Chapter 46

Sansa Stark POV

It's Arya's 16th birthday. My mom is taking me, Myrcella, Meera and Arya to the hair salon so she can get streaks. I'm glad Meera could show up, I know she likes Arya. I'm glad we've been getting closer to her, I know Bran really likes her. Plus, we have to make sure Bran stays in line and doesn't act stupid like he always does.

We're in the car on the way to the salon, I'm sure Arya would've preferred that I drive us. I think my mom just wanted to make sure she didn't do anything crazy to her hair without her permission. Or maybe a guardian has to be there, I'm not sure. At lease she's taking us all to The Cheesecake Factory after.

"So what color are you going to get exactly?" Myrcella asks Arya from the backseat. Arya got shotgun today because it's her birthday.

"I want hot pink or purple," Arya says. "Maybe somewhere in between."

"Like fuschia?" I ask.

"Sure, like thar," Arya says, chuckling. "You know all the proper names."

We pull up to the mall and walk into the salon. When Arya starts talking with the hair stylist, we hear that it may take a couple hours. I think my mom and Arya already knew that, they had a consulation last week before the appointment.

"Do you mind if Myrcella and I look around the mall while you get your hair done?" I ask. "I still haven't bought accessories for prom."

"Go ahead," she says. "Meera and mom are here and it might get a little crowded with you guys anyway."

"Thanks Arya," Myrcella says. "I know you'll look great."

"We'll be back around the time the stylist said she'd be done," I say. "Text me if you're done sooner."

"Will do," Arya says. "See you later."

Myrcella and I head out and go to a department store to look at their accessories. "Are you excited for prom?" Myrcella asks me.

"I am," I say. "I wish you were coming, though."

"I'm only a junior," she says. "Plus, I went with Podrick for his senior year."

"Are things better with you guys?" I ask, picking up a pair of earrings and holding them up to my ear in a mirror.

"Yeah, definitely," Myrcella says. "He's being really loving, and we definitely are staying together."

"He was pissing me off with how he was acting with the pregnancy scare," I say. "At least from what you told me."

"I get why he was scared," Myrcella says. "He's a good guy."

"Well, if he ever does anything else like that, tell me and I'll beat him up," I say. I put the earrings away and grab another pair, holding them up. Myrcella chuckles. "I'm serious, I will."

"I know, and I appreciate that," she says. "You don't have to worry about anything. Podrick told me if that ever happened again, that he supports my decision."

"Good," I say. I'm still looking at the earrings. I turn to Myrcella. "I can't decide, do you like these or the first pair?"

"Your dress is purple and blue right?" She asks. I nod. "Then maybe the first pair, it had more blue undertones."

I look at both of them again. "You're probably right," I say. "Thanks."

We check out and then sit on a bench in the mall. "I'm getting sad that you're graduating," Myrcella says. "It's hitting me how soon it's happening."

"You know I'll text you every day in college right?"

"I hope so," she says. "I also don't want you to feel like you have to, I don't want you to get tired of me."

"I could never," I say. "I'll update you constantly. I'll be texting you so much you'll get tired of me."

She laughs at that. "I'm just nervous about having to deal with everything without you," she says. "I don't have a lot of other friends, and I don't really have my family anymore."

I feel really bad for her, she's had to deal with way too much at her age. "You can always call Arya, too," I say. "I know you aren't as close with her, but she loves you. Maybe you can get closer to her."

"That's not a bad idea," she says. "I love you."

"And I love you." We hug. I do feel bad, but Myrcella is so strong. She may not realize it, but I know she can handle school and life without me around.

We head back to the salon in the mall around the time that they told Arya she'd be done. When we walk in, the hair stylist is blow drying Arya's hair. I could basically see her hair from outside, it's so bright.

"I love it!" I say as I walk up to her. The stylist turns the blow dryer off and starts brushing it again.

"I do too," Arya says. She turns to me. "You don't think it's too bright?"

"No, I don't," I say. "It's perfect."

"I think it's a little bright," my mom says. "But you love it, so that's good."

