Mike stared at Simon's half-nude body with a mixture of affection and disdain, striding to the window silently. There were muffled groans from beneath the pillows and blankets, and Mike sighed, grabbing onto the cord for the blinds and yanking it down harshly, bringing sunlight rapidly into the room. Simon voiced his discontent loudly, waving his hand at the vicinity of the bed, cursing, in a futile attempt to get back to the comfortable darkness.

"...the fuck." Simon groaned, poking his head out from under the pillow, squinting until he got used to the light. He stared blankly at Mike, hair disheveled, his normally blue eyes were bloodshot and red.

"Carpe diem!" Mike chirped in a falsely cheerful voice, and his sarcasm was more than evident. Simon buried his face back in the pillow.

"Too bloody early." He mumbled.

"It's almost noon."

"Whatever." He sat up after a moment, and glared. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"How many guys did you fuck last night, Simon?"

"That's none of your goddamned business, Michael." He stood up and stared at himself in the mirror, muttering a soft curse word under his breath. "I look like shit. Good thing there's no class today."

"Do you know -why- there's no class today?"

Simon looked over and blinked. He hadn't noticed before, but Mike was in a tuxedo. "....why are you in a suit?"

"Graduation ceremonies for St. Nicholas' Academy's Class of 1999 will commence in half an hour."

"....oh, fuck -me-."

"I think many have had that honor, haven't they, Simon?"

"Jealous?" He smirked. "You know, if you want me that bad.."

Mike fought the urge to smack him. He clenched his jaw and enunciated his words carefully. "Are..you..going to the ceremony.."

"Nah. I'll go back to sleep." He walked towards the bed. Mike sighed.

"Fine. Fuck it." He turned and stormed out, slamming Simon's door behind him. Simon stared for a moment, frowning. He wasn't sure why Mike was so mad..so what if he was out having fun? He looked over at his suit hanging in the closet, neatly pressed... Ah, hell.. why not? He stood up and headed to the shower.

*

Simon gasped as he fell back into the lineup, panting heavily, his mortarboard nearly falling off. The girl behind him snorted.

"Late for your own graduation, Hawkes? How sad."

"Stuff it, Amanda." He reached up and tapped Mike on the shoulder over a few other people, but there was no response. Simon's shoulders slumped and he scanned the crowd for Chris, who waved. He also saw his parents amidst the numerous waves of flashbulbs.

"Michael Grant." The principal read over the PA system. Simon whistled loudly, surprising Mike enough to almost trip over his graduation gown. He stared at Simon in surprise and then broke into a grin, getting his diploma and shaking the principal's hand. He gave the girl after him a rose, and they flipped each other's tassels and walked off in their seperate ways.

As Simon's name was called, there was cheering and whistling, but he didn't hear any of it. He couldn't feel how his feet sank into the plush red carpet on the stage, and he didn't move his hand up to shake the principal's, it moved on its own accord. It was a blur, and he didn't snap out of his trance until he heard Mike's voice.

"You made it."

"Sure did." He grinned, reaching down to lightly squeeze Mike's hand with a smile.

"Simon.. I .. I didn't think you were going to come, to be honest." They spoke in low whispers, as not to disturb anyone.

"I try and surprise people sometimes." He nodded with a smile as someone yelled 'Good job, Cap'n!'. Simon kept his hand entwined with Mike's for the rest of the ceremony, and as everyone stood to throw their caps into the air, Simon leaned over and kissed him deeply on the lips before quickly joining the rest of his class.

Mike stared in utter shock, catching the soft smile on Simon's face. Simon reached down and pulled him up as the rest of the class threw their caps up into the air with a cheer. Mike wrapped his arms tightly around Simon's shoulders and kissed him for a moment before simply embracing him tightly.

"Ladies and gentlemen... I give you, the class of 1999!" There was loud applause from the stands and the students as they began to file out to the strains of 'Pomp and Circumstance'. Simon returned his grad gown, only to be tackled by a half-insane Chris.

"We did it!" He laughed, jumping up and down.

"Oi.. what's with the schoolgirl reaction, Chris?"

He blinked. "Sorry." Chris grinned sheepishly. "Just.. no more history class. I'm excited, is all." He hugged Simon lightly. "I gotta go return the gown, see ya."

"See ya." Simon laughed softly and hugged his parents as they came into view.

"We're so proud of you.." His mother sniffled, blowing her nose.

"Thanks, mum."

His father handed over a set of car keys with a smile. "Here." Simon's eyes widened.

"Y..you got me a car?"

"Yep."

Simon gasped and hugged his father, looking for his two best friends. He saw Mike standing with his parents nearby and grinned. He kissed his parents on the cheek. "Thank you! I'll see you at home tonight, I'm going for a drive."

"Just don't drink."

"I won't." He ran over and jingled the car keys in Mike's face. "Guess what?"

Mike blinked a couple times as his parents left. "Uh.."

"I got a car!"

"Oh.. good for you." He said quietly. "Simon..I need to tell you something."

"Shoot."

"I..love you."

Simon was taken aback. Even though they might have thought it, neither one of them would've dared to say it.. He cleared his throat and realized that Mike was waiting for him to say something. "Um..I..I ...have to go ..you wanna come?"

"No thanks." He looked away. "I'll catch a ride with someone else." Slowly, he started to walk away, leaving Simon confused and alone in a sea of people.