Chapter Text
He could not wait to leave King’s Landing and the last two weeks went by slowly. Every day he had been counting down until the summer holiday would start. It was the last day in school and it was a day in which not much happened. Everyone was talking about their plans for the summer, and even when it rained this morning a lot of girls wore skirts and guys shorts. The taste of summer was in the air and all the teachers felt it to. So in class they watched movies or did games all day, just to fill the time.
At first he wanted to leave immediately, but after a bit of rationalization he decided that it was better to just wait until the next day. He had already almost everything packed and then he could leave in the morning instead of standing in the traffic jam at night with everyone who did leave immediately to go home.
Tonight there would be a year closing party at their local bar, and he would start early to celebrate the end of the year with Edric. They planned to go to the bar immediately after they dropped their stuff at their house. Edric Dayne was one of Gendry’s housemates. In the beginning Gendry did not really liked Edric, he could be a bit winy and maybe because his father was famous and rich. Gendry did not even have a father. But after he got over his jealousy, he started to get along with Edric. They were polar opposites in almost everything. Where Edric was light, Gendry was dark. Where Edric was bubbly and the light of the party, Gendry was stubborn and to himself. In some way they made it work.
Now Gendry waited for Edric to come. Edric said that he would find him and then they would leave together. “Edric what is taking you so long, I want a beer.” He mumbled to himself. He ignored the people who walked past him, to go home quickly and celebrate their freedom of school.
Finally Edric walked around the corner. He talked with another guy, who went the other way and they said their goodbyes and too have fun this summer. “Hey Gendry you cannot be-” Edric said enthusiastically, before Gendry interrupted him.
“What took you so long? I need a drink.”
Edric made a face and then started to talk again, the guy really never shut up. “I was in the other building and then-” In the mean time they started to walk and Edric talked on and on. Some things got Gendry’s attention, but most did not.
“So some of the guys wonder who she is. No one ever saw her before and everyone speculates. Maybe she picks up her sister or maybe her boyfriend. Most guys hope that it is her sister, because she is really gorgeous. Then some guys started to talk to her and well she is probably already gone. I had to go find you. Would you stop being so grumpy! You do know that it is the end of the school year?”
“Yes I know, that is why I want to get a beer and do nothing the rest of the day. Tomorrow will be a long day. It will take me a few days to get to the North you know and before you finally are out of King’s Landing takes hours.”
“Yes I know,”Edric agreed. “And you are lucky you go North, it is less busy than the road south that I have to take. Why are you going to the North again? I thought you came from King’s Landing and used to live in the Riverlands, but not that far North. Are you going on a holiday?”
He was glad that Edric answered it for himself, he did that a lot and that made things easier for Gendry. “Yeah something like that. I have a place to stay and I found some work.” He never elaborated about his personal life, especially when he just knew Edric and did not really like him at first. So he never got around to tell him that he actually was in a relationship. Edric always paid more attention to girls and boys, and never really bothered Gendry that he did not seemed interested in either. Maybe that was something that he appreciated from Edric.
“Oh that is good. You should tell me everything about it when you get back.”
“Yes and you should tell me about the heat in Dorne.” Gendry did not envy Edric. Dorne is almost completely covered by a desert and it was really hot there. But he knew that Edric could not wait to go back.
“Yes I will for sure.”
They walked out of the building and it was still busy on the school grounds. A lot of cars were coming and leaving to pick people up. They were lucky that their house was within walking distance of the school.
“Oh she is still here waiting, I was sure she would be gone already. Who do you think she is waiting for? Shall we ask her?”
Edric talked and when Gendry’s eyes saw the person he talked about he did not listen anymore. There were a lot of thoughts running to his head, which he could not register. But his heart beats faster and he felt butterflies in his stomach.
Then she saw him to and she started to stand up straight and brush something invisible from her legs. Edric walked next to him, but he still did not understand that Gendry knew this girl.
“Hey,” Gendry started to say when they were in hearing distance from the girl. Just before Edric would have said something, but he was thrown of when his friend who never started conversations said something.
She smiled beautifully and Gendry could only say, “What are you doing here?”
“I am happy to see you to stupid.” It was meant as an insult, but there was too much emotion in her voice and it broke. And before Gendry knew it he had his girlfriend in his arms. They had not seen each other since months.
“Yes I am happy to see you.” He hugged her one time more extra close to him and then he let go.
“I think I missed something.” When Gendry heard Edric’s voice he was back on earth. But before he could explain and introduced Arya to him, Arya did that herself.
“Hey I am Arya.” She held her hand out to him, but still hold the other arm around his waist. Edric will hold this against him for eternity.
Edric was a bit hesitant, and he kept looking between Gendry, Arya and the part where they were connected. “I am Edric and I have never heard of you before. So you are a good friend of Gendry?”
Arya laughed, that was a good sign, “Yeah you could say that. I have never heard of you before either. I think Gendry wanted to keep his two lives separate.” She ended it with a wink, and Gendry now needed to try not to laugh. Edric looked more flustered than when he asked that Braavosi to come home with him.
“We are just roommates, I swear.” Edric immediately answered, still not really getting the joke. Then they both laughed at him.
“Edric she is joking. And I did mention my girlfriend didn’t I?” He rubbed his neck and unconsciously tightened his grip on Arya with his other arm.
“You didn’t” Edric said accusingly. Gendry only knew one answer on that, “Oh.”
“How could you not mention your girlfriend? I talked to you about all my lovers and you forget to mention you have one? You are incredulous. I don’t get how you can get along with him.” The last sentence he directed to Arya. She just shook her shoulders, like she also did not know how and then they all laughed.
“You dick,” Edric also gave him a stump to his shoulder.
“Stupid,” mumbled Arya, while squeezing his side where she hold him.
Then they walked to their home, to drop their stuff and then went to the bar for the whole night. It was amazing to sleep with Arya again, even when he did not have a very large bed. And the next day they drove home, to the North.
Later on Gendry learnt that Arya was dropped off by one of her family members who went South for the holidays.