I'm so happy that this story was actually followed by 10 people and faved by 3 people. I know its not so much but hey, I bet it'll increase as time goes on. Anyway, I would like to apologize because I didn't post the second chapter fast enough. That's because I had my end year exam for almost one month and my mom took away my laptop for two months. But now, I'm on three months vacation! Wo-hoo! Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter. Please review to let me know what you guys think! It means a lot to me! :D
(c) Krystal
Chapter 2
The Try-Outs
"You're going to what?" Morgana simply looked at me as if I had just lost my mind. I rolled my eyes at her in an unpleasant fashion which was replied with a grunt from her.
"I have to; I got a scholarship here, Morgana. I need to do what I had agreed on the contract," I simply said as I sighed. She bit her lips for a moment as she stared at me; only silence keeping us apart.
"But you're going to try out the football team," Gwen suddenly said as she looked at both of us with her furrowed brows. I sighed again as I leaned against the tree. It was currently recess time and so, instead of the canteen I had wanted to sit under this bushy tree. I wasn't actually planning on returning to the canteen anytime soon after what I had gotten myself into yesterday. Moreover, the beautiful breeze was just lovely and I loved how it felt on my skin.
"I don't think you should do it, Merlin," Morgana soon agreed with Gwen. I looked at both of them once again with one of my infamous sceptical look. Why were they so against with me trying out for the football team? Did I look that fragile or hopeless to the exact? Maybe I should consider going out more often.
"Why is it so wrong with me trying out for the football team?" I asked finally as I crossed my arms against my chest and sternly looked at both of them. Morgana was the first one to sigh as she rubbed her temples with her fingers. She seemed to be in distress as I continued on insisting that I needed to try-out the football team.
"Merlin, why not you just try-out for the book club? Isn't that what you're good at?" Morgana said.
"Of course I'm good at it but my scholarship specifically stated, 'The student should be involved at least in one outdoor activity to qualify for the scholarship'. And I agreed to it. Which part of that don't you guys understand?" I exclaimed at them. Gwen just looked at me as she smiled to me small meanwhile Morgana decided to go with the frown.
"Then how about the Helper's Club? That's an outdoor activity," Morgana once again showed his disapproval with me entering the football team by suggesting other clubs. With an expiated sigh, I looked at the bushy leaves which were shadowing under me before I looked back at her.
"Morgana, my mum wants me to enter the football team. Why is it so hard for you to agree on that?" I asked her.
"It's not hard for me to agree on it, Merlin. It's just that—" she stopped halfway as she closed her lips tight and looked at me with the most serious look I had ever seen on her. I was confused for a moment when I saw that look. It seemed like Morgana was trying to protect me or something but then again, what does the football has that will harm me? It was just some outdoor activity that involved your whole body.
"It's just that, you have to please the captain of the football team first," Gwen continued what Morgana didn't say. I looked at Gwen with 'my eyebrows furrowed deep before the confusion washed over my face.
"So?" I asked.
"The captain, Merlin—it's Arthur," Morgana said. I looked at her with my eyes definitely filled with more confusion that I ever felt. Alright, it was Arthur, so I'll just please him. I shook my head slowly at both of them as a sign that I don't understand before both of them sighed.
"Merlin, Arthur, he's the one you called a prat yesterday at the canteen," Gwen slowly explained as my mind took in the words slowly. It only took a few seconds before the whole entire scene made sense before me. I quickly snapped my attention towards Morgana who just looked at me back with no emotion tracing on her face. I guess now I knew why she wouldn't let me enter the football team. But then again, I promised my mum I would enter the football team. I couldn't really not try out. I promised my mum!
I took in a huge breath before I sat on the grass properly and looked away from the two girls with my mind clouded. Great, the captain of the football team was actually the prat. How was I going to do this? The try-outs will be held this entire week. And today was the starting of the try-outs. I slowly let my right hand travel through my brown hair and mess it up in frustration. This was just absolutely great.
"But I promised my mum," I slowly said as I felt a pat on my shoulder. I looked at Gwen as she continued on giving me these sympathetic smiles. However, Morgana could only look away from me with small sighs escaping from her lips.
