10 THINGS SHE HATES ABOUT GENDRY
Hi guys, sorry I'm one day late ! Anyway, hope you'll like it !
Chapter 4
He went home after that information-gathering, and met up with Bran later. The latter came to pick him up, and drove him to some shady bar in Flea Bottom. There were only old bikers inside, and they felt uncomfortable.
-Wow, Jon stated. Is this what a bar looks like in this city ?
He grabbed a small pack of firecrackers on the way but Bran quickly tapped his hand, making Jon drop it.
-Don't touch anything. You may get hepatitis.
They carried on and stopped at the pool tables.
-So, Gendry said when they reached him. What do you got for me ?
-A little insight into a very complicated girl, Jon answered.
-Excuse me, Bran interrupted. Just one question before we start. Should you be drinking alcohol when you don't have a liver ?
-What ? Gendry zeroed his eyes on him.
-Nothing, nothing, Bran quickly leaned back.
-All right, Jon piped in. First thing, Ari hates smokers.
He grabbed Gendry's cigarette and threw it on the ground.
-So, you're telling me I'm a non-smoker.
-Yes. Well, just for now, Bran completed.
-And here's another problem, Jon carried on. Sansa said that Ari likes pretty guys.
Gendry looked at them both for a few seconds.
-Are you telling me I'm not a pretty guy ?
-He's very pretty ! Bran hurried to say. This is a gorgeous guy !
-I just wasn't sure. I didn't know, Jon defended. All right, huh… Yeah, okay. Here's this. "Likes. Thai food, feminist prose and angry music like hard rock and metal." Here's a list of CDs she has in her room.
-So, I'm supposed to buy her some noodles and a book and sit around listening to bands who can't play something listenable, right ?
-Have you ever been to the Targaryen Club ? Bran asked.
-Her favourite band's playing there tomorrow night, Jon clarified.
-I can't be seen at the Targaryen Club, all right ? Gendry immediately replied as he shook his head vehemently.
-But she'll be there. She's got tickets, Jon insisted.
-Assail your ears for one night, Bran added.
Gendry didn't seem convinced as he thought about it.
-She has a pair of black underwear, Jon innocently said. If that helps.
Gendry eyes immediately went to him and he stopped shaking his head.
-Couldn't hurt, right ? Bran added with an awkward blink.
So, that's how Gendry ended in the Targaryen Club Friday night. He was wearing a classic t-shirt, black jeans and boots, wanting to fade in the crowd as much as possible. By the Seven, he was the only guy there ! So much for fading in the crowd… He winced at the music, it was too loud. But not that bad. The band was giving quite a show actually. He used his height to try and locate his target, and spotted her with a friend just in front of the band, too close to the music for him. He knew her friend, she was Myrcella Baratheon. Pretty chick, he'd admit. The blond girl was wearing a large checked shirt, denim shorts and a pair of black boots that came up to above her knees.
Arya was dancing like she didn't care, and right she didn't. She was just enjoying and having a blast, smiling and laughing. Gendry smiled, he had never seen her so joyful and carefree. After all, she wasn't as tough and heartless as people thought her to be. She was as hot as the Seven Hells tonight, in his opinion. See-through grey t-shirt that nicely showed her lacy black bra, a black overall that stopped very high on her thighs, her hair was wild as always, and her dark make-up was making her only more appealing. She had a necklace, a bracelet, and he could see a nose piercing also. Yes, she was smoking hot.
He decided to let her have her moment, and went straight to the bar.
-Waters ! the bartender smiled. What are you doing here ?
He shook hands with the guy with a friendly smile. On the other side of the dancefloor, Arya told Myrcella she needed water, so she left her and went to the bar. Gendry was enjoying a simple Coca-Cola when Arya arrived just next to him. He turned quickly so he would not be caught staring at her.
-Two waters, please, Arya asked the bartender.
Then she saw the back of Gendry's head, and sighed as her shoulders slumped in annoyance. She paid the two bottles of water, and turned to him.
-If you're planning on asking me out again, she loudly said because of the music, you might as well just get it over with.
-Do you mind ? he shot back casually. You're kind of ruining this for me, he added, referring to the music.
-You're not surrounded by your usual cloud of smoke, she noticed.
-I know. I quit. Apparently, they're bad for you.
-You think ?
-You know, these guys are no Skillet or Five Fingers Death Punch, but they're not bad.
And he left her at the bar, knowing with the mention of two of her three favourite bands, she'll come and talk. And of course, she came, too curious about his comments.
-You know Skillet ? she asked with a doubtful gaze.
-Why, don't you ?
He didn't notice the song was ending when he spoke next.
-I was watching you out there before. I've never seen you look so sexy.
Too bad for him, the last three words were entirely audible for the whole club. All the girls around laughed, and even Arya chuckled. They shared a true smile for once.
-Come to Samwell's party with me, he begged.
-You never give up, do you ? she asked.
-Was that a yes ? he hoped as the next song came up.
-No, she said as she started to walk away.
-Well, then, was that a no ?
-No ! she shouted before disappearing in the crowd with a cheeky smile.
-I'll see you at nine thirty then !
He got out of the club and headed to his car, ready to drive to her home and pick her up later.
At home, Sansa and Margaery had prepared for the party in complete silence, and carefully walked down the steps, trying to avoid Eddard.
