He had been dreading this day for a while now. The first day of college, a new college where everyone has to make new friends and meet new people. Let's just say, Merlin wasn't the best with new people. He could try to pretend to be charming, witty and funny to the strangers he was going to face today, but he knew he couldn't keep the act up for two years of college.
And so, Merlin turned up in his usual wear, clutching his folder and notepad on his arms, with a pen tucked behind his ear. His jeans dragged along the floor and scuffed at the bottom, and his bag shuffled on his left side where it rested, attacking his hipbone when he walked. After being assorted into a line and given his timetable and a map of the new, semi-modern college experience he was about to embark on, Merlin was all alone and had to find room...623 in five minutes.
That was a little more difficult than he expected. The building that room 623 was in was built on a slope - meaning you entered on the ground floor, but were actually on the third floor and had to go downstairs to ground level. It was mind boggling and Merlin walked round the corridors at least four times before he finally noticed the room. And, to his dismay, everyone had found it before him.
Merlin hated being the last to enter a room: everyone stared and looked at him like he was a freak. He quickly made his way to a free chair, having to budge past some people and nearly tripped over someone's bag, but he made it alive. The seat was in between two girls. One was a lovely mocha colour, her hazel eyes bright and alive, her hair done up in a neat bun, though the natural curls gave it so much more volume. She smiled at him as he came over and sent a knowing look to her friend on the other side of the empty chair. The other girl was flawless: her pale skin accentuated by long black curls and icy blue eyes. Said eyes were looking at him with an evil glint, and he almost considered darting out of the room.
However, Icy Blue seemed to catch his brainwave and she patted the seat between them as if to say "sit, now." Merlin was compelled and he plonked himself down with a meek "hello" to the girls and an even meeker "sorry" to the teacher, who then continued introducing her subject and lesson.
"So what brings you to Sociology?" Icy Blue asked as soon as the students were able to get on with work. He had to think for a while before he answered.
"It seemed interesting and was said to go well with psychology," he replied with a little smile. Mocha Curls was looking at him in amazement from the other side, her arm propping up her face. "I'm Merlin, by the way, from Helena Saint School." He figured introducing himself would help.
Icy Blue grinned and nodded her head. "I'm Morgana and this is Gwen here, and we're from Blackburn High in the next town. We've got a friend doing Psych too; you might have him in your class. I'm guessing you don't know anyone?" Merlin shook his head. Helena Saint had its own sixth form college and expected its students to go there, but Merlin unfortunately had to move and so Winterford Sixth Form College became the next best thing. Plus, it was closer and quite a respected college. He just felt like a fish out of water.
"You should hang around with us at lunch," Gwen piped up with a bright smile, her eyes grinning too. Merlin felt immediately comfortable around Gwen and his stiff back relaxed. Morgana nodded her head at the suggestion. "Let us have a look at your timetable."
They took his new timetable from him and worked out his subject choices - Sociology, Psychology, Physical Studies, Geology and English Literature - and compared it to their own. He found Gwen was also taking Geology, except they weren't together, and Morgana was doing English Literature and they did share that class. Merlin expected that she was very fluent in classical novels and it was a little unnerving. They both spoke of a friend they had who was also doing Physical Studies and was in the same class as him (this happened to be the same mate they mentioned earlier).
"You don't seem like the type that would do Physical Studies, Merlin. Are you taking it for all the fit girls or something?" Morgana teased, nudging him in the side. Merlin blushed and shook his head.
"Oh no, nothing like that- I'm hoping to learn the muscle systems and body functions side from physical studies. And I'm quite a good sport at badminton. Besides Morgana, you don't look like the type that would do Archaeology!" Gwen laughed at this and it was sweet and bubbly. Merlin smiled too.
Morgana shrugged and found herself laughing along. "What can I say, I like dinosaurs. Anyway Merlin, how about we come meet you outside your Psychology classroom and we'll eat lunch together, yeah?" Merlin agreed on that plan and waved them both goodbye as he headed to his psychology room, unfortunately in another building. He was able to find the room in time though, and picked himself out a desirable seat.
He didn't look at the people that slowly flowed into the room, but more on the notes he'd been given from the previous lesson and hadn't looked at as he'd been chatting with Morgana and Gwen. So he had a bit of a shock when someone plonked down in the chair next to him loudly, almost knocking him over. He was about to complain until he saw who it was.
This man was gorgeous. Bright blonde hair, firm biceps, strong jaw line with just the right amount of stubble and such beautiful blue eyes that were staring right at him. He turned away quickly and furiously focused on whatever the teacher was saying. But Merlin was also annoyed by this guy. He'd hit him when he sat down and so Merlin, under his breath, rudely said, "Thanks for the apology."
He took a quick glance at Mr. Blonde who looked absolutely shocked, and Merlin smiled a little. Who said there was anything wrong with making an impression? It didn't have to be a good one.
After the lesson, Merlin easily found Morgana and Gwen leaning against the wall outside. They smiled at him but didn't move when he got there. He was about to question it, but then Gwen's face suddenly lit up and she started waving at someone else from his class, calling them over. Then Merlin remembered they said they had a friend also doing Psychology, and he turned to see who it was. Merlin's face dropped.
Mr. Blonde made his way over, smiling at Morgana and Gwen but then his face faltered also when he saw Merlin. He came to Gwen's side ad she automatically linked her arms round him, plainly explaining their relationship.
"Hi guys," Mr. Blonde said, and the four of them started to walk. Morgana shoulder nudged Merlin and he just smiled awkwardly in return, glad he could walk next to her instead of next Mr. Blonde.
"Oh Arthur, this is Merlin," Morgana introduced them, waving her hands about between them and smiling, as if she wanted to clear the air Merlin hadn't even realised he'd created.
He was just about to wave his hand and say 'hi' when Arthur cut him off, saying "as if your name is Merlin!"
Gwen giggled and something in Merlin bubbled. Why was he being so rude? Merlin snorted and looked away from the two of them.
"I'm just gonna, y'know, do something," he said quickly and walked off from the trio, quick enough so neither of them could stop him. He didn't have the nerve to deal with Arthur and suddenly his college year looked like it was going to be a lot harder than he thought.