Chapter Forty: Getting A Groove Back

Loras's Point of View

Christmas at home was great, dramatic, but great. I was able to see my family. Now we are back in the states. Margaery and I are moving out of the mansion.

Until we find better arrangements, we will be staying with Robb. Willas is going to stay at the embassy itself. He has been named Ambassador instead of me. He has left it up to me and Margaery to find us a new home.

If it were up to me, we would stay with Renly. But we cannot. Renly is looking for a new home to befit his new status. He recently acquired a lot of money from my father.

Renly says his next move is the house he and I will share once we are married. I am so excited. But in the meantime we cannot stay with him.

Its a good thing Robb has two bathrooms in his house. He learned that lesson on he first night back when he walked in on Margaery. I have no idea what he saw, but he still blushes when he sees her.

Robb and I share his bathroom. Margaery uses the other. She has all her girly stuff in it. I sometimes steal her peach scented shampoo. Renly likes that smell. Margaery recently switched to strawberry.

Robb is teaching me to shave. I always thought it would be Willas who would teach me, but Robb decided it was time for me to learn. The stubble coming in on my cheeks told him as much.

"I'm bleeding," I tell him. Blood is gushing out of my face. Robb stops it with a paper towel. He finishes the shave for me.

"You're now a man."

He pats my bare shoulders and rubs this oil on my face he says it keeps my face from drying out or chaffing whatever, but it drips into the cut from the razor.

"Here," Robb cleans the cut and gives me a bandage.

"A man with puppies on his bandage."

"Well you're a girly man."

"Very funny."

Robb pats me on the shoulder again and leaves to check on Torrhen. I finish getting ready for school. This semester because of Robb we get to have casual Fridays where we get to wear normal clothes. Margaery is thrilled.

She looks pretty this morning. Her hair is done in an asymmetrical, artsy way, her eyes are shadowy, and she has leggings under her uniform. The girls are wearing white and gray this semester while the boys get to choose between white or black blazers. Ned is trying to incorporate some individuality in our uniformity.

Margaery has on a gray skirt. The color is ugly, but my sister can make anything look perfect. Robb's nanny comes in carrying Torrhen. He screams until Robb picks him up. Robb kisses Torrhen repeatedly.

"Ready for school?" Robb asks putting his arm around me.

"May I drive?" Margaery asks.

"Sure. This should be fun."

I sit in the back. To both mine and Robb's surprise Margaery is an excellent driver. Driving scares the hell out of me, but she seems to like it.

"You're a wonder," Robb says.

"No, I'm a princess."

"You look pretty today," Robb says.

"Thank you."

I roll my eyes. If he falls for my sister I am going to get mad. It seems so long ago I used to want date Robb. I watch his face turn red. That flush is froming seeing Margaery naked.

A group of girls are waiting for Robb in the parking lot at school. Its the first day after break. I step out in the snow. My new boots that Renly got me are perfect for this weather.

"Robb," screams a girl. She throws herself at him.

"Is it me or did they get more bold?"

"They're stupid," says Arya.

"Hi, Dad," says Robb. He ruffles Arya's hair. He girl is clinging to Robb like a monkey clings to a tree. Robb tries to pry the girl off. Arya pokes at her with a stick and says "get off."

I notice Sansa walk up. She got a hair cut. It only makes more beautiful. She has filled out since I last saw her. She and Margaery head into the school together. Robb shakes the girls off and walks toward the building with Arya and his dad the band of giggling girls follow.

I trudge through the snow after them. I am stopped and pulled to the side by someone. Quentyn Martell is now staring at me. He touches my face.

"What do you want?"

"I missed you, Peaches."

"I went home."

"I know. You didn't call or email. I was worried about you."

"Why?"

"You would be worried too if the man you love disappears without a trace."

I walk away. He follows me. Robb is glancing out the door. When I walk up he hugs me tight. He scowls at Quentyn.

"I thought you were abducted," Robb says.

"I'm fine."

Robb leads me into the school. We are both surprised to see Aegon dressed in gray slacks and a white blazer surrounded by a group of girls. Robb and I look at each other. We notice one of the girls is Meera.

"What is it doing here?" Robb asks.

I shrug.

"Hey, Loras," Aegon comes over and steals me away from Robb. Meera detaches herself from the group and joins Robb. I glance back and Robb is getting into his locker.

Aegon shows me off to the girls the way Robb did on my very first day. The girls already know me this time. Aegon gives me a squeeze as he pulls in the direction of his first class.

"I enrolled the second we got back."

"Why?"

"I wanted to be a normal teenager like you."

We have our first class together since we are in the same year. Its Tyrion's lecture on foreign kings and queen. Aegon knows all the answers. His hand shoots up more times than any one elses.

"That was so much fun," Aegon says after class. I stop by my locker. I have a literature class next. Aegon is in that too. When I get there I realize Gendry and Quentyn are in my class.

"What's pretty boy doing here?" Gendry asks.

"I have no idea." Aegon sits doen beside me. Quentyn scowls. He sits behind me and begins to play in my hair.

"You're so beautiful," Quentyn whispers.

I scoot up. Gendry turns around and glares at Quentyn. He backs off. Aegon knows all the answers in this class too. When it is over I am so thrilled for third period.

I signed up to take woodshop with Robb. We sit on a bench together. Today the teacher is just assigning seats and since no one is between Stark and Tyrell we get to sit together. Thankfully Aegon is not in this class.

Robb does not talk to me at all during the teacher's lecture. After class he waits for me, but he still seems upset. I know its about Aegon. I stop Robb.

"Why are you mad at me?"

"I'm not. Why would think I am mad at you?"

"You didn't talk to me during class."

"Oh, I don't talk when the teacher talks. I think its rude."

I smile. I thought he was mad at me.

