To Love, and Love, and Lose (Day 6- Betrayed)
I paced the small door room, biting my lip as I twirled the small box around my fingers behind my back. Tiny box of uncertainty, making my stomach churn as it tumbled around my fingers. The door creaked open, making me snap my head up, only to see my sister. She jumped as she spotted me before furrowing her eyebrows together, looking around the room.
“Bro, you know Gwen’s at cheer practice until like, seven tonight, right?” She asked, sighing.
“Yyyyes? What time is it now?” I plopped down on Morgana’s bed, shoving the box into my pocket as I looked up at her. She pulled out an ancient-looking silver watch from under her cloak, popping it open with her thumb.
“Four-thirty.” I groaned, laying back on her bed and pouting at the ceiling. “What’s going on? You’re never this impatient.” I bolted up in the bed, my golden hair falling in front of my eyes as she gave me a concerned look.
“I nearly forgot to tell you-”
“I’m going to take that as you would have forgotten to tell me if it was Gwen instead.” A small smirk crossed her features as I felt the tips of my long ears blush, slightly drooping.
“Okay, yeah. But- look-” I fumbled with my jacket, pulling out the box.
“What are you so dressed up fo-” Her voice fizzled out as she saw the box, eyes growing wide. “Artie,” she said after a moment, her eyes never leaving the box, “is that what I think it is?”
“Y-yeah. It is.” I opened the box as I spoke, sharply inhaling as the ring glittered- a sharp inhale that Morgana echoed. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while and- and I’ve made up my mind. I’m gonna propose to her, Morgie.”
“Artie.” Morgana’s voice was shaky at first before she quickly covered it up- not quick enough, though. “Are you really sure about this?”
I felt a ping of sadness as I looked up at her, her red eyes looking almost… scared. Which was impossible- Morgana never got scared.
“Of- of course I’m sure about this. Wha-?”
“Look, I don’t know if you’ve really thought this through.” She turned away from me, walking towards her window.
“I have beyond thought this through- I’ve been thinking about this for months!” I shook my head, standing up and giving her a bewildered look. “I’m not a child, Morgana.”
“Artie,” She bowed her head, her raven hair falling from behind her long, pointed ear.
“I know I’m sometimes not the most mature, and- and I make random, spontaneous decisions but-”
“That’s not what I-”
“Why can’t you just be happy for me?!”
“Arthur Pendragon Maddox.” Her voice echoed, making my voice fall silent. She turned to me, meeting my eyes for just a moment before looking at the wall. “There’s- there’s something I need to tell you. Something important.”
“Important enough that when I tell you I’m proposing-” I paused as Morgana flinched, looking sheepish “Proposing to my girlfriend of eight years you react like-”
“I only react like that because I want to protect you.” She flicked her eyes back to mine, looking more unsure than before. “However, to protect you, I may… I have to tell you something that will hurt you.”
“Morgana. Don’t go all prose-y on me.” I frowned, watching her slightly recoil again. “I thought we made a promise about being open with each other after all the crap that happened in middle school?”
Morgana mumbled to herself, likely cursing that promise, before sighing. “I didn’t know how to tell you. I still don’t. But it- it can’t be avoided. You may want to sit down.”
I did as she asked, sitting on her bed and swinging my legs gently as she paced, occasionally looking at me before returning her gaze to the floor. “I wanted to tell you the minute I found out, I really did, but I knew if I did it’d- it’d break you.” She shook her head, her voice becoming unstable and almost frantic. “But now there’s no choice, and I wish I just told you the day I found out. Because now, now everything is so much worse-”
“Morgana.” My voice was lower and more stern than usual, making her look up at me.
“Right, getting to the point.” She paused, turning away from me. “Do you trust me?”
“What?”
“Do you trust me, Artie.” She looked at me over her shoulder, appearing more uncertain than I’ve ever known her to be. “I just- I need you to answer the question.”
“Of course I do.” The answer came quickly with hardly a thought behind it.
Morgana nodded, her eyes falling to the floor again. “You trust too easily. You give your trust to so many people- people who have hurt you before-”
“That’s in the past, we’ve talked about this-”
“Damn it, Artie, just let me speak!” She snapped, an apologetic look crossing her face soon after. “People who have hurt you before… and people that act to hurt you now. It’s-” Her voice fell as she took a shaky breath. Her shoulders shook as she opened her mouth to speak again, just to snap shut soon after.
“Morg-?”
“It’s Gwen and Lance.” Her voice was strained, eyes shut and fists clenched. There was a blow that was supposed to hit my stomach, I’m sure, but it missed completely.
“What do you mean Gwen and Lance?”
“Your girlfriend and your best friend- Artie-” Her voice cut off again, being replaced with an annoyed shout. “Why is this so hard to explain?!”
“Just- just compare it to one of your books?” I suggested, making her turn to me.
“I… I suppose that would work. Alright- you know the story of the great King that mother used to read to us? The one who ruled his kingdom with a fair and just hand, and was a kind king right up until the day he died?”
“Yes.” I nodded, a wave of nostalgia washing over me as I remembered the late night storytime. “Of course I do- mother named me after him.”
“And there was the King’s right-hand-man. His best Knight, and his best friend.”
“Yes! He was my favorite character when I was younger. You never liked him though.”
“No. I hated him. Because- because he had an affair with the king’s wife.” Morgana’s voice shook, looking at me. “Right under King Arthur’s nose. Lancelot and Guinevere.”
“Where are you going with-?”
“Lance and Gwen.”
I felt a pit begin to form in my stomach as the words left her mouth, realization hitting me like a ton of bricks. The blow that had missed me earlier came back full-force, knocking the wind out of me.
