The snow had stopped falling yesterday afternoon. It had blanketed the quaint little town of Camelot in a virgin blanket. Even for a little town, the snow had been cleared away so the roads leading to main street were cleared away for the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers for the next day.
Merlin stood outside the Mayor's house stomping his feet and blowing into his mitten-gloved hands. He really needed some new mittens. His were becoming threadbare and the black was becoming more of a grey.
' I should have enough money for a new pair after I get everything. ' he thought and sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "If Arthur would hurry his butt up," he muttered.
He pulled out his phone and checked for any missed messages or calls. Not seeing any he rose his hand to knock once more when the door was thrown open. An older gentleman stood in the doorway in a sharp suit with a white button-down shirt and black slacks. His white hair was pulled back and showed off his face which was marred with lines of time.
He wore an annoyed expression until he recognized the young man in front of him. His eyes crinkled up in warmth, "Ah! Merlin my boy! What a pleasant surprise. Come in out of the cold!"
Merlin moved out of the way as he closed the door on a gloomy day. "Now what are you up to?"
"I'm here to meet Arthur. We had plans to go Christmas shopping. " Merlin explained and looked down the entryway hoping to see the familiar blonde. "He wasn't answering his phone. Figured he's asleep."
Something Merlin could not place flashed in Guias' eyes. "Young sir isn't here. He's out with miss Vivian."
Merlin felt his heart clench. He forced out a small laugh. "Oh. Oh! Ya. Ya. I forgot he changed plans. Sorry for uh bothering you Guias."
Guias's voice was soft, " It's not a problem Merlin. Should I tell Arthur you stopped by?"
Merlin shook his head and reached behind him to blindly look for the door handle. He found it and twisted it open. The cold air whipped his hair and coat. "No. No. That's alright. I'll call him. "
He bid the butler goodbye and walked down the sidewalk. He waited until he was out of sight of the house to stop. He pulled out his phone and bit his chapping lips. This was the third time in almost two months Arthur had ditched him. And fifth time over since he started dating Vivian.
Merlin felt his throat become a little tighter and chest become heavy. He shook his head feeling foolish. True, Vivian had never ran in his social circle and true she and her clique used to bother Merlin and his friends but that was in primary school and before Arthur. The blonde was not even aware of the past trouble the two were connected by.
He pulled up Arthur's number and put it to his ear. It rang twice then cut off. Merlin pulled the phone away. The call had been cut off. He glanced at the bars. He had enough. That was not the reason it had cut off. No...Arthur had rejected it. Feeling a flame of annoyance and hurt Merlin redialed it again.
This time it was picked up.
"What?"
"Hey..it's me. Merlin."
There was a brief moment of silence and then, " I know it's you, Merlin. Phones do have caller Id you know. What did you want?"
Merlin gave a short laugh, "Oh. Yeah." He nudged some leftover snow with his shoe watching how it turned a dismal grey from melting and mixing in with dirt. He knew how that felt. "I'm at your house. Well at least down the street from it."
"Why are you at my house?" Arthur asked incredibly. "I'm not even home."
"You said you wanted to go shopping. Remember? We discussed it last week? I have your text. Besides we always go Christmas shopping together."
'We used to do a lot of things together' Merlin thought. Once upon a time, they had been thick as thieves. You wouldn't find one without the other. It was never just merlin or just Arthur it was always Merlin and Arthur. But something happened that Merlin just could not figure out: Arthur started to pull away. It wasn't noticeable at first. A skipped lunch here and a few "I can't hang tonight"s there. Then Arthur began to date Vivian and the many all-day text started to trickle to long time to answer to days to answer and hanging out almost seemed like a chore.
Merlin felt as if he was left to captain the ship called friendship alone while Arthur jumped ship.
"Oh. Sorry, Merlin. I forgot." Arthur replied breaking Merlin from his thoughts. "I thought it was next week."
Merlin held back a sigh, "We could reschedual? Next weekend. We haven't hung out in a while. We could binge watch the new season of Trollhunters tonight if you want?"
Merlin heard some noise in the background like a low hum. He wondered where Arthur was.
"We hang out at school you know. It's not like we don't see each other."
