The next day around seven
Right it's just friends hanging out, there will be booze and laughter and dvds it's cool you can handle. Merlin told himself as he fiddled with his fringe, his shirt buttons, his shoe laces and just about everything he could find to fidget with. Calm down it's just friends, just Gwaine and Lance, Will, Morgana and Gwen it'll be fun, this is nothing to freak out about! He told himself sternly as he flung his jacket on and stamped noisily out of his flat as if he was marching off to battle.
A little while later (Gwen's flat)
'Merlin!' Merlin heard Gwen squeal as she flung herself towards him.
'Hi Gwen.'
'Next time call! I missed you!'
'Not so tight I can't really breathe.' laughed Merlin.
'Sorry. Sorry.'
Taking Merlin's hand Gwen led Merlin through the rest of the flat to the living room were he was attacked by more women.
'Freya I didn't know you were coming up.'
'Last minute thing, I came up for Lamia's birthday really but I couldn't really miss a chance to see my favorite emo!' Freya smiled as she too took her turn to bounce into Merlin's arms.
Freya felt like home, she reminded Merlin of quiet streets and friendly smiles. Aside from Will, Freya was one of Merlin's oldest friends. In high school they had been inseparable, the three musketeers, Merlin, Freya and Will. But unlike Will, Freya had stayed at home when Merlin had left for the city life.
When Merlin was finally free he plonked himself down on the sofa next to Morgana, who like Will had decided violence was the only way to get through to Merlin, who smacked him on the back of the head.
'He wasn't worth it.'
'You know that every time you guys hit me I loose like 2,000 brain cells! Also you know abuse and stuff.' Merlin complained as he massaged the back of his head and checked for lumps.
'Baby.' Will coughed.
'Idiot.'
'Well you aren't helping if you keep beating me up!'
'Leave Merlin alone you two he's had a hard couple of weeks and-'
'Gwen really I-'
'And-'
'Movie! Movie!' Yelled Will from across the room in an attempt to save everyone from Gwen.
'Right I'll go make some popcorn then.' and off she went into the kitchen. 'Lance, some help?' she asked sweetly.
Half a movie and two bowls of popcorn later (Will and Gwaine had, had a popcorn fight with the first bowl)
Knock! Knock!
'Meerrrlinn!' everyone shouted.
'No fair.' he huffed as he made his way to the door.
'Uh hi. Who are you?'
'Merlin you can't just ask people that!' someone, probably Freya, she was always correcting his manners, yelled from the living room.
'Mmm sorry are you here to see- Gwen!' Merlin jumped as Gwen appeared behind him.
'Merlin this is Arthur, Morgana's brother.' she smiled, opening the door wider and waved him in.
'Half brother.'
'Yeah! No I knew that- sorry I didn't mean- I-!' Gwen stuttered helplessly.
'Gwen it's alright don't fuss.' And as if he was used to people over reacting he patted Gwen affectionately on the arm, before continuing on through the flat. Maybe he was used to it; he was related to Gana after all.
'Morgana invited him. Hello? Merlin are you in there?'
'Sorry?' Merlin had absolutely no idea what Gwen had been saying he'd been to busy memorizing Arthur's perfect arse and perfect smile to listen.
By the time Merlin had floated back to the living room Morgana was already beating Arthur senseless.
'umm.' he cleared his throat. Arthur was sitting in his seat…
'Ah Merlin. Sit down. Right here. Beside Arthur!' Morgana ordered.
'Okay…'
Merlin had never felt so stupid in his entire life! Not when he'd been caught hiding porn as a teenager or when he'd gone to a uni lecture in inside out clothes.
The way his heart was racing, the way that every time their knees bumped or hands touched it felt like electric shocks shooting through his skin it made him feel like a teenage girl. And the stupid thing was that he was feeling all of this towards a complete stranger, a complete stranger who was very likely very, very straight and no way interested in skinny, stubbley, penisy people!
'Merlin!'
'Hmmm.'
'Merlin votes yes!' Smiled Freya wickedly.
'Votes yes to what exactly?' he asked genuinely scared by way Morgana and Freya looked so happy/evil. Evil. Yup they were defiantly evil. Evil shapeshifting witches of some kind.
'Truth or dare!' Gana beamed. 'We'll start now! Okay Gwen! Truth or dare?'
'Umm truth…' Gwen said nervously.
'Have you ever fantasized about anyone in this room?' Gana grinned.
'Uh-'
'Sexually.' Will chimed in a wicked grin stretching from ear to ear.
'Maybe..I…yes' Gwen breathed her face flushed and her eyes all shiny.
'Who?'
'One question isn't that the rule? My turn Gwaine truth or dare?'
'Dare! Hit me with you best shot girly!'
Morgana sat whispering in Gwen's ear for a few moments before finally giggling they came up with 'We dare you to drink vodka from a sock!'
'Fine. Merlin give me your sock!' Gwaine commanded stretching his hand out towards Merlin expectantly.
'Waah?'
'Merlin you happen to have very nice feet as you well know. Now hand over the sock!' but just as Gwaine was about to wrestle Merlin to the ground for his sock Gana interrupted.
'No, no, no, we hadn't finished saying whose sock you had to use.'
'Fine then whose sock do I have to use?' he huffed while crossing his arms.
'Why our dear William's wonderfully aromatic socks.' and this time everyone burst into shrieking laughter, well everyone except Gwaine who was starting to look a little sea sick oh and Arthur he didn't seem to think it was funny… He probably just hadn't had enough to drink yet.
Ten minutes of smelly socks, vodka and vomiting.
'That was the most disgusting ten minutes of my life Gwaine!' Freya blurted as Gwaine walked back in face washed and breath fresh smelling. Gwen must have some powerful mouth wash in her bathroom Merlin thought as he leaned in close to do a breath check on Gwaine.
'If you lean any closer Merlin I might have to kiss you.' the less smelly bartender teased as he sat down again, this time Merlin on his right, Freya on his left.
'W-w-wah no- I was I-I-' Merlin stammered.
'Soo my turn! Mmmm I pick-' Gwaine pretended to think about it. 'Merlin!'
Gods save me! 'Truth!' Merlin blurted before Gwaine had a chance to ask.
'Hmm well Merlin…. Hmmmm.'
'Oh come on Sir Puck-a-lot ask your question and stop being dramatic.'
'Fine. Merlin, Merlin my love who has lovely feet. Would you please answer my very important question? Was Gilli a better shag than me? Be honest I can take it!'
'Ummm..not- not really.' Merlin mumbled as his face burned scarlet.
'What was that Merlin didn't quite hear you?'
'You were better.' He groaned covering his face with his hands.
'Ah thank you! Thank you!' Gwaine said as he mock bowed as if everyone was clapping. They weren't they were just laughing hysterically. Although once again Arthur sat quietly this time looking a little confused as he looked at Merlin.
'Will have my turn! Gana can I talk to you?'
'Yeah sure what is it?'
Door shuts
'Does Arthur have something against me? I mean I don't know how he could I mean we've never met or anything and he seems nice but he doesn't seem to be having fun and well-'
'You're babbling.'
'Sorry.. It's just-'
'He's just nervous. It's the first time he's been around you guys. And well I think that he well, I did hope that..'
'What?'
'Nothing. Let's go get drunk.'
'Alright!'
Too many truths and way too many dares later.
'So pick up a party bag to take home the fun we had in this vanilla sky!' they all sang even 'shy' Arthur. Gwen's neighbors were probably ready to kill them as they stomped around to IBlameCoco singing every word amazingly out of tune and having the time if their lives!
