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"I cannot believe you had your head inside a bucket fetching apples with a bunch of guys, Rhaenyra," Alicent complained exasperated as she dragged her girlfriend by the hand toward her house. "We are going to have dinner with my parents, you are going to have dinner with my parents for the first time and you are fucking drenched."
"Your mom invited me to go apple picking with your guys tomorrow. I was training."
"From the trees, Rhaenyra. We are going to pick apples from the trees." She could not be serious.
"How the fuck was I supposed to know that?"
"Why the fuck would she mean anything else?" Alicent was going to have a stroke. "My mom, Rhaenyra, think."
"Oh… shit."
"Right. Oh, shit."
Fuck, right. Fuck. Alyrie, whose clothes always looked like they had been just iron pressed on her body and whose hair never looked anything but perfect. Delicate, elegant Alyrie Florent Hightower would never be caught dead with her head inside a water bucket fetching apples with her mouth.
And now Rhaenyra was drenched. The perfect outfit she had freaked out about for two weeks was ruined, her hair was damp and she was going to have dinner at Alicent’s house as her official girlfriend for the first time, dropping water all over the Hightowers waxed floors.
Rhaenyra was feeling really stupid.
"Sorry, Ali." she sounded small and guilty.
"It’s ok, babe. You can put on something of mine," she said in a much softer tone. "Nobody is going to mind anything, they already like you. You will be fine."
As they approached Alicent’s home, Criston Cole was already standing on their porch.
"Hey, Cris. How are you? What are you doing here?" Alicent asked the boy.
Criston went livid.
"I was invited" he said like he was defending himself.
"Yes, Cris, you were. I mean, why are you standing outside? Why haven’t you gone inside the house?"
"Didn’t have the nerve to knock on the door." Pathetic. Alicent sometimes pitied him. "Why are you all wet?"
But then again she was not exactly in the place to judge.
"Long story."
"Apple picking."
Both girls answered at the same time just as the door opened from the inside.
"Hey baby girl, you are home. Alyrie, the girls are here…" Otto exclaimed, hugging his daughter. "Rhaenyra, darling, what happened to you? Let’s get you inside, poor thing. Alyrie darling, Rhaenyra Will need a towel" he said, pulling the other girl inside the house and half hugging her despite her state. "Criston, thank you for dropping off the girls by. What are your plans for tonight?"
"Dad, if you don’t let him in I swear to God…. You do this every time he comes over… Hi, babe." Gwayne welcomed Criston inside with a peck on the lips.
"Huhm" Otto cleared his throat loudly. "Let’s keep this appropriate, boys, this is a family home."
"How come you don’t say anything when it’s Gawain and Harwin practically making out on your couch?"
"Your brother is married, it’s allowed."
"Sure, nothing more appropriate then the display of homosexual affection when holly blessed by God… Why are you all wet?"
"Long story. Rhaenyra did not wake up feeling very bright today," Alicent responded, already dragging Rhaenyra up the stairs.
"Has she ever?"
"Fuck you, at least she knows how to ring a doorbell."
"Does she?"
"Fuck you."
"Alicent, mind your mouth." Alyrie, immaculate as ever, was going down the stairs as they were going up. "Rhaenyra, darling, what happened to you? Go change, sweetie, dinner will be served in a bit. Gawain and Harwin are finishing up in the kitchen."
"Yes ma'am. Thank you."
"Just Alyrie is fine, darling, now go. Otto made lemon cakes for dessert, they are still your favorites, right?
“Of course they are” Otto sounded very proud of himself. “Harwin also loves them, but we can always make something else for you very quick."
“I love them sir. Thank you very much.” Rhaenyra answered before Alicent pulled her inside her room and closed the door.
"Dad, Criston is gluten intolerant, you know that."
"Oh, I’m sure he will manage, Gwayne. There is no need for him to be picky.”
“And how come they can close their door and we can’t?”
“You don't expect the girl to change clothes with the door open Gwayne, don’t be creepy.” Harwin said coming from the kitchen while chewing on a lemon cake. “Your cake is ready by the way, Otto.”
“Why is she all wet anyways?” Gawain asked following behind him.
“Apple picking” Criston talked for the first time since he got there.
“From the trees?”