smells like him," says a girl. There is a hint of crazy in her voice.

I notice on an easel is a collage of at least a thousand Robb Stark photos. Someone could wallpaper a house with that many pictures. Obsess much?

"Let's read the minutes of last week's meeting," says the president. Wait a minute, I know that girl. Jeyne? No way.

"On Monday, Robb and Loras hugged beside their lockers after a Loras gave Robb a breakfast burrito and a beverage of some kind. Tuesday, Robb kissed Meera Reed in the hallway. Wednesday, Robb flipped his hair during lunch and he had five slices of pizza and a diet soda…"

Mother of God.

I am not sure I should be listening to this. I turn around to see Quentyn coming my way. I beckon him over and hold a finger to my lips to quiet him. We both stand by the door listening.

"Now that the minutes have been read, does anyone have any news?" asks Jeyne.

"Robb is taking his little brothers to the circus this weekend. He's so dreamy."

The girls giggle and coo. We listen while they talk about how cute Robb looked tying his shoes this morning, and how much they wanted to hug him when he fixed my tie. This is getting ridiculous. I have heard enough. I pull Quentyn away from the door.

"Is that a Robb Stark fan club?" Quentyn asks when we walk to the library.

"No. That's a cult of Robb worshippers. That is the church of Robb Stark you just witnessed."

"No kidding. Are you going to tell him?"

"Would you?"

"I don't know."

I smile. Quentyn and I try to ignore the horror we just witness as we look for a table in the library. We choose one somewhat secluded so that the librarian does not see us. Quentyn sits right next to me. I nearly choke on his cologne.

Half way through the lesson he rubs my hand with his. I flip my palm over and our fingers link together. I stare into his eyes. He's smiling back at me.

"You haven't talked to me much after the Ball. When you invited me I really thought we would get together," says Quentyn.

"I'm not really dating these days."

"I get it. But would you like to?" Quentyn asks. He bites his nails on the hand I am not holding. He never once looks away. I watch his cheeks flush. He's kind of cute when he's nervous.

"Are you asking me out?" I ask.

"That's the only reason I am here. I have a confession to make, I flunked on purpose."

"I already knew that."

"You did?"

"Yes, my best friend is the Headmaster's son we sort of snooped when you signed up for tutoring. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," says Quentyn smiling.

"I guess we could go on a date. But we have to set some rules. No touching."

"Can I hold your hand?"

"Yes," I say.

"Then it's a date."

Now I am blushing. I wonder how Renly would feel about me going on a date with someone. Then again, we are not together right now. It's not cheating. We are not together. It is not cheating.

I do not release Quentyn's hand the entire time even when our palms become sweaty. We even hold hands after tutoring is over and we are sitting in the library chatting quietly. The librarian eventually kicks us out, and we walk through the halls of Winterfell holding hands.

"I'm sorry for all those times I hit you. I'm taking anger management and I am seeing a psychologist. I won't you hurt you again," says Quentyn.

I get lost in his eyes and nearly lose balance. I am disappointed that I have to leave now that tutoring is over. I wish I had more days to tutor than one. Quentyn walks me to the limo where we release hands after a brief staring contest.

"See you Friday," I say.

"I can't wait," says Quentyn.

I have a date Friday, but I still feel guilty about it. Maybe I should text Renly to make sure he is okay with it. The last thing I want is for him to be mad at me. Then he will never take me back. It's not like I am planning to sleep with Quentyn. It's just a date.

Me: Would it bother you if I went on a date with someone this Friday?

Renly: Who are you going with?

Me: A boy at school. He asked me and I said yes.

Renly: I guess it won't bother me.

Me: Thanks. I owe you. I lo—like that you're okay with it.

This is the eighth time I almost told Renly I love him. It's because I do. I love him so much. I never really realized just how much I love him until now. But he obvious does not want to be with me right now so I have to accept that.

I am just glad he does not have a problem with me dating someone else. I stare at Quentyn who is shuffling some leaves on the ground with his feet. He has his coat buttoned up to his chin and looking at his feet. He looks so helpless and cute like this.

As the cool October wind blows his blows my curls in my face. Stupid hair. Quentyn's hair has gotten a bit shaggy. It now reaches his shoulders, but the style is nice. He looks good with longer hair. It's shiny and dark and straight.

He looks at me through the hair in his face. My heart skips a beat. How cute is he right now?

"Can I give you a ride home?" I ask.

"I drive," Quentyn says.

"I forgot. Do you want to come over?" I ask.

He bites his bottom lip.

"Okay."

He climbs in the limo. He put his hand on mine in the limo. My stomach is tying itself in knots. I look at Quentyn just in time to watch the blush color his olive skin again. I feel the blood rushing to my own.

I move my foot on top of his and leave it there. I wait for Quentyn's reaction. I expect him to move his foot, but he leaves it under mine. Our fingers entwine and a jolt of electricity shoots up my spine. It's becoming increasingly harder to breathe.

"What are we going to do at your mansion?" Quentyn asks.

"We could play videogames."

"Okay," says Quentyn.

I could care less what we do. I just want to be near him. A month ago this boy was beating me up every day and now I cannot seem to get enough of him. I stare at him while he's not looking. I never noticed the birth mark on his chin before.

My stomach is doing jumping jacks as my heart races to keep up. Under the long sleeves of my uniform and my coat I feel the hairs on my arms raise. I take a deep breath and exhale, but that does nothing to slow the rapid pounding of my heart.

I think I may be coming down with something.