A/N is here now :)

omg. i did it again.. i might just have to go to like shame jail or something.. magi ..stop talking please...*ok*
im confused easily... dont worry about it.

anyway :) thanks to writing2death for beta :) love you.

"I did not forget" Arthur angrily shot back. "I can't stay here any longer, I have to go."

The ebb and flow of their conversation transitioning back to real life. AThere=s a game tonight -with people who don=t find something wrong with anything I do let alone one single thing. Arthur turned away before he could even correct that incoherent sentence. The way Merlin knew what Arthur was thinking was almost crazy. It was creepy; Arthur didn't like it one bit. The flustered boy ran away.

Ill never let you forget the truth.

The ambiguous text was sent by the infamous "bio ass".

The partnership had started off rough. It was an unlikely friendship. It could pick up, but it probably wouldn't.

Arthur: the guy; the jock who had every card up his sleeve and every girl wanting to get down his pants. He had the world in his hands - school, girls, life was just perfect for him. Arthur stayed in his own social group. That's the way it had always been, that's the way it should stay. There was never a reason for him to leave it. He had everything he wanted, people practically bowed down to him. Stupid teachers they had their role to play too. They shouldn't be messing with the order of things.

Merlin: the geek; he just couldn't get rid of that label. He wasn't even particularly smart but as long as he could remember, he wanted to be a doctor. Yes, a doctor. A doctor who could not for the life of him get his head around biology - yes, that sounded logical. He sounded like that elf from the old Rudolf special, the one who couldn't make toys and had always wanted to be a dentist. Did he become a dentist in the end? Is it lame to watch those specials when it is not winter? Anyway, those type of things tended to rub off on other kids and give him a name at school- you know how kids are. He was compelled through an illogical lust. It was such that a want, a need to help people. Being a doctor, he could heal people, he could save them; bring them back from the brink of death. A complex soul, with many twists and turns unknown to those without such a wise, old order.

Arthur did run way, back to school parking lot, jumped in, and started up his mustang. The whole humiliating conversation hadn't taken as long as he thought - it was not even 3:30. What time did he have to be back to school? 6:00, oh yes that's right. So if he left right now, maybe he could hook up with some people for chili fries at the pub and still have time to get his gear.

FOOD. Now? Pub?

Arthur ran through his contact list picking virtually everyone who might want to, he loved a big crowed of loyal subjects at his beck and call.

Lance text back almost immediately:

Sure! But we cannot be late to get back for the game.

Arthur replied:

ETA 5 mins. Do you need me to pick you up?

Lance:

I'm already here, hurry you're ass up.

Arthur easily found a parking spot and strolled into the pub. There was always a parking spot for a mustang, that's part of the reason why he liked his car so much, that and it was like riding with a whole lot of horse under his legs that could go really fast. Lance was already sitting at the bar like they usually did unless here was a big group, then they all grabbed tables and pushed them together. But since no one had answered his texts, the bar would do for now.

The bartender waltzed up to their spot and ran a rag over the counter. "What can I get for you?"

"Just some fries for now, maybe we'll come back after we win the game and pig out."

"Yeah, right, well good luck." And with a skeptical eye, the bartender went back into the kitchens.

"He's right you know, we aren't as good this year and those black knights are crazy, like they play with armor on. I don't know how we can beat them."

"Are you being serious? You have me. That's all you have to worry about." Was Arthur losing his touch, had he not noticed some looseness in the ranks? He didn't have to prove himself, did he?

Arthur's phone started buzzing on the bar and he looked down to see that he got another text; it was from Gwen.

Can't come. Dad says too close to game. See you after tho :)

This bothered Arthur for a little while, and then the fries came. While Lance and Arthur stuffed their faces with fries, he replied a quick text, but didn't want to waste any time before Lance ate them all.

See you there :)

Yes, the smiley face emoticon was not usual his style but he just thought it was suitable in this situation; Gwen was worth the extra second and one less fry…well it was really more like eight the way teen age boys ate. Arthur sat for a moment thinking about Gwen just because he could until Lance poked his cheek with a ketchup covered fry. Arthur was sufficiently awoken from his day dream.

Soon, the fries were gone. They didn't order any more but sat in silence for a while processing just how much carbs and grease they has eaten.

"Well I have to go get my gear from my house. Meet you there?" Arthur turned to Lance.

"Yeah, sure." Lance turned around on the stool and hopped off.

Arthur stepped into the foyer of his house, a note written hastily on a sticky note from his dad was left on the mirror above the table where Arthur left his keys, their informal message board, Arthur ripped it off. Left for the game, grab your stuff. It's on the stairs and hurry up. I need you to lead the warm- up, the team needs you to take leadership, responsibility at a time like this. It was signed Coach. Arthur crumpled up the note in his fist, he looked toward the stairs. All his stuff was neatly piled on the bottom step, but not by his dad, it had been the maid, Arthur knew it. He grabbed it anyway and loaded it into his trunk. He went back inside and hit the blinking message button.

