Whenever people ask for you, they also ask for Alicent. Which was something the two of you already got used to, having been glued to the hip ever since your first meeting— shy glances and timid greetings grew more intimate, much to your fathers' satisfaction to see their children form a bond.

One that's incredibly obvious except for those who choose not to see it.

Tip-toeing around the huge elephant in the room, it's never been a problem for Alicent to ignore the feelings that have been blooming ever since that one instance of the two of you being drunk— with a quick brush of lips— featherlight— it sparked something in her.

Guilty. She felt really guilty.

She wasn't supposed to feel that way for her.. best friend of all people! It's not right, not after she swore that she wouldn't fall for you.

But is it so bad, that Alicent secretly enjoys these moments kept between the two of you? The longing stares, teasing smiles and bumping of shoulders, as if you shared this big, big secret with her that only the two of you know of.

It's killing her inside, but she chose to live in bliss of not saying a word. Not when she knows that she'd never stand a chance for your hand, not when she feels that it's wrong.

'Friend dates', as you liked to call it, were frequent occurances as to when you were to drag the Hightower girl off to spend time with you despite whatever it is that she's doing— time and time again, she couldn't refuse. Just like this one.

You and her, sitting by a five star restaurant under your reservation, with Alicent fidgeting from under the table due to how formal this 'friendly date' seemed, but you always insisted that it was normal for friends to do this.

Do you do this with other people? Look at them the same way you look at her?

This isn't a date. This isn't a date. This isn't a date.

"I can't believe I dropped my study time for this.." Instead, she plays it off with a cool, slightly flustered complaint from her end. Real cool, Alicent.