Sansa was livid. She wanted to slam on the car breaks in the middle of the road and hit her fists against the steering wheel until her knuckles bled. She wanted to scream and cry and tail end out of her mom's white SUV with the engine still running. But she didn't, because that wasn't a normal thing for a teenage girl to do on the way home from the grocery store with her brother.

Sansa knew that as Robb's sister she had no right to be jealous, but the jealousy wasn't what angered her. It was that he flirted with Roslin right in front of her. He had no regard for her feelings and he clearly wasn't ashamed. He was his charming self as always.

That's when it hit her: she was completely delusional. There was no moment in the kitchen. He was never going to kiss me in the park. There was nothing different about those five words last night. And now he's probably out of his mind with confusion. He probably expects me to be happy for him. He probably expects me to talk his ear off about how cute they'd be together.

But instead they sat in silence while Sansa drove ten miles over the speed limit. She practically ran out of the car and up to her room. She refused to speak, look, or exist near Robb for the rest of the day. She barricaded herself in her room and decided to text Myrcella:

Sansa: help. I need a distraction. tell me something interesting

Mycella: omg are you ok?

Sansa: yeah, just family stuff

Myrcella: sucks. actually I have something to tell you

Sansa: ?

Myrcella: (drumroll) my parents and Joff are going to Winterfell tomorrow

Sansa: what? why?

Myrcella: that's the best part. apparently my dad is doing business with yours. they're like old friends or something

Sansa: that's crazy

Myrcella: ikr! my mom just texted me, apparently your parents offered to host them for brunch tomorrow. did they say anything?

Sansa: no. I never told them your last name tho so they probably don't know we're friends

Myrcella: oh, that makes sense. ugh I wish I wasn't in Dorne for camp all summer or I would totally come

Sansa: yeah that sucks. you said Joffrey is coming?

Myrcella: yeah my parents don't trust him out of their sight

Sansa: why?

Myrcella: idk, he gets into trouble sometimes. you know his friends

Sansa: tru

Myrcella: I should go, team building exercise. good luck with them tomorrow!

Sansa wished she could tell Myrcella everything that had happened between her and Robb without sounding completely insane. Myrcella was her best friend aside from Robb, and she certainly couldn't tell him the things she was feeling. There was something about not being able to share something with her two closest friends that made Sansa feel very alone. She felt like she was drowning except she could see everyone around her breathing. Arya had soccer, Myrcella had camp, Robb had Roslin and she had nothing. Robb had been her one source of oxygen, he was always there to listen to her rant and he always knew how to make her feel better. But no matter how much she needed to confide in someone, Sansa could never tell Robb how she felt. She couldn't tell him about the electricity that shot up her spine at his touch, or the fire that his smiles ignited in her, or the dream that made her feel hot and desperate. Sansa felt completely alone, and it wasn't the first time in her life.

She'd never told anyone but her first few months at Kings Landing Boarding School were trying to say the least. It started off similarly to every "new kid" plot in the movies, she was shy, got lost frequently, and had trouble finding her niche when everyone else already knew each other from freshman and sophomore year. But unlike a Disney Channel movie, she didn't find the perfect quirky group of kids to hang out with after two hours. For three agonizing months she ate lunch in the bathroom and silently cried herself to sleep at night so her roommate wouldn't hear her. She missed the cold of Winterfell. She missed her dad's hugs. But most of all she missed Robb. She didn't want to bother him during his first semester of college, so when he gradually stopped responding to her emails, she let him go.

Midway through December her Physics teacher assigned her to sit next to a timid girl with luscious golden curls. The girl introduced herself as Myrcella Baratheon. Their conversation was tentative and formal at first but eventually Sansa realized how sweet and compassionate Myrcella was. What started as a study session reviewing simple harmonic motion soon transformed into a sleepover in Myrcella's single dorm where they completely opened up to one another. Sansa told Myrcella all about Robb and Myrcella told Sansa about her crazy mother. She was funny without ever being mean and genuinely showed interest in Sansa. After only two weeks of friendship Sansa moved into Myrcella's room and she began to fell like herself again.

As Sansa lay on her blue silk duvet twirling a piece of hair between her thumb and forefinger she felt herself slipping back into that dark place before she met Myrcella. She needed Robb but couldn't find it in herself to tell him that, the damage it would cause her family would be too great.

So Sansa continued to avoid Robb. She saw him briefly at dinner but refused to meet his eyes. Ned made pepperoni bread, one of her favorites, but it wasn't the same. She felt bleak and empty and food had no taste to her. She had no inclination to finish her meal and instead sat quietly while Catelyn explained how the Baratheons were coming to brunch tomorrow. Catelyn asked Sansa if she knew Joffrey from school.

Truthfully Sansa didn't know very much about Joffrey, only his reputation. He and his bullheaded friends were well known for tormenting anyone who got in their way. Two of his friends Sandor and Ilyn were particularly violent and terrifying. But Joffrey had never lain a hand on anyone at Kingslanding Boarding School. Sansa had heard gossip that Joffrey was the mastermind behind all of it and that Sandor and Ilyn were mere puppets, but she didn't know if she bought that. He was, after all, Myrcella's brother. So he couldn't be that bad, right? she reasoned with herself. Who knows, maybe we could be friends? He might even be a nice distraction from Robb.

xxxxxxxxxx

The next morning was chaotic to say the least. Ned was tethered to the kitchen from 8:00 to 11:00 am preparing the perfect menu for the Baratheon's brunch. Catelyn assumed her perfected roll of drill sergeant, ordering her children to wash, vacuum, and dust every corner of the house. By the end of their labors the house was spotless and there was a picture perfect buffet spread across the dining room table. It looked like something out of lifestyle magazine, each plate of blueberry pancakes, lemon poppy seed muffins, and bacon omelets were accompanied by their own lace doily.

