A.N: This chapter is so totally late and I am so sorry about that! It's all my own fault for not managing my time better. I meant to post this on Saturday, but my friend got married and I took longer than I expected to get ready. Then Sunday, my parents signed up the entire family for a competition against other families in the park. Picture the end of Cheaper By The Dozen 2 (minus someone as hot as Tom Welling competing) and that was pretty much my Sunday. On the plus side... we won! But I was too tired to post. So this really should have gone up yesterday, but it being Memorial Day here in the States, it was a family affair. And when the family left I became so engrossed in my novel, that I literally finished it at around midnight. By the way, is anyone reading the Vampire Academy books? OMG! Because they're so good! They just started filming the movie today and I am very obsessed! But here's the beginning of the end of Part One. Now, as I already told you... this story has 6 parts. And they're all entitled with song titles. Part One is called "Beautiful Disaster". It's sung by Kelly Clarkson and it's very obvious why that's part one. But we're coming to the end of it because Gwen is starting to let go and give in. This is the beginning of the Arwen ship starting to set sail in this story. If you've ever been on a cruise, picture this as the part when the Captain is welcoming you aboard and you're about to go off to sea. Of course, you have to do that tedious safety on the sea course... so for some... this will feel like torture... for others... you'll feel excitement cause you're about to embark on a wonderful adventure. At least I hope you think so. I certainly think so. :)
Anyway, as always... please read... please review... I wish I could thank you all personally for the wonderful reviews I've gotten for this story but there's been way too many to personally respond to. Wish is so incredibly shocking to me considering I haven't been writing Arwen stories very long. Just know that I do read them all and they all make me smile. They brighten my day. Seriously. Thank you. Also, I'm really enjoying all the comments that I'm getting about Lance... he's like hated more than Vivian... you might be surprised about what endgame I have in store for him... but trust me... I'm going to start teasing it soon. Also, Merlin will be getting a love interest in this story. And no, it's not Lance. I'm working with my good friend Myriam on how to bring that story thread into the mix. I know who it is and I know how he's connected to Merlin and I know a lot of you will be heartbroken over their love story. I'm really looking forward to writing that by the way. Well, without further ado... here it is... the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 7
Gwen sat at her desk with an open book in front of her. She twirled a highlighter in her hand when a knock on the door made her look up.
"Come in…" she called out softly. She smiled when her father stuck his head in the crack of the door. "Hi, Daddy."
Tom grinned at his daughter. "Hello, Gwennie. I just got in. Why are you still up, dear?"
"Studying…" she frowned. "Exams are tomorrow. The last before the musical."
"Ah yes…" Tom raised his eyebrows. "The secret musical you refuse to tell me anything about…"
She rolled her eyes. "I told you about some of the details."
"You told me you wrote the script. But nothing of what's in it," he said.
"Well, it's a surprise…" she shrugged. "You are coming, right dad?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." He walked over to her and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Don't stay up too late."
"I won't dad."
"I haven't seen much of Merlin lately." He said with a frown. "Where is he?"
"Oh, Merlin's made a new friend…" she grinned.
"Oh, has he now…." Tom nodded.
"Not that kind of friend, dad." Gwen rolled her eyes.
"Oh." Tom said awkwardly. "A proper friend then?"
"Yes, a proper friend." She said. "He's my friend too actually… you'll probably meet him tomorrow."
"And does this friend have a name?" Tom continued with interest.
"His name is Arthur…" she stretched out.
"Does this Arthur have a last name?"
"Pendragon…" she answered. "Why are you interrogating me?"
"Pen… as in Uther Pendragon's son?" Tom asked with confusion.
"I think so, yeah…" Gwen nodded. "Why?"
Tom eyed her warily with a slight frown. "No reason…"
"Dad…" she started noticing his expression.
"It's nothing, Gwen." Tom cut her off. "I'll look forward to meeting this Arthur tomorrow."
"I'll introduce you properly after the show… hopefully he doesn't leave right when it ends or early."
"He's in the musical?"
"He created the set pieces…" Gwen said proudly. "Wait until you see it, dad. He's really very talented."
"I can't wait to see it, Gwen." He smiled tightly. "Well, goodnight… go to sleep soon. You'll be groggy in the morning if you don't."
"I will." She smiled. "Goodnight, dad."
Tom closed the door softly to her room and leaned his head against the wood. "The Pendragon boy…" he shook his head. "How does Gwen know Uther's bloody son?"
Arthur stood in line with his lunch tray waiting for his turn to pick what he wanted. He almost jumped when the tiny blond appeared next to him out of nowhere.
"Hi!" she greeted with a bubbly smile. "Arthur, right? I'm Vivian! Gwen's friend."
"Hi…" he greeted with a grimace.
"Are you ready for tomorrow?" she asked him as he stepped forward and picked up a bowl of fruit in front of him.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" he turned to her with confusion. "I won't be the one performing."
