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Chapter 9-Forever

Arthur's POV

The blonde had just outed himself in front of his entire English class and confessed to being in love with Merlin. He knew it wouldn't take long for this piece of information to spread around the school. Soon enough, Vivian would be shrieking at him in outrage before dumping him and Valiant would no doubt throw a few punches at him. It was highly likely that stares and whispers would follow him through the school corridors for a while. But right now, Arthur didn't care about that.

As strange as it sounded, Arthur felt really good right now. He didn't have to lie anymore, he didn't have to pretend. He could finally be himself and if other people didn't like it then that was there problem.

His eyes were fixed on Merlin who looked just as stunned as the rest of the students. Even Morgana looked slightly astounded by what had happened.

As the silence stretched on, Arthur imagined how his current situation would turn out if his life was a movie. In a film, Merlin would declare that he was in love with Arthur too and romantic music would play in the background as they moved towards one another to share a passionate kiss. Of course, in real life, things didn't run as smoothly.

Merlin was still sat at the back of the classroom with a dumb expression on his face not saying a word.

The bell rang and everybody jumped from the unexpected noise.

"Right class." Miss Read said coming out of her stupor. "Off you go, have a good weekend everybody."

Moving quickly, the students filed out of the classroom and talk broke out among them as soon as they set foot in the corridor. Arthur and Merlin hadn't moved an inch and the two were still staring at one another from across the room, Merlin sat in his seat and Arthur standing at the front.

"Sort it out you two." Freya pleaded from the doorway before she, Gwen, Morgana and even Miss Read stepped out closing the door behind them no doubt waiting in the corridor.

"Merlin." Arthur spoke softly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything."

He took a breath and waited for the dark haired boy to respond but Merlin's lips were sealed tight.

"Look, I know I've acted like a dick." Arthur said as he clutched tightly to what ever it was he held in his hand. "But…"

"But what?" Merlin asked. "Am I supposed to just forgive you and we pretend the past couple of years didn't happen? You know Arthur you're a real fucking clot-pole. You can't just treat me like shit then tell me you love me and expect us to ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after. Do you even realise how badly you've hurt me? Then you get up and say all of…that which makes me feel like I'm the asshole but really it's you."

"I know." Arthur agreed. "And I've told you I'm sorry and I don't expect anything I just…I needed you to know."

Arthur leaned his back against the wall and stared up at the ceiling whilst Merlin dropped his head onto the desk.

"We're not friends anymore Arthur." Merlin told him. "I don't think we'll ever be friends again…not like we were before. You destroyed that."

"I know." Arthur sighed. "I know."

"I'm back with my ex-boyfriend." Merlin said feeling the need to bring it up, not to rub it in the other boy's face, just to make it clear to him that nothing could happen between them.

"Yes, the infamous Lancelot." Arthur sneered. "I saw the two of you kissing on your doorstep last week."

"He's a great guy." Merlin declared. "I really like him. He makes me feel special and he's not ashamed of me or himself. He's wonderful."

"He's too old for you." Arthur said.

"That really isn't your business." Merlin replied. "He makes me happy so please, if you really care for me at all, don't try and ruin it."

Arthur clutched tighter to the object in his hand before crossing the room to stand before Merlin. With his left hand, he reached out to touch the pale boy's ear. The dark-haired boy shivered slightly from the feel before pulling his head away.

"Don't." He said simply so Arthur let his hand drop.

"Do you hate me?" Arthur asked him in a quiet voice.

"I try too." Merlin answered honestly. "But no…I don't hate you Arthur. I wish I could. I really wish I could but I don't."

"I love you." Arthur whispered to him as he bent down so he was level with Merlin.

Merlin rubbed his face and looked away from the blonde but he could still feel those piercing blue eyes burning into him.

"Does Lancelot love you?" Arthur asked almost challengingly.

"I don't know." Merlin told him honestly.

"Do you love him?" Arthur asked silently hoping that the answer was no.

He stayed silent for a while seeming to think over his answer before simply shaking his head. Merlin then turned back to face the blonde. Arthur's heart was in his throat and his stomach was twisting itself in to knots. The two of them were only fifteen years old, they were still so young, they shouldn't be experiencing things like love. Yet Arthur was certain that was how he felt. He'd known Merlin for ten years and he was sure his feelings for the other boy were true. This wasn't some silly school crush, it was real. They were like two sides of the same coin. They belonged together, they must belong together.

"You're my boy." Arthur said as he placed his hand over Merlin's only for Merlin to pull his hand away. "You'll always be my boy. Forever."

He then took one of Merlin's hands and forced it open before placing something inside his hand then closing it up. Arthur then stood, grabbed his things and left the classroom.

Miss Read and the girls were stood just outside and they looked at him concernedly but he ignored them and carried on walking.

Merlin's POV

Slowly, he opened his hand to see what Arthur had handed over to him. Looking down, his eyes landed upon the broken friendship bracelet that bore the word 'FOREVER' in blue writing.

"Forever." Merlin read aloud before clasping his hand tight around the bracelet again.

The girls stepped in to the classroom looking at him carefully waiting for him to say something.

"Well?" Morgana asked impatiently when Merlin stayed silent for too long. "What's happening?"

"Nothing." Merlin answered her.

"Nothing?" Freya and Gwen asked together.

"Nothing." Merlin repeated as he gathered his things still keeping a tight hold on the bracelet.

"But you love him too." Freya said. "I know you love him too."

"Sometimes love isn't enough." Merlin replied. "Anyway, I'm with Lancelot."

"To hell with Lancelot." Morgana exclaimed. "I know Arthur's been a jerk but he was just too scared to admit how he truly felt. You can understand that right? You can work through this, we'll all be friends again and the two of you can be together like you're supposed to be."

"You did say you'd forgive him in a heartbeat if he apologised." Freya reminded him.

"I do forgive him." Merlin told them. "But that doesn't mean I can just forget what he did to me or how he hurt me. I don't ever want to be hurt like that again. So, I'm staying with Lancelot."

"And what if he hurts you?" Gwen asked him.

"He won't." Merlin assured her. "Not like Arthur could. If Lancelot breaks up with me or cheats on me or…whatever…I'll get over it, I'll get over him. Same with any other guy. But not Arthur. He's already broken my heart once. There's no way I'd survive if he hurt me again."

He looked around his three friends before smiling awkwardly at his teacher then leaving the room. As he walked down the corridor he could hear them discussing what he'd just said and Miss Read was trying to calm them down.

He carried on walking and when he left the building and reached the school gates he found Lancelot waiting for him on his motorbike holding a spare helmet.

"Fancy a ride?" Lancelot offered with a dashing smile.

"Awesome." Merlin grinned as he took the helmet.

Before he could place it on his head, Lancelot moved in to softly kiss him before he fixed his own helmet back on then helped the younger boy with his. As Merlin settled himself on the back of the motorbike and wrapped his arms around Lancelot's waist he spotted Arthur sat in the top branches of a tree looking down at them with pain and jealousy in his eyes. Forcing away the feeling of guilt, Merlin pretended not to see and held tight to Lancelot as the older boy drove him home.

To Be Continued

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