"Only bad people live to see
Their likeness set in stone"
Cú had his arm wrapped around Jeanne securely, glare shooting at the young man before him as the other ate some fries. There was tension at the cafeteria table and everyone knew. Both males were tense as Jeanne continued to write down notes on her notebook focusing her attention on the textbook next to her and not on the two boys.
"Why, again, is he sitting with us?" Cú grit his teeth. It was one thing that Gilgamesh had threatened to take Jeanne away but it was another that he was starting to sit with them at lunch.
"Because he's our friend." Jeanne looked over at her boyfriend, smile on her face before she returned her attention to the textbook, "and he's your friend. So, as friends usually do, we all sit together."
It had been a week since the P.A incident and ever since then, Gilgamesh sat with them during lunch because 'no one else was worth his time'. Since Cú had been in detention for half of it, he was extremely irritated upon seeing Gil and Jeanne sitting next to each other, Gil too close for comfort.
"He's not my friend. He's my rival." Cú pulled Jeanne a little closer while Gil scoffed.
Jeanne nearly rolled her eyes, trying to pry herself away because she wanted to finish her notes.
"And I'm going to win. Just because you're dating her doesn't mean you're end game." Gil shrugged, bringing a fry into his mouth and leaning his head on his hand.
Cú had to stop from calling out the blond's stupidity. "Dating usually means end game." He deadpanned.
The snobby rich kid shook his head, "Marriage does."
"Okay!" Guinevere finally stepped in, "I think we ought to change the subject!"
Gil groaned, "Yeah, well I'm not the stupid one here." His wrinkled his nose and stuck out his tongue.
"Says the guy eating fries with a fork."
"Hey, I'm no mutt, I am civilized and cultured."
"Fries are a finger food!" Cú argued, "They're meant to eaten like that. Do you stab oysters with forks too?"
Gilgamesh frowned, he was that close to stabbing the Irishman with his fork too but Guinevere spoke up.
"Well, if these two could just lower the sexual tension, I think I would be able to enjoy my food." She played with the salad before her, "I would think we have more pressing matters to worry about, rather than meaningless displays of authority."
Laughing, Gwaine coughed, "Maybe we should chill. All of us." He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye, "Although, I am really loving the rivalry, I suggest we do figure out what to do about the whole Artie deal. I mean, I can't let my cousin suffer."
"Thank you," Arturia acknowledged. "I, however, only need to mislead the entire school."
"Which, I'm guessing, means taking their attention somewhere else?" Guinevere lifted a brow, playing with one of her pig tails.
The Englishwoman nodded, green eyes looking around the cafeteria. "I think…" she mumbled, "It's best to talk somewhere else. I'll book a study room for after school. I'll send you all the room number later." She then stood from the cafeteria table.
"Even me?" Gilgamesh asked, almost as if testing the waters to check if he too was allowed to tag along.
Arturia raised a brow, "Aren't you on our side now?"
"Where are you going?" Jeanne had finally lifted her head from her book upon her best friend swinging her bag over her shoulder.
"I have to go to the library to book the room." She said and immediately Jeanne and Guin stood too.
"We'll join you," Guin smiled, "let the boys mingle. I'm sure they're dying to get time without us girls."
"Yes!" Jeanne shut her book close, a smile brightly lighting her face, "I also need to spend some time with you two."
Cú held her hand and gently landed a kiss on it. "See you after school, princess," he winked.
Guin whistled and Jeanne immediately hid her face behind the textbook, rushing over to Arturia. They bid a farewell to the boys before leaving towards the library. Not long before they turned their back on the four boys, the bickering between the two red-eyed males began.
"They have a lot more in common than they think, don't they?" Guinevere giggled, "Oh Jeanne, I feel sorry for you. I would rather die than be in between those two. They seem like dogs fighting over a piece of meat. And you are much more than that."
"You're making me feel like I should regret my decision to date Cú…" Jeanne frowned, "But I don't."
"Oh," Guinevere shook her head, "No, I didn't mean that at all. In fact, you two are my o.t.p, but I'm just saying that Cú shouldn't act all defensive. I mean, we all know that you don't like Gil that way."
"Yeah, but it's understandable. Cú sees a threat to the relationship and, even if isn't like that, he's scared to lose you." Arturia deadpanned, blinking once to emphasize how visible this was.
"Can I walk you home today?" Cú sat down next to Jeanne in the study room. The end of the day had come and as they had promised to Arturia, they started to trickle into the room she booked.
Jeanne stopped organizing the white board markers and looked at her boyfriend. She glanced back at the markers, eyes trying to find another place to focus on. She could smell the cigarette smoke lingering off his uniform. No matter how much he chewed mint gum, the smell was not going to go away. "I…" she began.
"It's Friday…" He mumbled, hoping that could convince her.
She shook her head slowly, "I have to go to work today. The other kid quit and now I have to do weekend shifts."
His hand reached out for her face but she inched away. He tried not to let his frown show and neither his hurt at her action. He cleared his throat as he heard Gwaine loudly flirting with two girls outside the study room; soon entering with Lancelot.
"Hey, lovebirds. Where's the rest of the gang?" Gwaine asked after noting that the couple were the only people in the room.
Cú shrugged, "Beats me."
"Artie said she was just finishing up some papers, but she'll be here soon." Jeanne huffed, "Guin and Gil are still off the radar."
The door burst open just as the males were taking their seats. "Back on the radar!" Guinevere grinned, pulling the blond in along with her. "Found Gil trying to escape; had no luck, as you can see."
