AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm sorry that this chapter took longer to update than the previous chapter. A series of events happened. I hope you guys are satisfied that Artie will be playing as Juliet. Teehee :3

Enjoy this chapter! R&R! :3

(If there are any errors I apologize. I wrote this at 11 pm and that's too late in the night for me XD)

CHAPTER FOUR: BLUE EYES AND GRUEL

"A toast, fellow jousters, for I have experienced the sweet taste of victory!" Lancelot raised his cup filled with watered-down ale. His teammates cheered at their table, and clung their cups together. Some onlookers from other tables clapped for Lance. Truly, Lancelot had it coming. He obviously did a marvelous job acting. He finally unlocked his full potential. Maybe he could put all of his time and attention honing his new found skill instead of picking on Artie, like what Mrs. Bennett told him a few days ago. Inside the guidance office. With a crying Artie beside him. Lance learned a lesson that day. Next time, Lance wouldn't bully Artie by the faculty. He would do that under the bleachers at the arena, so no one could see. After all, even if Lance got the role he wanted, he still had to maintain his reputation as Lord of the Jerks. And he wouldn't leave Artie alone without anyone there to pick on him, now would he?

The team ate their lunch very noisily, stories here and there, tales of battle and victory. Their cackles and chuckles were as tastleless as their daily gruel. However, Lance wasn't really paying attention to his teammates. Half of his mind thought about Artie. Where was he? Why wasn't he inside the cafeteria yet? He eyed the entrance, waiting for the worm to arrive. He ached to pummel him, and smother him with gruel and kisses- he meant dirt. He wanted to smother the dweeb with dirt.

Finally, after all the waiting, the dork entered, although hastily. He looked nervous, and afraid, like he was hiding from something. From someone. Lance knew.

'From me...' The jouster thought as he smirked.

He quietly observed his prey's movements. Shy. Clumsy. Awkward. Cute. Endearing. The leader ignored his teammates' tales and jokes for a while and rested his chin on his hand, and continued to watch Artie's little antics. He knew he wouldn't get caught, because he was five tables away from the counter.

Arthur picked up a tray, and waited in line. He stood straight, but bowed his head. How shy he must be. The effects of bullying showed in him. Sad eyes, sullen face, scrawny figure. For a moment, Lance felt sorry, guilty. And for a second, he wanted to make up for everything and protect the blonde boy. But it was only for a second. A second before he realized what he thought about Artie. The jock stopped thinking and started observing once more. What could he say? The scrawny boy was amusing to watch and adorable to look at. Like a little golden retriever.

The dweeb lifted his tray to the lunch lady. The lady, in turn, scooped mushy gruel from her pot, flicked it into a bowl, and placed it on the loser's tray.

Artie smelt the gruel. It smelt terrible! The mushy paste also had bits and pieces of bone and patches of hair from animals, and he didn't want to know what kind. He cringed at the sight. Surprisingly, Lancelot swooned at the sight of Artie crunching his nose. Cute little Puppy Artie was so adorable! Wait... What? The jock shook himself, but still continued to watch the adorable golden retriever- he meant the worm, walk to a vacant table.

Along Artie's way to a vacant table, he received compliments and flattery. Mostly from people who wronged him before. People who ignored him, and ridiculed him. But past was past, and Artie didn't want to hold any grudges. Well, except for Lance though. Lance was a rotten boy, and the loser wished he could banish the jerk if he ever became king. If he became king. But that would be a miracle.

The dork sighed as he sat down. He grabbed his spoon and started poking his gruel. He thought about what happened to the auditorium. He still couldn't believe he was going to play as Juliet! He was astonished, amazed even. He couldn't fathom the thought of the teachers picking him for the role. It was practically luck. But then he realized something...

'Does this mean I'm going to wear a dress?' Artie thought. He scooped up a spoonful of mushy, chunky paste. He almost threw up at the sight, literally. He pushed the tray away from him, bowed his head, covered his mouth, and controlled himself from hurling. It was a bad situation for him, but it was a beautiful sight for Lancelot.

The way Artie's hair moved when he bowed his head looked so breathtaking, so majestic. The jock even wanted to run his hand through the blonde boy's hair. The blonde's hair would be so soft, so silky, so-

"Hey Lance!" Lionel called the jock's attention. After Lancelot came back to reality, he realized that his teammates hollered, howled, and cheered merrily and teasingly. Du Lac suddenly felt pissed

"What the hell are you guys hollering about?!" He asked in a displeased manner. His teammates all but snickered and chuckled at him. He felt more angered than he was before. After a few moments, Bohort answered the team captain.

"You were making googly eyes at Artie the worm!" the brute answered, barely keeping his giggles at bay. Lance felt his cheeks turn red. He tried to hide his blush by stuttering out a reply.

"N-no I am NOT!" Lancelot answered albeit too hastily. His teammates teased him again. The leader huffed and crossed his arms. Lionel patted him on the shoulders.

"Don't hide it anymore bro. It's okay... To screw a dweeb!" He cackled as he got pushed away by Lance. The captain growled at his teammates, but his fellow jousters brushed Lance's attempt of intimadtion off from their shoulders and continued to tease and laugh at their leader. Lancelot pushed himself up and tried to walk away, but Lionel pulled him back to his seat.

"Whoa bro no need to get pissed," Lionel said as he patted Lance's shoulder. "We're just teasing."

"Whatever." The dark-haired jouster sputtered back.

"Well now that you have eyes for the worm..." Bohort started as he got elbowed by du Lac, "What about Gwen?"

Du Lac's team suddenly shushed and waited for their leader's answer. Honestly, Lance didn't know what to say. He felt empty towards Gwen now. They just got together two year back because everyone thought they looked cute together. He just followed his peers. He suddenly wondered where Gwen went.

"I... I don't really know... I don't really have feelings for here..." He answered truthfully and bowed his head. His teammates felt the empty aura of their captain.

"I don't know what to do with her...".The captain finished as he stared back at Artie, who tried to eat his gruel without puking. How adorable.

"It's alright, Lance," One of his teammates tried to comfort him, "You'll sort this thing out."

Lance stared to the distance, and wondered if Gwen felt the same way as he did now. Empty. Maybe she felt angry, or sad, or maybe even stressed because of what happened that day. She probably ran to the bleachers to sulk in misery. Lance knew she never experienced this kind of thing in her life. She always got approved because of her looks , and her parents' money. Lance wondered how long she'd survive without her parents' support.

'Maybe an hour ...' Lance thought humorously.

The jock silently stood up, and walked to the doors leading to the hallway into the arena, where the bleachers are. Before he walked through the door, he secretly peeked at Artie who tried to swallow the puke rising from his throat. How lovely.