To most people, Merlin Emrys was barely visible. An un-special person. Certainly, his painting skills were excellent. His musical ability was better than average. Somehow, thought, he had the ability to appear in the background, even if he was standing at the front of a queue. He was always just there. Not noticeable. Not important or particularly valuable. Walking through the crowded halls of Rosewood Boarding School, Merlin dodged the unfamiliar faces that pushed against him and knocked him out of the way. He slipped his hands into his jean pockets, keeping his gaze a few feet in front of him so as not to walk into anyone, and pondered the idea of skipping his first class of the day.

What's the worst that could happen, he thought. I get detention? Some disapproving looks from the headmaster?

Merlin let out a heavy sigh and lifted his head. In front of him were a group of approximately 6-8 boys, all dressed in rugby shirts, all laughing wildly at some joke that probably wasn't even that funny. Looking around the long, dull hallway, Merlin looked for an escape route. To his left were three doors, each labelled: Art Room 1, Art Room 2 and Art Supplies. Merlin's heart beat a little faster, as he got closer to the group with every step. Looking to the right, two more doors greeted him. Merlin stopped in his tracks and headed for the first door he saw: English 1.

Throwing open the door, Merlin halted in his tracks. Sat at the front of the row of seven chairs, top two shirt buttons undone, blazer thrown to the floor and shirt sleeves rolled up, was an irritated looking boy. Merlin quietly shut the door behind him, glancing around the classroom nervously.

'H-hello.' He said, quietly. The boy's grey eyes looked up at him, and Merlin felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand to attention. He watched the sullen-looking face for a moment, and eventually the boy spoke.

'Can I help you?'

Merlin swallowed and took a step forward, rubbing his sweaty hands on his shirt.

'No-no. Well, uh. I'm kind of lost, actually…' The blonde boy raised his eyebrows, urging Merlin to continue, and Merlin found himself suddenly speechless. After a few moments of silence, the boy spoke up.

'First day?' he asked, a small smile appearing on his lips.

'Uhm, yes.' Merlin replied with a smile.

'Where are you trying to find?' It took Merlin a moment to register the boy's words, and he searched his pockets, eventually pulling out a small piece of crumpled up paper. Written on it was Merlin's schedule, and the first thing he saw was Maths.

'M- maths.' Merlin's eyebrows creased, and he looked back up.

'What teacher?'

'Dawson…' The boy leaned back in his chair and chuckled.

'I have him first, too.'

'Really?' Merlin said, talking a step forward.

'Yeah. Really.' Getting to his feet, the boy slammed his book shut and swung his bag over his shoulder. He walked to the door, opening it and then looking back at Merlin.

'Come on, then.' He said, impatiently.

…

'I'm Gwaine.' The boy said, pushing through a group of people. Merlin flinched as one of them walked right into him, pushing him to the side and glancing back only to give Merlin an unkind look. Merlin sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, as he usually does when he's nervous or scared.

'Pay no attention to him, he's like that with everyone.' Gwaine said, noticing the look on Merlin's face. Merlin looked at him and smiled.

'What's your name? Gwaine asked, shoving his hands into his jacket pocket.

'Merlin.'

'Merlin? You mean, like-'

'Yeah, yeah, Like the wizard.' Gwaine laughed as he moved out of the way of more people. Merlin's eyebrows furrowed, and he looked at Gwaine, questioningly.

'Believe me, you're not the only one with a name from that legend…'

'What do you mean?'

'You'll find out soon enough.'

Gwaine turned a sharp right and headed down another, shorter corridor, with Merlin following closely behind him. Stopping in front of one of the doors, Gwaine turned to Merlin.

'Where d'ya move from?' he asked, turning the handle and pushing the door open. Merlin looked around the classroom. It was half-full already. In the corner, a small group of girls were huddled together, whispering and giggling like children. A few rows away from them sat a lone figure, his blonde hair falling in front of his eyes. He glared sown at a textbook, a confused expression on his face, as he gnawed on the end of a pencil. Sat behind him was a girl, ginger hair and overweight, she had her elbows rested on the desk and was gazing intently at the back of the blonde boy's hair. Merlin looked to the front of the classroom, where a blackboard stood with words scribbled in white chalk, and an old wooden desk sat, covered in papers. Merlin looked back to Gwaine, who had taken a few steps into the room and had subsequently caught the attention of one of the girls in the corner.

'Surrey.' Merlin said, his voice quieter than it was before. It appeared that, whenever more people were around him, his voice refused to get any louder than a whisper. Gwaine took a seat in the row next to the blonde boy, and Merlin stumbled after him, his eyes once again glued to the floor. Looking between the empty chair and the boy next to it, Merlin felt his throat go dry. Gwaine's expression turned confused as Merlin just stood, looking at the empty chair. He leaned over to Merlin, a cheeky grin on his face.

'He doesn't bite, y'know.' He said, nodding in Arthur's direction. Merlin gave a nervous chuckle. Shakily pulling out the chair, he rushed to sit in it before his legs gave out from under him. As he sat down, he bumped shoulders with the boy beside him, and his breath hitched as he saw the boy raise his head and look at him. Merlin looked back.

'S-sorry.' He mumbled, slipping down in his chair and wishing the redness from his cheeks. Beside him, he could hear Gwaine chuckling, which only made Merlin want to sink into the ground and disappear. He looked at the walls of the classroom, carefully and slowly reading the words that were scrawled all over the many educational posters that hung on them.

The bell rang, and Merlin gripped the seat of his chair tightly, waiting for the room to fill with unfamiliar faces. He turned his head to the door as it was noisily thrown open, and all too soon the room was filled with the vicious voices of the many people that were now his classmates.