Author's Note: This chapter is pretty sad and could be triggering to some people.

SIMON

"I"m serious this time, Snow," Baz says in a hushed, angry voice, "We need to lay low."

""I'm serious, too," I whine, "We only see each other at school."

"Stop being a baby," He shakes his head causing dark strands of hair to fall in his face.

"Screw you," I say with no venom. I catch him smirking and immediately know what he's thinking, "How mature."

"Whatever. Just please don't tell anyone. Not your girlfriend-"

"Ex-girlfriend," I correct.

"Or the purple-haired one either," He says and walks out of the bathroom. I wait a minute and then leave too. Penny catches me on the way out.

"Micah is coming tonight!" She squeals, "Will you drive me to the airport?"

"Sure," I shrug and she gives me a quick hug.

"His flight lands in 15 minutes, Simon. Hurry up," Penny sighs and crosses her arms in the passenger seat. I don't respond, she's being a lunatic. The airport is 30 minutes away from her house and we left an hour and a half before he landed. No one could've known it would start snowing half way through the drive. She leans over and starts messing with the radio stations. She chooses some weird classical music.

"Penny, no," I reach over and try to change it. She swats at my hand.

"Eyes on the road," She reprimands. I turn to glare at her, "Simon!" She shouts. I turn back and see huge headlights heading towards us. I swerve the car and we fling to the side. My head knocks against the window to my left and I hear Penny scream. The car is still moving, but my hands aren't on the wheel and Penny is shouting. I turn to look at her, but the picture goes fuzzy.

BAZ

I get a text from Simon at 3am. I almost ignore it, but something tell me not to.

Car accident. Won't be in school. Can you get my homework?

I call him, but there's no answer. I ask him where his is, but he just send the same text again. I call the nearest hospital and ask if Simon Snow is there.

"Mm, yes, we do have a Simon. Who are you?" The woman on the other line responds. I hang up immediately. I grab my keys and race to the hospital.

The scene is not what I expect. Simon is peacefully sleeping when I enter his room. He has a bandage on his head and looks awfully pale. The only reason I resist the urge to throw myself on him is because a strange man sits in a mint green chair, typing furiously into a phone.

"Uh, hello?" I try. The man doesn't look up. Is he Simon's father? "Hello," I say a bit louder. This stirs the man who finally looks up, showcasing a pencil thin mustache and steely eyes.

"Who are you?" He spits.

"Simon texted me," I say in a curt tone.

"Simon is asleep," He deadpans.

"Well, someone texted me," I counter and his eyes narrow.

"Baz with a heart?" The man raises an eyebrow. I feel my cheeks go red, fucking Simon, "I thought that was a nickname for his girlfriend or something."

"Is he alright?" I ask, as guarded as I can.

"Yeah, fine. Minor concussion. He'll be up soon. The girl he came in with, on the other hand, isn't looking as sharp," He waves a hand dismissively. There's no sympathy in his expression.

"What girl?" Penny? Agatha? A girlfriend? The last option makes me wince.

"I'm not sure. She had purple hair," He pulls his phone back out from his pocket and continues to type. Penny is fighter, I conclude, she'll be fine.

"Are you Simon's father?" This makes him look up from his phone, once again.

"Disappointingly, yes. He's such a fool and this will be a big hassle," The man glares at the peaceful Simon then returns to his smashing of the poor phone screen. A nurse enters with a clipboard in hand.

"Mister?" She smiles sadly, "I need you to sign some paperwork, it should only take a few minutes."

The man visibly sighs, "Fine," He stands and leaves with nurse. I take the opportunity and almost sprint to Simon's side. I gingerly grab his hand.

"Hey. Everything is gonna be okay," I whisper softly while tracing the moles on the back of his hand, "Penny will be okay and you too," His eyes flutter open and he stares right at me.

"Baz?" He says while his eyebrows furrow together, "What happened?" He begins to look around the room, his eyes widening in disbelief, "Oh, no," His says under his breath.

"There was a car accident. Your dad is here," I let go of Simon's hand and start to walk to the door, "I should get him."

"No, no, please don't," He says while picking at the wrapping on his head, "Where's Penny?" I almost cringe, but try to keep my face emotionless.

"I'm not sure, but I bet she's fine," I say carefully as I return to his bedside.

"Oh shit, Micah," He says suddenly, worry all over his face.

"What's wrong?" Simon's father says from the doorway. I glance over and he's glaring at me.

"Oh, uh, nothing important," Simon smiles in an odd way, sending chills down my spine.

"Good. We should be leaving soon," His father says to Simon, "And you should probably go," He looks me in the eye. Simon looks frantic, eyes darting to me to his father and back again.

"Don't we have to wait for the nurses to check me out? We can use the time wisely. Baz can tutor me in geometry until it's time to go," Simon suggests in a small voice.

"It's almost four in the morning, Simon. The boy will go," The man says with finality in his voice. I almost glare at him.

"I'll call-" I start, but a nurse saunters in and interrupts me.

"Were you with Penelope Bunce?" She reads off of a sheet of paper. Simon nods, sitting up, "I'm sorry to inform you that Miss. Bunce has passed on during surgery. There was an unpreventable complication with her liver," I hear a sob -a sound like a dying animal- and turn to see Simon shoving his face into his hands. His father nods at the nurse and takes a seat in the green chair, making no move towards his son. I reach out to Simon and he grabs my arm, pulling me into a tight, awkward hug.

"I can't believe she's dead," He whimpers into my chest. I pat his back softly, making sure I look like we are barely friends.

"Baz, you should go," His father says, not even looking up. Simon's grip tightens and his sobs worsen.

"Please, don't leave," He whines and digs his fingernails into my back, "I need you," He chokes out and any reserve I had is thrown to the wind. I hug Simon back, running my hands though his curls while whispering what I hope is comforting words. Meaningless phrases about a better life.

"Baz," His father hisses, "Go," Simon murmurs something and slowly releases me. He wipes his reddened face with his hands and takes a shaky breath. Tears still fall from his eyes.

"I'll see you," Simon says softly, turning his gaze to the floor.

"Okay," I reply and walk out, feeling his father's piercing stare on my back.