My mom clearly doesn't love it, and Arya clearly doesn't care. I'm not surprised their opinions differ. I'm honestly surprised that my parents agreed to let Arya do this. I think it looks great on her, and Arya isn't one to care what anyone thinks.

Arya Stark POV

We're leaving the hair salon and heading to the Cheesecake Factory in the mall for my birthday dinner. I think my hair looks amazing. I feel like I look older, which is what I wanted. I hate that I sometimes still get mistaken for a freshman or even an 8th grader.

"Are you happy with how your hair turned out?" My mom asks me as we're walking.

"I love it," I say. "Do you like it?"

She pauses and looks at me. "I'm really glad you're happy with the result," she says. "It was pretty expensive."

Ugh, she's annoying. I don't really care if she doesn't like my hair, but she could at least lie or something. I wish she was more supportive and loving towards Sansa and I, it shouldn't be this hard for her.

"I think you look really great," Sansa says. "I wish I could pull that off."

"Red hair is really beautiful and rare," Myrcella says. "You're lucky."

I don't know how Myrcella can say that. Sansa's pretty, but Myrcella is absolutely gorgeous. She literally looks like an angel, I don't know how she could envy anyone else.

We walk into The Cheesecake Factory and get seated. The waiter brings us bread and we order appetizers. He complimented my hair, which made me happy.

"What type of cheesecake are you getting?" Sansa asks as we're snacking on an egg roll sampler.

"Maybe the Cinnabon Cinnamon Swirl, or the Oreo Dream Extreme, or the Adam's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple," I say. "God, I have no idea."

I look at Myrcella and she looks anxious. I feel bad because I know this food is really dense and Sansa and Myrcella still struggle with that once in a while. Myrcella does more so, but I don't bring up how nervous she looks because I don't want to draw attention to it. I'm sure she doesn't want that either.

She ends up getting lettuce wrap tacos, and my mom gets a salad. I get a pasta dish, and Meera and Sansa both get sandwiches. "Really mom?" Sansa says. "You're at The Cheesecake Factory and you're getting a salad?"

"I can't be eating this kind of food," my mom says. "It's so bad for you, you know that."

It's insane that my mom would talk like that in front of Sansa and Myrcella, but she's never been that understanding. Luckily it doesn't seem to bother Sansa too much, I'm glad she's doing better. Myrcella still looks anxious, though.

I do end up getting the Cinnabon cheesecake, which was the right move. Sansa and Myrcella split the lemon one, so that's good at least. Meera and my mom don't get a dessert. It surprises me that Meera doesn't want one, but maybe she doesn't want to cost my mom too much money.

After we finish up and my mom pays, she leaves to pull the car around, leaving just us girls waiting in the lobby. I'm sitting next to Meera, and Sansa and Myrcella are having a separate conversation on the opposite side of me.

"I think I want to break up with Bran," Meera says. She's so quiet and it's so loud in here that I barely heard her.

"What?" I ask.

"I just," Meera starts stammering. "I don't know, never mind."

"You can tell me," I say. "That is, if you want to."

"Please don't tell him," she says. "He'd get so mad."

"I won't," I say. "I promise."

"He just is pressuring me a little too much," she says. "I feel like he just wants to make out and do more than I want, he doesn't want to talk really anymore."

"What do you mean by do more than you want?"

"Like," Meera says, avoiding eye contact with me. She's clearly really embarassed to tell me. "Just like touch me and stuff and have me touch him."

I pause, I want to start screaming I'm so mad. I can't do that, because she was already hesitant to tell me. I just sigh.

"He's way too young to be thinking about any of that," I say. "He's barely about to be 14."

"I'm already 14," Meera says. "So he thinks I should be more ready."

Typical immature guy, thinking a few months makes a huge difference. I was really hoping my younger brothers wouldn't turn out like that. I know I had sex for the first time when I was 14, but I actually felt ready and he was mature. No one should do anything they aren't ready for.

"If you want me to talk to him, I can," I say, even though I know she said she didn't want me to. "He'd probably listen to me." I know that isn't true, but I want Meera to know that I'm there for her and that I won't always take Bran's side just because he's my brother.

