Simon was in a good mood when he walked into the dining hall on Monday morning. He'd had a great night sleep the night before, and they had pancakes being served for breakfast!
"I think today might be a good day," Simon said as he sat down with Penny and Howie, who was still half asleep.
"Don't speak too soon," Howie warned, his eyes barely open, "I don't like Mondays."
"I'm sure that today will be a good day, don't be such a downer, Howard." Penny chimed in.
"Yeah Howie," Simon echoed, digging into his pile of pancakes.
"Mmmm," Simon hummed his mouth full of delicious, syrupy goodness." "What can go wrong if you have pancakes?"
"Morning," Baz greeted as he sat beside Simon.
"Hello." Ryan added as he also sat with them.
Simon, who at just that moment had put a rather large amount of pancake into his mouth, merely waved at the newcomers, his cheeks bulging like a chipmunks as he frantically chewed his pancakes.
"Hello," Penny greeted, "We were just saying that we're sure that today will be a good day."
"Alright," Ryan replied, "Baz, mate, why are Monique and Agatha whispering and looking at you and Snow?"
Simon froze, another forkful of pancake halfway to his mouth.
"I didn't know they were friends."
"Neither did I…" Baz muttered grimly.
"What happened to it being a good day?" Howie attempted a smile (It really did look more like a grimace.)
No one answered, for they were all gazing upon the unlikely event that was Monique and Agatha. Abruptly, Monique turned on her heels, flashed the group a shark-like smile and strode over to her usual table.
"I wonder if her friends call her Mon-Mon?" Ryan said, reaching over the table to steal some of Howie's food, Howie had fallen asleep.
"Would you call the devil incarnated Di-Di?" Baz said scornfully.
"Could be," Penny sighed, "Or maybe it's a completely harmless reason and you guys are thinking too in-depth into this."
Baz nodded thoughtfully, "Could be."
Penny checked her watch, "Drat, there's only ten minutes to get to class."
The others exchanged glances, before there was eye rolling and bodies clamouring over the long sitting pews. All except for Howie, still seated, head resting on a clean bit of table. He snored slightly, oblivious to what was going on around him. Ryan winked, sat back down and delivered a hefty kick to Howie's leg.
"OWW!"
He woke with a jump, almost cursing as loud as O'Malley could talk. Then he joined the laughing group, limping slightly as they walked towards the door. All except Baz and Simon.
Baz grasped Simon's arm hissing urgently, "I don't know why they could be whispering with each other but it can't be good, it could never good. So I won't you to avoid them until I manage to find out what 'it' is."
"But Baz, what if they aren't up to anything?" Simon asked.
"Well then, we will have been wrong, and everything will be fine. But do you really believe that?" Baz asked in reply.
"No," Simon answered reluctantly, "but what can they really do that's that bad?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out." With this, Baz turned on his heel and walked in the opposite direction from where Penny, Howie and Ryan were going.
Simon quickly caught up with them.
"Where's Baz going? We have class now." Ryan said.
"He thinks that Agatha and Monique are 'up to something', and he's going to 'find out what it is.'"
Ryan laughed, "Your impression of Baz is spot on, you got the whole dark, brooding, mysterious thing down pat."
"Thanks," Simon said, blushing.
"Yeah, yeah, we all know that spending so much time with Baz is making hum rub off on you." Penny said.
Ryan let out a surprised laugh. Howie joined in. Simon just blushed even brighter.
"Oh honestly boys, I meant his mannerisms, and you know it. Not that I'm saying there's anything-"
"Penny. Shut. Up." Simon bit out, mortified.
Howie and Ryan were laughing uncontrollably; they were starting to get weird looks from those passing by in the corridor.
"You're so immature," Penny said, striding off in a huff.
"Not everyone can be an eighteen year old eighty year old!" Ryan called after her, making Howie burst into laughter again.
Simon hung back, still following but not closely, he didn't really want to join in the conversation. He also didn't feel like doing work (who does on a Monday morning?) but spells class would not allow his attention to waver, and Professor Plum was able to keep the newly found alliance that was Howie and Ryan silent. Penny had returned to sit with them but was refusing to speak to Ryan, who found it hilariously funny. Three people who were conspicuously absent, however, were Baz, Agatha and Monique.
"Mr Snow?" The Professor's voice managed to bring Simon out of his deep stupor.
"Y-yes Professor?"
"Although I know you love my company, I'm fairly sure you would rather the company of your friends."
Simon was blank-faced.
"Snow, class is over." Professor smiled ironically, for she couldn't have smirked, could she?
Simon looked around at the empty seat all around him and was startled into a bright booming laugh.
"Sorry Plum, got lost in my thoughts." Simon bounded from the room.
"It's Professor to you, Simon." Professor Plum, remained in the empty classroom. "My name is Professor Plum…."
Simon walked through the corridors, people moved out of his way, staring at him with eyes that looked like they would pop out of their heads. And the whispers seemed to follow him, sweeping around the corners and under the floor.
Simon, however, was completely oblivious to the stares and whispering all around. That is until he was going to walk into the dining hall and Baz pulled him aside.
"Hey Simon, how would you like to go up to the dorm and stay there for the rest of the day?" Baz asked, trying to feign nonchalance, and failing miserably.
"Umm, I wouldn't, why?" Simon asked, confused.
Baz didn't say anything.
Finally Simon understood, "what did you find out?"
"They're just rumours, Simon, no-one knows anything concrete yet, just ignore them." Baz blurted out, "are you sure that I can't convince you to go up to the dorm for the rest of the day?!"
"I'm positive," Simon said resolutely, "It can't be too bad, after all, I've faced the Insidious Humdrum, and nothing can be difficult as that."
"Famous last words," Baz muttered to himself as he followed Simon into the dining room.
Everything was fine as they got their lunch and sat down other than the eyes that followed them everywhere.
As they sat down, Penny gave them a sympathetic look and Howie just looked mad.
"How can they do this?' He hissed, "How can they be so horrible?"
"Some people are just like that," Penny soothed, "I'm sure it will all blow over soon."
"What will all blow over soon?" Simon asked, exasperated.
Penny and Howie exchanged.
"Baz, I thought you were going to tell him, before he'd find out from one of the naïve people who listen to Monique."
Simon looked at Penny, who wouldn't meet his eyes. Slowly it seemed that Simon was beginning to understand that the gossip wasn't some petty story, if it was that powerful it must contain a grain of truth.
"What did Agatha tell Monique?" he asked.
"Nothing." Baz said quickly, too quickly.
"I can't-just-how?" Howie seemed almost ready to explode with anger.
"Calm down," Penny, always the voice of reason, said, "Baz, Simon has a right to know why people are staring and whispering."
At last Simon glanced around to spy the multitudes of people who were whispering through their hands to each other.
"Baz, tell me."
Baz smiled grimly, "Are you certain you don't want to go up to the dorm? My offer still holds."
At the sight of Simon's face, Baz sighed joylessly.
"Simon, they suspect everything."
Simon remembered the event in the clearing, Baz as a vampire and Agatha the victim.
"They know about your…" Simon glanced at Howie, "issue?"
"No." Baz gritted his teeth and glanced around, consciously lowering his voice. "They know about us."