"Negotiate with your mum, then. Just, Merlin. You will not survive in his football team, trust me," Morgana once again had that face whenever she talked about that blonde prat. I didn't know why she did that. It was as if she knew him all her life and she would do anything to not be a part of him. It was weird and as much as I wanted to ask her why she does that, she would likely just deny it anyway. It was just how Morgana was. If she didn't tell you about something then it would likely mean that she wouldn't tell you at all or maybe she would tell you when the time was right.
"Alright. I'll try and talk to my mum again," I finally agreed sensing that it was the best thing to do for now. Maybe I could join other clubs.
It was English class and once again, I decided not to make myself known for now. I walked into the classroom with my bag slung on my shoulder as I scanned the room for an empty seat. Immediately the whole room stopped talking as I walked inside. It was awkward because I didn't know why they had stopped talking. I looked around the room trying to ignore their quiet stares when my eyes caught onto a particular blonde colored hair. My eyes immediately landed on that person before his face clicked into my mind. He was also looking at me but his blue eyes were already indicating that I was dead. I could only sigh slowly as I looked for an empty seat. It was depressing because at the end, not only didn't I find a seat at the back of the classroom; I found a seat—next to him. I tried re-looking again and to no avail, that empty spot was almost as if reserved just for me. I could sit on the floor but I doubt the teacher would like that anyway.
With my name already on the dead list, I walked slowly to the seat next to that royal pain in the ass. It was definitely awkward as well when every step you took echoes throughout the whole classroom. Without any hesitation, I quickly sat on the chair and placed my book on the desk. The whole classroom then just suddenly decided that they had enough torturing me before quiet whispers soon filled the room and the whole entire awkward scene went back to normal. I could feel stares from beside of me but I had decided to just ignore it.
However, to my depression, the stares from that blonde prince didn't go away. It could get worse but then again, what could get any worse than this? I found out that the football team's captain was this prat and there was no way I was going to try and 'renegotiate' with my mother about this. With a sigh, I slowly turned to my left and confirmed my suspicions that indeed he was staring at me with his evil eyes. Almost as if trying to murder me right then and there. Right now, it doesn't seem like a bad idea at all.
"Can I help you?" I finally asked after a few seconds of silence. A small grunt escaped his lips as he clenched his jaw tight.
"Can I help you, he says. Yes, Merlin, you can," he started to speak. I stared at him for a while as my mind took its own sweet time to register the words when I realized that; Number one, he knew my name. Number two; what do I need to 'help' him at anyway? It was just a question hoping he would shut up and turn away for my liking. It was creepy too and awkward as well. Wrong move, I suppose. "I would like you to apologize and stay away from me."
"Apologise?" I asked.
"Yes, idiot. Seems that you didn't know who I am, I'm giving you a chance to apologise," he said as I could only stare at him like he just grew two heads. Apologize? For yesterday? For what I had said to him yesterday? Oh, my life just got better.
"You better do, boy," I quickly snapped my attention at a boy who sat behind him tapped the prat's shoulders and smiled at me. I could only look at him in disbelief. So, even if he did end up becoming the world biggest prat, I still had to apologize? I have to scoop that low because he was—somehow famous for who knows what? Was that any fair for me or to me? Why do I have to all that apologizing? What about him for stealing my apple? This was just mad.
"No," was my simple reply as Arthur (since that was what he was named, right?) looked at me with a look that stating he had not been expecting that at all from me. Now that was a surprise. He hadn't? Well, he should. He wouldn't get an apology from me at any time soon.
"Excuse me?" he asked in disbelief.
"I said, no. Arthur—"
"Oh, so you do know me. Then I suggest you better apologise before I make your life a living hell," he had the nerve to actually cut me off as I stared at him not amused. His voice was tight and they were dripping off venom as his eyes narrowed into mine. To be honest, he couldn't make my life into hell even if he wanted to. My life was already hell.
