Most of the day had sped by rather quickly for Merlin as he went from class after class until lunch period where he now proceeded to look around the massingly crowded room filled with many students of various ages and grade levels for any sign of his friends, Lancelot and Gwen.
"You seem lost." He heard a male voice walking up to him from behind.
Merlin turned to see a young man about a year or two older than him which a much more bigger build. He had semi long dark brown hair like Lancelot's, blue green eyes, and wore a big grin on his face.
"Actually I am looking for a couple friends of mine." Merlin corrected him before turning away and once again proceeded to look around the room for any sign of Lancelot and Gwen.
"Well I'm actually quite popular if I do say so myself. I know a lot of people. Perhaps I can help you find whoever it is you are looking for." The man added before giving a wink to a young woman passing by them who blushed and giggled as she continued walking.
The guy grinned as he used his thumb and pinky finger on his right hand pressed against his ear and mouth gesturing for her to call him.
"Yes...I can see that..." Merlin replied watching him flirt and couldn't help but shake his head a little.
The man turned back to face Merlin once the girl was out of his eyesight. "So who is it you're looking for?" He asked continuing on with the conversation. Clearly the guy didn't know when to quit.
For a moment Merlin wondered if he should actually tell this guy his friends names. Sure it might help him find them faster if he could even find them at all but then again what if Gwen and Lancelot knew him and didn't like him? He would be leading him right to them.
"Well?"
Merlin sighed. What choice did he really have? "Their names are Gwen and Lancelot." He told him.
"Ah. Lance and the beautiful Gwen."
"So you do know them then?"
"Of course. I told you. I know everyone." The man grinned as Merlin resisted the urge to roll his eyes. This guy was way too cocky for his own good.
"In fact I even know their usual sitting place, come on." The man said quickly grabbing Merlin's wrist before he could react and dragging him off through the crowd of students towards the center of the room.
"By the way name's Gwaine. What's yours?" The man added over his shoulder as he continued to weave Merlin in and out of the crowd giving each woman he saw either a wink or a grin along the way.
"I'm Merlin."
Gwaine led him to a small table right in the center of the lunch room where sat Lancelot, Gwen, and two other students, a guy and a girl, he had not yet met.
"Hello Gwaine." the girl, with long wavy dark brown hair fair colored skin and green eyes, spoke with a warm smile. "Who is this?"
"This is Merlin. I found him wandering around lost." Gwaine replied as he sat down next to the woman with a smile.
"I wasn't lost." Merlin stubbornly insisted as he sat down by the other side of Lancelot.
"Sorry Merlin. Gwen and I didn't know if you shared the same lunch period with us." Lancelot apologized while Merlin shrugged it off like it was no big deal.
"So...Mer-lin, Lancelot says you're new here." the guy, a young man with short blonde hair and blue eyes, spoke this time addressing Merlin in a pratty like fashion.
"Arthur be nice." Gwen scolded him.
"Don't mind Arthur, he can be a bit of prat when it comes to meeting someone new." The other girl added sweetly as she glared at the guy who they referred to as Arthur that didn't seem to notice at all.
Merlin nodded. "The name is Merlin and yes I just moved here yesterday and started here today." He sternly corrected and informed Arthur glaring at him slightly wondering how such nice people like Gwen and Lancelot could ever be friends with such a prat like Arthur.
"In the middle of second semister too huh? Sucks to be you." Arthur replied uncaringly.
"Arthur might seem like a jerk when you first get to know him but he is actually a great guy I promise." Lancelot whispered to Merlin who looked anything but convinced.
"Really Arthur, do you have to be such a jerk all the time?" The girl spoke continuing to glare at Arthur before adding to Merlin "I'm Morgana."
Merlin smiled a little. At least she was much nicer than Arthur. "I'm Merlin...but I guess you already knew that." He replied.
"Morgana is my best friend. We've known each other since we were kids." Gwen told Merlin who nodded. He could easily believe that as he had only just met Morgana and she seemed just as sweet as Gwen.
"So...how's about the six of us hang out at that old cafe after school?" Gwaine offered.
"Sorry I can't. I'm going to try out for that Camelot production." Lancelot replied.
This seemed to surprise Arthur greatly as he forced himself to swallow down the pop he had been drinking at the moment before replying "But we have football practice."
"I'll still be on time." Lancelot assured him.
"And what if this play interferes with one of our games?"
"I'll work something out." Lancelot promised.
"Well I think it's good you're trying out for it Lancelot. You did such an amazing job as Romeo last time. I look forward to seeing your next performance. Arthur is just jealous because he couldn't act to save his life." Morgana replied making an obvious jeer at Arthur.
"I can so act! I just don't like too." Arthur argued.
Merlin could easily tell where this was going. The two of them would argue back and forth until Morgana secretly convinced him, in order to protect his pride, to try out as well. It was a classic trick and Arthur was falling for it perfectly.
"Oh yeah? Prove it." Morgana challenged him trying not to grin as she reeled him like a fish.
"Alright, I will! I'll go with Lancelot and Guinevere after school, try out, and get a major role just to prove you wrong, Morgana."
"We will see Arthur." Morgana grinned.
"What about you Merlin? Are you going to try out?" Gwaine asked.
'Me? No I shouldn't. I'm not much of an actor..' Merlin mumbled. He feared being humilatied in front of so many people.
"Good. Then you can join me after school."
"Actually I was going to stay and watch Gwen and Lancelot try out."
"You're no fun." Gwaine pouted.
"You should come with us Gwaine. We'll go to the cafe while Arthur and Lancelot are at practice." Morgana offered.
"Not part of my usual plan but what the heck? I'll take it." Gwaine replied before whispering to Merlin "One for you and one for me eh?" elbowing him in the side.
Merlin frowned. He had to admit Gwen and Morgana were both beautiful and nice but for some reason he didn't think of them that way. Perhaps he was just waiting for someone more special to come along?
After setting up their plans for the evening they took their meals outside to enjoy the fresh air and where Lancelot would feel much more comfortable practicing in front of a much smaller audience.