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1.
SIMON
Today was a shit day.
Last night I couldn’t sleep well because of nightmares, but then I did end up falling asleep and I missed breakfast. Penny hadn’t saved any scones for me (but I don’t actually blame her, I know none of this is her fault.), which meant I was hungry during the first three lessons. Then, at lunch, I tripped while walking to my seat and I fell all over my plate, so I had to go back to my room and change. Which, again, left me little time to eat lunch, so I had to hurry and I couldn’t even enjoy my meal.
Then, during Elocution, Madam Bellamy, in front of everyone , asked me to cast a spell, which only made me even more nervous. Needless to say, I wasn’t able to cast the spell and I almost went off right there, in the middle of class. She asked me to leave, and I went to the Great Lawn to cool off, but it started downpouring all of a sudden, and I was soaking wet by the time I reached Mummers.
But then the Mage had to make an appearance and ask me to follow him to his office. He didn’t want me to go on a mission, thank fuck, but he did tell me that he was disappointed in my grades and poor control of my magic. He told me he expected more of me, that the whole world of mages was dependent on me and that I was putting everyone at risk.
I don’t know how I kept my cool and didn’t bawl my eyes out right then and there, but I managed.
I finally make my way to my room, but of fucking course, Baz is already here. He scrunches his nose and gives me a quick once over from his desk.
“You reek of smoke and dirt, Snow.”
For some reason, that hurts more than it should, and I curl up on my bed and start crying.
That was nothing compared to Baz’s usual insults, but I guess it was just the last straw.
I know I should just get up and take a shower and maybe cry in the shower, instead of giving Baz ammunition to use against me later, but I really can’t bring myself to do so. I just continue sobbing and waiting for all this to be over.
I could really use a hug from Penny right now.
BAZ
I hate myself.
I wonder if I’ll ever stop hurting Simon.
I can’t do much to comfort him, seeing as I’m the cause of his current state, but I can’t just sit here listening to his wretched sobs and pretend that I don’t care.
I get up and take out a bag of crisps and two mint Aero bars from my hidden stash in my closet and leave them on Simon’s nightstand, making sure to make enough noise so that he hears them.
I consider apologizing, but that’s too much, so I just make eye contact with him and then leave the room to let him compose himself.
When I come back two hours later, he’s at his desk, probably trying to do the Greek homework.
He looks at me from his seat, “Thanks, Baz.”
“Don’t mention it.”
And he does not mention it ever again.
2.
SIMON
Watford is playing a football match against another school today, which means I must not leave Baz unattended a single second.
He could use the fact that the school will be full of people to his advantage and slip off somewhere to plot my demise.
Or even worse, he could do something horrible during the match and hurt everyone. I must be there to stop him.
I take a good seat that allows me a perfect view of the pitch (and the Pitch) at all times. I'm glad I've been present at all the football practices, because I've tried every spot and found the perfect one.
I watch as the Watford team does some warm up exercises, my eye never leaving Baz.
He's put his hair in a ponytail (he always does that when he plays football) and has got this serious expression. Determined.
Soon enough, the match has started, and in the first fifteen minutes, no one scores a goal.
However, and to no one's surprise (at least not to mine) Baz starts scoring goal after goal as soon as the other team starts relaxing.
He looks graceful on the pitch. Fucking ruthless. Beautiful even. (Wait, what?)
By the end of the first half of the match, we're 3-0, and Baz has scored two of them.
I end up being too invested in the match, and the next time Baz scores a goal, I can't help it, I cheer for him. Everyone else is, and plus, it'd be weird for me not to cheer for my own school team.
I think he's heard me, because he looks in my direction for a brief second, and then hits the ball with great strength, scoring another goal.
I guess it's obvious now that he won't set aflame the school or do something equally nefarious, so I can just sit back and enjoy the match. It is a good match, after all.
For some reason, Baz now seems even more invested in the game, if that's even possible. Either way, he scores five more goals.
I cheer for him every single time.
3.
BAZ
There's fire everywhere.
I'm in a forest and I set it aflame. The fire's surrounding me. I cannot escape.
I hear someone calling my name, and I instantly recognise Simon's voice. He's trying to get through the fire ring, but he can't. He dives in anyways. He's yelling at me to put out the fire, that I'm flammable, but I can't.
I can't control it anymore.
Simon is still trying to get to me, but even he is flammable.
The last thing I hear are his agony shrieks before a deafening silence takes over.
SIMON
Baz is whimpering and moving his head from side to side. He's saying something, but I can't understand him.
I'm pretty sure he's having a nightmare.
I should just leave him to it, as I always do when he has a nightmare, but this one seems more intense. He never moves around as desperately as right now.
It's heartbreaking to watch, so I decide to wake him up.
He may punch me, curse me, or kill me, but I can't just stand here and do nothing.
I move over to his bed and tap his shoulder once. Twice. He doesn't react.
"Baz." Still nothing.
I take him by the shoulders and shake him gently. "Baz, wake up."
