The two boys walked into the clearing of the woods and immediately then sound of raucous music and smell of teenage hormones drifted over to them.

Simon wrinkled his nose, "I don't think I've been to a party like this before."

"Nervous?" Baz rose his eyebrows.

"Of course not," Simon scoffed, "I've faced the Humdrum what is there to be scared of at a party?"

Baz smirked, but let the lie pass, he did have the upperhand in this kind of terrain.

"Baz, Simon!" Darcy called, making her way past bodies packed together.

"Darcy?" Simon asked, stunned.

"Yep!" Darcy chirped.

"Hello Darcy," Baz greeted, "is everyone else here yet?"

"Most of the others are, Ryan and Howie are over there, and Tallulah and Penny are around somewhere." She said with a grin.

"Wait, Penny, and Howie? Here? At the same time?" Simon questioned.

"That's what I just said," Darcy sighed dramatically, "don't worry though," she whispered, "Tallulah and Ryan are keeping them away from each other."

"Oh good." Simon said, relieved.

"What's good?" Penny's voice came from behind Simon.

Simon winced, turning slowly to face her.

'I'm sorry.' Tallulah mouthed at Simon.

"I was just saying that it's good that we can all be here, celebrating." Simon answered, trying to smile.

"Of course you were." Penny smiled in return.

There was a silence.

"Good job in the game today Ty." Tallulah said, nodding at Baz.

"Thanks Lu," Baz said, "it was good to be back out there, even if it wasn't in the position that I used to play. It was also nice of the Mage to turn a blind eye to it."

This caught Penny's attention, "the Mage noticed? But Simon was distracting him!" she exclaimed.

"I think he's a bit more observant than we give him credit for," Simon said, "besides, I was distracting him. I got him away from the pitch, didn't I?"

"Well, yes," Penny said suspiciously, "But, Simon, how exactly did you distract the Mage?"

"I just told him what I was thinking."

"That's exactly what I told you not to do!" Penny sighed.

"This is a party, Penny, lighten up."

Ryan, hobbling along on a pair pf war-torn crutches hobbled up to the group.

"Didn't your leg go missing or something?" Simon asked.

Baz smirked, "Do you know Ryan at all?"

"I had to get out," Ryan ignored Baz's comment, "But it turned out that the guy made something pretty important go missing, like my Achilles."

"You didn't tell me that!" Penny cried in dismay, "You shouldn't be up, let along walking around."

"Doesn't matter, what the Nurse doesn't know won't hurt her."

Baz chuckled, "How'd you manage it?"

"You snuck out?" Darcy looked impressed.

"Just a couple of charms and bribery. Didn't take long with my stunning good looks and brilliant spellwork," Ryan snuck a look around before leaning in and lowering his voice, "Although, I may need you guys to cover for me, if anyone asks I was in my dorm sleeping."

"You should tell your roommate this." Penny spoke.

Ryan paled even more under his skin.

"And cue your panic." Baz announced.

"I didn't even think about that," Ryan almost lost his grip on the crutches, "And knowing the little nerd he probably is in the dorm sleeping."

"Hey," Penny said, annoyed, "just because Colin works hard in class, doesn't mean he's a nerd, he's really a perfectly lovely person."

"Who is Colin?" Howie asked suspiciously, suddenly appearing in their circle.

"That's none of your concern," Penny said flatly.

"Oh great, she's still avoiding me," Howie groaned, heading off in a flash of annoyance.

"I thought you were keeping him away from here," Tallulah hissed at Ryan.

"Hey, don't blame me, I'm on so many painkillers that it's practically a miracle that I'm standing at the moment. You can't expect me to remember something like that!" Ryan protested.

Tallulah rolled her eyes in response.

"Should you really be here if you are on that many painkillers?" Simon asked tentatively.

"Probably not," Ryan replied cheerfully, "but I couldn't miss the after party, especially not when my team won."

"Yeah we did!" Darcy cheered, "Everyone did really well considering those cheaters played dirty."

