And They were Roommates
Alicent and Rhaenyra are both thrilled when they find out they are going to be roommates at college. They have been best friends since they were little, and they cannot imagine anyone else they would rather live with. However, as they settle into their dorm room and start spending more time together, Alicent finds herself developing feelings for Rhaenyra that go beyond friendship.
Alicent has always known that she is gay, but she has never been with a girl before. She does not know if Rhaenyra is attracted to girls or not, but she cannot help feeling hopeful when Rhaenyra flirts with her and holds her hand. Every time Rhaenyra goes out on a date with a boy from the dorm, Alicent feels a twinge of jealousy in her chest.
One night, when Rhaenyra comes home late, Alicent is waiting for her. Rhaenyra notices the look on her friend's face and asks her what is wrong.
"It's just... you go out on all these dates with boys, and I can't help feeling like I'm just another friend to you," Alicent confesses, her voice shaking a little.
Rhaenyra takes Alicent's hand and squeezes it. "You're not just another friend to me, Alicent. You're my best friend, and I care about you more than anyone else in this world."
Alicent feels her heart skip a beat at Rhaenyra's words. She looks up at her friend, taking in the way the moonlight filters through the window and lights up Rhaenyra's face.
"Do you find me pretty, Alicent?" Rhaenyra asks suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Because I find you to be the most beautiful girl in every room."
Alicent's heart feels like it is going a thousand miles a minute. She cannot believe what she is hearing. Is Rhaenyra saying what she thinks she is saying?
"I... I don't know what to say," Alicent stammers, blushing furiously.
Rhaenyra leans in a little closer, and Alicent can feel her friend's breath on her cheek. "You don't have to say anything, Alicent," Rhaenyra whispers. "Just know that I care about you more than anything else in this world, and I always will."
With that, Rhaenyra kisses Alicent gently on the cheek and gets into bed. Alicent lies awake for hours, her heart pounding in her chest. She cannot believe what has just happened. She is not sure where things will go from here, but one thing is certain: she is never going to forget this moment, and she is never going to forget how much she loves her best friend.
///
The next day, Alicent meets up with her friend Criston for lunch. They chat about their classes, their professors, and their love lives. Criston is dating Laenor, who is in their literature class, and they are both rooting for Alicent to make a move on Rhaenyra.
"Alicent, you are hopelessly in love with Rhaenyra, and we all know it," Criston says with a laugh.
Alicent blushes and rolls her eyes. "I am not hopelessly in love with her," she protests weakly.
Criston raises an eyebrow. "Girl, please. You talk about her all the time. You were practically glowing this morning. What happened last night?"
Alicent hesitates for a moment before deciding to spill the beans. "Well, she kissed me on the cheek," she admits.
Criston's eyes widen. "Oh Ali, you need to make a move. You've been in love with her since you were kids, and she's clearly into you. You can't just let this opportunity slip away."
Alicent looks down at her hands, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. "I know, but I don't want to ruin our friendship. What if things go wrong and we can't go back to the way things were?"
Criston leans forward and puts a hand on Alicent's arm. "Look, I get it. I really do. But you have to take a chance if you want something to happen. Rhaenyra won't be single forever, and you don't want to regret not making a move. Think about it this way: Rhaenyra is your person. She's the one you turn to when you need someone to talk to, the one you share your secrets with, for god’s sake you two sleep in the same bed most nights. Don't you want to take things to the next level?"
Alicent nods slowly, feeling a little overwhelmed. "I do. I love her so much, Criston. I have since we were kids. She's always been there for me, and I don't know what I'd do without her. But I'm scared, you know? What if I mess things up?"
Criston smiles warmly. "You won't mess things up, Alicent. You and Rhaenyra have a strong foundation. You've been through so much together. You have something special, and you shouldn't let it go to waste."
" I just hope it's not too late." Alicent says nervously.
Criston pats her arm. "It's never too late, Alicent. Just go for it. And if it doesn't work out, at least you know you gave it your best shot. But I have a feeling things will work out just fine."
Alicent takes a deep breath and nods. She needs to talk to Rhaenyra, but she has no idea what to even say. Hey, I love you? No, that’s too strong. Alicent shakes her head from her thoughts.
As she leaves the cafeteria, she can't help but feel a little nervous. She loves Rhaenyra more than anything, but she doesn't want to ruin their friendship. She knows she has to take a chance, but it's easier said than done.
///
Alicent sits on her bed, her heart racing with nervous energy. She can't shake the feeling that she needs to tell Rhaenyra how she feels, but every time she tries to work up the courage, fear grips her and she backs down.
Finally, unable to take it anymore, she grabs her phone and dials Criston's number. After a few rings, he picks up.
"Alicent, what's wrong?" Criston's voice is filled with concern.
"I'm freaking out," Alicent admits. "I don't know if I can tell Rhaenyra how I feel."
"Why not?" Criston asks.
Alicent sighs. "It’s just…what if she doesn't feel the same way? What if I ruin our friendship?"
"You won't ruin anything, Alicent," Criston reassures her. "You two have been through everything together. She's not going to walk away from that."
Alicent nods, grateful for his words of encouragement. "But what about Harwin?" she asks. "I thought we had something back then too and then I found them kissing under the bleachers a few minutes later."
Criston hesitates before responding. "Alicent, that was years ago. Things are different now. Harwin is out of the picture, and you and Rhaenyra have grown closer."
Alicent closes her eyes, picturing the night of junior prom. She remembers the slow dance she had shared with Rhaenyra, the way their bodies had moved together as one. She looked into Rhaenyra's eyes and felt like she was going to explode with emotion. She was ready to kiss her when Gwayne had interrupted them, asking for help finding Harwin and Criston. Alicent had volunteered to find Criston, and Rhaenyra had gone to find Harwin. The next thing Alicent knew, she found them kissing, and she ran out of the prom in tears.
And now, I don't know if I can make a move," Alicent says, her voice trembling. "I don't know if I'm ready to risk our friendship."
"Alicent, you've been in love with Rhaenyra since you were kids," Criston reminds her. "If you don't tell her now, you might never get another chance. Trust me, regret is a lot worse than rejection."
Alicent sighs. "Rhaenyra has way more experience than I do. What if I'm not good at it? What if I do something wrong?"
Criston chuckles, "Oh come on, Alicent. You don't have to be perfect, you just have to be yourself. And besides, even if it doesn't work out, at least you'll know and you won't have to spend the rest of your life wondering 'what if?'"
Alicent lets out a small laugh, "I guess you're right. I just don't want to make a fool out of myself."
Criston responds, "You know, Rhaenyra has never been with a girl either, Ali. And you guys don’t have to rush into anything. I know this would be your first time and Rhaenyra knows that too. Just focus on telling her how you feel, not what happens after."
Alicent takes a deep breath and nods, "Yeah, you're right. I have to say something and stop torturing myself with what ifs. Thanks, Criston."
"Anytime, Alicent," Criston says gently.
Alicent sits there for a moment. She knows what she needs to do. She needs to tell Rhaenyra how she feels. But the thought of it still makes her nervous. She takes a deep breath and tells herself that she can do this. She just needs to be honest and hope for the best.
As she hangs up the phone, Alicent knows that she has a tough road ahead of her. But for the first time in a long time, she feels hopeful. Maybe, just maybe, everything will work out in the end.