"Oh I'm not nervous…" she waved the question off. "I've done this all my life. My mother says I was practically born for the stage."
"I don't doubt that." He grinned tightly.
She laughed loudly. "So what are you doing after the show tomorrow? Spending time with Merlin, I'm assuming?"
"Probably…" Arthur shrugged. "Why?"
"Oh so it's true then?" she leaned in. "That you and he are… you know… together?"
"What?" Arthur snapped his gaze toward her. "Uh… no… we're not… I'm not… what?"
"I just assumed since you and he… you know… spend a lot of time together…" she shrugged.
"No… we're not. Merlin's my friend." Arthur said.
"Well, then that means you and I can spend some time together after the show…" she said with a smile. "Unless… there's someone else…"
"I…" he stumbled. "I'm not sure that I can…"
"Well, think about and decide by tomorrow…" she grinned. "I'll see you then. Goodbye, Arthur."
"Bye…"
He watched her walk away with some confusion not understanding why she was now speaking to him when she'd never even glanced in his direction.
"What the hell did Barbie want?" Merlin asked with a scowl.
"Hello to you too, mate." Arthur shook his head leading them to an empty table. "Not sure… I think she just asked me out."
"Like on a date?" Merlin asked. "You said no right?"
"I didn't say much of anything…" Arthur shrugged. "She didn't give me the chance."
"Well, I don't trust her." Merlin shook his head and looked over his shoulder watching her sit with Lance and Mithian.
"She thought that you and I were…" Arthur looked up. "You know… together or something…"
Merlin laughed out loud. "No offense mate…. But you're not exactly my type."
"Oy!" Arthur sat back feeling slightly offended. "I think I'm pretty fit."
"Of course you do…" Merlin said with a smile as he stole a strawberry from his bowl. "But I like the dark haired and light eyes combination more."
"Oh…" Arthur leaned forward with a grumble. "Well, you're not might type either…"
"Well… now that that's been cleared up…" Merlin rolled his eyes with a shake of his head. "Have you spoken to Gwen?"
"Not since the diner…" Arthur shook his head. "She wasn't kidding, was she? When she said that she'd be locked up studying?"
Merlin nodded his head. "Gwen's serious about her studies." He took a grape this time and popped it into his mouth. "But she should be finishing up with her last exam in a few minutes…. You can see her then."
"I'm supposed to meet Gwaine in a few." Arthur shook his head. "I've got to set up another fight now that exams are over my volunteer work is done. I'm running low on money. As if I wasn't already broke as it is."
Merlin frowned.
"What?" Arthur asked.
"Just…" Merlin shook his head. "Never mind… ignore me."
"What is it, Merlin?"
"Well, why do you fight?" he asked leaning on the table in front of him.
"Because I need the money…" Arthur answered. "We've discussed this."
"I know that…" Merlin nodded. "I just don't understand why you do… I know your father is Uther Pen-"
"I don't speak to my father." Arthur frowned.
"You never speak of him either…" Merlin continued. "Why is that?"
"There's nothing to say…"
"What about the reasons why you're living in a shitty flat when your father is Uther bloody Pendragon?"
"Because my father and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of things." Arthur answered. "Not since-"
"Since what?" Merlin asked. "What caused such a rift between you two?"
"I don't like talking about it…"
"If you can't talk about it to me, who can you talk to?"
"Nobody! That's why I don't talk to anyone about it!" Arthur screamed. He looked around him and noticed there were other eyes on him. "I have to go…" he mumbled standing and walking away.
"Arthur!"
He continued walking ignoring Merlin until he disappeared from view. Merlin swore and frowned.
"Hey…" Gwen walked up to him with a grin. "I'm done with my semester…. What about you- Merlin? What's wrong?"
"I think I really fucked things up, Gwen." Merlin sighed.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I think I pushed Arthur back into his shell…"
"Arthur!" Gwaine greeted with a grin putting out his fag. "It's been a while, mate! How have you been?"
"Fine… just busy…" Arthur frowned. "Do you have anything lined up for me?"
"I have something for tomorrow night…" Gwaine said with a smile.
"I can't tomorrow night." Arthur shook his head. "I have something to do… what about the next night?"
"Nothing for the weekend, mate… Sorry…" Gwaine shook his head. "I can schedule you in on Monday night though? How's that?"
"Perfect actually…"
Gwaine told him he'd text the location on Monday afternoon. Arthur turned and walked away with his head lowered.
He didn't realize he was being watched. Lance stepped out from behind a tree and frowned. Arthur was clearly involved in something illegal and it was happening on Monday. He grinned knowingly. Monday he'll finally learn what Arthur Pendragon was hiding.
"So Merlin thinks he's completely ruined his friendship with you…."
Arthur turned around and smiled softly. "He didn't."