"Three new messages," it blinked in red accompanied by a computer animated voice. "First message," beep. "Hi, it's Merna," the maid, "Arthur I cleaned your jersey and shorts and sprayed down your gear, they should be on the stairs. I hope you have a great game, can't make it today but tell me how it went on Monday. Go team!" She was adorable, she took care of Arthur and he had certain affection for her because of it.

"Thanks," Arthur said under his breath.

"Second message," beep. "Hi, Arthur, it's Sophia—from the other night." Oh, right the other night, a wild time he and Lance had gone to get ice cream and she had thought he was flirting with her when he asked for a Delicious Rumble- a kind of shake at the place where she worked. Maybe she was new? Or just really weird, but then again it wasn't the first time a girl had fallen head over heels at the first sight of him. He deleted the message because of Gwen it wasn't the thing a potential girl friend ought to hear- or his dad for that matter. But then, once again, it wasn't the first time a message like that had been left on his machine, it was all a misunderstanding- a had to be there situation- usually.

"Third message," beep. - Click - Beep. There was no message. Hmm, it could be a myriad of things- none of which Arthur had time to deal with at the moment. Who waits all the way until the answering machine, listens to the message and doesn't leave a message? Arthur looked at his watch, 5: 30, it read. He should get going. The mystery could get solved another time. Maybe he should change his message, Arthur thought as he turned pulling the door behind him and locking it with the large, chunky sound of metal hitting metal.

In his car, Arthur heard his baby purr as he turned the ignition and a large puff of air as he put on the air conditioning. Arthur cruised down the road and pulled a wheelie into the school parking lot. Even though minimal people were actually there, they were either not there yet because the game didn't start for a while or already warming up such as the other players and the cheerleaders. Arthur had to make his appearance known as he swaggered to the back of his car and popped the trunk. It was all about appearances. He lifted all his gear in one trip and made his way to the locker room. No one else was there - it was too early yet. So he changed and grabbed his helmet and the large bag of footballs and took them to the field. From a distance, he could see his father.

Pacing the other end of the field was the coach. The coach, that's what he was. A man solitarily made to use his team to win, to fight the opposing team and thus be the best. In the entire land that overlooked their competing district, the coach had to shape his boys to be the best. They needed to defend him, defend the school and come home winners. Most were happy to fight for him, but some had been less than respectable and honorable during the games, and off the field. Sometimes he wasn't sure which side he was fighting on; winning or keeping his players in line. A lot of the time, it was his son who led the disobedience, playing childish pranks that lead to wars with other schools. He needed to live up to the role he was in; it was his duty to conduct himself in such a manner that would be suitable for everyone. But would a child ever listen to a father?

Soon Arthur saw his father heading back, he made his way slowly, and conveying the whole field and it was like a ritual. Arthur slouched on the bench thinking over warm ups and waiting for the rest of the time to show up. Where was Lance? Arthur stood up partly only to remember that he left his phone with his stuff; he had been planning on texting Lance to see what was taking him. Oh well, just an awkward silence would loom.

"Hello Arthur," or not. His father was still quite a bit way but some how Arthur had made it into his focus.

"Good evening Coach, everything look good out there?" Arthur almost shouted to his father.

"Yes, as long as I can trust all my players, it will be a fine night to defeat the Black Knights and Camelot High will continue victorious."

"That's exactly what we were hoping for." Arthur said in faux excitement. He really didn't care what happened, he just wanted this night to be over. He wanted peace. Arthur turned so he could lie back on the bench with his feet planted into the turf and his hands on his chest. Not exactly the most relaxing place but he'd done it tons of times before.

Soon everyone started arriving. Arthur lead drills in the field while the cheerleaders stood in formation off to the side. Most of the players came on time. But when the whistle blew, Lance was still no where to be found. Since everyone had left their phones in the locker room because there was no room in their uniform, no one could call him and they had to start without him. The stands filled and the coach watched, pacing behind the benches, as it all unfolded. The game turned out well, not perfectly but they won by 7 to 1. They could have done better.

"You could have done better. What is wrong with you? You need to tighten up on defense. Don't think I'll let any of this go by our next practice. Where was Lance, Arthur, any explanation? Any words at all? Speak boy." The Coach was furious.

"I don't know where he is. I saw him before the game but then he left to go pick up his stuff. I don't know why you're so mad. We won the game." Arthur hung his head back down, all the boys had their heads hung, shame lingering upon them. Out of the corner of his eye, Arthur saw Gwen. She was looking right at him, moving away from the edge of the bundle of hugs coming from the girls side. Arthur shook his head at her, signaling her to wait a little longer.

"Arthur, everyone, when one player is missing, it has the ability to bring the whole team down. We are just that; a team. We have to live up to the respect and dignity of that name. This 'win' was neither. It was spotty footwork, clumsy passing and ridiculous mishaps. You can do better, I know. Someone find Lance and tell him to come see me. Dismissed."

Arthur knew the 'someone' was him; he made his way quickly to the locker room. Arthur shook out all his clothes looking for his cell phone, finally it dropped out on the floor. He looked up Lance in his contacts and sent him a text.

Where the hell are you?

Then one to Gwen:

I need to have a shower, change, and meet you in the parking lot in 20 mins?

Arthur put his phone away and grabbed his towel. Finally he could relax.