Chapter 16

Arya Stark POV

I'm going to smoke with Gendry today, we haven't seen each other in a little bit and I miss hanging out with him. I also really need to smoke, now that I see him less I haven't been smoking as much and I honestly miss it.

Gendry picks me up and we head to the creek in the woods where we usually smoke. "How's your summer been?" I ask as we're driving there.

"It's been okay," he says. "Just getting ready for trade school and looking for jobs."

"Oh cool," I say. "I wish I wasn't still in high school, I feel ready to move on already."

"You should honestly just enjoy it," he says. "Things get much more complicated after you graduate." I'm not looking forward to that, things already seem complicated enough now.

We get to the smoking spot and sit down, he helps me light my cigarette. "I really should get better at this," I say. "That way I can smoke more."

"You really shouldn't," he says. "I still feel terrible that I got you into it."

"Okay, Jon," I say, laughing.

"Speaking of," Gendry says, taking a drag of his cigarette. "I've seen Jon a couple times lately. I guess we're friends again."

"Oh, good," I say. "I'm glad to hear that."

"Podrick and I are also talking about getting an apartment together," he says. "I've been sending him some available ones."

"Oh really?" I ask. "I thought you were both living with family to save money."

"We were, that was the plan," he says. "But his family is driving him crazy and I'm not super stoked to keep living with mine."

"I thought you got along with Renly."

"I do," he says. "But he's always with Loras, and I feel like I'm outgrowing living there."

"That makes sense," I say. "I don't know what I'm going to do when Sansa graduates and moves out, it'll be so lonely."

"I'll still be in town," Gendry says. "If we get an apartment you can come hang out there anytime."

I chuckle. "I honestly might take you up on that," I say. "I hope you get one."

"I know Myrcella would be there a lot," he says. "But that's okay with me, she's my cousin and I love her."

"She's sweet, her and Podrick are so adorable together. I can tell they really love each other."

"They do," he says. "He talks about her all the time, she's so in love with him."

There's a pause. I can tell it's a little awkward for him to be around someone in such a happy relationship all the time, but at least he's happy for them.

We finish smoking and he takes me home. "I'm glad we hung out today," he says as we pull up to my place. "I'm glad we're still friends."

"Me too," I say. We make eye contact for an awkward few seconds, and then I hug him. "Bye."

"Bye."

I get out of the car and walk inside. I thought hugging him would be really uncomfortable, but the physical chemistry is still there. It's confusing because I want us to just be friends, but I'm still attracted to him. I can't tell him that either because it would probably be weird for him to hear. All of this is just so complicated and I don't like it.

Jaime Lannister POV

I've been texting Brienne a lot and even talked on the phone with her a couple times. I don't think Cersei has any idea, and I don't want her to find out. There's nothing even romantic between me and Brienne, but I still don't feel like she should know because of how she is. She gets jealous, and I know she would just assume things.

I'm meeting up with Brienne again today, and we're going to the gym she goes to. We might climb the rock wall or just work out together. I know that's something she likes to do, and I need to work out more anyway. I'm going to her place first so we can get ready and ride together.

"Hey," Brienne says when she opens the door to her apartment after I knock on it. "Come in."

"I was worried I had the wrong apartment," I say, walking in. "This place is kind of hard to navigate."

"It is," she says. "But at least it's safe."

"Do you live by yourself?"

"Yeah," she says. "I don't mind though, it's nice here. I don't mind being alone."

"That makes sense," I say. "I know it would kinda stress me out, though."

"I'm pretty strong," she says, laughing. "I could take down almost anyone who tried to come in here." I believe that honestly.

"Is it annoying living with your sister?" She asks me after a pause. "You know, since you guys grew up together and I'm sure you fought."

"We didn't much, actually," I say. "It's pretty helpful when we want to leave and come back here, we can just pack the night before and leave together."

"Makes sense," she says. "I just know living with most of my family beyond childhood would be weird for me."

I shrug. "I guess it could be," I say. "But it's working out for us."

"Do you want to get changed and then head out?" She asks me, picking up her bag.

"Sure," I say. She points down the hall to where the bathroom is. "I'll be right back."

…

We get back from our workout and I go into her bathroom to change back into my regular clothes. It was fun, we climbed the rock wall a little and she showed me some of the stuff with weights. I didn't want to get too sweaty, so we didn't stay for long or do anything too strenuous. It felt nice being close to her though, I liked when she had to touch me and I actually felt some electricity.

"Do you want anything to eat?" She asks me while I'm in the bathroom changing. "I have some protein bars and stuff."

"No, that's okay. I'll eat at home," I respond. "Thank you though."

I walk out of the bathroom and walk past her room. She's putting a shirt on, and I see a little bit of her bra even though I don't mean to because the door is cracked. She walks out of her room, and I'm not sure if I should leave.

"I had a good time today," I say. "We should do it again sometime."

"I'd like that," she says. "I had fun too. I know working out together can be a little weird, but it's one of my favorite things to do."

"I actually had a lot of fun," I say. "Much more than I expected."