-Should have used the window, he casually said from the living room, his back to them.
Sansa sighed.
-Hi, Daddy.
-Hi. Where are we going ?
-Well, if you must know, a small study group of friends, Sansa tried with her innocent face.
-Otherwise known as an orgy ? Ned said as he turned to them.
-Mr. Stark, it's just a party, Margaery piped in.
-And the Seven Hells are just some saunas.
Arya came downstairs, she had come back from the concert earlier and was now dressed up in her pyjamas. Myrcella was upstairs and already eating pizza.
-Do you know anything about a party ? Ned asked his eldest as he spotted her.
Arya just went into the kitchen, shrugging.
-People expect me to be there, Sansa whined.
-Ari's not going, you're not going, Eddard refused.
Sansa and Margaery shared a horrified look.
-Why can't you be normal ? Sansa stormed to her sister.
-Define "normal", Arya replied.
-Samwell Tarly's party is normal.
-What's a Samwell Tarly ? Eddard discreetly asked Margaery.
-Samwell's party is just a lame excuse for all the idiots at our school to drink beer and rub up against each other in hopes of distracting themselves from the pathetic emptiness of their meaningless…
-… meaningless, consumer-driven lives, Sansa and Margaery completed.
Sansa took Arya on the side.
-Can you, for just one night, forget that you're completely wretched and be my sister ? Please ? Please ?
Arya looked into Sansa's eyes with sadness. She couldn't let her younger sister be exposed to what she had faced at this age. Never.
-Come on, Ari. Please do this for me, Sansa begged.
-Fine, Arya accepted. I'll make an appearance.
Sansa and Margaery nearly tackled her to the ground in a hug while shrieking from excitement, which she didn't really like, but dealt with it anyway.
-It's starting… Ned said.
-It's just a party, Daddy, Sansa retorted.
Arya ran upstairs and changed in two minutes, and Myrcella hurried too to get her clothes back on. They couldn't go there in pyjamas, and they could as well dress up, after all, they were not going to parties everyday so the people better remember it. While they quickly prepared themselves, Ned was dealing with Sansa's excitement downstairs.
-I want you to wear the belly, Eddard finally said.
-Daddy, no, Sansa firmly answered.
-Not all night. Just around the living room for a minute so you can understand the full weight of your decisions.
Sansa knew better than to protest so she put on the false pregnant belly her father hid in a drawer.
-I am fully aware… she started.
-Listen to me, her father ordered. Every time you even think about kissing a boy, I want you to picture wearing this under your halter top.
-You are so completely unbalanced ! Sansa whined.
-We're going now ! Arya shouted as she hurried down the stairs, Myrcella behind.
-All right, Eddard said. Wait a minute.
He stood in front of her and pointed his finger at her in a threatening way.
-No drinking, no drugs, no kissing, no tattoos, no piercings, no ritual animal slaughters of any kind, he enumerated. Oh, by the Seven, I'm giving them ideas.
-Daddy ! Sansa called him to take off the fake belly.
Meanwhile Arya opened the door and found a very handsome looking Gendry on her doorstep.
-What are you doing here ? she asked as she tried to hide her smile.
She shamelessly checked him out. He had the same black jeans and t-shirt, but he had added a nice blue denim jacket to the style.
-Nine thirty, right ? he said with a smile. Oh, I'm early ?
-Whatever, she shrugged. I'm driving. Myrcella is with us, the other two can find another ride.
-Who knocked up your sister ? he asked when he spotted Sansa.
Arya rolled her eyes in humour and pulled him away as Myrcella followed with a knowing smirk.
Streets away, two boys were also preparing for the party. Bran was wearing a simple black jumper and blue jeans, while Jon was wearing black jeans and a blue denim shirt.
-So then, Sansa says that I was right, that she didn't wear the Jimmy Choo with that dress because she thought that it was mixing genres, right ? And the fact that I noticed, and this is a direct quote, listen, "really meant something".
-You told me that part already, Bran sighed.
-I've been thinking about her all the time ! Jon exclaimed.
-Stop being so self-involved for one minute, Bran groaned. How do I look ?
-You look like my Great Uncle Aemon.
-You think I shouldn't wear those shoes ? Bran winced.
-Yeah, Jon answered. Put the snickers on.
-Maybe you're right. I'm just so nervous. And I'm also very excited. I'm nervous, I'm excited. It's all very mixed up. I don't know what to do !
-All right, just calm down, all right ?
-The last party I went to was at H.P. Dinner, Bran explained. You wanna talk about some fun. That's a good time. Oh, do you think she'll be there ?
-Sansa ? Of course she will, Jon answered with a dreamy face. She so badly wanted to go she must have found some way to…
-Not your airhead, you idiot ! Bran interrupted. I'm talking about Myrcella.
-Myrcella ?
-Yeah, you know, Ari's best friend. Or more like only friend.
-The cute blond one ? Jon asked as he thought about it.
-Yeah, Bran blushed.
-You want to ask her out ? Jon chuckled.
Bran sheepishly looked away.
-We can only hope, my friend.
And here it ends... for now ! Next chapter will be the party of course. Pictures of the characters are available on my facebook page "AnanasPower". See you soon, don't forget to leave a review !