Chapter 16

Jaime Lannister POV

I hate that Bronn stayed over last night, but he was drunk and couldn't drive home. What was I supposed to do, kick him out and let him put himself in danger? I may not be comfortable with him and Cersei dating, but I'm not evil.

I walk out of my room in the morning, and of course Bronn walks out of Cersei's room right at the same time. I really didn't think we'd run into this problem once we got to college, I thought we'd stop seeing other people and it would just be us now that we live on our own.

"Morning," Bronn says awkwardly. "Sleep okay?"

"Sure," I say as we both start walking to the kitchen. That's not true, though. I heard them doing stuff in Cersei's room. "You?"

"I slept great." I'm sure he did. "Thanks for letting me stay over."

I'm not sure what exactly he's thanking me for, it's not like I had a choice and it wasn't up to me to decide anyway.

"Don't mention it," I say. "I wasn't going to let you drive home drunk."

We walk into the kitchen and I start making coffee. "Can you make enough for me, too?" Bronn asks. Does he think he lives here now? Who does he think he is?

"Yeah," I say. "Sure." I don't want him to know how upset I am, I have to act like this isn't affecting me like it is.

"Are we good, man?" Bronn asks after a long pause while I'm starting the coffee pot.

"What do you mean?" I respond.

"I just— I know you're not thrilled with me dating your sister," he says. "I get it, I just wanted to make sure you didn't hate me."

"I think you have a lot of nerve, if I'm being honest," I say. "After giving her drugs and trying to hook up with her, you knew how upset I was about that."

"I know that was really shitty, and I'm sorry," he says. "I want to be a better person now."

"So you'll stop dealing drugs?"

"Hey, I never said that," he says. "I just don't want to use her anymore, I actually want to try dating someone for once."

"I still don't approve," I say. "And you shouldn't expect us to be best friends again now."

"I didn't expect that," Bronn says and I get a mug from the cabinet and start pouring my coffee. "Jealousy is a tough thing, I wouldn't blame you for not being over her."

That really got me. He knows I hate people knowing about me and Cersei, and I thought I could trust him with that secret. I slam the coffee pot back into it's holder, I'm honestly surprised it didn't break. Cersei comes out of her room when she hears the noise.

"Is everything okay?" She asks. "What's going on out here?"

We both turn to look at her, but we don't say anything. "Nothing," I say, probably not sounding nonchalant. "Everything's fine."

I grab my coffee and head straight to my room. God, I'm so angry. I know Bronn and I didn't know each other that well, but I still didn't think it would turn out this way.

I walk into my room and shut the door, probably a little too loud. As I'm sitting on my bed, my phone buzzes.

*Good morning :).* It's Brienne.

*Hey, what's up?*

Ding. *Not much, just wanted to say hey. What are you up to on this Sunday?*

*Just dealing with some drama, but it's no biggie. What about you?*

Ding. *Just getting ready for the week. Cersei drama?*

*Yeah, but what else is new?*

Ding. *Sorry :(. Hope you have a good day still.*

*You too.*

I'm glad Brienne is still talking to me, I know I put her through a lot. I still feel bad for taking her virginity and then calling things off, but I also didn't want to lead her on. I'm ready to start over with her, I hope I can.

It's quiet in the apartment now, so I walk out into the living room. Cersei is making herself some breakfast. "Hey," I say. "Where's Bronn?"

"He left," she says. "Don't get too excited, he had to get to a study thing."

"It's fine that he was here," I say. "I said he could stay, I wasn't going to let him drive home drunk."

"Bullshit," Cersei says. "I know you hate when he's here."

"I don't approve, but I'm living with it," I say. "I've actually been talking to Brienne again, anyway."

I can tell she doesn't like that because she pauses, then shrugs. "Whatever," she says. "She's a whore anyway."

I don't say anything and just head back to my room. It's so stupid, how immature she is. She can't handle me seeing anyone, yet feels entitled to see whoever she wants. I really thought she'd be my forever, I never had a doubt of that in my mind. Now I don't know what to think.

Sansa Stark POV

I'm heading to Myrcella's place tonight, it'll be fun. I haven't been to her place much since she moved in with Podrick, so it'll be nice to get to hang out there. I'm glad she moved out of her dad's house, this way I don't have to worry about running into Joffrey.

