"You didn't." Baz looked horrified.
Tallulah smiled, a smile that sent chills down Simon's spine.
"Didn't what?" He asked.
Ryan paled, "I thought we'd said never again."
"Never what?"
"Did you have to?" Baz lowered his gaze.
"Oh come on." Tallulah muttered.
"I have no idea what is going on." Simon spoke to thin air.
Everyone went on like he hadn't spoken.
"I'll never get over last time," Ryan shook his head wistfully, "And here we go again."
"My friend." Tallulah reminded them.
Baz sneered, "Oh the horror-"
"What is going on?" Simon cut in loudly, "And who are you all talking about?"
"Turn around and you'll find out." The voice came from behind Simon.
Simon whirled around, surprised, only to find that it was a girl he had never seen before in his life.
Pretty much all of the others seemed to know who she was, though, if the very familiar way they were greeting each other was any indication.
Simon just stood there, unsure of what to do as this unfamiliar person was embraced by his friends.
Eventually she turned to him, "And you must be Simon," She smiled brightly at him, he hazel eyes twinkling.
"How did you know that?" Simon blurted out before he could think.
"Well you definitely had the heroic look, plus Basil here has described his roommate millions of times in the past, so it would have been shameful if I didn't know who you were." She laughed at the look on Simon's face.
"Oh." Was all Simon could say in reply.
"Simon," Baz stepped in to help, "This is Grace. She's our next door neighbour."
"Of course," Grace stepped in, "Out here 'next door' means 'a good half an hours walk away'." She turned back to Simon, becoming serious, "So, nor that you've met me, there's probably something else that you should know about me," She hesitated, "I'm not magical."
"What do you mean?" Simon asked dumbly.
"I don't have magic powers." Grace enounced carefully.
"Okay?" Simon asked, unsure of what the proper response was.
He looked around at the others with a lost expression on his face. When it became apparent that Grace wasn't going to expand on what she meant, Simon was forced into speaking.
"You aren't magical, that's fine," he shrugged, "I'm pretty sure me being magic is a mistake anyway."
Grace smiled, "Aren't you wondering why I know then?"
"You're friends with Tallulah." Simon stated.
"Grace," Baz smirked, "It seems like Simon doesn't really care."
She pulled a hurt face, "You've probably already told him all about me."
"How much we hate you?" Ryan teased.
Tallulah pulled a pout, "Only hate you because you always beat them at the pranks they try to play on you." She assured Grace.
"Are you sure? I would hate to intrude." Grace looked around, wide-eyed.
"Sure. We don't want you around, yes." Ryan was merciless.
There was a silence.
"I'm sorry! I-"
Ryan and Baz burst into laughter interrupting the poor blushing girl.
"Nah, you can tag along." Ryan gave in.
"Just so fun to stir up." Baz chortled.
"You always give the best reactions."
"Oh-I-" She didn't know how to react, twisting a copper coloured strand around her finger and pursing her lips.
Baz turned to Ryan, "You're right, it is good to be home."
"Told you so." Ryan smirked at Baz.
"Don't be insufferable." Baz smirked back, jostling Ryan with his shoulder.
"You're both insufferable." Tallulah muttered.
"Hello Grace," Titania greeted, hugging her before turning to the rest of the group, "Are you all ready for a tour?"
"Why do we need a tour?" Ryan asked, clueless.
"Because, Ryan," Titania sighed, "Some of us haven't been here before!"
"But who?" Ryan looked around at the group, mystified before his eyes alighted on Simon, "Oh." He said, comprehending.
"Yes." Titania stated, walking off, he height more than compensated by her personality.
The rest of the group followed, naturally splitting into boys and girls groups, as they walked up the stairs to the next floor.
"Sorry about forgetting you, Simon." Ryan said a bit regretfully.
"That's alright." Simon replied, still somewhat in awe of the sheer size of the house.
Titania was commenting about the history of the house, and notable features included the estate, when Simon was struck by a thought.