"I thought you were upset over Aegon."

"No. I saw him grab you, you didn't just ditch me for him."

Robb walks me to my locker. He leans his own and stares at a hot girl walking down the hall. He turns his attention back to me. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a bag of pretzels.

"Want one?"

I shake my head.

"I was thinking of taking Meera out for Valentine's Day next month. I thought we could double with you and Renly."

"I'd like that."

"Good."

Robb and I walk to lunch together. Its the first day back so we have pizza. Robb grabs five slices. He is about to out one back when he realizes he does not have enough money. I pay for both our lunches.

"I will pay you back."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

I see Aegon sitting at our usual table, with our usual group, in Robb's usual seat. Robb chooses a table on the high platform and sits down. I sit with him without a second thought. People are staring. This is not good. Robb knocked out of his popularity by a newcomer. Gendry loyally joins us. Everyone else stays with Aegon.

Robb does not say a word. He glances at Meera occasionally to make sure Aegon is keeping his hands to himself. Half way through he meal Margaery comes over. She sits on my lap facing Robb.

"I asked him to sit there. He wouldn't listen. Tomorrow he is going to sit next to me so you can have your seat back," says Margaery.

"Its fine, Mags."

"No. It isn't. Honey, if you want something take it. Don't wait for someone to hand it to you. Be a man and tell Aegon he is stepping on your territory."

Robb stands up. He kisses Margaery's cheek. He storms over to our usual table. I have a bad feeling about this.

"You're in my seat."

"I don't see your name on it."

Robb takes a pen out of his bag and writes his name on the back of the seat. Aegon scoots over a seat. Robb writes my name on that one. Aegon moves down one more. Gendry and I reclaim our places at out table. Robb pulls Meera's chair close and puts his arm on the back of mine.

"This will be my seat," Aegon says.

Robb nods.

"Sorry, I didn't realize you were the leader of this group."

"He's the most popular boy in school," says Dacey Mormont.

"Who're you again?"

Dacey ignores him. Robb finishes his pizza. Aegon flirts with Sansa's friend Jeyne Poole who is joining us today. She seems to have caught a bad case of the giggles.

"Are you sick or something?" Arya asks.

"Arya," says Sansa.

"You don't like me do you, my lady?" Aegon asks Arya.

"Don't call me a lady. I just don't see what all the fuss is about."

"You're a Stark aren't you?"

"Arya Stark, daughter of Eddard and Catelyn."

Aegon seems amused. Gendry puts his arm around Arya. Aegon ignores them. Arya elbows Gendry in the gut. "Get off."

Robb leaves the second lunch is over. I try to keep up but Aegon catches me. I lose sight of Robb and Meera. Aegon has me walk with him.

"Your friend is a little strange."

"You sat in his seat."

"That's what I mean. He is oddly protective of you."

I smile. I know. I cannot help that fact. Robb feels the need to protect me. Who am I to stop him? Aegon likes the attention he is getting from girls.

By the end of the day, Robb's fanclub has decreased in number. Half the girls are now worshipping Aegon and the other half remain loyal to Robb.

I anxiously wait for the dismissal bell. Renly is waiting outside by Robb's truck holding a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolate. He gives me a kiss.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you after your first day back. You're so cute in this white blazer and those boots look so good on you." He kisses me.

"Am I going with you?" I ask.

"No, my flower. I am busy, but we will get together soon. How about Wednesday?"

I nod. He kisses me again.

"I will call you and text you later, my flower. I have to go."

He gets back in his car. I smell the flowers and sigh. Robb is behind me. He grins. I lean against him.

"I have never seen two people so suited to each other."

"Jealous?"

"A little bit. Get in the truck."

I climb in and start eating my chocolate. I share with Robb. We wait for Margaery. She is taking a long time. Finally she comes out with her head down. when she gets in the truck she starts sobbing.

Robb looks at me, we both shrug and look at Margaery. Robb's protective instincts take over. He turns around in his seat to fsce her. Something happened.

"Mags."

"In the boys bathroom it says I am a whore who will sleep with anyone and it listed people I supposedly slept with."

"How did you find out?" Robb asks.

"Jojen Reed saw it. He heard some boys laughing about it."

"Did he say who the boys were?"

Margaery refuses to say. She sobs harder. I look at Robb. What is he thinking?

"Joffrey and someone he didn't know," says Margaery.

Robb gets out of his truck. I chase after him. Joff walks up to the truck when Robb and I climb out of it. He is not alone. Margaery screams. Several boys nearby hear and try to fight through Joff's posse to rescue Margaery.

"Margaery!" I scream. I run back to the truck. I punch a boy. I throw another. I dig through Joff's group to get to my sister. I get elbowed in the eye and the stomach. Joffrey is trying to get to Margaery but she is fighting back. Finally I get inside the truck. I kick a boy out of my way and get between my sister and Joff.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask as he has one of his 'friends' hit me.

"I am going to get her with a baby."

Robb pulls Joff out of the truck. Hs father and several teachers are standing by the truck. Tyrion Lannister slaps his nephew. Robb climbs in the truck.

"You alright, princess?" Ned asks.

"We'll be fine," I say.

"Robb, get then out of here."

Robb does not hesitate. He starts his truck. I climb up front. Robb keeps looking at Margaery in his mirror.

"I blame myself," Robb says. Margaery continues crying. Robb bites his bottom lip and looks at Margaery in he mirror again. "I am going to hurt him."

"No."

"Mags?"

I blink at my sister.

"No. You'll get kicked out of school. You don't need that on your record. Let him go."

"Margaery, he hurt you."

"No. I won't have you destroy your future for my sake, besides, I can take care of myself."

Robb is starting at her. He nearly runs off the road. I am proud of my sister. She is so brave.