COC Day 12: Side characters. This is the leaving ceremony and leaver’s ball from Fiona, Rhys and Keris’s point of view. It was fun doing side characters, and I might do some more side character stuff in the future- there’s so much opportunity!
Baz has that sad look in his eyes when he’s giving his speech. He keeps up a relatively calm, indifferent front, bless him, but I can see that he’s feeling a whole lot more than he’s letting on. I can feel tears falling down my cheeks as Basilton finishes up his cheeks. The way he talks about Natasha, and pays homage to her speech brings a lot of fond memories of Natasha to the surface. I remember my Watford days, with her as Headmaster, and the passion she had for the school. She wouldn’t hold back in telling me off just because I was her sister, caring more about the integrity of the school. She cared greatly for tradition, and I know that she did all that she could to make Watford the best place for the students. But another part of why I am crying is the realisation that I have come to over these years that I didn’t appreciate her enough back then. I have always loved my sister, and she is cherished in my memories, but back then I spent much more time rebelling against her authority than enjoying her presence and being appreciative of her. She always kept my best interests in heart and I just wished that I had really showed her how much I love her while I still had the chance. So I let the tears roll down my cheeks, clapping Basilton on the back and telling how great his speech was. I’m proud of him, and I can see how hard that was for him, so I offer to take him out for a drink, a little light-hearted fun with his Aunt. He refuses though. “Leavers ball tonight,” he says, “I told the headmistress I’d be there.” He looks lonely and distant, and I know that he’s not looking forward to that ball without any of his loved ones there. It’s merely a formality to him. I decide on a little light teasing to cheer the boy up.
“Can’t pass up a chance to see yourself in a suit can you.”
“I suppose not,” he replies. He’s smiling a little now, which is a vast improvement. I tell him we’ll go drinking tomorrow instead. I do still want to spend time with him.
“Watch out for numpties,” I tell him with a chuckle as I head off. He just rolls his eyes.
I see Simon walking in through the archway and raise my eyebrows at Gareth and tell him to come with me to see Simon. I wheel over to his side and greet him with a cheerful, “Hiya, Simon!” He pivots slightly from where he was hovering by a table, gazing over to the other side of the food and seating area.
“Oh, hey Rhys,” he says, smiling. “Hi, Gareth.”
“How’re you doing,” Gareth asks, grinning. “It’s good to see you.”
“Yeah, you too. I haven’t seen you guys in too long. How’s school been?”
“Oh, you know,” I say, “there’s been a few change ups but it’s still school isn’t? Still getting up early for classes and drudging our way through homework,” I laugh.
“Yeah, it’s been alright,” Gareth agrees.
“So,” I enquire, “what’re you doing here. I didn’t expect to see you since you’d, y’know… left.” Simon gets a slightly wistful look, but then replies, smiling slightly once more.
“I actually came here for Baz.” My eyebrows knit.
“Baz?” Gareth and I say simultaneously, a confused look on Gareth’s face as well.
“Oh, you guys don’t know?” He looks a bit perplexed.
“Well,” he replies, “since a while ago, Baz and I have been dating. Um, we’re a couple now.” I can’t say I’m not surprised by this, and Gareth says what both of us must be thinking.
“Well,” Gareth says lightheartedly, “I didn’t see that one coming.” We all chuckle a bit when Simon replies.
“Me neither,” Simon confesses, “but I’m surprised the news hasn’t traveled the school by now.”
“Maybe it has,” I laugh, “Gareth and I historically been a bit out of the loop.”
“You know,” Simon says sincerely, “I’m really glad Baz is my boyfriend now, it’s good to have him in my life.”
“Well then,” I say, “Good for you, Simon. I’m glad all those years of antagonism have come to something good, even if it is surprising!”
“Me too,” he looks over at the food table, where Baz looks to be chatting with Professor Bunce, “but I better get going. I’m actually trying to surprise Baz. He didn’t think I’d want to come, but I knew he’d be a bit lonely here.”
“Good luck,” Gareth and I say, raising our eyebrows at each other at our unison. “Bye, Simon. It’s been good to see you.”
“You too, guys. Thanks.” And with that Simon grins at us, and walks towards the other side of the room.”
“It makes sense, you know,” Gareth mutters to me as we watch Simon surprise Baz, then talk and laugh, from the other side of the room.