There's a pause. I'm standing close to the door, so I could just leave. For some reason, I really don't want to. She walks closer to me and I find myself kissing her before I know what I'm doing. We're almost the same height, so I don't really need to lean down like I do with Cersei.

We keep kissing, and I end up walking towards her bedroom. We're a little sweaty, but that doesn't bother me right now. We're about halfway there before she stops me.

"Um," she says, breaking apart from me. "I don't know if we should do more."

"Why not?"

"We've only hung out a couple times," she says. "And I just… I want to know you better before this goes any further."

"I understand," I say. I'm a little disappointed, but I'm trying to be nice about it. "Sorry if I overstepped."

"You're fine," she says. "I like you. It's just, I don't have much experience. Or any at all, really."

I'm shocked and I honestly don't believe her. "Really?" I ask. She nods. "You're 25."

"I know," she says. "I just have focused so much on school and getting a job and more school that I haven't had time for a relationship. I also haven't really had any interest."

"It's okay, I get it," I say. "I'm just surprised."

"I thought I was asexual for a while, and then I thought I was gay. Now I just have no idea."

"It's okay, I'm not judging," I say, trying to reassure her. "I haven't had a ton of experience either, but I've been around a little."

"How many girls have there been?" She asks. I didn't expect her to ask so bluntly like that.

"Just one," I say after a pause. "But most people expect it to be more."

She pauses, I think she's trying to figure out if she knows who it is. "Is it over between you two?"

"I don't know what we are at this point," I say. "I'm starting to want to end things, but I still care about her and she'll always be a part of my life."

"I see," she says. "Well call me if you want to hang out again, I'd still like to."

"I'd love that," I say. "Can I kiss you goodbye?"

She smiles and nods and I kiss her again. I leave and head home. I'm actually glad Brienne stopped what was about to happen, I need to think about things more. I will always love Cersei, but I still want to see where it goes with me and Brienne. I'm just so confused, and her having zero experience doesn't help.

Samwell Tarly POV

I'm fixing breakfast for the family before heading to work. Sometimes Gilly does that, but I'm honestly the better cook. Gilly is breastfeeding the baby, but we're trying to wean him off of that. It's a harder process than we expected. Sometimes I feel like I'm crushing this dad thing, sometimes I feel like I'm drowning.

Gilly burps the baby and I sit down next to her, bringing her a plate. "Here you go," I say. "I made eggs and sausage."

"Thank you," she says, kissing my cheek and taking the plate. "I love you."

"I love you too."

We start eating in silence. "So I was thinking," I continue. "Maybe we could have the group over before everyone has to leave town and go back to school."

"Who do you mean by the group?"

"Jon, Dany, Ygritte and Tormund," I say. "I was telling Jon it might be fun for all of us to hang out this summer."

"And he agreed?" Gilly asks.

"Yeah," I respond. "We're all adults now, he said it would be fine."

"Then I guess it's fine," she says. "Who will watch baby Sam?"

"I'm sure my parents would, they haven't been able to spend much time with him. I'll ask them today on my break, and I'll call Jon on my way to work."

"Okay, sounds good," she says. "It'll be fun, I just didn't expect us to be able to do it."

"It'll be like an engagement party," I say. "I've only told Jon, by the way."

"I figured," she says. "I've only told Ygritte."

"Should we plan for Friday?" I ask.

"Yeah," she says. "If that's not too short notice for your dad."

"It shouldn't be," I say. "I think that'll be fine."

"Okay, then that sounds good."

"I have to go," I say, giving her and baby Sam a kiss. "Bye love, bye Sam."

"Bye lovely," she says. "Have a good day."

I walk outside and get into my car. My dad helped me buy a newer one once I started school and my new job, he's really coming around to me and Gilly now that we have a kid. I know Gilly isn't the one he would've picked for me, but I'm glad he came around for the sake of his grandson.

I call Jon on my car speaker phone. "Hello?" He says.

"Hey, it's Sam," I say. "I'm on my way to work and wanted to ask you something."

"Okay, what's up?"

"Gilly and I wanted to have a little get together on Friday," I say. "It would be sort of an engagement party, and we wanted you and Dany to come if you could."

"That should be fine," Jon says. "I'll ask Dany today and let you know."

"Ygritte would be there," I say. "Just so you know."

"That's fine," Jon says. "We can handle it."

"We may not be able to go crazy, though," I say. "I'm going to make sure my parents can watch Baby Sam and then I'll let you know."

"Sounds good," he says. "I'll let you know what Dany says, but she should be down for it."

"Okay," I say. "Just text me later."

"Okay, bye."

I end up getting a text from Jon later that he and Dany will be there, and my dad agrees to watch Baby Sam when I call him on my break. I feel bad asking him to babysit, but he really hasn't at all unless Gilly and I were busy with school and/or work. He never has for a social reason.

I feel like I'm actually getting my life together. Two years ago I never would've guessed that I'd be getting married to Gilly and we'd have a son. I wouldn't have it any other way, though. I'm beyond grateful that I was able to save her from her situation, she deserves the world.

A/N: Updates will be less frequent because I'm going on a vacation starting Friday. I'll be back!