Back Once Again

Chapter One

Simon

Nightmares would enter my mind often. They would sneak through the back, lingering there for vulnerability, and then strike, beams of the pretense pain cascading throughout my mind.
Baz told me I would eventually overcome it. That it was a battle I needed to endure and conquer.
Penelope told me it was a form of PTSD. A disorder—an imperfection in my system. She exclaimed that it wasn't a terrible thing, just something I would have to adapt to. A tick to deal with.
I told myself they were all wrong. This wasn't a war or any type of mental disease. They were not fictional. I saw them every night. Every time I would lay my head to rest for one second, I would see his face again, eyes glazed over with an ineffable pain.
"Stop it, stop hurting me!"
I didn't mean to shut him down. To make him fall limp. To make his heart stop.
"You've been staring at your scones for a good minute now," Penelope mumbled with slight surprise, eyes wide.
Shaking out of my daze, my nose burned from the microwaved pastries, as I stared down at them with hesitation. I didn't feel like eating. I wasn't hungry. "Yeah," I huffed in a fake laugh, playing it off with a scone to the mouth. The usual taste was mouthwatering—even if it was from a microwave; but right now all it tasted like was cardboard. My eyes trailed to see Penny gladly dig into her eggs and bacon, posture calm and relaxed.
At some times I was jealous at how she could handle herself with such ease. Like nothing had ever affected her. Biting my lip, I snuck a glance out the window to see London. The view was amazing—streets bustling with cars and citizens, rooms lit with workers starting their daily routines. Even the sun was shining.
Gazing back to our stance in conversation, Penny absentmindedly twirled her fork, trying to reach the bits of broken bacon to her mouth. "So summer's coming up. How are you doing with college and everything?" She paused, dropping her fork, leaning forward in a sympathetic stance. "The sudden change must be hard."
"It's fine," I waved away with a small, forced smile. My entire life was built upon induced magic and the learning of its abilities and teachings. And to suddenly just to go a Normal's school? The entire course of events took a drastic toll on me.
"Well, besides school, how are things going in general?" Penny swallowed a lump off egg and bacon and in her throat. "You seem tired." She shook her fork, gesturing to my face for emphasis, then reached down, the tongs picking at one of my scones, as Penelope then guided the foreign food to her mouth. I breathed a laugh at her antics.
"Mm," she chewed, nodding in approval. "You aren't eating, either." Penny's head tilted up in confusion, analyzing my face for any stray emotion.
"I'm fine," I tried in reply with a somewhat reassuring voice. I miserably failed, however.
Penny snorted a laugh. "Alright, then." Her eyes glanced to the clock on the living room wall. "When's Baz coming over?"
My actions followed hers, detecting the time. "Sometime early this evening." Baz has been cutting back on visits lately. He'd been focused on school and being at the top of his class—which I can admire. But it seems like he's putting all of this forced stress upon himself. My eyes traveled up to meet Penny's. "Do you think he's too focused on school to come?" It's been done before. Baz'd have to cancel because of a sudden academic test or exam that would appear. We were nearing summer, though. He would return and stay at the apartment for as long as he'd like. We'd be together—basking in eachother's presence once again.
"Of course he'll show up, Simon." Penny nudged up her glasses with a finger, giving me a small smile as a form of reassurement. "Afterall, who couldn't resist a Normal with wings and a tail?"
Giving her a short-sided glare, she just gave an innocent grin in reply.

Baz

Hearing Bunce shuffle behind the door, she then swiftly pulled it open, my eyes meeting a glare. "Where were you?" came her stern voice.
"I..." Trying to move out of her way to travel inside, her body blocked the doorway defiantly, staring me down with a fierce intensity I didn't know she had in her.
I sighed in annoyance and slight sympathy. "I'm sorry, I had something I needed to take care of."
Bunce scoffed. "Simon's been waiting all night for you to arrive."
"Great, then. I can finally see him."
She shook her head. "He's already asleep." Her eyes pierced mine, eyebrows scrunched, letting her lips move hesitantly. "He thought you wouldn't come." The words came out softly, but it was enough to tell me what I had done to Snow.
"I'm sorry," I mumbled in reply. "Can I see him?"
A moment passed, where silence took the spotlight. The tension in the air was thick—sappy.
Heaving a deep, aggravated sigh, she pulled the door wider for me to enter, intentionally avoiding my eyes. "He's in his room."
Quickly nodding in thanks, I took graceful steps to Simon's bedroom, feeling Bunce's eyes on me, waiting to see what moves I would make. Licking my lips, I gazed to the ground for a short second, then felt my hand grasp onto the doorknob, pushing the door open in a quiet fashion.
There he was. Bronze locks splashed on the pillow, the strands curled into eachother. Eyes closed. His breaths heavy, yet calm.
He looked peaceful.
Feeling my mouth twitch, I strode over cautiously, careful not to wake him. I was closer now. My eyes detected the array of moles and freckles pattering his skin like an abstract painting. A smile was now prominent on my face, as I scanned my eyes over Snow's features. He couldn't be more beautiful. The moments flooded through my mind in rapid movements. I would remember him in this state back at Watford—arms flung across him and the bed, mouth gaping to meet air, eyebrows slightly arched from the night terrors plaguing him.
But he wasn't having a nightmare.
He was at peace.
Gently, I let my palm graze over his locks, letting my finger get captured by a curl. I snuck a glance to his face. Crowley, he was beautiful. My hands eventually fell against Snow's cheek, as the pad of my thumb smoothed over the skin in a soothing motion. My action then stopped as I met liquid. Squinting my eyes, I then took notice to faint tracks of water trail down Snow's face.
"He was crying," Bunce suddenly exclaimed, leaning against the wall in the doorway, arms crossed. "Simon was starting to believe that you wouldn't want to come anymore."
Swallowing, I collected myself, posture now stiff. I had never meant to hurt him. My eyes meet Bunce's. "Once this year is finished, I promise I will make as much time as possible with him."
Inhaling, she shrugged in a passive-aggressive tone, biting her cheek. "Tell him that yourself. I don't need to hear it."
Letting my feet drag me to meet her, I waited for Bunce to make way. She didn't argue. Stepping aside, her eyes analyzed me, wondering if all of this was some sort of demise to trick her mind into believing me.
"Bunce, tell him I'm sorry," I mumbled to her.
Ears twitching, her hardened gaze began to soften, taking sympathy from my words. Giving a short, staccato sigh, her finger was then stabbing the air, the end of her fingernail centimeters away from my nose. "Just don't do it again."
I smiled in reply. "I won't. I promise."

A/N: Hello everybody! The first chapter is finally finished! Thoughts? Please leave any in the comments below. I would appreciate some feedback and support—it means a great deal to me! Thanks y'all! Bye!