When the clock struck 11:30 the seven Starks lined up on their front porch to await the arrival of their guests. They stood age accordingly, all wearing their Sunday bests. Catelyn had insisted that Robb shave but by distracting her with different chores that needed to be done he managed to escape unscathed. Robb stood apprehensively next to Sansa. It was very clear she wasn't talking to him but he knew he hadn't done anything technically wrong, or if he did he clearly couldn't apologize without implying something absurd. It was hard for him not to stare at her, she looked particularly beautiful this morning. The front of her hair was pinned back in intricate braids leaving the rest of her hair to fall gracefully down her back in waves. She wore a pale blue cotton voile dress with long tight sleeves. Robb wanted to reach out and take her hand in his. He just wanted to feel her skin on his, even if in the littlest way.

Robb was snapped out of his day dream by the thick rumble of tires on gravel. A shining black town car with tinted windows rolled up their long driveway steadily.

"Remember to smile kids," Catelyn whispered through gritted teeth.

Once the town car had parked at the top of the driveway the driver stepped out of the front seat to open the door for the three passengers. Robert emerged first with a large grin on his face and made his way towards Ned. The two shared a rough hug and instantly began joking and reminiscing over old times. Cercei and Joffrey soon followed out of the car and stood behind Robert patiently. Ned interrupted Robert to introduce his smiling family and Robert did the same.

That's when Robb realized what Jofferey was doing, he was staring at Sansa. It wasn't a friendly gaze, or even an intrigued one, it was hungry, like a lion about to devour its prey. He was smirking, the little bastard was smirking at his Sansa! Then Robb turned to look at Sansa, she was returning his expressions. She was practically making googly eyes at the boy.

Robb's blood boiled hot in his veins as a fit of rage spread through him. Who does this kid think he is? Coming here and ogling at Sansa for everyone to see, he thought.

The families made their way inside and sat around the dining room table. Robb was relieved that Joffrey and Sansa were seated far apart from each other but that didn't stop his jealousy. Joffrey and Sansa continued to steal glances. At one point Robb saw the little twerp lick his lips. He hated him. He hated his dorky blond hair, his beady blue eyes and the smug confidence in his voice whenever he answered one of Ned or Catelyn's questions. Robb's fists clenched under the table as he envisioned beating Joffrey to a pulp. And then there was Sansa. He couldn't believe her, oblivious to everyone around her as she flirted senselessly with this boy. He was small and dainty and didn't deserve Sansa's affections. Sansa deserved a man, someone who could support her and love her, someone like Robb.

As brunch came to a close everyone moved to the living room. Sansa offered to clean dishes for Catelyn, and Joffrey practically jumped out of his seat to help her. Robb was practically steaming. He excused himself to go to the bathroom but quickly moved towards the kitchen. He stood outside, feeling a bit like a stalker but not caring, and listened to their conversation.

"We're in town for the next few days but my parents are busy almost every night with business meetings. I don't know what I'll do to keep busy," Joffrey mused haughtily.

"Well Winterfell has a lot of cool places to see, I could show you some time, if you want," Sansa replied. Robb seethed with anguish.

"That would be amazing. Tomorrow night at eight?" Joffrey said cooly.

"Ok," Sansa said sweetly.

Robb peaked in to see Joffrey smirk and touch her wrist. "Then it's a date."

Robb hurried back to the living room knowing that if he stayed any longer he would actually murder Joffrey with a kitchen knife.

xxxxxxxxxx

The Baratheons left not long after Joffrey and Sansa met in the kitchen. As they departed through the door Sansa checked to make sure Robb was watching and shot Joffrey one last flirtatious glance. The truth is, Sansa didn't feel anything towards Joffrey. He seemed polite enough, and clearly took a shine to her, but he was also short, at least half an inch shorter than her, and seemed overconfident. But that didn't matter, what mattered was that Robb looked like he was going combust throughout the entire brunch. Sansa didn't care if it was childish, she wanted Robb to feel the same way she had seeing him with Roslin. If he could flaunt Roslin right in front of her, she could show off Joffrey.

Sansa went up to her room practically glowing with triumph. Just as she was about to flop down on her bed and text Myrcella Robb stormed into her room without knocking.

"What the hell do you think you were doing down there?" he said angrily but not loud enough for their parents to hear downstairs.

Sansa was shocked but remained calm, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You were throwing yourself at that boy right in front of Mom and Dad."

"Excuse me? I was being nice. Unlike you looking like you were about to leap across the table and strangle Joffrey for everyone to see!" she snapped.

Hearing her say his name sent Robb over the edge. "You were being so irresponsible. Do you know how important this business deal is for Dad? And now your going to jeopardies that by going on a date with Robert's son?"

Sansa gaped. "You were spying on me?"

"I was trying to protect you!"

Sansa's anger heightened. "You're not trying to protect me. You're jealous!"

Robb faltered, "Why would I be jealous of you going out with someone?"

Sansa glared at him and Robb understood: she knew. She knew what he wanted. He was a coward. In high school they called him the Young Wolf, but he couldn't even admit his love to his little sister. Robb looked back at her and they both knew that there was an unspoken line they had crossed. But it was too much, he thought somehow if he didn't say anything it wouldn't be real.

So he stormed out of the room leaving Sansa to cry alone.