Over The Ocean
innogueira,SamanthaB
Chapter 24
Notes:
So, we decided to move to AO3 now, and we hope you guys don't mind it. It's just that in terms of editing and whatnot (and we can now both work on the story if needed while in only Sammy had access to it, really) it's way easier... Anyway, enough with this chit chat, enjoy the new chapter!!! :D
(comments in the end are appreciated :3)
Chapter Text
Jeff started to freak out a bit and before he knew he was getting up and going outside. He knew he was overreacting, but what if his bullies remembered Nick? What if they thought Nick was with him and wanted to hurt him now? He couldn't let that happen.
Thomas looked concerned at Jeff as he stormed out but then he saw Nick outside too so he let him go.
As Nick saw Jeff storm out he looked up. "Jeff?" He raised an eyebrow.
Jeff almost fell when he stopped by Nick's voice. He looked at him and sighed "I didn't saw you inside and freaked out for a few seconds..." he mumbled.
"Why?" Nick asked confused.
Jeff waved his hands and ran a hand through his messy hair "Forget it...Do you wanna go? That's why you came out here?" he asked.
"I just came to breathe some fresh air, if you want we can go... Just warn Trent and Thad." Nick shrugged.
Jeff sat down on the bench outside the restaurant, hugging himself from the cold "Ifyouwant to..."
"I'm okay," Nick said softly.
Jeff nodded a bit as he wrapped the jacket closer around him and looked down at his lap, his cheeks heating up. He sighed. Did he really have to be that embarrassing and awkward?
"So... Why did you freak out?" Nick asked softly, sitting beside Jeff and leaning a bit into him as an affectionate gesture.
Jeff turned to Nick at his side and shrugged "Reasons." he mumbled, not wanting to sound like he was checking everything Nick did.
Nick rolled his eyes and hugged himself. "I'm getting cold, do you want to come back inside?" He asked, knowing Jeff was hiding things from him but knowing better than to push him.
Jeff nodded a bit and got up, leading the way back inside, where it was much warmer and the music was still pumping. He saw Tom and Jim in a corner talking -more like flirting- and went to sit down near Thad, trying to act cool and not all over Nick.
Nick followed Jeff and sat with them, his nose slowly warming up. It was the worst thing for Nick - to have his nose cold - it would turn red and the air would feel like it was ice in his lungs.
As Jeff looked up and saw Nick with that adorable red nose, he wanted to reach out and rub it playfully, but he held his hand in his lap and smile a bit towards Nick.
"So, you're enjoying the party?" Thad asked excitedly.
"Yeah, it's pretty cool," Nick smiled.
"Just that?" Thad asked playfully, his brows raised "Well, the one at my house will be better but this one is cool too" he laughed
"That will be for new year, right?" Nick asked.
Thad nodded excitedly "You in Jeffrey?" he turned to the blond and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. He smile at Thad and nodded "Of course, wouldn't miss it for the world!"
Nick smiled at Jeff, he was glad he was going too, because he didn't want to be there by himself, and Jeff's company was always good.
Thad quickly excused himself for food and Jeff was left alone with Nick once again. He smiled a bit and the looked down at his hands on the table. He wished he had the gut to say he really liked Nick, but he was afraid to scare the other boy away.
"Is there anything wrong? You look a bit odd." Nick said, Jeff had been acting a bit weird since the game.
Jeff waved his hands with a dismissive smile "It's nothing, it's just that's I can't drink and these are kinda boring sober," he smiled "But you can drink!" he encouraged.
"I'm still seventeen, so no." Nick chuckled. "But I don't actually want to..." Nick shrugged.
Jeff laughed "Do you think age will stop us?" he asked with a smile "You're cute!" he blurted out without realizing.
Nick laughed and then blushed. Sure Jeff didn't mean it like that, Nick had to remind himself, still he couldn't help the smile from spreading on his face.
Nick's smile was really the most cheerful Jeff has ever seen. He smiled gently back and looked around to check on the party.
"But you're right... It is kinda boring" Nick sighed.
Jeff glanced back at Nick "You wanna go?" he asked.
Nick nodded. "Yes." He got up. "Should we warn Trent and Thad?" He asked.
He didn't want Nick to be uncomfortable, so he nodded and got up "Yeah, sure wait a second," he said as he walked through the sea of people to tap Trent's arm.
"Me and Nick are heading back...you can get a ride?" he asked through the music to a dancing Trent. He simply grinned "If you wanted to just stay with the dorms for yourselves, you could have told earlier!" he joked, making Jeff glare at him.