"Let bygones be bygones," Ryan said sagely, "and besides, it gave Baz his opportunity to be back on the pitch for the first time this year. I know how much he's missed it." He nodded at Baz. "You deserved to play."

"Thanks Ryan," Baz said, voice full of gratitude.

"Enough serious stuff," Darcy announced, "now it's time to party!"

Simon proceeded to having a terrified look nestle upon his face.

"Not terrified, Simon?" Ryan warbled.

"Of course not." Simon tried to smile.

"He's never been to one of these before." Baz spoke.

"I haven't either." Penny said hesitantly.

"You are about to have the time of your lives." Ryan offered a polystyrene cup of amber liquid to Simon.

"What's in this?"

"Some kind of punch," Ryan shrugged, "I suggest you don't know exactly what is in it, otherwise you may be put off."

"I already am." Simon said.

"Don't be too much of a worry wart, Simon," Baz smiled, "None of us have died yet. I think you'll be fine."

"I'm even having it with my pain killers and I'm feeling fine."

Baz and Simon turned to him, wide-eyed.

"I'm pretty sure that's not safe," Baz started laughing, "I'd forgotten how unsafe one of these could be."

"And the party is just starting." Ryan shot back.

Their attention turned back to Simon.

"Why are you just holding my cup of liquid gold?"

Simon started into action, started sculling the liquid.

"Whoa, whoa," Baz gently took it from Simon, "I think that's more than enough."

"Did he just-?"

"Yes Simon did." Baz said grimly.

"Does he know what's in it?" Ryan grimaced.

"No, because you said it was better for him not to know." Penny said.

"Did I?" Ryan asked, looking puzzled, "whoops, my bad."

"Do you know what's in it?" Baz asked Ryan.

"Nope." Ryan said, "You know we never have any control over what ends up in the punch bowl, and I'm fairly sure that tonight was no different."

"Well," Penny sniffed, "if this is what parties are like, I'm glad that I never come to them."

"Oh lighten up Penny," Ryan grinned at her, "it's just a bit of fun."

"Simon doesn't look like he's having much fun at the moment," Penny remarked, pointing out that Simon did in fact look slightly queasy. "Besides," she continued, "it's not all that responsible, is it? It's certainly not something that I personally enjoy doing." With that she turned and walked back toward the school.

"Well, I think that she was having a lot of fun." Darcy muttered sarcastically.

"Who doesn't like parties?" Ryan asked incredulously, staring after Penny's retreating back.

"Obviously Penny," Baz answered, rolling his eyes at Ryan.

"I don't think I do either." Simon remarked from where he stood, still looking like he was about to be sick.

"We can leave if you want." Baz said somewhat worriedly, turning to look at Simon.

"Its fine," Simon tried for a smile, "Besides we've only been here five minutes."

"Well, if you're sure…" Baz said worriedly.

"You haven't even danced yet." Ryan pointed out wickedly.

Simon immediately dragged Baz into the throngs of dancers. Before remembering that he didn't exactly know how to dance.

"Simon?" Baz watched him with a grim expression, "Are you alright?"

"O-of course, Baz." Simon said.

The worried look didn't leave Baz's face but he began to move in time with the music. This highlighted his natural elegance and grace.

"Baz," Simon smiled, "I wish I could dance like you."

Baz stopped, "Now I really need to know what was in that punch."

"Keep dancing," Simon tried a few moves himself in an effort to make Baz join in.

"Stop Simon." Baz gritted his teeth.

Miraculously, Simon stopped.

"Follow my finger with your eyes."

Simon's giggle slipped out from between his lips.

Baz groaned, "I can't tell whether you're drunk or just high on the party atmosphere."

Simon grimaced, pulling a face, "Don't be silly, Baz, I just wanted to dance."

"Maybe we should sit down for a while." Baz suggested, steering Simon away from the dance area.

"But dancing Baz!"

Baz sighed, "I wonder why I thought this was a good idea."