Read The Future King: Logres for Free Online

annoying.’
    ‘Chatting about someone, are we?’
    The girls looked up. Viola stood next to them with her slender arms
crossed. Her hair was down today, long and like dark chocolate, and for a
moment Gwenhwyfar wondered if this was why Hattie, Charlotte and Emily bitched
about her so; wondered if it was because she was taller than all of them,
thinner, and model-like in her stature. ‘Go on then,’ the slender girl sniped,
‘who’s bulimic? I’m dying to know.’
    ‘Go away, Viola,’ Emily hissed. ‘This doesn’t concern you.’
    ‘You’re right, it doesn’t. Shall I go fetch Charlotte instead?’
    ‘Charlotte’s not here,’ snapped Hattie.
    Viola smiled, sarcasm spreading her lips. ‘Yes she is. She’s hiding
in the girls’ toilets. Not throwing
up, by the way.’
    Emily huffed. ‘What is it you wanted?’
    ‘Nothing. Tom’s throwing a party, and you’re all invited.’ Viola
uncrossed her arms. ‘Charlotte too, if she’s not too busy avoiding you.’
    For a moment, all ice seemed to melt.
    ‘A party?’ Hattie’s excitement mirrored Gwenhwyfar’s own. ‘When?’
    ‘Tomorrow. Half-seven: at his house,’ Viola revealed with reluctance.
‘But it’s not like you have to come, or anything. I’m sure you all have better
things to do with your time. You know, like bitch about Charlotte?’
    ‘Whatever,’ Emily remarked. ‘Who’s going?’
    ‘The usual, but he wanted me to make sure you’re coming because one
of his friends fancies her .’ She
managed to muster a certain amount of disgust when looking at Gwenhwyfar, who
recoiled under the insult.
    ‘Who? Not Gavin again?’ The others looked her way with surprise.
    ‘No.’ Viola expelled an irritable sigh. ‘Tom’s other friend, Hector.’
    Gwenhwyfar found herself gaining interest. ‘Who’s Hector?’
    ‘Are you coming, or what?’
    The classroom was beginning to fill up. Bedivere was walking to his
desk with Morgan, and for a moment Gwenhwyfar’s attention was diverted. They
were talking amiably, and it annoyed her. The doe-eyed girl had still barely said
more than two words to her, despite Gwenhwyfar’s continued efforts. Hattie and
Emily consulted one another with a quick glance.
    ‘Yeah, definitely,’ Hattie enthused.
    ‘Why not?’ Emily added. ‘Gwen?’
    Once again Gwenhwyfar recalled her narcissistic fantasies from a few
nights ago, and felt them dance around her head. ‘Whatever. I’ll go if I have
to.’

 
    * * *

 
    By the time the bell drove them into the corridors they had forgotten
all about Charlotte. English was Gwenhwyfar’s first lesson of the day, and she
soon caught up with Bedivere. He was not alone. With the lack of hospitality
that Morgan had shown her still green in her mind, Gwenhwyfar closed the final
few paces between them.
    ‘Hey Morgan.’ She
flashed the surprised girl a wide smile, positioning herself between her and
Bedivere. ‘Thanks for letting me share your History book the other day. It was
really kind of you.’
    Stunned, Morgan failed to respond, then frowned as she realised the
other girl had no reason to thank her at all.
    ‘Gwen, right?’ Bedivere enquired, pleased by the fresh company. ‘Who
walked into us on Monday?’
    ‘That’s right.’ Gwenhwyfar flicked her hair over her shoulder, a move
she had seen both her mother and Emily perform numerous times. ‘I’m sorry about
that. Emily never looks where she’s going.’ The mention of her friend’s name
sparked interest in his eyes. ‘Bedivere, right?’ He nodded. ‘It’s a cool name.
I would’ve sat next to you on Tuesday, but when I came in you weren’t there.’
    ‘Don’t worry about it. I’m not usually late. I had to take a detour
to the Maths department to hand in some homework. I thought he wouldn’t make me
do it as I was ill when it was set, but I thought wrong.’
    Gwenhwyfar ignored Morgan as she tromped beside her in annoyance. ‘How
horrible! Was that Mr Slow? He gave me almost a month’s