"Enjoy your walk back home!" he said sassily as he went back to Nick "Wanna say goodbye to Tom and Jim?" he asked.
Nick nodded. "Yeah, though I don't think they'll be happy when we interrupt them." He said pointing back at where they were, still flirting.
A grin grew in Jeff's lips "Another reason to go say bye." he laughed and turned to go talk to them.
Nick shook his head with a smile but followed Jeff. "Thomas will probably kill me in practice..." He mumbled more to himself.
As Jeff reached them, he placed a hand on Thomas back, who turned to him with a polite smile, until realizing who it was and simply smiled. Jim on the other hand, was trying to look pissed at him, but failing "What do you want 'cous?" he asked
Jeff laughed "Don't worry, I'll leave you two alone!" he stuck his tongue out at Jim "We just wanted to say bye!" he said.
Nick nodded behind Jeff. "Yeah, thanks for everything," He said more to Thomas who had saved him from the game. Thomas just smiled knowingly at him and gave him a small nod. "I'll see you soon." He said to both of them and shook their hands.
Jeff quickly hugged Thomas and Jim and waved at them before turning to Nick, glancing back at Jim and winking when he was at the door dressing his jacket.
Nick reached for his jacket and dressed it quickly. "Come on," He said going outside.
Jeff glanced back at Nick and nodded, quickly fixing himself before following him "So...how was your first Warbler party?" he asked
"It started out nicely..."But then the game happened."But I still think my friends' parties are better." Nick teased.
Jeff listened to Nick and then chuckled "You just want to pick up a fight right?" he asked with a playful smile "Just know I'd win" he said
"You wouldn't. You never been to both kind of parties, I have. So, I can say my friends back at Portugal are better at giving parties." Nick nodded with a grin.
Jeff rolled his eyes playfully as he climbed into his car "Whatever, pup!" he said as he started it, glancing at Nick "Just wait for Thad's!" he warned with a smile.
Nick smiled widely and got in to the passenger's seat. "I hope it's better than this one..." He tried to tease a bit more.
Jeff laughed as he took the car of the parking spot and started to drive back to the dorm "Shut up!" he said with a grin "Next time you'll walk home!" he threatened.
"You wouldn't do that to me," Nick made lost puppy eyes at Jeff.
As he was staring at the road, Jeff missed the eyes, but he knew that tone of voice "That doesn't work on me mister!" he laughed.
"Yes, it does!" Nick gasped. "Don't underestimate me squirrel, I can make people give me whatever I want just with this look!" Nick defended himself.
Jeff laughed and quickly glanced at him "I am driving, you want to have an accident?" he joked, bringing one hand to smack the back of Nick's head "Maybe back at the dorm." he said with a laugh as he realized what he had said. He shook his head and focused on the driving instead of his feelings for Nick.
"Hey!" Nick whined as Jeff smacked his head. And then he had to turn away to hide his grin, damn why couldn't Jeff just say things that didn't turn into sexual things in Nick's mind.
Jeff kept driving calmly, the car filled with silence, but Jeff didn't find it awkward. He himself was, saying stupid stuff because Nick would open his mouth and his thoughts would turn into mush.
As they got into Dalton, Jeff had stored his feelings back in a box and turned to Nick with a smile "Your nose is red!" he teased.
Nick pouted and rubbed his nose. "No, it's not!" He said in a whiny tone.
Jeff laughed and zipped his coat all the way up "It is..." he said with a smiled before walking ahead of him, his feet crunching the snow.
Nick stopped and then a grin grew on his face he leaned down grabbed a bit of snow, molded a ball with it and passed by Jeff, running. He turned back and threw the ball at him with a chuckle before continuing to run so Jeff wouldn't throw a ball at him.
Jeff was walking calmly when he heard Nick run. He rose a brow as the brunet passed by him, but the next thing he knew was his face being hit with something really cold.
He groaned a bit and cleaned the snow away "You are so done Duval!" he said before running after him, trying to jump on him and make him fall.
Nick yelped and ran faster but eventually he was tackled to the ground, he blamed his short legs. "Jeff!" He shrieked.
Jeff laughed loudly as he straddled Nick's chest once Nick turned to him, keeping him down "What?" he asked innocently as he looked down at him.
Nick bit his lip lightly as he looked up at Jeff, he looked stunning with the moon light shining on his face. "I'm cold!" Nick whined looking slightly away from Jeff and trying to move away from him.
"Too bad, Nicky, you started it!" he said with a playful grin, still not letting him get up.