"The poor boy is practically stricken with grief…" Gwen said with a smile as she sat next to him in the auditorium. "You should really put him out of his misery…"
"I will…" he shrugged with a knowing grin. "Eventually…"
Gwen laughed. "What did he say that upset you so much?"
Arthur shook his head. "It was nothing…"
"Arthur…" she tried.
With a sigh, "he asked about my father."
"Oh…" she said understanding. "You never speak of your father."
"There's a reason for that…"
"I'm sorry…" she apologized. "I'm sure Merlin's heart was in the right place. It always is…"
"It was…" Arthur agreed. "It's just not a subject I like talking about…"
"Can I ask why…" she asked leaning in closer to him.
He shook his head. "My father and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of things… especially about my future…"
"I think I know how this story goes…"
He laughed lightly. "Yeah, probably… it's very cliché…." Arthur shook his head. "That's my father… a cliché…"
"I'm sorry, Arthur." She said softly. "So he won't be here tomorrow night?"
"He doesn't even know I attend this uni." Arthur snorted.
"Really?" Gwen asked.
Arthur nodded. "When I said I didn't want his life and walked out of his home, he disowned me. He hasn't shown any interest in my life or my whereabouts in years."
"I don't believe that." She shook her head.
"Trust me, Gwen… you don't know my father. He can be a real son of a bitch." Arthur said with a laugh.
"I may not know him… but I know you…" she sat back with a frown. "And wherever he is… some part of him must miss you and wonder where you are and if you're okay…"
"How can you be so sure about that?" Arthur asked.
"Because that's how I would feel…" she shrugged.
His eyes widened at the same time hers did.
"I'm sorry…" she recovered. "I shouldn't have said that… I just… You don't have to say anything."
"No, its okay…" he said shaking his head and lifting his hand toward her face. He pushed a curl behind her ear. "No one's ever cared about me like that… not since my older sister disappeared when I was a kid."
"I remember the story…" her frown became deeper. "I wasn't going to bring it up."
He shrugged still playing with her curls. "I haven't thought of her in a long time…"
Gwen shuddered under his touch. "I can relate… my brother left home years ago and I haven't seen or spoken to him since… he and my father had their own falling out about his future and Eli just left to America to get as far away from my dad."
"Gwen…"
"Yes?"
"Do you… fancy going out somewhere?"
She bit her lip. "With you?"
He nodded slowly.
"Like on a date?" she continued.
He laughed out loud. "Is that a yes then?"
"It's just strange that you're asking me…"
"Why?" it was his turn to frown.
She chewed her bottom lip contemplating his question. She'd never felt drawn to someone the way she was drawn to him. It was electrifying and it scared her more than anything. She could fall in love with him. She knew it. He was trouble. She'd been warned about him countless of times by her friends and even her own father's reaction to him was worrisome. But Gwen was tired of playing it safe. She wanted to be reckless. She wanted to do something that she'd been longing to do. She watched as he leaned in closer. He wanted to kiss her. She could see it in his eyes. She pulled back before his lips could brush against hers. They'd come close twice already. The first time, they'd been interrupted. Now it was her that was denying him what he wanted. His frown deepened and she smiled softly.
"If I said yes… would I come to regret it?"
"I hope not." He whispered.
"I want to say yes…"
"But?" he asked.
Was there a "but"? What was holding her back? Everything she'd been warned against, she only saw the exact opposite in him. He may have been rough around the edges when they'd first met. But he'd changed over the course of the few weeks they'd known each other. Or maybe he hadn't changed and it was only now that he was allowing her to see the real him. Maybe the rude and arrogant prat he'd been when they'd first met was the act. Maybe this vulnerable side was the real Arthur. He'd been hurt before. She could see it in his eyes when he was talking about his father and his deceased sister. He'd been abandoned. He'd been shunned. He'd recoiled to the outer edges of society so that he wasn't noticed. If no one ever knew his last name, they wouldn't know the prestige he was born from. They wouldn't know the world he came from. But she did. And she understood it. But more than that, she understood wanting to escape it. Because sometimes she did too. Lately, more and more she wanted to escape her world that had been served to her on a silver platter. She wanted to be like him and live on the edges of society. She wanted to be free like Merlin and strong like Arthur. She wanted to be herself.
"Yes."
With that one word, his entire face lit up.
"My answer is yes, Arthur."
She smiled and leaned in to kiss his cheek quickly before standing up with a bright smile.
"I'll see you tomorrow night then?"
"Right." He nodded. "Tomorrow."
She tried to hide her smile as she walked out of the auditorium, leaving him alone. He slouched in the chair and leaned his head back rubbing his face before he picked up his mobile and sent out a quick text.
I did it. I asked her out.
He waited a few moments for a response.
I know. ;-)
Arthur frowned.
What are you? A bloody wizard? How the hell did you know? It just happened.
He waited for a response and shook his head with a grin when he read it.
Because I was the first person she called, Prat. :-P
Arthur laughed. He should have known.
