How Smiles Can Mend [Kit Harington] | #Wattys2016

~ Chapter 9 ~

It's not often that you go to a new place, full of strange people, and don't automatically become drawn to someone, anyone who shows you the smallest amount of kindness. You open yourself to them, despite what you promised yourself each time you've been hurt, and you trust them not to hurt you as the others have. Yet all too often, there are those in the crowd who make you wish you hadn't wandered to that new place. Wish that you didn't become drawn to that someone, and wish, with every fibre of your being, that you didn't fall for the trap that is called 'happiness'.

I haven't spoken to Kit in weeks. That fact scares me too, because I can feel the flame fading. I'm not sure if that's because we've been avoiding each other, or if I'm actually losing my feelings for him. He walked straight past me this morning. He headed for his dressing room without even acknowledging my existence. Perhaps I should apologise.

I made my way to him as he leaned against the sandstone brick wall, smoking a cigarette. The ends of his dark hair caught the sun, as did the smoke that floated from his lips. His sunglasses covered his squinting eyes while his phone kept him occupied. He glanced at my approaching figure and took another puff from his smoke. "Hi."

"Hi." He looked at his feet as he threw the pollutant to the ground and twisted the sole of his foot over it to extinguish its burning end.

"Been meaning to talk to you," I spoke with a sad smile following.

"About what?" He turned to me now, but kept his left shoulder against the burning bricks.

"The other night." I said, avoiding his gaze. "I'm sorry it happened. I can see where you were coming from, but I don't know if I explained myself properly to you beforehand. So I feel like I should tell you now, while we're not trying to scream at each other." I took a deep breath in and look at him. "Finn is my friend," he went to turn away from me. "And you don't have to like that, but too bad because that's the way it is. He apologised to me and I forgave him. And you don't have to like that either, but ultimately, it's not up to you. I can appreciate that you don't like him because of what happened between you, however what I don't appreciate is you telling me about myself when you barely know me. I do not appreciate you dictating my experiences to me, nor do I appreciate you telling me the validity of those experiences. I'm twenty-five Kit – not four. So the next time you assume things about someone – do yourself a favour and keep it to yourself."

"I don't see why you can't just be distant friends." He murmured.

"Because believe it or not, I don't think he deserves to be walked away from. I've gotten pretty good over the years at realising who deserves my time and who doesn't."

"But he hurt you, Katelyn."

"Yes, and he apologised. It was a mistake and it was in the heat of the moment. Just like what happened between us the other night." He looked down again. "I'm sorry, Kit. I'm sorry if anything I said that night hurt you. I'm sorry if my friendship with Finn hurts you, but I won't just walk away from him. I didn't ask you to walk away from Rose." His head snapped towards me. I was referring to his ex-girlfriend, Rose Leslie, who he was still friends with and spoke to often.

"Don't bring her into this."

"Whatever, Kit. I've apologised. Ball's in your court." I turned and walked to my dressing room.

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On her way back from training, Alira walked to her room with the light from the fiery torches lighting her way. She moved past the large wooden doors that belonged to her troops who, along with the men of Castle Black, were all in the dining hall getting drunk around the fireplace. There was tunnel, of sorts, that she had to pass through to reach her room. As she walked through it, she pulled her furs closer to her chest to keep the ice from attacking her body. She heard a low whistle come from behind her, but she kept walking. Again, the whistle echoed. After the third time, she turned to see what, or maybe who, it was coming from.