"But you weren't supposed to catch me!" Nick pouted refusing to look up at Jeff's face.
Jeff shrugged casually, going to grab snow and making a snowball, grinning evilly.
"No! Jeff! Don't be that mean! You know how sensitive to cold I am!" Nick said trying to squirm away from Jeff.
Jeff shrugged, not really interested "More cuddles to me, awesome!" he said, glad the biting cold covered his red cheeks. He missed cuddling with Nick, it had always been amazing.
Nick sighed. "If you promise me cuddles than you can throw snow at me." Nick nodded shutting his eyes firmly close.
A giggled escaped Jeff lips as he pushed the snow into Nick's face. He was adorable and he was glad he had someone to do this with. Thad would have tackled him to the floor already.
Nick gasped and shook his head. "It's so cold!" He whined, his nose was already very red, and hurting with the cold as if it was burning. Oh he missed his country's sun and warmth and dryness.
Jeff continued to giggle, gently brushing the snow away from his face "Next time don't do that, okay?" he smiled.
"Maybe," Nick mumbled. "Can you just get off me, it's not that I don't like it- I mean," Nick quickly cut himself blushing deeply. "My clothes are getting soaked."
A brow rose as Nick said that. What did that mean? Jeff shook his head, it didn't mean a thing, that's what. He climbed off Nick and helped him up.
Nick quickly brushed the snow off him. "Come on, I'm freezing and you now owe me cuddles." Nick nodded and reached for Jeff's hand to pull him out of there into the building.
Jeff watched Nick as he got up, wanting to reach and warm his cute nose up, but he stood there, gasping a bit as he held his hand. Even if freezing, the touch of Nick's hand was so warm on Jeff's.
They quickly reached the room and Nick quickly started stripping his wet and freezing clothes. "I'm just gonna shower quickly," He informed and went to the bathroom. "But I will still want my cuddles!" He called out. He would always want his cuddles, sleeping cuddled with Jeff was one of the best things ever.
Jeff followed him and started to take his clothes too "Yeah, sure." he nodded with a smile as he started to take his sleep wear. He missed cuddling Nick. It was so awesome when he was in painkillers, and with a crush on him, it would be amazing. The fact Nick as insisting only helped
Nick quickly showered, smiling to himself a bit, he just wished Jeff would like him back, but if he couldn't have him like that he'd be happy with just cuddles.
Nick got out of the bathroom with the usual towel around his waist before dressing his pyjamas and walking to Jeff's bed. "May I?" He asked with a smile as he sat on the edge of the bed.
Jeff had changed and had placed a blanket over his bed. When Nick got out of the bathroom, he blushed and looked away, not resisting a small peak as he dressed. It wasn't his fault Nick was so good looking. "Uh, yeah!" he smiled shyly and moved a bit aside, trying to hide his blush.
Nick laid beside Jeff pulling him close and humming. "You're so nicely warm..." He smiled.
Jeff let Nick pull him closer, loving how Nick was just so confident to do that. He snuggled under the covers, getting comfortable, which wasn't hard, with Nick there. He laid his head on the pillow and had an arm across Nick.
Nick sighed happily and looked at Jeff's face before turning the lights out to sleep. He was so glad Jeff was okay with, and actually liked, the cuddles. Nick loved to cuddle Jeff, he felt warm and protected. Sometimes it was hard to be away from his family and friends but Jeff made it better, because cuddling Jeff felt like somehow being home. Nick felt like there was where he was supposed to be.
Jeff smiled shyly as Nick was looking at him He wanted nothing more than just lean forward and kiss him, but he got a hold of himself. He closed his eyes as the lights were off and tangled their legs together, enjoying this rare moment
Nick smiled widely closing his eyes and taking in the moment, for it to be absolutely perfect Nick should be able to kiss Jeff, but he could never do it. He couldn't tell Jeff he liked him and make things awkward.
Jeff couldn't really do much. He wanted to tell, he really did, but he didn't want to lose Nick. He pulled him closer, wanting to feel the warmth.
"Sleep well, squirrel." Nick smiled softly burying his face on Jeff's incredibly soft hair. It smelled really nice.
"'Noite..." he mumbled in his very awful accent.
Nick held Jeff tighter, he loved when he tried to speak in Portuguese. "Noite," He said softly.
Jeff smiled tiredly and quickly fell asleep in Nick's arms
Nick smiled as he felt Jeff's breaths getting heavier and him getting more relaxed. He stroke his hair gently, keeping him close. "I love you," He mumbled lowly before falling asleep too.