I knock on the door and Myrcella answers. "Hey girl," she says, giving me a hug. "I'm so glad you could come hang out tonight."

"Me too," I say, walking in. "I'm glad I got into college, that's definitely a relief."

"Oh right, I haven't told you congratulations in person," Myrcella says. "Are you nervous?"

"Yeah," I say. "I'm honestly not sure if I'm ready."

"No one really feels ready for that," she says. "I know you can handle it, though."

"I wish I could hang out with you more often," I say. "Cheer is keeping me so busy."

"I feel the same way about choir," Myrcella says. "It's taking so much out of me."

"Oh, how is that?" I ask as we head to her room. I haven't seen Podrick yet, he's probably working or studying.

"It's been great," Myrcella says, closing the door to her room behind us. "I'm hoping to get a solo for the Christmas show."

"I hope you do," I say as we sit on her bed. "I'll come and see the show either way, but you definitely deserve the solo."

"Thank you," she says. "I'm just so nervous for the audition, it's next week."

"If you want me to see you practice and give pointers, I'd be happy too."

"That means a lot," she says. "I'm sure Podrick is tired of seeing me rehearse."

"I doubt that, you have a gorgeous voice," I say. "Where is he, by the way?"

"He's working and then going to the library to study," Myrcella says. "He has a project he has to work on for one of his classes."

"Is he liking community college?"

"Yeah, I think so," she says. "It's definitely cheaper than a big university, so I know that's a plus since he has to help pay for it."

That sucks, I should appreciate more that my parents are able to pay for college for all of us kids. Not everyone has that. I think that's part of the reason Gendry decided to go to trade school, it would make sense since his family doesn't have much money.

"Where's Gendry?" I ask.

"He's at work," Myrcella says. "He's at work or school most of the time, he works way harder than he should have to."

"How is he doing?"

"In general?" Myrcella asks. "I think he's okay. I can tell he's still kind of sad about Arya, but I think he just really wants to move on."

"That makes sense," I say. "She's still sad about it too."

"I think it was just right person, wrong time," Myrcella says. "That's how I understand it."

"I agree," I say. "They really love each other, even now."

There's a long pause since we don't know what to say, that whole situation is just so unfortunate. "How is Shireen?" I ask. "Is she doing any better now that she's staying with your uncle?"

"Oh definitely," Myrcella says, nodding. "She's a lot happier, I saw her the other day."

"Is she close with your uncle?"

"Yeah, she always has been," she says. "I'm just glad this worked out."

"What made your dad and uncle both allow her to stay there?"

"Shireen called my uncle crying one day," Myrcella says. "Then he called my dad and started screaming at him. They basically came to an agreement that she could stay with him, but I don't know all the details of that conversation."

"I'm glad she's doing better," I say. "But I still think your dad's an asshole for just letting you guys leave instead of trying to do something about Joffrey and Tommen."

"Me too," she says. "I kinda hate my dad honestly."

"My dad would never put up with that from my brothers," I say. "Like of course they've bullied me and Arya and each other, but it was never extreme like this."

"Thanks for being there for me," she says. "Especially with how busy you are, I really appreciate it."

"You're my best friend at this point," I say. "It's the least I can do, and it's really no trouble."

"I'm your best friend?" She asks after a pause.

"Yeah," I say. "My other friends are in college now, so of course you are. Or I guess Arya is, but that's different."

Myrcella smiles at me. "That really means a lot," she says, leaning in and hugging me. "Thank you."

"Of course."

There's a pause after we hug. "Can I sing you my solo?" Myrcella asks me.

"Of course," I say. "I'd love to hear it." I'm surprised, I didn't think she'd offer to sing it to me considering how shy she is.

"Tell me what you think, honestly."

"I promise I will."

She sings it for me with her karaoke track that she has on her phone. She really does have a beautiful voice, it still amazes me.

"Honestly," I say. She looks so nervous for the feedback I'm about to give, as if my opinion means anything. "That was beautiful, Myrcella."

"Really?" She asks. "You think?"

"Absolutely," I say. "If they don't pick you for it, they're just stupid."