“Well, they always were obsessed with each other.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
I lift my head off Trixie’s shoulder as we dance, still keeping my face close to hers, though, so she can hear me. As we were swaying to Nick Cave’s ‘Into My Arms’, holding each other close, I saw a new couple drift onto the dance floor. Simon Snow and Baz Pitch. They’re as close as Trixie and I, Simon’s hand on Baz’s shoulder, and Baz’s arm around Simon’s waist. Trixie smiles and gives me a light kiss when I lift my head from her shoulder. I smile back and squeeze her hand- I sure am lucky to have a girlfriend as sweet, loving, dedicated and beautiful as her. I turn slowly as we dance, rotating so that she can see Simon and Baz.
“Do you see that, Trix?” I ask her.
“We’re not the only ones anymore,” she replies, “and we were so right about them.” Trixie and I have been the only same-gender at Watford for years. We secure in our identities and happy together, but it made us feel a little apart from everyone else. We knew we couldn’t be the only Queer students, so sometimes, just for fun, we would try and guess who else at school was Queer, and if they were crushing on another student. We both agreed on the notion that Simon and Baz’s obsession with each other went a bit further than antagonism.
“You know,” I say to her, as we continue to sway, “it’s really good to see another same-gender couple here. I wonder how they’re doing.” I see Trixie’s eyebrows knit a little and face darken as I say this.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” she replies, not meeting my eyes, continuing to gaze over my shoulder. “It just looks like they’re arguing.”
“Want to drift a little closer and find out?” I say.
“Can’t hurt.” We continue to sway together to the music, but subtly move a little closer to Simon and Baz as we do so.
“Snow,” I hear Baz say forcefully. I meet Trixie’s eyes. We continue to drift near them, listening.
“I was bad at magic because I wasn’t supposed to have any!” Simon’s face looks pained. “The gates wouldn’t even open for me tonight. Penny had to let me in.” I make a worried, but not uninterested face at Trixie, and she returns a similar one, but just then Baz turns his head slightly and sneers at us. We drift away. We aren’t setting out to make anyone uncomfortable, after all. We just care about the only other same-gender couple here. Having another couple like us here is no small thing.
“Yikes,” Trixie says, when we’re a significant difference away from them. “That didn’t sound too good.”
“Agreed.” They still look like they’re arguing. “I hope they’re okay, especially after what happened.”
“Yeah, I can’t believe Simon lost his magic.” She makes a bit of a worried face, and then I pull her closer to me.
“I’m so glad we didn’t get caught up in that, Trix. I couldn’t bear to lose you, or see you go through anything like that.” Her face softens, and she puts her hand around my neck and kisses me. I return the kiss this time, but break away shortly. Trixie and I don’t mind being publicly affectionate, but after all we’ve endured unwillingly seeing straight couples make-out, we’ve decided to keep our public kisses to a respectful, non-makeout, length. That greatly changes when we’re in one of our rooms, though. We take advantage of the one privilege being the only same-gender couple here gives us.
“I love you,” she says when we break, stroking my cheek.
“I love you, too,” I tell her. I think I always will love her, she’s so important to me, and we’ve been together a long time. She’s been the best part of Watford for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love magic, and I love learning, but she truly is the best thing here. I love being in her company, and she always cheers me up when I’m sad, calms me down when I’m angry and is so incredibly important to me. I love being around her, and since Penelope left, I can stay with her at night, too. Some people probably wonder how we don’t get sick of each other, and I think it’s just that we don’t ask too much of each other. We don’t always have to be talking or having fun. Sometimes we just sit and hold hands quietly and that’s enough.
I’m saving our last moments at Watford together, and I’ll never forget how beautiful she looks tonight, with the fairy lights making her fluffy hair shimmer, and her green eyes bright and full of life.
After a while with my eyes closed as I rest my head on Trixie’s shoulder as we dance, I open my eyes again to see what’s going on, as there seems to be a significant lack of speech in the room. When I look across the room, I see Simon Snow with his lips on Baz’s, faces pressed together, kissing urgently. I turn my face to Trixie’s again.
“Well,” I say, “They look like they’re alright.”
“Looks like one hell of a kiss.”
“Everyone’s silence seems to agree with you.”
“I’m glad their relationship seems to be intact, but also- we were so, so right about them.” She grins at me.
“Hell yeah,” I reply. “Team Kixie strikes again.”