"Don't," she quickly says. "Please Arya, don't."

"I won't unless you want me to," I say. "Just don't do anything you're not ready for, ever."

"Okay," Meera says, not sounding so sure. "Thank you."

I'm so angry at Bran. I know guys are dumb when they are that age and they first get a girlfriend, but I thought Jon and Robb at least had taught him right. Rickon probably got in his ear and started saying some dumb stuff, but I thought Jon and Robb had taught him right too. I'll never understand how guys can somehow sabotage every good thing they have.

Daenerys Targaryen POV

Jon is really testing me at this point, I'm tempted to just walk out the door. I know that isn't the right way to handle things, though. I just already don't know how to handle this, and he isn't helping. I want to call Cersei so bad, but I can't do that. I can never trust her again.

Jon and I have barely spoken since our big fight, I think neither of us really knows what to say. It's hard to avoid each other in this tiny apartment, but we're doing a decent job at it. I've spent most of my time at work, in class, or in the library since big assignments and finals are approaching.

After a study session in the library, I go back to the apartment as it's getting dark. I've been thinking a lot about what I want to say to Jon when we do finally have to talk about this, and I think I finally have it. When I walk in, he's sitting on the couch on his laptop. I guess now is as good of a time as any.

"Hey," I say. "I thought you had work today."

"No, I don't," he says. "How was your study session?"

"It was okay," I say, setting my backpack down and sitting on the couch next to him. "I'm just really stressed about this paper, it's been kicking my ass."

"Sorry."

I pause and take a deep breath. "Can we talk?" I ask him.

"Can the conversation stay between us?" He asks.

I'm kinda mad he said that, but I also sort of get it. I'm just going to ignore that. "Yes, it can," I say. "How are you doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"With everything," I say. "I know you've been going through a lot."

"I'm still kinda processing everything," he says. "I'm worried about what will happen when my siblings find out everything."

"Do you think they'll see you differently?"

"They might," he says. I know it won't be easy for them either."

He's probably right, but it irritates me that he's been thinking about how he'll take the news and yet he doesn't seem to care how I've been taking it.

"Is that all you wanted to talk about?" He asks me.

"No," I say. "It really hurt me when you said you aren't sure if you can commit to me with everything going on."

He sighs. "Dany," he says. "I didn't mean that because I think you're the problem. It's all me, I'm the screw up."

I know he genuinely believes that, but it seems manipulative. It seems like he's only saying it to make me feel bad for him and forget what he did wrong.

"I'm sorry I brought Sansa into your issues," I say. "I know it isn't how you want her or your other siblings to find out. I just needed to vent to someone."

"I hear you," he says. "But I wouldn't have wanted Cersei to know it either."

"I get that," I say. "And I am sorry." There's another pause. I'm trying to work up the courage to say what I want to say.

"What I really wanted to say," I finally continue. "Is that if you really don't think you can commit to me or anyone, please just walk away. Don't string me along because I'm convenient for you."

"That's never how I've seen you," he says. "I love you so fucking much."

"I love you too," I say. "But I hope you understand what I mean."

"I may not like it, but I do understand it," he says. "How long do I have to make up my mind?"

"I'd like to know within a week," I say. "Do you think you can do that?"

He looks at me. "Yeah," he finally says after a pause. "I'm sorry all of this is happening."

"Me too."

We do our own thing separately and then head to bed, still not really speaking. I didn't want to have to give him an ultimatum like this, but I need to protect myself too. I'm not saying we need to get married next week, but he does need to decide if I'm the one for him by then. I can't be strung along by someone who isn't sure about me for another three years.

A/N: I'm really sorry I've been gone. Work and life has been crazy and honestly, I didn't know where this story was going to go for the rest of it. I'm not sure how frequent upcoming updates will be, but I promise I'm not leaving.

Another thing I wanted to say: I know for sure how this story is ending. I have the plan for the rest of the plot, which is part of why I was gone for so long. So if anyone is still reading, I always love hearing your thoughts.