It wasn't long before Arturia made it to the study room, closing the door behind herself.
"So," she started, "If you still don't know why you're all here… It's to decide what we can do so that eyes and ears are taken off Dia and I and put on something else. The whole Gil thing did its job but it can only last for so long. So, any ideas?"
Arturia took her place in front of the white board as Jeanne passed her a dry erase marker. All the other teens were seated in front of the group table, eyes cast upon her.
"Don't do anything stupid till school's over?" Gwaine lifted his feet up to the table, crossing his arms over his chest.
Lancelot shook his head, "How about making Diarmuid change schools?"
"No!" Everyone, except Gilgamesh, scolded.
Guinevere shot her hand up. "I have the perfect idea," She giggled. A mischievous smile grew on her lips.
"What might that be?" Arturia questioned, cautious. Guinevere never had the best ides, she always made up something crazy.
"It's simple," the brunette shrugged, "you fake a boyfriend."
There was utter silence that bubbled up in the room. Arturia was, undoubtedly, shocked; as was everyone else. What she said took a while for it to sink in to everyone but then the joint response of half the group came.
"What?!" Arturia, Jeanne, Lancelot and Cú gasped in unison.
"I second that!" Gwaine exclaimed, "I already have the perfect kiddo!"
"Are you insane?" Arturia coughed, the shock had been too great, she could barely breathe right.
"Actually," Gilgamesh reasoned, "That doesn't sound so bad. But, it would have to be believable; Grainne is a hard one to fool."
Guinevere nodded as she stood up from the table, "True that." She took a dry erase marker from Jeanne and popped it open. "You see," she began, "It will take all the attention off the Chem teacher," she drew a male stick figure, marker squeaking with every stroke, "and then it will be directed to you and the mystery man."
"And who would that be?" Arturia crossed her arms over her chest, sitting down on the edge of the table.
"I vote Gilgamesh!" Cú raised his hand.
Guinevere gave him a sideways glance, she groaned, "Not believable the slightest. Everyone knows that Gilgamesh likes Jeanne and Arturia hates Gil. We need someone who can really fit the role."
"What about Bedi? He likes Artie," Jeanne suggested, leaning unto the table.
"No!" Arturia shook her head, "I am not going to play with his feelings!"
"Gwaine, darling, you said you had the right man before." Guin pointed at the blond heir with her pink marker, "Mind telling us his name?"
Gwaine stood from his seat, smug smile on his lips, "Oh, I have the perfect guy; Dany."
Arturia smacked her forehead, she sighed, "Oh gosh, not him, please."
"Or do you prefer Lionel?" Gwaine chirped.
"Dany it is, then."
"Who is Dany?" Jeanne pipped, blinking at the blonde young man.
"Dinadan Brunor; he's two years older than us and a former member of the fencing school we all used to attend. This guy is all jokes and fun and really couldn't care less about dating." The playboy explained as he took another dry erase marker and wrote the boy's name on the board.
"And what makes you think he'll get in on it? You did just say he likes nothing romance." Guinevere questioned, brow raising.
"I agree with the idiot for once," Lancelot spoke up, "Dinadan seems like a perfect candidate. Since he dislikes dating and romance; he won't go around growing feelings for Arturia. Plus, he likes to joke around so, why not?"
"Okay… what do you think, Artie?"
Arturia lifted a brow and turned to Lancelot, "What about Tristan? I'm closer with him."
Lancelot shook his head, "No can do, sweetheart. He has a girlfriend."
"Oh! Almost forgot; Iseult, right?"
"Mhm."
"Darn, Tristan would have been perfect." She mumbled, "Alright, I guess Dany is the next best thing."
Guinevere's face lit up and she squealed, "So, you're in?"
Arturia sighed, shoulders dropping in defeat, "I don't have much of a choice. It's either that or Dia has to leave, and we can't have that, can we?"
"Arturia, if there's anything I learned about Grainne," Gilgamesh stood from his seat, "it's that she's a hard fish to catch. You need sharks on your side and if you play the right cards; I promise you everything will go smoothly."
"So, what would his majesty suggest?" The Englishwoman turned towards him, frowning, crossing her legs on the table and twirling a marker between her fingers.
The blond shrugged, "The only way to make her believe it, is if you are also questioning yourself."
"Operation Distract Grainne is now in action!" Guinevere clapped her hands.
Gwaine rolled his eyes, "You couldn't think of a better name?"
"What?" The brunette whined, "I didn't have much time."
"Okay, but are you sure Dany is going to agree?" Jeanne asked.
"I'll be cashing in the favours he owes me." Gwaine grinned, winking.
Guinevere frowned, "I don't even want to know."
"Oh!" Cú stood from his seat, "Just wanted to tell you guys, before you leave," he watched as everyone stopped packing their things, "I'm not going to be here for the next week and a half, 'kay?"
"Why?" Jeanne immediately questioned.
The blue-haired boy wiggled his eyebrows, "You don't want me to leave?"
"You can go wherever you want." She deadpanned, shocking the rest of the teens; they had never seen this side of her before—not in public at least, in front of everyone.
Cú stopped the frown that he felt was threatening to slip and gave his charming frivolous smile, "Dad's gonna visit and my sister wants to make sure I don't disappoint him so… intensive manners training." He cringed, "Hope you guys don't miss me too much."
"Oh, don't worry about that." Jeanne shut her book, loudly, causing everyone to jump and then she slung her bag over her shoulder and stormed out the room, not even bidding her farewells.