"Arthur, I won't apologise for what you did to me. That's the end of it," I ignored his little pretty comment just now before I turned away from him and looked at my books. I was annoyed from that little speech of his. His breath were somehow coming out in short and heavy and I guess I knew that because our table were weirdly so close. Huh. But then again, my mind did clicked on the word 'hell' because my hell and his hell could've meant two different things. Before anything else could happen, the teacher finally walked into the classroom. And for the first time in my life, I was happy to see the teacher.
"Just watch your back," he suddenly whispered under his breath but loud enough for me to hear it. Unofficially, I knew it right there and then. I was dead. If God was watching this, I bet he was laughing at me right now; or helping me to overcome my fears, but who knows? I was going to meet him soon anyway, so I'll just ask him then.
Closing the door to my gym locker room after I changed into my gym clothes, I turned around to leave only to come face to face with a guy, tall as me with brown hair and hazel eyes looking at me and standing a bit too close. At first I could only look at him but when I realized how close he was, I decided that it was time to move.
"Uhm…" I could only come out with that genius answer and unfortunately, that wasn't the secret password for me to get the escape pass.
"You should've just apologised," he suddenly said as he took a step back from me. I looked at him again this time with a bit more anger in my eyes. Why does everyone keep on saying that? Who was this Arthur anyway? Why was everyone so scared of him?
"Look, if you're here to just advice about why I should just apologize to that prat, it would be best if you could just get lost," I sighed slowly as I walked past him and head towards the room door.
"I'm not trying to annoy you," he said slowly as he caught up to me and walked beside of me. I opened the door of the changing room and walked out, slowly trying to remember where in my life had I gone wrong until to the extend I was involved in this madness. "It's just that this is the first time anyone did that to him."
"Well, if it would make you all feel any better, I'm actually already living in hell," I simply stated as I continued on walking, even faster if I do say so myself.
"Look, Merlin—"
"And how in the world did everyone know my name anyway?" I abruptly stopped walking making the boy to stop walking almost immediately. I looked at him with my eyes narrowed, the confusion slowly building up in me. It was creeping me out as well, I was pretty sure no one else knew my name yesterday.
"That's beside the point," he said.
"Well, it is! It's weird to know that everyone knows your name," I replied almost freaked out by this whole thing. A small sigh somehow escaped the boy's lips. He was about to open his mouth to speak when a familiar voice called him out.
"Lancelot! What are you doing talking to him? Arthur wants you in the gym!" I saw the look on 'Lancelot's' face as he sighed slowly and looked at me. Without any warning, he turned his back towards me and ran after his friend. I looked at the boy who just called out Lancelot and realized that it was the same one at the class a few periods ago. Of course, maybe that was why they knew my name. Maybe they searched my name at the office after that little scene yesterday. They were all in the same group after all.
Without hesitation, I finally walked slowly back to the gym where I would somehow be tortured my life out of these games the evil teachers invent for gym class. Walking down the hall, my mind kept one drawing back to that blonde haired boy. I didn't know who he was and certainly everyone else did. Morgana also did say that he was somehow closely related to the royals but I just never heard of him. Was I supposed to know him? I couldn't help it as my whole entire mind was just stating that maybe I did pissed off someone I shouldn't.
I finally stopped walking when I reached to the doors of the gym hall. Just on the other side of these doors, my death would be awaiting me. With a huge breath, I finally opened the doors and walked inside. My eyes immediately scanned the gym hall. To my utter surprise, the whole entire gym hall was so huge! I didn't know where the school got this much of money but so far, I think this school looked like a palace instead of an educational building. Even if some of the architecture plans were a bit (to my taste) poor. I walked to the middle of the gym hall as I looked around at every corner. There were benches ready if there was a basketball game. I also heard there was a large filed for the football team and a large court for tennis, badminton and volleyball games. Oh god, officially, I knew it. I didn't fit in here.
As I was admiring the whole entire gym, a sudden contact of a hard round object hit the back of my neck, forcing me to fall flat on my face on the gym floor. A fit of laughter filled the room as I groaned a bit in pain. Great, just fantastic. I slowly sat on the gym floor as I let my right hand to see if my face was permanently damaged. I checked my nose first and then my cheeks and my forehead. I was soon satisfied that nothing was hurt or broken before I slowly stood up, letting the gravity to balance my body. I slowly turned around as I spotted the group which had just—kicked a ball at me and who wouldn't it be besides Arthur and his evil minions.
