In the days leading up to the first football match of the year, Baz steadily grew more and more bad tempered.

Simon, of course, was used to it, after 7 years of sharing a room, you get to know someone rather well, even if you didn't particularly like them, or want to, and Baz had often been quite rude to Simon without needing any excuse.

When it had been announced that Baz wouldn't be able to play this year, there was a shocked silence in the dining hall. No-one could imagine football at Watford without Baz. He was as integral a part of the Brutal Bloodsuckers (other teams included the Wonderful Witches and Magical Mermen) as Penelope was of the library, it was impossible to imagine them being separated. And yet, it had happened, and it appeared that only Simon, Baz and the Mage knew that Baz hadn't wanted to quit, leaving his team without a forward a week before the start of the season.

The Mage was still being conspicuously absent from most meals, and whenever Simon tried to seek him out, he was nowhere to be found. Simon had no answers, only questions, about Baz, the Insidious Humdrum, and the Mage was the only person who held the answers. This was why when it was announced that the first football game of the year would be commentated by the Mage, Simon found himself sitting with numerous fans of the Brutal Bloodsuckers, in the rain.

"What's happening?" Simon hissed.

The rain was running in sleets, the crowd a sea of black raincoats.

"Seriously Simon, I can't believe you don't know the rules of football. It's simple." Penelope said, rolling her eyes.

"I don't play football." Simon watched the players covered in mud furiously trying to kick the ball into their goals. "And I don't like crowds."

Bad weather usually made Simon grumpy; by this time Penelope knew it and didn't comment (it usually made him worse).

"The centre for the Bloodsucker's, passes the ball onto the new forward, the Mermen are defending valiantly, but no-no the BLOODSUCKER'S GOT A GOAL." The crowd erupted into cheers, the stands on the opposite side of the pitch rivaling them in boos.

"Crowds." Simon mumbled.

Penelope promptly joined in the screams.

"Why did you even come Simon?" Penelope panted when the screams subsided.

"I told you, I heard the Mage was commentating this game and I need to talk to him." Simon could just see the Mage's figure huddled over the microphone.

"But Simon, he always commentates," Penelope couldn't help smiling.

Simon scowled, trying to think of a retort. Suddenly the crowd stirred, the players on the pitch stopped playing and stared, and Simon stood, shoving his way down the stands, his body filled with dread.

When he got to the pitch, he was almost… disappointed, everything was rather normal, for Watford that is. It appeared that after the first goal, Baz had appeared on the field and jumped on the captain of his old team, a boy in their year named Ryan Moore.

As Simon looked at the situation, he could tell why Baz was so irate, stupid Ryan had given Baz's old position to the only person in the whole school that Baz really hated- Monique de Lune- and she had just scored the first goal.

Simon got closer to the scuffle between the two boys 'of course Baz would never hit a girl, and so he went for Ryan,' Simon thought, rolling his eyes. Soon he, as well as a few other brave spectators were close enough to hear the words being exchanged, "How could you… I started this team… only person… I don't care… Not my fault." A never-ending stream of nearly intelligible yelling came from the boys fighting each other.

Reckless as always, Simon waded into the fray, grabbing Baz and quickly- before Baz realised what was happening- dragged him off the field.

"Calm down Baz," Simon said sternly. Looking at Baz, he could see something a bit… different about his roommate. "Are you in costume? Are you going to be the mascot of your old team?" Simon asked in disbelief.

"Mind your own business," Baz snarled, stalking off, leaving Simon with the image fixed in his mind of Baz with fangs.

Simon couldn't stay for the rest of the game, he had a throbbing headache (well that's what he told Penny). This was how it came to be that he was trudging back to the school when Agatha caught up to him.

"Simon, are you alright? I saw you and Baz leave the game early. Did you get into a fight or something?"

Simon sighed and turned to face her, "No Agatha, I got a headache from all the demonic screaming and Baz making a sceptical of himself and left."

"Sceptical?" Agatha giggled.

"What?"

"I think you mean spectacle," she bumped Simon's shoulder with her own.

"Why did you leave Agatha?" Simon asked.

They walked together, their arms almost touching.

"To see you, silly," Agatha smiled.

Simon stopped, shocked.

"Why would you do that?" he exclaimed incredulously.

Agatha stepped closer to him, looking around guiltily.

"You looked like you needed someone," Agatha whisper talked.

Simon still looked confused.

She sighed, "And I could be the someone that you need."

The confused expression turned into a shocked one. Simon, it seemed, had finally gotten the impression that Agatha was returning the feelings he had felt for her since he first laid eyes on her. He'd envisioned this moment so many times in his head, but now that it had happened Simon's own feelings were in a jumbled quivering mess, that he didn't have a clue how to untangle.

"Agatha," he began awkwardly, "I-I'm just not sure-"

And with that, he bolted, leaving Agatha in his wake.

When he got back to his dormitory, Baz was already there, and he'd taken off the fangs, Simon noted.

"Why did you fight Ryan? And why on Earth were you wearing fangs?" Simon asked, "I mean, I can understand cheering on your old team, but then jumping on the captain…" Simon trailed off as Baz stood from where he had been sitting on his bed and walked toward him.

"Do you ever be quiet?" Baz questioned, "And are you capable of keeping your nose out of other people's business?"

By this time Baz was almost too close to Simon, in his personal space, looming over him.

"Um, Baz-" Simon was interrupted by Baz stooping over and kissing him soundly- yes, their mouths connected.

"Well that's one way to shut you up," Baz said, his eyes sparkling with humour.

"Wha…" was all Simon could say, dazed, as Baz strode out of the room.

Simon could not believe that Baz had just done that, just kissed him like it was no big deal. They weren't even friends! Were they? And besides, he wasn't gay! Or was he?

His thoughts chased these same questions around and around as he lay on his bed, trying to process the events of the morning.

As he was thinking, about Baz, Agatha, the football match, the fight, fangs, he came to a realisation….

"Damn it," Simon muttered, "I liked it."