Hello darlings, I'm back =) I apologize for taking such a long break but senior year is crazy... but now I'm going to my dream school! I promised you a sequel, and now here is the first chapter. Enjoy =) -S.L.
"Brilliant," Arthur muttered under his breath.
His eyes traced up and over his school that resembled an old gothic cathedral. It was a stunning building, in a regal and terrifying way. Albion's courtyard was swarming with students as usual, all done up in their nicely pressed uniforms and fresh polished shoes that gleamed under the morning sun. Arthur locked his car door and made his way over, searching through the crowd for a familiar face.
Arthur endured the friendly claps on his back as he pushed forward. He spotted Leon first, laughing with Gwaine by their usual corner.
"Lads." Both boys looked up in unison. Arthur let out a giddy laugh as they moved to flank him, shoving Arthur between them playfully just like old times.
"Pendragon! How was your summer?" Gwaine asked. Arthur thought about his art classes, how it challenged him and sharpened his technique. Arthur wanted to tell them how he found himself lately looking at everything in a different light, that there was rhythm and symmetry in the simplest things. He decided against it and flashed Gwaine a cheeky smile.
"Not long enough. How was Paris?" Arthur inquired. Gwaine surprised him with a careless shrug.
"I have to admit, it's not the best feeling in the world to get your heart broken in the city of love." Arthur clasped a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"I'm sorry it didn't work out, mate."
"It's alright," Gwaine reassured. "I tried monogamy but it really wasn't for me. You know, I once made a promise to myself that I'd shag every fit girl in this school and I intend to keep it." Leon shook his head, incredulous.
"You're wicked man," he said with a look of admiration thinly veiled by disgust. Gwaine ignored the comment, wiggling his eyebrows at a group of first years walking by. They rolled their eyes pretending to dismiss him, but their flushed cheeks revealed otherwise.
"I see Gwaine is back to his old self." Arthur hadn't noticed Percival approach them. His large friend looked tan, and a soft patch of gold hair coated his chin. He grinned and pulled Arthur in for a tight hug.
"Good to see you Percy!" Arthur struggled for breath, relieved when his friend let him go to hug Leon. Gwaine was watching Percival with narrowed eyes.
"Is that...is that a goatee?" he asked. Percival crossed his arms, studying Gwaine for a moment.
"Nice manbun," he retorted, clearly pleased with himself. Gwaine gasped, patting the small ball of hair that touched the nape of his neck self-consciously.
"Excuse you, but I look marvelous. You on the other hand, look like a bloody farmer! Or a white supremacist!" Percival chuckled, shaking his head as he slowly approached Gwaine.
"I've missed you too." Percival pulled Gwaine in for a hug, whose playful scowl eased into a silly grin.
"So," Leon spoke after giving the two a moment. "Let's see it."
Arthur frowned, puzzled by the three pair of eyes staring expectantly at him. Gwaine made a wild gesture.
"The tattoo, you twat!" Arthur flipped Gwaine off while undoing the buttons on his shirt with one hand. A few suggestive whistles cut through the air, causing Arthur to grin cheek to cheek as he bared his right shoulder. His friends moved closer to him, gazing at his shoulder in complete awe.
Having lied to Uther about his summer plans, Arthur had begun loving the idea of going behind his father's back. The purpose of the tattoo wasn't entirely in spite of Uther, though. It was an extension of Arthur, as natural and vital as the blood in his veins.
Girls huddled together, eyeing Arthur up and down shamelessly. He couldn't deny it. He loved the attention. Percival whistled.
"That's some brilliant work, Pendragon." The other boys nodded along. Arthur put his hands out in front of him.
"Boys boys, that's enough checking out for today." Arthur chided playfully, fastening up his shirt and fixing the collar.
"Emrys!" Gwaine shouted, calling over the pale raven-haired boy who was escorting a ravishing Morgana Pendragon by his side. Merlin's expression transformed from pensive to a boyish amusement at the sight of Gwaine. When his sapphire gaze met Arthur's, his smile widened.
"Emrys."
"Pendragon." Merlin laughed, pulling Arthur in for a hug. "You look good...less like a royal prat than usual," he whispered in Arthur's ear. "Did art school loosen you up?"
Arthur pulled away, ruffling up Merlin's hair. It was longer now, a mop of unruly black hair.
"Isn't it just terrible?" Morgana stepped into view, her jade eyes glaring at Merlin's head.
"Your sister is the most high maintenance girl I've ever met," Merlin joked, giving Arthur a rather amusing look of despair.
"That's Morgana alright," Arthur said with a coy smile. "I don't believe she's missed a hair appointment since she was five." Morgana flipped her shoulder length curls to one side and arched a perfect brow at her brother.
"Yes, coming from an eighteen year old who still doesn't know how to do his own bloody laundry."
Merlin laughed, clearly enjoying this conversation, and wrapped an arm around Morgana's waist. Arthur noticed the crowd beginning to move slowly towards the iron double door entry to the school. Suddenly, Arthur was struck by the thought this was the beginning of the end of his time at Albion Prep. In a year, he'd be either heading off to some ivy league university on a fencing scholarship, or he'd abandon his family name and pursue art. No pressure.
Arthur and his friends made it halfway across the courtyard when Morgana let out a girlish squeal.
"Gwen!"
His body thrummed at the sound of her name. Guinevere. The love of Arthur's life. Arthur watched Morgana run up to Gwen, whose chocolate curls now reached all the way down her spine. She squealed back and threw her arms around Morgana, accidently meeting Arthur's gaze.
Arthur quickly looked away, embarrassed. He didn't want Gwen to think he was still pining for her. He was Arthur bloody Pendragon. He was the king. No girl, no matter how beautiful, was going to steal his heart this year.
I always love to hear your thoughts so please leave a review =) I know this was short but I wanted to set you up! I promise I shall update by some point next week with a longer chapter. Can you guess what Arthur's new sexy tattoo is? xo