Only you

21:34 Juh 0 Comments

Title: Only You
Author: juhlillith
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1316
Characters: Arya Stark, Gendry Waters
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. (Do I really have to state that?)
Summary: Modern!AU. Best friends tell you what you need to hear. Not what you want to.



She was talking to some new guy. He looked about her age, and was smiling. He smiled the whole time Gendry watched them, but left before he could reach them.

He stood beside Arya trying to not show his annoyance (the word 'jealousy' came to his mind, but he rejected it).

"New friend?"

"Kinda. He's in two of my classes and is always trying to start conversation. So, I thought why not?"

"'Why not' what?"

She took a deep breath and looked at him. "I was talking to Sansa last night-"

He rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Shut up, let me finish. We were talking and you know how obsessed with manners and courtesy she is." He nodded. "She told me that no guy could like me. Because I'm too rude.


"She told you that?" Gendry knew Arya wouldn't lie to him. He also knew she and her sister were always having little fights. But, sometimes, Sansa would say things that Arya would misinterpret. He wondered if this was the case.

"Yeah! And I'm gonna prove her wrong!", a smug smile was on her lips. "And he's gonna help me. Ned Dayne is his name."

"Same as your father's..."

"Yeah, kinda weird... But it doesn't matter. I'll make him like me. I'll prove to Sansa that guys can like me!"

"Let me get this straight. You turn your sister's opinion in some useless challenge and now you're gonna make a guy like you just to prove you can?"

"Yes. And it's not useless!"

"No, it's mean. Cruel, almost."

"What are you talking about?"

"You're going to manipulate a guy into liking you?"

"No! I'll show him that I can be 'likeable', so he'll like me."

"And then what? You're going to start dating him?"

"You know I don't date..."

"And does he know? How this is gonna end, Arya? If you succeed, he'll like you and your point will be proven and you're going to shove this on Sansa's face?"

"Basically."

"And what about him? You'll pat him in the back and say 'thanks, have a nice life'?"

She didn't answer, just stared at him with angry eyes.

"What if this was the other way around? If he tried to make you like him just to prove he can?"

"I'd kick his ass! I wouldn't let a man play with me."

"But you can play with men..."

A long silent  came between them. He was right beside her, but seemed so far away that she couldn't bring herself to touch him.

"I don't wanna hurt him. He's cool. I just-"

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Isn't that what people say?" He started to walk away.

"Where are you going?"

"I have class now."

"No, you don't!"

"Right! I just... don't want to talk to you right now. I'm disappointed with you."

Then, he left.

---------

She stormed into her parent's house that night so angry that she could kill with just a look. To make it worse, Sansa was the first to cross her path.

"Hey, you're home tonight!" She was smiling, like she was really happy to see Arya. That just made Arya angrier.

"It's all your fault! You told me a guy would never like me and now he hates me! And it's all because of you!"

Sansa seemed shocked. "What? I don't-"

"You told me that a guy would never like me! And now the only that ever did hates me!" She ran to her old room and slammed the door shut. She was so angry with everyone, but mostly with herself, that she couldn't sit. She paced around the room like a caged animal. Sadness, anger and frustration building up inside her, making her want to cry. Arya didn't like to cry and the possibility made her feel worse.

Her father came one hour later to find her sitting by the window. He sat on the bed and patted the matress. She huffed and sat next to her father.

"Did Sansa tell you that I yelled at her?"

"Yes. But I couldn't understand why."

"It wasn't her fault. I'll apologise later, I swear. I was angry and I took out on her."

"What happened? From the beggining."

He was using the 'awesome father' tone. Patient, friendly, free of judgement. It almost made her start crying.

"We were talking yesterday and she told me that guys wouldn't like me. I wanted to prove her wrong, so I decided to try with a guy in college. I told Gendry my plan and he started to lecture me! What gives him the right? Just because he's older, doesn't mean he knows more!"

"But he knows! If he advised you against this idea, he knows better."

"I wasn't thinking, dad! I got so angry with Sansa when she told me that that I, I don't know, I needed to prove her wrong!"

"And why this is so important, Arya? You never cared about this before."

"I know. But..." That was something she wanted to keep to herself. But that was her father and she could never hide anything from him. "You have mom. Robb is going to marry Jeyne, Jon has a new girlfriend, Sansa broke up with Joffrey, but her friend Margaery wants to set her up with one of her brothers."

"Which one?"

"The straight one, of course. Even Bran is closer to have someone while I'm always alone! I've always been alone, dad. It wasn't a big deal before, but when she told me that... I needed to know if I can make someone like me. Because if I can't..."

She couldn't talk anymore. The tears were already rolling down her cheeks and the hug her father gave her didn't make them stop. She held him with all her strength. Ned let her cry until she calmed down.

"And now I think Gendry hates me. He told me he was disappointed with me."

"Arya, he's your best friend. He told you what you needed to hear, not what you wanted. It makes you feel bad, it makes you think, makes you realize you took a bad decision. He's a good guy, I'm sure he's feeling bad for saying those things to you, but he was right." She only nodded. "Explain your reasons to him and I'm sure he'll understand."

She nodded again, but she was not sure she could tell Gendry about her fear of being lonely. Sometimes she had the impression that she needed him more than he needed her and, honestly, how do you tell that to someone without freaking them out?

Ned kissed her forehead and offered to make her a sandwich. She smiled and hugged him again. They went to the kitchen together.

Later, back in her room, she decided to text Gendry.

"I was being stupid, I'm not gonna play with him. Sorry."

He called instead of just replying.

"I know you're not. And I'm sorry too, I was too hard with you-"

"No, you told me what I needed to hear. Because you're my friend."

"Yes, I am."

"You're my only friend. I only have you!" That came out of nowhere and Arya mentally kicked herself for letting it slip.

He spoke after a long silent. "Arya, I only have you too."

"If I ever have a boyfriend, I'll have to stop being your friend?"

"Only if you want."

"Would you stop being my friend if some girlfriend asked?"

"No. Never."

"And what if-"

"You're not gonna get rid of me, stupid. Stop trying.", the smile on his voice made her smile too. He didn't hate her, he wasn't even angry with her! Everything was well.

"Good night, Gendry."

"Good night, Arya. Sleep tight. And dream with me!"

She knew he was joking, but she wasn't when she answered: "I will."

Arya hung up before he could say anything.

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