SPLASH!

As soon as he had opened the door, down came a metal bucket filled to the brim with freezing water, drenching Merlin.

Great now he would have to get through the day drenched from head to toe. How the hell did they even manage to put the bucket up there?

Having all positive hopes from earlier eradicated, Merlin removed the bucket from his head hearing the taunting laughter from the rest of the class. His eyes scouted the room desperately trying to find the culprit but everywhere he looked the teasing faces filled with laughter taunted him, he could feel the blood rushing to his head as his ears turned tomato red.

Gaius's luck wasn't working. This was not going to plan.

After what seemed like an eternity of shame and embarrassment, he felt a pair of hands grab him and direct him towards a pair of chairs at the back of the classroom, whilst muttering,

"Idiots, just ignore those, no brained, monkey-looking, funny smelling-"

Merlin's body haven given up to the shame, let itself be led, and then pushed down onto the chair. Laughter still filled the air. Well at least sitting down was better than standing awkwardly drenched at the door in full view.

"-morons. Merlin? Merlin are you okay?"

At the mention of his name Merlin snapped out of his post-embarrassment trance at looked sideways at the worried expression of the tanned girl beside him. How could she possibly be this worried about him, someone she met five minutes ago?

"Yea I'm fine, thanks by the way"

"Oh, that's a relief, you were just so flustered, I was so worried. I mean not really worried, but I was still worried, even though I met you like 5 mins ago, but I'm not saying I'm less worried because of that, I'm just as equally worried-"

Merlin felt the corners of his lips tug upwards at the sight of Gwen's peculiar fluttering; it truly was amusing and maybe even cute. He could still hear the laughter. Was it really that god damned funny?

"Gwen, it's okay, really I'm fine. I'm sure that happens to every new kid"

A huge smile appeared on her face, obviously relieved. In response he grinned, and their eyes met. For one moment they felt like old friends and each other's eyes filled the others with memories of the past. Time stopped and in that moment Merlin forgot that he was drenched in water and in a strange new school. He felt at home.


The door re-opened with a slam and the teacher walked in. He was dressed quite shabbily, well in comparison to the rest of the students and teachers Merlin had seen so far, which was odd. He automatically called, in his surprisingly common accent:

"Good morning class, welcome to a new year at Camelot high. My name is Mr. Daira and I will be your tutor for the next year. I believe we have a new student, Merlin? Come on, come to the front don't be shy."

All eyes turned to Merlin and as he ever so slowly got up from his chair, blood once again rushing to his head and stumbled towards the front of the class room, turning to look at the rest of the class. For the first time since he had walked through the door he observed every one of the faces in the room. There were about 17 other people each of them with their own distinct features, however, apart from Gwen, two people stood out the most: a boy with short brown hair and baby blue eyes sat at the front rushing some obviously late homework; and a, dare he say, beautiful slender girl with pearl whit skin and shaggy brown hair sitting beside the window reading a book. These two were the only ones not undressing him, or so it felt like it, with their eyes.

"Well then, Emrys, introduce yourself."

Unsure of what to say or start with, he instinctually and frantically bursted out with the first thought that popped to mind: "Hi, I'm Merlin Emrys. I'm new at Camelot high, but you already know that."

What had he just said? "But you already know that", was he trying to get himself socially killed? Bloody instincts.

"Umm, I live with my uncle, he works."

That line earned him a couple of laughs, and Merlin heard his tutor chuckle slightly. The girl by the window looked up from her book with a small smile on her face. He went even redder, his ears were practically glowing.

"What do you like?" prompted his Mr. Daira quietly.

"Oh yea, I like reading and pretty much anything related to the unnatural and science. And I errrr dislike..."

Oh damn, he couldn't think of anything to say. He desperately searched his mind for something to say, when he felt some water trickle down his back. His instincts practically flared.

"...being wet." He finished.

Oh dear.The room broke out into laughter and the girl by the window let out a chuckle and returned to her book.


The bell went. Chairs scrapped the floor and bags were zipped up as one by one everyone began to filter the room. Merlin was just about to get his stuff when Mr. Daira tapped him on the shoulder,

"Stay back a bit, I need to talk to you".

Gwen waved bye at Merlin and left the room, rushing towards her next class. The girl by thee window shut her book, loudly and with a dreamy sigh slowly wandered out. The last person to leave was the boy still doing his homework, not until Mr. Daira coughed loudly did he look up confused to where everyone had gone. Merlin thought you could practically see realisation and panic hit his dumbstruck face as he realised the bell has gone. Quickly the boy gathered his stuff and scampered out the room. Then it was just Merlin and Mr. Daira face to face.

"I see you are wet, don't feel to discouraged, your new, people are bound to pull ranks but I'm glad that you didn't retaliate with violence." Merlin was being patted on the back.

"Thanks, sir"

"Hmmm yes your welcome. Anyway your locker number is 236; this is your timetable and map of the school and homework planner. You seem like a nice boy Merlin so if there is any trouble make sure you come to me okay, now hurry to class. Oh and Merlin if you see a boy named Arthur, tell him to come see me he didn't come to registration."

"Thanks sir"

He slang his rucksack over his back and headed towards the door as Mr. Daira called:

"Good luck"

"Thanks sir" Merlin replied for the third time and headed out the door.

Good luck huh, well after getting soaked in water and then giving a socially suicidal introduction he was bloody well gonna need it.

He looked at his timetable, first he had biology it was over on the other side of the damned school and if he didn't bloody well pelt it he was going to be really late. Looking at his watch he had 2 minuets before the second bell rang. Oh god he was going to be late, there was no way he could run that fast.

His instincts obviously disagreed as for some reason, unknown to him, he shouted: "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED" to an empty corridor and proceeded to charge, still dripping in water, at full speed towards the science block.