Gwen sat, a statue of anxiety in the orange plastic chairs lined up outside the medical office. She gnawed on her index finger, shooting to her feet when she noticed two figures strolling towards her. When they finally reached her, she burst into tears.

"I feel so awful!" she cried, sobs raking through her body and she clung to Lancelot like a baby monkey.

"Get off!" Lancelot shrieked, tugging at Gwen's tight curls and pushing her backwards. "People will think we're going out or something. You're too touchy feely, Gwen."

"Shut up, Lancelot," said Merlin, wrapping his arm around Gwen and wiping the tears from beneath her glasses. "It's ok, Gwen, I'm sure the boy will be fine."

Merlin then tackled Lancelot into one of the orange chairs and placed himself in another adjacent to his grumbling companion. Gwen settled herself beside Merlin and helped him restrain Lancelot when the bell, signaling that lunch was over, rung through the school. The three would often skip class (which left Gwen a reproachful mess) but usually subsided under a tree or behind a bin, not out in the open, lounging on a chair in the middle of the corridor. It had been several weeks since Lancelot had last had a detention and he was proud of that streak.

Some moments later, whilst Lancelot was freshly bitter about his almost guaranteed detention, a girl with hair the color of soot raced to the medical office and, in her blunder, tripped and fell into Merlin's lap. Embarrassed, she went beetroot red and brushed herself off, muttering apologies.

"It's fine," Merlin reassured her. "You're obviously in a rush."

She just nodded and set herself down in a chair as far away from the three as possible. Seconds after the incident, a boy stepped out of the office, his arm in a sling. His sapphire eyes found Gwen and his cheeks tinted rose. Running his free hand through his hair, he turned to the black haired girl.

"Morgana, what're you doing?"

"Waiting for you!" she exclaimed. "The school rang dad and he send me here right away to come and collect you."

A sneeze erupted from Morgana, shooting through her petite frame and almost knocking her flying. She steadied herself timidly, brushing nothing from her gingham skirt and smoothing her hair.

"Go home," the boy said softly. "Look, I've got a fan club here, I'll be fine!" he flailed his arms in the direction of the trio on the orange plastic chairs.

Morgana looked reluctant, but nodded slowly and turned down the corridor, her spotless plimsolls squeaking on the shining floor. The blond boy met Gwen's gaze, and before she could do anything, her eyes were pouring with water.

"I am so, so sorry," she cried, clutching his good arm in her grasp, sniveling. He just smiled.

"That's quite alright," he said lightheartedly. "I get to sport this fashionable sling now, don't I? What more could I want?"

Gwen laughed and Lancelot scowled. Merlin sat quietly in his orange chair, mesmerized by the boy's sparkling eyes.

"I'm Arthur," he said suddenly, holding out his good hand for Gwen to shake.

"I'm Gwen, well, Guinevere, but, you know..." she trailed off, taking his hand in her own and shaking it. "Oh, this is Lancelot, and this is Merlin."

Arthur's eyes dismissed Lancelot with a glance, but stayed fixated on Merlin, and Merlin could feel himself going slightly plum. He pushed a piece of stray hair behind his ear, smiling awkwardly. Arthur smiled back.

"Hello, Merlin," Arthur spoke in soft tones, and each sentence sounded serenely happy, going up slightly at the end. It fascinated Merlin, who's stomach was doing summersaults. His heart thudded; he'd never held such a silent yet long conversation with anyone who managed to be interesting without speaking a word. Lancelot cleared his throat awkwardly after a few moments.

"Well, we all wish you a speedy recovery, Andy."

"Arthur," he corrected.

"Sorry, Arthur," Lancelot apologized, though he really wasn't that sorry at all. "We need to go unless we want to get caught skiving."

"What was that?" A creature appeared from around the corner, towering above the teens. It inhaled, it's shadow snaking up the wall, ready to pounce. Mr Elmor, the deputy head teacher. Lancelot was sure that teacher ran a hate club for him. He breathed in, preparing himself for incineration. "What are you all doing here, then?"

"I was just bringing Arthur to the medical office, I knocked him over," Gwen stuttered, before Lancelot could involve himself in the situation.

"Well it doesn't take three people to accompany someone to the medical office," Mr Elmor snapped. "Why are you here, Merlin?"

"I was low, sorry," Merlin lied through his teeth, using his diabetes as an exuse, for once being thankful for the illness. "I needed an energy bar from the nurse. In fact, I'll get it now." He slunk off into the office and out of trouble.

"And Lancelot, what're you doing?" Mr Elmor's mouth stretched into a sinister grin, and Lancelot's heart sunk.

"Detention?"

"Detention."

~

these are prewritten chapters, which is why they're so short i guess? i used to write short chapters but when i catch up with myself they should get longer.

- rx