He sits up suddenly, eyes wide open as he frantically looks around the room, probably making sure that he's in our room and not wherever he thought he was.
He looks at me. I let go of him and start to back off before he punches me, but I can't because all of a sudden he's pulling me towards him and is hugging me tightly.
It must've been a really bad nightmare, then.
I'm not good at comforting people, but I put my arms around him and whisper what I hope are soothing words. Mainly 'it was a nightmare' and 'you're safe now'.
He's still sobbing and holding me as if he were afraid I would just disappear and he'd be back in the nightmare, so I make sure to move my hand up and down his back, so he can feel it and maybe help ground him.
He eventually calms down, and finally lets go of me. He gets up and locks himself in the ensuite.
I try to wait up for him, but I end up falling asleep before he comes out.
4.
SIMON
I'm back from a mission earlier than I expected, partly because I fucked it up and the Mage told me to just get back.
I'm not about to start complaining though, as now I'm finally able to take a shower and maybe even take a nap before dinner. It's been a rough week.
As I walk up the stairs I hear music coming from our room. Violin music.
I quietly open the door and see Baz standing in the middle of the room, facing my side of the room, and playing his violin.
Of course I knew Baz played the violin. I know pretty much everything about him. But I've never seen him play in our room.
I close the door behind me and stand by Baz's desk, watching him play but not wanting him to see me.
He slowly turns around, eyes still closed, face full of emotion.
The music is captivating. It sounds sad and happy, emotional, warm. It's beautiful. He's beautiful.
He opens his eyes. We make eye contact. He doesn't stop playing.
I deem it safe to go sit in my bed, as he has already seen me and hasn't stopped playing. Yet. I walk over to my bed trying not to disturb him, and sit back, hugging my knees.
Baz keeps playing the violin, and I keep watching him, enthralled by the way he moves, how he makes it seem so simple.
The melody is more emotional now, it almost sounds romantic. I love it.
It eventually comes to an end, though, and Baz just sets his violin apart.
"That was beautiful, Baz." I tell him. I feel the need to let him know how much I enjoyed listening to him play, how much I'd love to listen to him again, but I fear he might punch me or something.
He carefully puts the violin back in its case, taking his sweet time. He then looks in my general direction and gives a short nod.
"Thank you, Snow." He says, and then he leaves the room.
5.
BAZ
I'm rewatching a video that Daphne sent me for the sixth time when Snow opens the door.
I don't even bother hiding my phone when he's around anymore, he's seen me use it multiple times and has never snitched to the Mage. I think it's because I have never told on Bunce being here, so I guess it's kinda fair.
I guess I'm still smiling at my phone, because Simon asks me,
"What are you watching?"
For some reason (the reason being that I love him) I don't ignore him and actually reply.
"My stepmother sent me a video of my siblings."
"Can I watch?" He asks from his bed.
I briefly consider telling him off, but we've barely fought these last couple of days, and it's been actually quite nice.
I shrug and move my phone so we can both see the screen without having to sit in the same bed.
I play the video, and Mordelia's voice resonates through the speaker.
"Hello, Baz! Happy birthday!" Her and the twins start singing happy birthday, while the baby is flailing his arms and grinning toothlessly from the floor. "We hope you liked it, Baz! We actually prepared a play for you, but mum said it'd be better if we wait for you to come so you can see it live! We can't wait for you to come back, I miss you, Baz!"
"I miss you more!"
"No, I do!"
They proceed to argue about who misses me more, until Daphne's voice is heard from behind the camera, telling them to say goodbye.
All four of them wave at the camera while saying 'bye, Baz!', and the video ends.
I realise I'm smiling way too fondly at the screen, so I try to school my expression.
"They're really adorable." Simon says, and I can practically hear his smile.
"Yeah."
I don't know what to do now. This is way too nice and friendly for us.
Luckily, my phone starts ringing, and I see that it's a video call from Daphne.
I let my phone on my bedside table as I untangle my earphones, and I see Simon glancing down at the screen.
He gets up to leave the room as I pick up the call, but before he leaves, he looks at me.
"Hey, Baz? Happy birthday."
A stupid grin makes its way to my face and it doesn't go away for the rest of the day.
If Daphne notices, she doesn't mention it.
+1
SIMON
Penny, Agatha and I are sitting in the Great Lawn talking about our summers and just enjoying being back together.
I really missed them this summer, so I'm very happy to see them again. I've been back in Watford for a couple of days, but Penny and Agatha have just arrived today. And Baz isn't back yet.
As it starts getting dark, I spot Baz walking through the lawn and I immediately jump to my feet.
BAZ
Six minutes.
I've only been back for six minutes (which is the time it took me to walk from the gate to the lawn) and Snow's already attacking me.
Albeit, he's now hugging me, rather than punching me, but still.
I hug him back.
"Hi, Baz. I really missed you." He says into my shoulder, still not letting go.
I press a kiss to the top of his head. "I missed you, too, love."