Because You Love to Hate Me(19)
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
ME? I’m the one trying to take it down! Lance is just mad I wouldn’t go to Prom with him—that’s why he’s being cruel.
Art, whoever did this to you is a real cockroach. My cousin works at Joust. I’m texting her to see if she can delete the account. Ask Nadia Croes. She’s on the cheer team and in your homeroom and will tell you how hard I’ve been working to fix this.
FROM: GWEN
TO: NADIA
Listen—whatever Art Pendragon asks you about me in homeroom, say yes, otherwise I’ll tell the girls you were in the bathroom with Boris Polanski at halftime instead of helping us sell Popsicles FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Ok I asked Nadia and she backed you up.
Sorry I doubted you. Thanks for your help.
It’s just weird coming to school where I used to have fun and now I’m being bullied by someone I don’t even know.
Lance still swears it’s you.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Lance and I have very different definitions of what it means to be your friend.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
All the Knights are on my case.
Saying I’m a virgin and all that.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
They’re pissed that I like you instead of them. Besides, I think it’s romantic if you’re saving yourself.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Who I hook up with isn’t anyone’s business.
But I don’t hook up to get off or to tell people or to feel better about myself or because I feel lonely on a Friday night.
I want real love.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
That’s . . . amazing.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
People are sticking wet noodles to my backpack Wtf
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Mmm, probably isn’t the best time for you to be going to Prom with Lance, is it FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Ha
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
For all we know, he’s the one who started @Excalibur FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Don’t be stupid
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
I’m serious.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Lance du Lac is my boy.
He’d take a bullet for me.
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Maybe he’s in love with you. Maybe he thinks if he can’t have you no one else will. Or that humiliating you in front of the whole school means he can be there to comfort you. Or all of the above.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
And here I thought you two were hooking up ha ha FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
WHAT??? DID HE SAY THAT????
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
No ha ha chill out
It’s just you two avoid each other at school but then hang out secretly Usually means you’re hooking up
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
One could say the same thing about you and Lance.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
That’s low
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
Like you said, who you hook up with is none of my business :) FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
I’m just not gonna show up to Prom at all
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
That won’t solve anything. Look, think of it like the story from Merlin’s: I’m Persephone, you’re Persephone’s mother, and Lance is Hades. You need to fight for me.
FROM: ART
TO: GWEN
Huh? Doesn’t Persephone end up being Hades’s queen?
FROM: GWEN
TO: ART
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.