I didn't have any classes with Arthur in the beginning of the day, but I had Gwen, Morgana, and Gwaine at a couple times. With four classes down and three to go, lunch was just beginning and I prayed that I would find Morgana and Gwen. The class I had before lunch I only had GWaine in and he had gone to hit on some girl before I had even left the room.

The noise in the lunch room filled my ears at an alarming rate as I opened the swinging cafeteria doors and I flinched as my magic seemed to snap deeper inside of me, not liking the crowdedness around me. I agreed and let my magic work a little to tone down the noise to my ears. I let my magic reach out, trying to find Morgana. Specifically her due to her having magic of her own which I suspect she doesn't actually know about. To my surprise my magic latched on quickly and I allowed my body to flow towards where I was being pulled. I stumbled on a forgotten milk carton and looked down to see what had betrayed me as I then ran into someone.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," I began putting on my cheerful smile that usually got me out of trouble.

"Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't see me since everyone always stares," came back a honey like voice and I instantly tensed.

"Sorry Arthur I'll be out of your hair now," I apologized as I began to turn around, cursing my magic for leading me to the wrong person.

"Why of course not Merlin, I save you a seat right next to me," Arthur smirked. "Besides your only friends are at this table seeing as Gwen and Morgana leave the school to eat and Gwaine sits here. Don't worry my friends will love you." I wearily sat down, not trusting the others I saw, but to my fortune I didn't see Kay, the main benefactor to my summer torment. Arthur almost seem to notice what I was looking for and grimaced.

"Kay won't be eating here this year as long as he has a girlfriend to snog during lunch." I nodded relaxing more in my seat.

"So you are the Merlin Arthur complains about," a darker skinned, short hair, male spoke up with a chuckle.

"Only good things," a good looking, curly haired, tan male said. I looked him up and down discreetly, already judging him as the nicest one in the group.

"Arthur, are you gonna sit there and look annoyed the whole time or introduce me to the people you are forcing me to sit with?" I asked giving another one of my nice smiles to the people seated around the round table. All of them gave hearty laughs out of the surprise.

"I like him already," the tallest of the bunch commented.

"Thank god he hasn't been talking to you this whole summer or you would have killed him by now," Gwaine added in.

"Yes, yes, whatever. Merlin, here we have Percival, Leon, Elyan, Lancelot, and as you are already quite acquainted with, Gwaine."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," I greet, taking their names to memory. I pulled the apple that I had snagged from the house this morning and began eating it when I saw Arthur watching me.

"What?" I accused defensively. He had the audacity to look affronted by my actions.

"Is that all you are going to eat? A mushy apple?"

"Uh, yeah, it's plenty for a lowly peasant like me."

"He we eat like knights Merlin, and I refuse to let your already boney body become worse will living under me. ALright boys pile in." I cocked my head to one side, already confused by the lingo as I saw all of Arthur's friends giving extra food they had to increase the size of the growing pile in the middle of the table.

"You can't expect me to eat all that, it's your guy's food you brought. I can't just take that from you," I began but was cut of my Arthur's 'you are a complete moron just take the damn food.' "Fine. Thank you for your generosity, and while I'm not some poor person charity case I accept this peace offering." I grabbed the offered items and opened a package of scooby doo fruit snacks to begin consuming. Everyone at the table was talking and I decided to just listen, not really having much to add in as I didn't do sports and I also did not know anyone at the school. I was startled from my thoughts as I felt Arthur's hand around my shoulder.

"Get off of me you oaf."

"Are you calling me fat?" Arthur complained, momentarily side tracked from what he was going to say. I rolled my eyes but ended up with a cheeky smile on my face.

"I believe it was just a couple of days ago that Ygraine told me to poke another hole in your belt. I could be mistaken, is there another Arthur at our house?" The hand that had been resting on my shoulder moved and swatted me on the back of my head. I went to rub the area giving him a narrowed glance.

"What was that for?"

"You know exactly what Merlin don't act like an idiot."

"Arthur, did your mum really have to poke another hole in your belt?" Leon, if I remembered correctly, asked trying to restrain his laughter. Arthur glared holding his breadstick as if it was a sword to Leons throat.

"You don't speak of this again. I am not fat and am probably the most desired man in this whole school."

"I don't know princess I think you might have some competition. I've heard talk of how cute your sidekick is throughout the day," Gwaine's voice then turned to a high pitch in mockery of the people comments, "Isn't he just dreamy. He's so innocent and his eyes are just so piercing." Gwaine laughed at his own amusement.

"I don't," I started with a blush very evident on my pale skin, but was cut off.

"Merlin here is very much gay," Arthur all but barked, keeping his smile on his face. "Poor girls they are going to be heartbroken, but I'm sure good old Gwaine will be there for a shoulder to cry on?"

"Damn princess aren't you protective," Gwaine chuckled, taking a large gulp of his water, his grin becoming more sloppy with it.

"Gwaine you are drinking that like you depend on it," Lancelot pointed out with a curious glance.

"Well," he leaned into the table speaking at a low whisper, "It's not just water my friend."

"Of course it's beer, why wouldn't it be," I laughed feeling comfortable in this situation. These kids weren't as bad as the ones Arthur had over often and for that I was grateful. I looked over at the person in question to find him in deep thought and tapped him with my foot. He jumped slightly, looking over to me and blushing a bit, at which I didn't know how to respond.

"I'll be back, I'm gonna use the bathroom real quick," I said excusing myself to leave the room. I entered the bathroom and locked a stall behind me. I let my eyes turn gold as I allowed myself to enter Arthur's mind. I didn't know how I knew how, I guess my magic always knew what i wanted to, having to only learn some spells. I didn't use this much because it took so much energy to keep myself hidden, but with Arthur I didn't have to.

"Why are you acting weird?" I asked him in his mind, feeling as though I was standing before him speaking to him.

"Get out of my head moron." I snorted at the response before letting the spell loose not knowing why I was wanting to talk to Arthur more than I had to. Without the connection I felt like I was missing something. Imagine forgetting your phone at home when you are already an hour away, and that was it. God what had I gotten myself into.

I'm back with another chapter! It was fun and definitely a challenge to introduce all of these characters. Where should the gang go next for their weekend? thoughts?