"Thank you," she says. "Podrick said the same thing."

"Of course, he's right."

I'm glad she's doing better, and I hope one day her dad will come to his senses and they can mend things. I don't see that happening, but I can still hope. She really is my best friend besides Arya, I want nothing more for her to be happy and to do well.

Arya Stark POV

I wish I could've hung out with Sansa tonight, but I know it would've been weird since it's Gendry's place. I'm just stuck here by myself, Rickon is at a friend's house and I think Meera is here. My parents are at at work thing, so I've just been reading.

I leave my room to get a snack. When I'm walking past Bran's room, I hear giggling and talking coming from there but the door is closed. I knock, and there's a pause.

"Who is it?" Bran eventually says.

"Arya," I say. "Can I come in?"

"Um… yeah, I guess."

I open the door and Bran and Meera are sitting on his bed, but they're not touching. "What's going on in here?" I ask.

"Nothing," Bran says defensively. "We're literally just talking."

"You're lucky mom and dad aren't home," I say. "You know you'd get in trouble for having a girl in here with the door closed."

"Well we all know you're a perfect angel," he says. "You better not rat me out."

I put my hands up defensively. "Hey, I won't," I say. "I'm just messing with you, calm down."

"It didn't sound like it," he says. "Please don't tell mom and dad."

"I won't," I say. "But you might want to start hanging out downstairs soon so they don't catch you when you get back."

"Are they on their way back?"

I look at my phone. "I don't know," I say. "But they should be back in the next hour."

Bran sighs. "Fine, you're right," he says. "We'll go downstairs soon, leave us alone."

"Okay," I say. "Be careful." Meera blushes.

I like messing with them, but I do worry about them. I don't think they're doing anything besides kissing, but you never know with how things are these days. I've definitely done more than my parents think I have, and I hope they never find out. I should tell on Bran since I can't date the person I want to, but I'm nicer than that.

I get my snack and then go back up to my room. I'm really into my book, I'm excited to keep reading it. I'm not sure how much time has passed because I'm so into the book, but eventually I hear a knock at my door. That's weird, I wouldn't expect Sansa to be home this early.

"Who is it?" I ask.

"It's mom," I hear my mom say on the other side of the door. "Can I come in?"

"Sure," I say, putting my bookmark in my book. My mom comes in and sits on my bed. "What is it?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay," she says, playing with my hair. I move her hand away. "I know you weren't happy when we said you couldn't see Gendry anymore."

"Yeah, I wasn't," I say. "But he broke up with me anyway, so it doesn't matter."

"Arya, I'm sorry," my mom says. "Why did he do that?"

"I don't want to talk about it," I say. "But if you and dad weren't so controlling, he wouldn't have."

"I see why you feel that way," she says. "I'm sorry that he did that."

"Why are you sorry?" I ask. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

"I still never want to see you hurt, Arya." she says. "I know you don't understand this right now, you will when you're older." I hate that so much, she knows I hate that. It's so stupid, I'm not an idiot.

"Sure," I say. "Fine."

"We don't think Gendry is a bad person," my mom says. "We just think he isn't good for you right now with the age difference with you still being in high school, and the smoking."

"Whatever," I say. "Am I still grounded?"

"No," my mom says. "But youre definitely on thinner ice, is that understood?"

"Yes, mom," I say. "Can I go back to reading? I'm really into this book."

"Of course," she says. "I'd love to hear about it later if you want to tell me."

"Maybe," I say after a pause. "I'll think about it."

"Okay, have a good night," she says. "I love you, Arya."

"Uh-huh," I say with my head buried in my book. "Cool."

She walks out of my room, shutting the door behind her. I know it's not cool for me to not tell my mom I love her, but I'm uncomfortable with stuff like that. It took me so long to tell Gendry I love him, and I was having sex with him.

It may sound bad, but sometimes I don't know if I love my mom. She's my mom, but I don't think I'd like her if I didn't have to. It's not like we've ever been close, she's never really made a long-term effort to be close to me.

I'm also not sure she's right, I don't think I'll understand where she's coming from when I get older. She wanted me to stop seeing Gendry, yet she's sad that he broke up with me. It doesn't make any sense. I understand love less now than I ever have, this doesn't make any sense.