I decided that it would be the best to just ignore them. I didn't want any trouble; not anymore. As I was about to walk away, another ball was kicked and this time, it had hit my chest. Once again, I fell—this time, on my bum. I was in pain now, on my face and my back. I guess maybe all these years of not playing any outdoor activities were just starting to get to me. I slowly got up once again as I rubbed my back before I looked at them and shot glares. This was utter ridiculous! I was not some kind of play thing for them to just kick those rubber balls at me!
"Oh, hello, Merlin," the blonde Satan spoke as his blue eyes gleamed with evilness. "Loving the attention, I suppose."
That was when I snapped.
"Don't make me hurt you, you royal pain in the ass!" I suddenly yelled at him before everyone at the gym went silent. Arthur sealed his lips tight and that was also when I realized I had actually said the words out loud. They were supposed to be said in my head but I guess the pain was making me hard to think. Still, I should've known better than to let my anger take control. Have I not learned my lesson yet after what happened yesterday and today? Why was I repeating the same mistakes? Only God knows why. Because, I certainly don't.
"You? Hurt me? Merlin, do snap out of your dreams," Arthur slowly grabbed the ball he was playing with his feet just a few minutes ago before slowly walking towards me. "I can easily push you over and you will topple down." His voice dripped on that menacing scare and his tone was harsh.
It only took a few mere seconds before he managed to stand tall and proud in front of me. The ball was firmly held on his right hand before he smiled at me crookedly. It wasn't a friendly smile, instead, it was one of those smiles indicating that I was about to die. I gulped slowly as I took a step back from his menacing place. I just realized as well that he was taller than me and muscular than me. What power did I have to actually hurt him?
I didn't know what happened next, but all I remember was me on the ground once again on my back, with the ball dribbling off from my chest. The only conclusion that I could make was that he had pushed the ball hard on my chest and I fell onto the ground. Anger and humiliation boiled into me again when I heard some snickers and laughter echoing throughout the gym. This wasn't so funny if it was you in it.
"Know your place, Merlin and watch your tongue," Arthur said heatedly before he walked away from the scene. I was embarrassed since I couldn't stand up to him but then again, another part of me wanted to get revenge. I slowly stood up from the ground with all the pain around my body before I reached for the closest thing that I could find the football. Who in the world does he think he was anyway?
I didn't know what I was going to do with that ball, but at that time, I wasn't thinking rationally. I placed the ball between my feet and took a step back. As the walking figure was in front of me, I didn't even hesitate as I kicked the ball. At first I thought that the ball would only fly a few inches from where I kicked but to my surprise, the ball actually flew! It flew and with a huge thud, the ball hit the back of Arthur's head and he fell flat on his face on the floor.
It was astonishing and at the same time, I felt the anger evaporate to be only replaced by anxiety. Everyone stopped laughing, even Arthur's minions and they all rushed towards Arthur, making sure he was alright. Immediately I felt bad for him. And also surprised at myself. I was so dazed, that I didn't even realize that Arthur was on his feet again and marching towards me.
"You actually had the nerve to kick me—"
"Enough!" everyone even including Arthur turned around to meet with our gym teacher who was looking at all of us in such displease. I gulped slowly as I took a step back and stared at the teacher who looked so intimidating. Immediately, I felt like the bad guy. How life could be so cruel...Why didn't the teacher walked in when I was getting bullied? Very wrong timing.
"Merlin Emrys and Arthur Pendragon, I expect more from you two. Especially you, Arthur," the teacher scolded as he looked at both of us. I felt my cheeks rose a bit from the embarrassment. I slowly looked at Arthur whose jaws were clenched tightly. I guess it was scary to see Arthur in that manner. His face all dyed red from the anger and since I was only a few inches away from him (I admit, I was scared of him); I might end up his punching bag.