"If by hanging out you mean watching vivan be a prat to me and the others then sure. I don't see why she has to sit with us she's always being rude."
"They are just some jokes, Merlin. I can't help it they you lot are a little sensitive."
Merlin bit his tongue and took a breath. It always seemed when they did talk they ended up arguing. This wasn't Arthur..or at least it wasn't the Arthur he used to know. "So tonight?"
"Sure. I don't know. Maybe. I'll have to see. I got to go ok? I'll text you later."
Arthur ended the call. Merlin pocketed the phone and tried to decide what to do. It was the end of November and while Christmas was a few weeks away Merlin always enjoyed present shopping. Wanting to get a head start he decided to go to main street anyway to at least get some ideas.
He set off and he thought about the evening to come. Maybe if he did come then Merlin would bring up the subject of vivan again. It wouldn't be the first time the two talked about her and Merlin pointing out the change in Arthur. He just hoped this time it did not end in an argument.
Anyway, he figured if he did come he would need to pick up some popcorn and hot cocoa anyway talk or no talk. Merlin lived in the dorm of Albian preparatory school.
The school was the best in the country of Britain for shaping young minds for the future. The school had a big focuses on history and literature which was right up Merlin's ally. It was a tough school and held the students to high standards.
Merlin was able to get it with a scholarship. The following year Arthur started at the school too. Merlin was beyond belief that his best friend of 11 years (they had met at public school three counties over at the age of 5) was by his side.
Merlin finally made it to main street. It was a five-block stretch in the middle of town that housed all types of little business. The road turned to brick and the shops were painted all different colors. The sidewalks sprouted old-fashioned street lamps every thirty feet or so. It was really a cozy-looking place.
Deciding to start at a little boutique to find something for his mother, Merlin cut across the street. He passed the book store and cafe where he loved to curl up in the many overstuffed chairs and read for hours. He waved to Leon the owner of the rising sun bakery. The scent of fresh bread and sweet cinnamon rolls making his mouth water.
Merlin was just passing the music shop when he stopped. There in the shop with his arms crossed was Arthur.
Merlin watched as the blonde appeared to be reading something. He then looked up and over to the left. A petite-looking brunette came over to him.
He watched as she showed him something and Arthur shrugged. The girl seemed to not like his answer as she narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger at him in return. Arthur seemed to let out a breath and nod. The girl smiled at wrapped a hand around Arthur's waist. He seemed to freeze for a moment then relax bringing his arm around her.
They turned and walked out of the store and it was then the couple saw Merlin. Merlin watched as something he could not figure out flashed across Arthur's face before it morphed into a neutral expression. Merlin licked his lips. He felt as if he had been shocked. He felt numbness overtake his body. He could not move.
So this was why Arthur was busy. He was shopping but not with Merlin. Not like they had planned. Never mind the fact Merlin had been looking forward to it all week or that he counted it as a score. His heart ..hefelt it break.
Vivian also looked at him and he saw her smirk. Her eyes gleam in evil triumph at the sadness in Merlin's features.
"That's why you couldn't go with me today." Merlin heard himself whisper though he did not feel his lips moving. "You didn't forget..you..you were with her.."
Arthur lifted a hand as if to reach out to Merlin then put it down. He balled a fist and clenched his jaw.
"Merlin..."
Whatever he was going to say did not make it past his lips. Time seemed to stand still and move with lightning speed. But to an outsider time moved on as normal.
To an outsider, if they were watching would have seen a man in a black trench coat walking too fast. They would have seen the man bump into a raven haired youth and send him stumbling.
They would have watched in horror as a pair of tennis shoes slipped on a patch of black ice that was hidden on the edge of the road butting up against the sidewalk. The young man slipping and falling too fast to fast to catch himself.
The poor outsider would be wanting to close their eyes as a car came driving down the road and trying to break brakes squealing and tires spinning as the car hit the boy.
But Merlin did not see any of it. It all went to fast. All he knew was pain. All he could see was a blackness rushing up to claim him and soothe him to sleep. As the warm blackness covered him like a blanket he swore he heard someone shout his name and hands cradling him ever so gently.