Warning: Modern AU, a Bowling for Soup's "Almost," and a bit of angst.

The small crowd at the local Kilgharrah's Café cheered as one young man stood up on stage and grabbed the microphone.

No one noticed another young man slip in, eyes red and puffy, as if he'd been crying. He sneaked up in the back of the crowd and let loose a small gasp when he saw who was on stage.

"Well," said Merlin into the microphone, "this song goes out to someone…special."

A few of the girls that followed him around in school blushed and turned to their neighbor, gushing about how they just knew they were that "special someone" the town's best singer had spoken of.

Merlin let a little bit of a smile tug at his lips, finding his "fangirls" amusing. His special someone was not one of them, however, but a boy who had unknowingly just ripped his heart out.

Nodding to his friend Lance, who had been hired to play the guitar at the café, the song started out in an instrumental, almost country, rock tune as he began to sing.

The boy who had slipped into the crowd earlier eyes widened as he listened to the lyrics.

"And I almost had you

But I guess that doesn't cut it."

No…it couldn't be possible, thought the boy. No way in hell. This song...it couldn't be about him.

"Almost had you

And I didn't even know it."

On stage, Merlin kept his eyes shut tight, in fear that despite of the upbeat tune to the song that his eyes would betray what he was really feeling. He had almost loved Mordred. Almost had him too. And now he was gone.

"Almost loved you….

I almost wished you would've loved me too."

The boy in crowd bit his lip as more tears like the ones he had shed earlier threatened to spill. He ran out, just as Merlin opened his eyes and almost met his.

A/N: I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING THIS! Okay, so I started reading The Once and Future King by T.H. White and Merlin (or Merlyn, as its spelled in the book) is an old guy and Mordred is like sixteen. Do you see my issue now? GAAHHHHHH! Also, basketball has kept from my computer recently, but I shall try to update this more often. I promise! (Also, I'm very sorry about how short this chapter is.)

Also, thanks for reviewing/favoriting/following everyone! Love you all!

P.S. If you didn't realize by now, the boy in the crowd was Mordred. ;)