"But—Merlin," the teacher suddenly boomed as I quickly snapped my attention at the gym teacher who was suddenly walking towards me. I was scared for once because I didn't guess that the gym teacher would actually try and kill me because I had hit Arthur Pendragon or whatever his name was with a ball! I closed my eyes in terror as I let the world to do what it wants on me. "I have never seen anyone besides Arthur kicking that ball with that much power before."
"What?" Arthur immediately exclaimed as he looked at both of us meanwhile I snapped my eyes wide open in shock. I was in the same situation as Arthur was in. In shock. That was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard! Me, kicking that ball with so much power? I was now pretty sure that this teacher must be just blind. It was just luck that I had that ball up on his head.
"Merlin, I believe you have some hidden talent," the teacher continued on as I stood there looking at him shocked. "And we could use your talent in the football team."
"This must be a joke!" Arthur said.
"Arthur, as the captain of the football team, I expect you to actually sense a person with talent. And Merlin has it," the teacher suddenly warned Arthur making Arthur to look at the teacher like he was crazy. He furrowed his eyebrows before he snapped his attention towards me. However, he didn't dare to talk back at that moment. Mainly because now, his position was in threat.
"But sir—"
"And therefore, I would like you, Merlin to join the football team," the teacher finally said successfully cutting me off as he placed his right hand on my shoulder and patted it. "What do you say?"
I was speechless. Period. I opened and closed my mouth like a fish out of water and yet no words formed. I knew that I needed to deny and get myself out of this mess but the words wouldn't form. Instead, I ended up in silence. However, the silence I was giving was somehow taken as a positive note by the teacher.
"Welcome to the team, Merlin. Arthur, I expect you to take in consideration of your team members including Merlin, do you understand me?" the teacher spoke as his eyes landed on the furious blonde. Arthur didn't say anything instead he walked near me. He placed his left hand on my shoulder and gripped on it somehow way too tight before he smiled at me. This time, his smile was tight and it was—scary and unpleasant to watch.
"Welcome to the team, Merlin," he said with a weird tone.
"That's more like it! Now, all of you run ten laps around this gym now!" the teacher finally decided that Arthur's evil exterior was showing some kindness before all of us did what the teacher told. My heart was somehow dying at every minute. I was in the football team just because I hit Arthur at the back of his neck with a football? The worst part was that I was going to be in the death territory every single minute of my life.
"Oh god, no," Morgana exclaimed as I told her what had happened at gym class. We were now both walking out of school after the final bell rang for today. Her eyebrows furrowed deep and her face was plastered with worry as she looked at me. Like what I hadn't been through was enough, I had to go through this!
"I know, Morgana. But I swear, I thought the ball would only fly a few inches from me," I said. "I didn't know it would fly off that far!"
"I'm never going to hear the end of it," she slowly mumbled under her breath as I looked at her in confusion. Hear what from whom? This was almost as if the fifth time I heard her talk to herself today. Something smelt fishy but I just don't know what. And with how Morgana was acting, I could only be even more curious about it.
"Huh?"
"What?" she asked as I looked at her.
"What do you mean 'I'm never going to hear the end of it'?" I asked as we slowed down our walk. Silence filled the air for a moment before she sighed out loud.
"No one. Anyway, Merlin, can't you just talk to the coach and get out of it?" she quickly switched the topic and for a moment, it was too quick that my mind couldn't connect to what she was trying to say. My mind took at least two minutes before the whole entire sentence clicked into my head. That was weird. Morgana actually changed the subject. She had been acting weird since yesterday but no matter what, she wouldn't tell. And like I had said, it would be useless anyway. If she wasn't ready, she wouldn't tell.
"I tried. But he wouldn't let me finish. Easy said, I'm stuck," I replied playing along as she seemed troubled with that answer. I guess I was troubled as well. But I bet I know who would be happy about it. My mum. She would be so excited she would throw a huge party just for that. I guess that wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't heading towards my death.
I didn't know how my life turned up to be this messed up. I was hoping for a fresh new start.
Well, what a start this turned out to be.
Well, I hope you guys like this chapter! :D Till' we meet again! :D