“I don’t suppose you have proof for all this?” I barely managed to strain out. “You don’t expect me to just… believe my best friend and my girlfriend have been going behind my back-”
“I got my information straight from the horse’s mouth.” Her voice became cold, staring at the empty bed. “Lance came by one night, when Gwen was out at a cheer competition. He was drunk as a bat, and went on and on about Gwen- and on and on about their little tryst.” She spat, her crimson eyes becoming almost fiery with anger.
I let a tense silence fall around us as I tried to process the information- Morgana wouldn’t lie to me, not since everything that’s already happened between us, but to believe two of the people I know most in the world would double-cross me was asking too much.
“Is-” My voice came out weak, making me pause and clear my throat. “Is there anyone else who knows about this? Anyone who can back you up?”
“I’ve… I’ve told Liliah. And I believe Medora may have figured it out on her own.” She paused, biting her lip. “I’m not sure who else would know, if anyone.”
“You’re part of the- the astrology club, can’t someone in there predict stuff like this?” I asked, running a hand through my hair.
“We’re astrologists, not fortune-” She paused, rolling her eyes, “Our fortunes don’t work like that. We’re not omnipotent.”
“Can you try?”
“Well,” she paused again, fiddling with the hem of her cloak, “I could ask one of them to come by. Call a quick meeting as a favor-”
“Then do it.” My voice came out harsh and cold, making her flinch. “Please.” Softer this time. I felt desperation setting in- surely this was all a big misunderstanding, surely-
“I’m sorry, Artie.” Finn’s hand barely registered as he patted my shoulder before leaving the room. The door clicked softly as Morgana sat next to me without a word.
“What time is it?” My voice was barely present, crackling between a whisper and a whimper.
“Five-forty-three.” She said, fiddling with her silver watch.
“And Gwen gets back at seven?”
“Yes.”
“Do you mind if I stay a bit longer?”
“Not at all. I’ll go put on some tea and call Marlin.”
“Thank you.”
The door creaked quietly as it opened, Gwen walking in with a bright smile on her face before her eyes landed on me. I stared silently at the cup in front of me as Morgana and Marlin’s conversation ended very suddenly, their eyes flicking between the two of us.
“I believe Marlin and I have some work to do with the Paranormal Unit-” Morgana spoke quickly, standing up so suddenly that the table shook.
“Ah, yes, there have been reports of a poltergeist in the Mini-mart on campus. We should go meet up with the others.” Marlin followed up, adjusting his silver ponytail before grabbing his bag and quickly scooting past Gwen, Morgana not far behind him.
“They’re acting weird. As usual.” Gwen’s voice floated through the air, a chuckle in her voice. When I didn’t respond, she approached, placing her bag on the ground before sitting next to me, quickly taking my hand in hers. “Artie? Baby, what’s wrong?”
I yanked my hand from hers, turning my head away. “When were you planning on telling me about this?” My voice was quiet, a small tremble in it.
“About what?” Worry filled Gwen’s voice as her hand ghosted over my back and shoulder. I couldn’t help but flinch away from her, feeling a knot in my stomach as she sighed.
“About you. And Lance.” Hot tears filled my eyes as I spat the name of the man I thought was my best friend. I could feel her recoil behind me, a barely-audible gasp leaving her lips.
“Wh- what are you-”
“Don’t. Just-” I stood up as I cut her off, standing up. “I don’t like being this person, I hate being this person, but don’t bullshit me right now, Gwen.”
“Artie.” Her voice was sharper this time, and I could hear the bench creak as she began to stand up.
“Don’t call me that right now.” My breathing started becoming shallow as I shook my head, crossing my arms. “I’m- I thought I could trust you, I did trust you, and then all of this-”
“Baby, please, just calm down-”
“Calm down? Really?” I turned to her, taking in her shocked face. She took a step forwards, hands ready to cup my face when I scowled at her. “Calm isn’t exactly on the menu right now. Gwen, I need you to be honest with me. One hundred and ten percent.”
Gwen hesitated for a moment before shaking her head, knitting her eyebrows together. “Of course. Always.” I resisted letting out a dry chuckle at that statement as I turned away from her again, taking a deep breath.
“Have you been having an affair with Lance?” My voice was steadier than I expected as the question cut through the air. Gwen was silent for a moment.
Two moments.
Five.
I turned my head towards her, meeting eyes for barely a second before she looked at the ground, guilt plastered on her face.
“Okay. Next question.” I swallowed a lump in my throat as I turned towards her completely. “How long has this been going on?”
Gwen shook her head for a moment before sighing. “A few months.” Her voice was quiet, crackling as she closed her eyes.
“Months?” My hands shook as I gave her a bewildered expression. She flinched at my tone, though her arms remained at her side. “I don’t- why?”
“I-” Her voice broke as her arms instinctively crossed over her chest.
“Was I not enough? Did- do you not love me?” My voice became frantic as I searched her face for answers. She looked up at me, afraid and hurt.
“No- gods, Artie, I do love you-”
“No, no you don’t.” I gave a dry laugh as I cut her off, my entire body shaking. “You don’t go behind the back of someone you love and- and have an affair with their best friend-”
“Artie-”
“Stop calling me that!” I shouted, tears flowing down my face. “Stop treating me like a child for once! I’m not this innocent little soul you need to baby, I’m just as much of an adult as you or Morgana or Lance-” I cut myself off, turning towards Morgana’s bed, grabbing the dark jacket that I had arrived in. I shoved my hand in the pocket as I turned back around, slamming the box on the table before turning to leave the room.
“Arthur?” Her voice was shocked, her words followed by a sob.
“Keep the ring. It suits you.” My voice hardened as I turned the knob, opening the door into the dorm hallway. “I’ll see you around, Guinevere.” The door clicked behind me with a sense of finality.