Simon stood speechless, unable to come up with an excuse that seemed legitimate without being the truth.
"Simon I need answers, I don't understand!" Howie was so frustrated that his glasses hung crooked on his nose.
"Well, I don't know what to tell you Howie," Simon began tentatively.
"The truth Simon!" Howie exclaimed, "Maybe you should just tell me what I forgot,"
Simon opened his mouth to interrupt.
"Don't, just don't, Simon," Howie said through gritted teeth, "I know you guys have realised what I have forgotten, and I have a right to know."
"I thought you said what you've forgotten couldn't be that important." Simon blurted out.
"Yeah I did! But now I'm not so sure…." Howie grabbed his hair in tight fists.
Simon was getting alarmed. For one thing, he had made the couple that was Powie develop, and now his OTP didn't even remember being together.
"You made me promise," Simon began his lie, "before you did the spell to not tell you what you'd forget because it was better to not know what you're missing out on."
Howie stared at him for a moment, making Simon's insides churn with guilt.
"But I thought I wasn't going to forget anything important," Howie protested, "and it's obvious that I have, from how everyone is acting around me."
"But…" Simon could feel his resolve weakening, as Howie looked at him, betrayed.
"I know what I might have said to you, Simon," Howie snapped, "now I'm telling you that I need to know what I forgot, and how that Penny girl is mixed up into it."
"I don't know if it should be me telling you," Simon said, trying to resist telling Howie, "Plus we don't know what could happen if we tell you."
"I don't think I care anymore," Howie said, defeated, "I know there is something missing, I just don't know what, and I don't know how much longer I can take it. I lost these memories for you, and I don't regret doing it, but I-miss them, even without knowing what they are." Howie pleaded.
Simon opened his mouth, considering what to say; almost about to tell Howie the truth about what he had forgotten when Baz appeared next to them.
"Hello Simon, Howie," Baz nodded at them both, he looked much less pale than he had before, Simon noted.
Howie nodded in reply, "Simon was just about to inform me what I've forgotten."
"Was he now?" Baz raised an eyebrow, turning his attention to Simon.
Simon avoided both of their gazes.
"Yes," Howie gritted his teeth, "he was, but since he is tongue-tied at the moment, maybe you could enlighten me, Baz."
"Oh, I wish I could Howie, honestly," Baz smirked, "but we all have places we need to be."
"But it's the weekend?" Simon found his voice.
Howie shot him an eyeful that reminded Simon of the saying 'if looks could kill.'
"Yes, Baz, and we were in the middle of a conversation." The old Howie peeked through his new exterior.
"Well," Baz picked at his nails, "My old football team are holding tryouts for the spaces that Monique and her cronies left. I would love to support them, even if I can't play."
"I'll join you," Simon said gratefully, jumping up, "I want to support Ryan, even if I can't help. Seeya Howie."
"Wait," Howie stood too, beaming, "I'll come too! I've always been interested in football."
"Really?" Baz asked sceptically.
"Who did you think Simon learnt from?" Howie was smug.
"Okay…" Simon put a half-hearted thumbs up.
"You never know, I've always been quite reasonable at football. I might even try out for one of the spots."
Without waiting for an answer Howie stroll out of the library. Baz and Simon exchanged a glance. It was going to be a long afternoon.
Once at the football pitch, Baz went to join Ryan on the pitch, with Howie having joined those eager to earn a place on the team. Simon made his way up into the stands, sitting beside Penny and Tallulah, as far away from the pitch as it was possible to get.
"I thought you had a study date Tallulah," Simon remarked.
"I did, but it's over now, and besides, Darcy is trying out." She replied.
"Howie was trying to get me to tell him what he forgot." Simon directed this at Penny, speaking softly.
"Did you tell him?" Penny asked a repressed gleam of hope in her eyes.
Simon shook his head, "I didn't know what to say, and I wasn't sure what, if anything, you would want me to tell him. I kind of panicked, sorry."
"That's okay," Penny sighed, "Besides, even if you did tell him, there is no guarantee that he will believe you."
"What do you mean by that Penny?" Tallulah asked, curious, taking her eyes off of where Ryan and Baz were directing people to run laps.
"Just that," Penny began, "If you had just told him that I was his girlfriend and he's forgotten all about me, he might not have believed you, I'm not exactly a great catch." She shrugged.
Tallulah and Simon were shocked into silence.
"Ah, yes you are Penny," Tallulah admonished.
"And he fell for you once; he can fall for you again!" Simon cheered.
Penny sighed, "Fine, I'm not going to argue with both of you."