"Baz," He whispered, "What are the sleeping arrangements going to be?"
"Boys, and girls." Baz replied shortly, keeping up the façade of listening to his sister.
"Is that okay?" Simon asked.
Baz merely raised an eyebrow.
"Seeing as we're together?" Simon felt himself going hot, "And Ryan is the odd one out? And Titania may not want us sharing a room considering our relationship. Or it may make everyone uncomfortable-"
Baz slid his hand into Simon's, effectively ending the rambling while Simon concentrated on every centimetre of Baz's skin on his own.
"Actually," Baz murmured, "I think it would make everyone more uncomfortable if one of us slept with the girls."
"Yes, but-"
Baz squeezed, cutting Simon off.
"And I checked with Ryan first if he was okay with it."
Simon went to say something but was cut off again by Baz's hand tightening over his.
"Anyway, I doubt you could sleep without me there." Baz's mouth quirked.
Simon realised he was staring at the other boys mouth and quickly looked away.
"That was one time." Simon swallowed, his Adams apple jumping.
"At least twice."
"Twice?"
"Well you talk in your sleep." Baz muttered, smile supressed and eyes straight ahead on Titania
"Wait, so when you say at least twice you mean….?"
"You've asked me every night since coming back from the tunnels," Baz shrugged, "It's a nice change from our old discussions when you were sleeping."
"Which were what exactly?" Simon gasped.
That exact moment Ryan turned to talk to the two, eyes falling on their clasped hands.
He rolled his eyes, "I turn around for two minutes and you two are back to being disgustingly sappy, why do you keep on doing this to me? Rubbing it in my face that I have no-one to love." Ryan said melodramatically.
"Must you start this again, Ryan?" Baz asked.
"Of course I must!" Ryan announced, "How would you feel if I was always like…" He looked around before he seemed to settle on Tallulah, walking over to her he signalled for Baz and Simon to just wait for a moment.
He held out his hand to Tallulah, "Will you hold this for me?" he asked.
She looked at his hand and then up into his face, confused, "…no," She said slowly, "What did you do to it?"
"But Tallulah, my love," Ryan batted his eyelashes dramatically, "It was to demonstrate to your dear brother how annoying sappiness can be."
Tallulah raised an eyebrow, "Well find someone else to demonstrate with."
"Oh fair maiden, you wound me, suggesting there are other than you that I could even attempt this demonstration with."
"There are many others." Tallulah turned away from Ryan.
"Why must you be so cruel, yet so beautiful?" Ryan bemoaned, making his way back to Baz and Simon.
"That was pitiful." Baz stated.
"It would have been much better if she had co-operated," Ryan shrugged, "Unfortunately she did not. So my demonstration did not work."
"How does it feel, Ryan, to be rejected by the first girl you declare your love to?" Baz asked, smirking.
"Alas, not the first." Ryan grimaced.
"What?" Simon was distracted, "Not the first."
Baz raised an eyebrow.
"Baz should know, he was there for the first!" Ryan dramatically raised a hand to his forehead.
"Let me see," Baz raised his free hand up to make a list, "Was it the girl you kissed back of the line in year one where you had me act as a look out, or your first 'girlfriend' who you tried to bribe with sweets?"
Baz's dry sense of humour did not go amiss as Simon smiled at his wryly.
Ryan continued, "It was back to preschool, I was certain Miss Jam was going to marry me and then she rejected my finger painting and got engaged to Mr Pete's who was-"
"Miss Jam?" Simon questioned Baz as Ryan rambled on.
"Miss Jan. He just had a lisp."
"How does a lisp affect an 'n'?"
"Boys?"
The three froze, turning guiltily.
"Are you ready to move on with the tour? Or are you too busy discussing Ryan's love loses?" Titania pursed her lips.
"No, got it, ready to move on." Simon spoke for all of them, cheeks flaming.
Baz squeezed his hand and led him forward. Their hands swung, joined between them. Baz hadn't let go.
