OK, fine. Then you’re Hades. Whatever. Look, you need to show up with a girl who will shut everyone up. The girl every boy at Camelot Prep wants to be with.
Taking me to Prom will fix everything.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
But why would Lance hurt me
I don’t get it
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Why do you keep asking me about Lance?
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Art, you there?
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
You really think Lance started the Joust
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
I think it’s time the King of Camelot had a queen.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
No one will mess with me ever again.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Exactly :) See you at lunch
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Hey . . . can’t find you at your usual table. Everything okay?
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
You seen Art?
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
No. You?
FROM: ELAINE
TO: GWEN
You need to get to the park by school
FROM: GWEN
TO: ELAINE
Can’t. Merlin’s rambling about how much he liked my essay on the test and that I need to participate more in class. Won’t stop talking. Literally texting behind my back right now.
FROM: ELAINE
TO: GWEN
Art just beat the crap outta Lance
FROM: GWEN
TO: ELAINE
WHAT
FROM: ELAINE
TO: GWEN
Art said Lance started the Joust. Left Lance curled up in the dirt. Think he’s crying.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ELAINE
COMING
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
Lance you okay? Lance text me you’re okay
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Hi. What time should I pick you up tomorrow night?
Saturday
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
Remind me to get beat up more often.
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
All it took was some Chinese take-out and a Game of Thrones marathon.
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
And you there with me.
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
Please don’t tell anyone about the stuff I said about my dad and our family. I shouldn’t have talked about it. No one knows.
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
I would rather be drawn and quartered than betray a secret from you.
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
How romantic.
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
Every second I spend with you is romantic.
Except the you leaving super early this morning part.
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
Stuff to do
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
What stuff?
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Hey. Lance definitely started the Joust cuz it got taken down last night.
Sucks being lied to.
Trusted that kid with my life.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Exactly how long have you two known each other?
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
A long time
Told him it was better if kids at school didn’t know This way we could do our own thing
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Maybe it wasn’t healthy for you two to be that close.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Yeah.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Is that why you never asked me out? Because Lance liked me?
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Lance would really freak out if you were my girlfriend, wouldn’t he
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Well, forget Lance for a minute. Do you want me as your girlfriend?
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
I’m taking you to Prom, aren’t I?
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
Ugh fell back asleep. Haven’t eaten all day but too sore to get out of bed. Need to brush my teeth. Art hasn’t called or texted. Think me and him aren’t going to Prom haaaa FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
Maybe it wasn’t healthy for you two to be that close.
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
Yeah.
It’s tough to drop someone you’ve known that long.
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
People leave and enter your life for a reason.
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
Yeah. They do. :)
Well at least there’s one silver lining to all this . . .
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
What’s that
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
You and I can go to Prom now
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
Um. You’re not going to Prom. You need to stay in bed and rest up.
Dr. Gwen’s orders.
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
Will you rest up with me?
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
What was that about still needing to brush your teeth FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
That got me outta bed ha ha. Wanna come over around 6? Craving pancakes. Gonna hit Griddle Cafe.
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
The one on Benwick Ave?
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
Nah. Corbin St.
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
OK. Wait until later. Line is probably long.
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
Too late. Pulling up, ha. No line at Griddle, but it’s a mess at the salon next door. All the girls getting their hair done for Prom. One looks just like you lol FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
Lance? I’m sorry—please pick up
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
YOU’RE GOING TO PROM? WITH ART? AFTER HE BEAT ME UP FOR A JOUST THAT YOU STARTED?
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
Look, he asked me to go and I couldn’t say no. It’s just a dance, okay?
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
All this time I didn’t think I was worthy of you. But now I see you’re not worthy of me. You and Art will make a perfect pair.
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
Lance, I’m sorry.
FROM: LANCE
TO: GWEN
We’re done. Don’t ever text me again.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Hey . . . I think you should make up with Lance. You two were best friends. Don’t let it fall apart over something stupid.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Something stupid? He humiliated me. Let him rot in hell.
But I’ll thank him for one thing.
He brought you and me together.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
He’s your real friend, Art. Not me.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
You and Lance have very different definitions of what it means to be my friend :) Pick you up at 6
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
I can’t do this anymore. I want to tell Art I started the Joust. But if I tell him, he won’t go to Prom with me. And he needs everyone to see him at Prom with me. What do I do?
FROM: GWEN
TO: LANCE
Lance? Please talk to me.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Almost at your house
FROM: ELAINE
TO: GWEN
EVERYONE is talking about how hot you two look. People are like stepping out of the way for you guys and when you danced, everyone stopped dancing and just watched. Like you’re royalty or something. You killed it, Gwen. Every girl here wants to be you.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ELAINE
Thanks
FROM: ELAINE
TO: GWEN
Where are you? Don’t see you
FROM: GWEN
TO: ELAINE
Bathroom. Needed a minute.
FROM: ELAINE
TO: GWEN
Hurry. Announcing Prom King and Queen soon. Art’s standing here alone. Other girls chatting him up.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ELAINE
Yeah. Coming.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Where are you? They’re bringing out the crowns.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Do you love me, Art?
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Uhhh did you pregame too hard lol
Get over here
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
You don’t even know me.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Of course I do. Why do you think you’re my date I really like you.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Tell me things you like about me.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
I like your blond hair
I like your blue eyes
All of it
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
You have blond hair
You have blue eyes
You could be talking about yourself What do you like about me
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
You’re a badass.
Girls are scared of you and do whatever you say.