Finally after what seemed like forever, Arthur appeared at lunch. Merlin tried to feel outwardly relieved because he wasn't. He was just bound and determined to find out what this guy's problem was.
"Hey." Arthur said when he sat down. Merlin jumped at the sound of his voice.
"Uh… hey."
"Merlin Emerys, right?" Arthur asked, looking at him out of the corner of his eye. Merlin couldn't help but noticing that he still was as far away as possible.
"We were introduced. On my first day. Y'know, the last day you where in school before you skipped out for a week?" Merlin replied. Arthur frowned at him.
"I was sick."
"Was this before or after your dog ate your homework?"
The corners of Arthur's mouth turned up. "I don't have a dog and I always do my homework."
"Well then, what disturbed his royal pratness's delicate senses?" Merlin snapped.
"Did you just call me a prat?" Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Prat." Merlin confirmed. "Would you like for me to spell and define it?"
The rest of the lesson went on like that, with Mr. Geoffrey's trying to make a competition out of identifying cells. Arthur seemed to think that Merlin was useless, so Merlin was glad to show off his science knowledge.
"So why were you missing?" Merlin asked once they were out in the hall.
"I told you. I was sick." Arthur replied. Merlin forced himself to look in his eye (Other people in the hallway were staring at them and Merlin thought he could see a murderous looking Sophia over Arthur's shoulder when he noticed something.
"Your eyes are different." Merlin noticed suddenly.
"What?" Arthur asked, surprised.
"You're eyes. They were almost red yesterday, but today they're light brown."
Arthur frowned at him. "I gotta go." he mumbled and practically fled down the hall.
"Git." Merlin muttered under his breath.
----
Merlin hated mornings. He hated mornings in Forks especially, because there was snow on the ground for some reason. It was too early for snow, Merlin was sure, but having ice was just mean. Merlin was rubbish on ice.
He made it to school in one piece and was struggling around the side of his red pick up, making sure he didn't slip on the ice. He glanced up to see the Pendragon family climbing out of their car. Arthur was looking straight at him.
Suddenly a van skidded around the corner out of now where, and it was headed straight for Merlin. Merlin turned to try and get out of the way and before he knew it Arthur was beside him, holding his hand out to stop the van. Merlin gaped and felt his body skidding away on the ice before Arthur grabbed him and pulled him back up.
"Oh my god!" Merlin heard Mary scream. Then Arthur was gone and SD was helping him up and Sophia was dialing 9-1-1 on her cell phone.
"Are you okay?" SD asked, looking Merlin over.
"Oh god Merlin I'm so sorry." Pellinore called from the front seat of the van. "I just lost control."
Merlin looked up to see Arthur gone, but the rest of the Pendragon clan was staring at him. Merlin groaned again and allowed himself to be handled until the ambulance arrived.
-------
"I can't believe this" Hunith said, shaking her head. "The first accident I'm send out to investigate and it's to pick up my own son."
"I'm fine, really." Merlin protested. Hunith shook her head as Dr. Pendragon came in to see him.
"Thank you for treating him, Gaius." Hunith said as Gaius looked him over.
"He's fine, Hunith. Quite a miracle."
"It wasn't a miracle." Merlin said. "It was Arthur. He… pulled me out of the way."
"Did he?" Gaius raised an eyebrow before he smiled. "Well, it's good to know my son is doing some good."
Gaius discharged him and Merlin found Hunith walking him down the hall.
"I'm fine, Mum." Merlin promised. "Go check me out."
Hunith hurried off and Merlin turned to corner to see Gaius and another man talking to Arthur. He hid behind to listen to their conversation.
"-could have put the whole family at risk!" the tall dark haired man hissed to Arthur, who had folded his arms and was pointedly staring out the window. Gaius glanced at Merlin and put a hand on the man's shoulder.
"Uther, come see me in my office. I think someone wants to talk to Arthur." The man, Uther, glared at Merlin before quickly storming down the corridor. Gaius nodded at Arthur before following him.
"Um, sorry." Merlin said when Arthur grudgingly approached him. "I didn't mean to make them yell."
Arthur shrugged. "My dads fight all the time. What do you want?"
"Well, to thank you but… how did you get to me so fast?" Merlin asked. Arthur regarded him carefully.
"What do you mean?"
"You were across the parking lot one second and the next thing I know your next to me. How did you move that fast?" Merlin asked.
"Merlin, I was next to you the entire time." Arthur began, but Merlin cut him off.
"Look, I know you think I'm mentally deficient. What happened Arthur?"
"If you don't like my answers then don't hang around me." Arthur hissed. "It's better that way."
"What does that even mean?" Merlin demanded but Arthur shrugged and walked off. Merlin grit his teeth. He was going to find out exactly what was up with Arthur Pendragon, even if it killed him.
