Chapter 5
Laughter and chatter filled the air. It was the end of another week and students thronged the halls and grounds, eager to push off and celebrate with friends.
Gil saw none of it. The freshman was moodily making his way towards Vivian's office to which he'd been summoned prior to his interview with the selection committee for the Pendragon scholarship on Saturday.
He supposed she meant well. He cringed; what was he thinking? Vivian had never been good for his health - or Margaret's, come to think of it. The woman had managed to pop up disconcertingly often whenever he and Margaret had tried to find some quality time together. Even now, in college, Gil had the nagging thought that Vivian was somehow responsible for Margaret avoiding him.
A thought that proved surprisingly accurate as he raised his hand to knock on Vivian's door and heard Margaret's voice inside.
He froze, his hand inches away from the wood. It was Margaret, but as he had never heard her before. She sounded livid.
"I'm done playing your games and following your rules." She must've been speaking pretty loud for Gil to hear her through the thick door.
"And I'm absolutely done sacrificing my future for your sick past! I'm done keeping your secrets, Vivian."
There was a sound like a strangled scream and something smashed against the wall. Margaret! Gil slammed his shoulder into the door and almost fell into the office as the unlocked door gave way.
"What's going on here?"
Margaret was crouching on the floor with her hands covering her head from where she had ducked a large flying crystal. Shards littered the carpet all around her. Vivian was breathing hard, looking like a volcano about to erupt, glowering down at Margaret from next to her desk.
Gilthunder took in the scene with quick eyes. He knelt down next to Margaret. "You ok?" he asked, his touch and tone gentle as he took in her frazzled expression.
Margaret took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm fine." She stood with his help, brushing away bits of crystal from her skirt and turned to glare at Vivian.
"If you think that little display is going to scare me, you're wrong!" Margaret's voice was shaking in fury.
"You're nothing but hot air and empty words like always, Margaret Liones! I'm not falling for your little act," Vivian fumed.
"It's not an act."
Gil turned to see Meliodas standing in the doorway with a stern expression on his face. What the hell was going on here?
"You thought you covered up your tracks pretty well, didn't you Vivian? Well, it sucks for you that we had someone who was just a bit better at looking."
He came in and stuck a tab under Vivian's nose. Gil could feel Margaret trembling slightly next to him and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders to hold her steady. As they watched, Vivian's face drained of colour and her breath started coming out in gasps and pants. Whatever was on that screen was affecting her in a big way.
"You see that, Vivian? You thought you were safe because the old wing wasn't wired for cameras but you forgot the archway and the trellis outside; that's a pretty clear shot of you and Margaret talking together and coming from the direction of Professor Zaratras' office. Not to mention, there's the unexplainable deposit into your bank account exactly two weeks after this." Meliodas looked grim.
Vivian attempted an unconcerned snort but it came out like a wheeze. "What does that prove? I was on a late night stroll and spoke to a young girl on the way! Big fat f*****g deal."
"It will become a big deal if Margaret goes to the Chancellor with this and reveals what she knows," Meliodas pointed out.
"What she knows?" Gil repeated, staring down at the girl by his side. "What does he mean, Margaret?"
"It's a long story, Gil, and I promise I'll tell you every word afterwards," Margaret answered evenly. "But right now I'm more concerned that Vivian doesn't understand the gravity of her situation."
"You speak and Gilthunder loses the scholarship," Vivian snarled.
The penny dropped. Gil stared at Vivian aghast, suddenly realising exactly how and why Margaret had steered clear of him. "You blackmailed Margaret? To keep her away from me?"
"I.. it wasn't like that, Gil," Vivian whined, making an about turn. She suddenly came around her desk and approached him with tears shining in her eyes. "I was just making sure you had all the best opportunities -"
"Yeah, you can drop the act now," Meliodas interrupted. "We're not interested in raking up old ghosts. I'm sure even Gil wouldn't want that -" Gil quickly nodded to confirm to Meliodas that he did NOT, under any circumstances, want that old scandal revitalised in public, "- so all we need from you is an assurance that you will disappear from the university at the end of the semester and out of our lives just as soon as possible. Like, now."
"So, you're blackmailing me?" Vivian's voice was flat.
Meliodas grinned. "Did I say that?" His face turned serious. "I've watched you tear apart my friends for too long, Vivian. If I'd had any inkling this was going on I'd have come at you a long time ago. Fortunately for you, Margaret knows how to keep a secret." Gil felt Margaret take a shuddering breath and he squeezed her shoulder comfortingly. "You and I both know that threats won't work on me."
For a moment, the pair stared at each other, Vivian's hands clenched in fury, Meliodas' crossed casually behind his back. Gil could see the cogs turning in Vivian's brain as she considered and discarded a number of possibilities and plans. The tension thickened until his eyes were swimming; Margaret squirmed as the silence stretched on.
And then, Vivian was sagging against her desk and dropping her gaze. "I'll be gone by next week," she murmured. "You won't hear from me again."
"Excellent!" Meliodas was at the door and motioning his friends out. "I'm just going to stay behind and finalise the 'terms', ok? You guys go on ahead." He winked before he closed the door in their faces.
An awkward silence arose between Margaret and Gil. Why couldn't he think of anything to say?
Margaret broke it.
"I guess that's that, then. What do we do now?"
Gil stared at her for a minute, then smiled.
"How about a drink at the Boar's Hat? My treat." He nudged her shoulder with his, affectionately.
An answering smile lit up her face, glowing like the full moon as his hand found hers, wrapping around it as if he never intended to let her go.
A/N
Epilogue on the way! Please review, favourite and follow to see the updates and keep an eye out for more Margaret and Gilthunder goodies to come on my account. Thank you for reading and I hope your ships keep sailing strong and true :)