Down on the pitch there was a commotion as Ryan and Baz made the wannabe footballers stand in a line.
"Darcy's still getting changed." Tallulah fretted.
"What?" Simon asked.
"When you don't play sports it is hard to find anything to wear." She transgressed.
"You're right," Simon remembered his own run in with football, "I know what you mean."
Tallulah anxiously surveyed the football pitch.
"They're gonna start soon!"
"Wait," Simon had seen a figure at the far end of the pitch, "Is that…her!?"
For indeed, Darcy, was a girl. Hair was blonde as Tallulah's was dark, falling to her waist in many fluffy ringlets. And short, most of the other people trying out towered over her as she raced into their midst.
"She found some clothes!" Tallulah beamed.
Simon grabbed her arm and pulled her down the stands, the conversation between her and the team was bound to be interesting, and Simon likes interesting.
"Have the tryouts started yet?" The small girl, Darcy, puffed.
"What?" Ryan turned to face her.
"I asked if the soccer tryouts have started yet, and does anyone have a hair tie I could borrow?" Darcy said cheerfully.
"The football," Ryan emphasised, "tryouts haven't officially started yet, and I'm sure someone can lend you a hair tie."
"Oh, I'm sorry, football, I keep forgetting that I'm in England now." She put on a British accent.
"Does, um, anyone have a hair tie?" Ryan asked the boys around Darcy awkwardly.
They all shook their heads.
Darcy rolled her eyes, "'Lullah," she called to the trespassing pair, "do you have a hair tie I could borrow?"
"Yes." Tallulah yelled back, making her way the rest of the way down the stands to give it to her friend.
"How do you know each other?" Ryan asked curiously when Tallulah reached the group on the pitch.
"Before Darcy came here on exchange, she and I were pen pals." Tallulah smiled at the smaller girl.
"Yep!" Darcy confirmed.
"Where are you from?" Howie asked.
"Australia." Darcy announced, grinning.
"Why aren't you tan?" One of the other guys trying out asked.
"Um, because not everyone in Australia is tanned," Darcy said as though it was obvious, "I don't tan. At all." She glared at the person who asked the question.
"Anyway," Ryan said, "Let's get the tryouts started."
"First things first, we have three types of positions available, forwards, defenders and goalie." Baz stepped in, "Ryan will make his way around asking each of you what your preference is and then-"
"Oi!" Darcy waved her hand in the air.
"What is it?" Ryan sighed.
"You skipped me. You were asking the others their preference and missed me altogether!" She crossed her arms.
"Oh," Ryan blinked, "I put your preference as forward."
"Without asking me?" Darcy raised her eyebrows.
"Yeah….fine I'll ask. What is your preference?" Ryan obliged.
"Goalie. And then defender." Darcy beamed sweetly up at him.
"Have you ever actually played football before?" Ryan asked sympathetically.
"No?"
"Then let me give you a tip," by now most of the spectators were listening to their discussion, "leave the defending and goalie work for us men. The position needs someone able to throw their weight around. And, well," Ryan looked her up and down, "that's not you."
His teammates cheered, and gave him high-fives. Suddenly Darcy seemed even smaller amongst the boys. She crossed her arms defensively.
"Burn." Someone yelled setting off another round of cheers.
"Thanks for the advice," Darcy smirked slightly, tying her long hair up off her face, "but I'll pass."
There was silence. Until someone whistled.
"Okay then," Ryan gave her a winning smile, "Just means I'll get the honours of carrying you up to the nurse."
"We'll see about that." Darcy said, smiling evilly.
"I guess we will." Ryan replied.
When it came time for Darcy to try out, after several of the guys had gone, she went and stood in the goals. In front of the goals she looked even smaller than she had next to the boys, dwarfed by them.
Ryan approached with the ball, "so, I'll be trying to score against you." He told her.
"Are you usually one of the people who try to score goals?" Darcy asked innocently.
"No," Ryan admitted, "I'm usually a midfielder."
"Oh honey, you aren't even going to give me a challenge?" Darcy taunted, smiling winningly.
"Well you did say you'd never played football before." Ryan pointed out.
"And you believed me?" Darcy questioned.
"Um, yes?" Ryan said, "Should I not have?"
Darcy rolled her eyes, "I'll guess we'll find out then, won't we?"
"I suppose," Ryan agreed, setting up to kick the ball into the net.
Darcy grinned in anticipation.
Up in the stands, Tallulah shook her head with a smile, "She's just playing with him," she informed Simon, "Ryan won't know what hit him."
