How to Carry On

III | Simon

 In the morning I wake up alone, but I can smell bacon and know that Baz is cooking. I get out of bed, throwing on a random shirt from my wardrobe and opening my door. Penny is coming down the hall as I step out. She's rubbing her eyes underneath her purple cat-eye glasses and yawning. It looks like she just woke up too.

When she sees me, she furrows her brows. "You're not cooking?"

I shake my head. "Must be Baz."

She rolls her eyes and walks past me. "He might as well just move in, Simon."

I follow her to the kitchen, where she leans against the doorway and folds her arms across her chest. "Is there ever a time when you're not here?" she asks him.

"Where else would I be?" He doesn't turn around, but I know he's smirking.

"Oh, I don't know. Fiona's flat?"

"But then I couldn't haunt your flat."

Penny ignores him. "At least you cook. What're you making?"

"Bacon and omelettes," he says, flipping an egg in the air. It landed perfectly back on the pan. "Quiet this morning, Snow?"

"Tired," I say, walking over to him, leaning against the counter next to the cooker and watching him.

"You're always tired," he says, looking over at me. "When are we leaving?"

"As soon as possible."

"Wait," Penny says, "Where are you going?"

"Don't worry about it," I tell her. Baz says nothing.

"Simon." I turn to look at her and immediately her eyes are digging into mine, spelling me into telling her with no magic required.

I sigh. "The Pitch's Estate."

Her eyes widen. "What? Why?" She looks over at Baz. "Are you making him?"

"You think I would?" He raises a brow. "Bunce, I don't want him to go any less than you do. In fact, I'm positive that I don't want him to go more than you don't want him to."

She rolls her eyes and looks back to me. "Simon, why?"

I shrug. "I have to do it sometime, Penny."

"No, you don't Simon."

"Penelope," I snap, "you don't know what we went through back at the estate. You don't realize how horrible it was for us."

"You're right," she stepped forward, pushing her glasses up her nose, "I don't know, but Simon, you can do this anytime. Why now? So soon after-"

"Six months. I think I'm fine." I'm not.

"Simon, you're not fine. Right Baz?"

Baz holds up a hand. "Woah, don't bring me into this Bunce."

"Simon already did," she said, rolling her eyes. She looks back to me, but this time she doesn't say anything. Her eyes search mine for answers, but I look away. She sighs. "At least let me come with you. For moral support, if anything."

I shake my head. "No, Penelope. This is something we have to do alone. Just me and Baz." I take his hand and he squeezes it.

She turns her eyes away. "Tell me when breakfast's ready." She walks away, back to her bedroom I presume.

I look to Baz and he wraps his arm around me.