Chapter Eleven

Sansa found the balm to her frayed nerves and scattered emotions in Jaime. She didn't have class with him that day, but she wanted to see him and remind herself that someone wanted her. One touch of his lips to hers and Sansa allowed herself to be grabbed and pulled under. She wound her arms around his neck and delighted in his strong arms encircling her and drawing her close.

When they parted, Jaime pressed his forehead to hers and smiled. "This was a nice surprise," he said.

"I don't only have to see you when we have lessons, do I?" she asked coyly and tilted her head to the side.

He smiled. "Of course not." He nodded to his closed office door behind her. "And this was an excellent time to visit. It's always quiet at this time of day."

That hadn't been an accident, coming to see Jaime at this hour. She'd cut class to see him. Right about now class was ending and Jon was usually outside the building waiting for her so they could go to dinner together. She was sure that Ygritte wouldn't be far behind in joining them just as she had at breakfast and Sansa was all set with that.

Jaime pulled away from her and Sansa wished him back to keep her darker thoughts at bay. "There is something I wanted to discuss with you, actually," Jaime said as he went to his desk and picked up a sheet of paper. He turned back and handed the paper to her.

Sansa scanned the document quickly. "'A musical talent show sponsored by the music department'," she read. Her eyes went wide. "An eighties and nineties themed musical show?"

Jaime grinned. "I remember you telling me how much you loved eighties ballads."

She looked back down at the flier. "Is this for everyone? Like the whole school?"

He shook his head. "No. It's only for the music department students. It's the department's way of showing their value to the school. It shows that we're really churning out competent musicians and singers. The show is set for the last week of the semester."

Sansa frowned. "But why are you showing this to me? I'm undeclared."

Jaime smiled. "Because I want you to audition, Sansa."

She blinked. "Why?"

"Because I'm hoping that if you're selected – and I know you will be – it will help you make the decision to declare music as your major. Sansa, you have talent. I'd hate to see you waste it."

She blushed. "Does this mean I have to play the piano?"

"Do you want to play the piano?"

She scrunched up her face and said, "Not really."

"You want to sing don't you?" he asked with a grin.

"Fuck. Yes." She laughed and covered her face with her hands. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize," he said and pulled her hands from her face. "If you want to sing, then sing."

"And they'll let me audition?"

Jaime grinned. "Yes, I don't think you have anything to worry about, Sansa."

She grinned back.

"And," he continued. "I know a vocal coach we can use."

Sansa clapped her hands together excitedly. "This is so exciting!"

"What do you say we have dinner tonight and celebrate?"

She laughed. "Celebrate that I'm auditioning? No, how about we just have dinner and then save the celebration for if I make it in the show?"

Jaime took her face in his hands and kissed her. "Deal."

xxxxxxxx

"You need to talk to your boy," Margaery said as soon as Sansa walked in their room after seeing Jaime.

Sansa frowned at her friend who was painting her toenails. "Why?"

"Because Jon was more uptight than usual when he came by to find out why you bailed on him at breakfast – which, the next time you want to use me as an alibi please let me know. I must have gaped at him for a good five minutes when he asked me if I'd texted you to bring something to me. I had to think fast and I think he knew I was lying."

"What did you tell him?"

"That I needed my copy of 'Halloween' for film class. He also wanted to know why you didn't meet him for dinner."

Sansa winced. "What did you tell him?"

"That it wasn't my turn to watch you and asked if he wanted to put a GPS on you so he'd know where you are at all times."

Sansa couldn't help but laugh at that.

Margaery twisted the cap on her nail polish and tossed the bottle on her bed. She then stretched her legs out in front of her and started bouncing her legs up and down in tandem. "So, what's going on with you, little dove? Why is Jon looking even more like someone kicked a litter of puppies and made him watch?"

Sansa sat down on her bed and sighed. She told Margaery what Ygritte had said about Val, and about how compatible they were, especially in bed.

"And I just lost it," Sansa said. "I just couldn't get the image out of my head of them in bed and Jon doing stuff to her."

Margaery made a face. "Now I have that image." Her expression went thoughtful. "I bet he's really good with his mouth."

"Margaery."

Her friend held up her hands. "I'm kidding. Sort of. Not really. I mean, he does have those really plump lips and—"

"Seriously?"

"Sorry. Right. Okay, so, you do realize that bitch was just trying to stake her claim on him, right? She just said all that shit to make sure you knew he was hers and therefore off limits."

Sansa just stared at her friend, dumbfounded. "Really?"

"San, I've seen them together and she is so the type. If she could pee on him to claim him she would."

"Well, score one for Ygritte I guess," Sansa muttered.

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing. He's happy with her."

Margaery didn't look convinced. She pursed her lips together and tilted her head to the side. "Is he though?"

"He's still with her isn't he?"

"In what universe would Jon be good at dumping someone?"

"Good point."

"They could be sleeping together, it's possible."

Sansa got up. She didn't want to hear this. Besides, she had a date to get ready for. So, she went to her closet to see what to wear.

"But I don't think they are," Margaery said.

That gave Sansa pause. She looked at her friend. "You don't?"

Margaery shook her head. "Jon doesn't have that 'I just got laid' glow about him that most men in the beginning of a relationship do. He's still flippin' Eeyore."

Sansa laughed and shook her head. "He's not that bad, Margaery."

Margaery shrugged. "But seriously, if they were having sex and she was that certain her pussy had was prime choice—"

"My God, Margaery—"

"—then she wouldn't feel the need to stake her claim on him with you. Sansa, you're her competition and I don't think you even realize it. Anyone that comes across you and Jon know that with him, you come first."

"That's not true anymore."

"Are you fucking kidding me? He wasn't off with his girlfriend having a grand ol' time thinking 'well, maybe Sansa was just busy', no. He was here wanting to know where you were and why you ran out on him this morning. You've been putting distance between the two of you since he started seeing that girl and he knows it."

"Margaery, I already went over this with Dr. Lannister today and I don't want to go over it again," Sansa said in annoyance.

"Which one?"

"Tyrion."

"You talked to your professor about Jon? Sansa, how are you not getting what's happening here. Come on!"

"It's not that easy!" Sansa exclaimed and yanked a cardigan off its hanger. "It's not like I just go 'Oh, I have these feelings for Jon I should just tell him'. I'm not like you, okay? I don't just go for it. I don't even know what I'm going for! What are these feelings exactly? I mean, do I want him in a romantic I-want-t0-be-his-girlfriend sense or am I just jealous because now I don't have him all to myself anymore? When you dated that idiot last semester I was jealous of him because we didn't get to hang out as much. What if it's just that? Why does jealousy over someone else in the picture automatically have to mean that I want Jon to be my boyfriend?"

"Have you tried to imagine what it would be like? Have you imagined kissing him? Having him be your first?"

Sansa held up a hand. "Don't. Okay, just don't. You got into my head once already with that crap. Don't do it again." She marched to the door. Screw changing into a new outfit.

"Where are you going now?!" Margaery exclaimed.

"Out."

"Where?"

"The library."

Sansa slammed the door shut behind her and marched down the hall to the elevator. Her phone went off in her pocket and she pulled it out. Jon.

Where are you? Can I see you?

Can't, she typed back furiously. I have a date. Night.