Penelope Bunce and Tyrannus Basilton Grimm-Pitch have been best friends since before they can remember. Their fathers have been good friends since college and their two families are closely knit. They spend the holidays together, go on vacations together, and have practically become one large family. Penelope and Baz do everything together; take the same classes, join the same clubs, go to the same concerts and movies.
The two of them are sitting in Penny's room. Penny's lying down on his bed, flipping through a book. Baz is sitting at his desk, typing a paper. He sips his Starbucks and Penny drinks her cup of tea. The two are silent as they work, both very diligent students. But then Penny can't take it any longer. She's been stalling telling Baz the big news, but she knows she's waited too long now. She couldn't procrastinate any longer.
"Hey, Baz?" she says, casually closing her book. Baz swivels around in his chair and raises an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"So, I sort of have something to tell you. Something big."
He just raises his eyebrow even further. Baz doesn't like it when people talk around the point. (Penny knows this but doesn't care).
"My parents, are, well . . " Penny started, unsure of how to say this. She usually speaks very eloquently but her throat feels clogged and her mind is blurry. "they're adopting someone. A boy."
"Like, a baby?" Baz asks, amusement flickering in his eyes. Penny already has siblings; there's no need for more.
"No, he's our age, I think."
Baz scoffs. "Why?"
"I'm not completely sure," Penny sighs, rolling over onto her back. Baz stands up and flops onto the bed beside her, his shoulder pressing into hers. "Apparently mum used to work with his uncle and his uncle just passed away, and now he needs a place to stay."
"He doesn't have any other family?"
"No, I don't think so," Penny replies.
"Can't he live by himself? He's nearly old enough," Baz says, not understanding Mrs. Bunce's reasoning.
"Yeah, I guess, but I don't know, Basil. Mum says that he's not in a very . . . healthy place right now. He shouldn't be left alone." Penny looks over at Baz, who is staring at the ceiling. He's as unreadable as ever. "It's only for this year. Then he'll go to uni."
"So your mother is adopting a teenage boy for one year?"
"Yes."
"Huh."
Neither of them talk for a while. Baz continues to stare at the ceiling, his eyebrows drawn close together. Penny wonders what he's thinking, but she doesn't ask. "So when does he come?" he finally asks, turning his head to face hers.
Penny blushes and looks away from him. Baz sits up, giving her a quizzical look. "What?"
"This is why I had to tell you right now," Penny sighs, regretting her procrastination. "He's coming over now."
Baz's eyes bulge— a rarity for him—and he leans over Penny, shocked. "BUNCE!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I should have told you earlier!" she laughs, squirming under his glare.
"Yes, you should have!"
"But too late, now, right?" she smirks, rolling out from under Baz so that she can sit up. "Look, I'm sorry, I just didn't know how to tell you. I'm still not completely comfortable with it, myself. It's going to be weird, having another brother. Even if it's only for a year." Baz's face relaxes, forgiving her.
"I should probably go, then, right?"
"Actually," Penny says, a mischievous grin rising on her face. "I was hoping you could stay."
"What?"
"Just for dinner! It's going to be so awkward, Basil. Please? I could use someone to help me out," Penny practically begs (something she never does) (and especially never to Baz).
"You have your brother!"
"Premal's a twat!"
Baz can't help but agree with that. His face slowly softens and he looks at Penny. "Did you ask your mother?"
"Yes. She'd be happy to have you, as always," Penny beams. "And she thinks you and Simon will get along really well!"
"Simon? That's his name?" Baz says, holding back a laugh.
"Yes," Penny says, standing up. They can both hear the low grumble of the garage opening. "Simon Snow. And he's here."
—
Simon Snow. What a stupid name, Baz thinks as he cuts into his chicken, practically sawing at it with his knife. The boy sits across from him at the table, and Baz can't stop staring at him. He's dressed in horrible clothes; nothing like the polished things Baz wears. His hair is a mess of golden curls. His wide blue eyes shift with awkwardness as the Bunces talk to him, trying to make him feel at home. He has moles all over his skin. Baz has counted 12 already.
Baz can't stop staring at him.
Penny's next to him, laughing at something he just said. She seems to be having a good time. Baz wonders if she's met Simon before, or if this is the first time. Either way, she seems comfortable around him. They seem to click.
Simon Snow catches him staring and Baz immediately looks down, shoving a piece of the chicken into his mouth. He hates eating in front of people, but he's grown accustomed to eating in front of the Bunces. But eating in front of Simon . . . that seems strangely personal.
"I think you're going to like the high school, here," Mrs. Bunce is saying to Simon. She's grinning wide, obviously excited by the mysterious golden boy. It's obvious the two have met before, even if only a few times. But Simon seems to relax visibly at her voice as opposed to anyone else's. "We have lots of different courses, not just core classes. You're into the arts, aren't you?"
"Yes," Simon says, mouth still full of food. He swallows awkwardly before finishing his sentence. Penny laughs. "I like to draw."
"Really?" Mr. Bunce says, raising his eyebrows. "Are you any good?"
"Well, I'd like to think so," he laughs, flashing an ever-charming smile that has Baz squeezing his fingernails into his fist. "Honestly, I'm not that great, though. It's more of just a hobby."
"I'm sure you're wonderful," Penny says. "I'm more interested in academics themselves, but Baz here does both."
"Huh?" Baz murmurs, trapped in some weird state of mind. He shakes his head.
"You like academics and the arts," Penny says, nudging him. "Baz plays the violin."
"You do?" Simon says, turning to look at Baz straight on for the first time. His eyes are practically glowing. Baz swallows hard.
"Uh, yes. I do," he answers quickly before staring down at his plate.
"He's quite good. He'll probably get a huge scholarship to university for playing," Mrs. Bunce adds, pointing her fork towards Baz. "That's what you want to study, correct?"
"Yes, Mrs. Bunce."
"That's really cool," Simon smiles. Genuinely. He is smiling genuinely at Baz.
Baz looks away.
His skin feels hot. His mind is a blur. He doesn't know what's going on or why he feels this way.
He stands up.
"Baz?" Penny asks, worried.
"Sorry, I just . . . I need to . . I'm going to the bathroom, if you'll excuse me," he stutters, trying to hastily remember his manners. He pushes his chair in and walks down the hallway towards the bathroom. He braces himself against the sink, staring into the mirror at his disheveled face. He looks paler than usual. His hair isn't as slicked back as it usually is. Was he messing with it at dinner subconsciously? Baz shakes his head and splashes water on his face before returning back to dinner.
—
"Goodnight, Baz! We'll see you later," Mrs. Bunce says as she heads up the staircase, leading Simon to his room. He's staying in the guest room for the next two weeks until Premal goes back to uni; then he's taking over his room. He only has one suitcase, Penny notices as she watches him shuffle up the stairs. She's standing by the front door with Baz, waiting till they're alone.
And once they are, Baz let's out a long breath. "Baz, what's wrong with you? Are you sick?" Penny whispers furiously. After returning to dinner he had done his best to act normal, but it was obvious to Penny that something was up.
"No, I'm fine," Baz says, straightening his back, trying to look the part.
"I know you too well to buy that, Basilton," she snaps, placing her hands on her hips. "What's wrong? Dinner was going so well!"
"I know it was . . it was . . I just, I don't know. There's something weird about Simon."
"Weird? How? He seems really great."
"No, he does. I mean, he is. Great. I just . . I have to go," Baz says, pushing open the front door and trotting down the steps before Penny can open her mouth again.