A/N: Hello! Just a quick note to say, this is written in tandem with my Seblaine fic that I just finished, but you don't need to have read that to get this, and if you're not a Seblaine fan, they're hardly mentioned, anyway. And another thing - if there's a "()" at the beginning of a section, it indicates it's set in another part of time. Hope you enjoy! (Also, I really recommened listening to You Are My Sunshine by Johnny Cash at some point!)

Chapter 1

()

Nick never used to love summer. Sure, it was always nice to relax in the sun, but there were way too many bugs for his liking, and more often than not, it was just far too hot. He still distinctly remembered his first day at Dalton, where the sun was glaring down unforgivably, and whenever he thought of loosening his tie, the teacher was glaring down on him just as hard. Really, it was like summer just made everything seem extra stuffy, and he couldn't wait for it to be over.

However, summer has one quality which Nick wouldn't ignore – the way it can make places, and in this case, people, look beautiful. How everything could be timed and put together so well that one person could somehow embody everything summer was meant to be. It was only really in passing when he saw him, but he found himself pretty much hypnotised, and that just wasn't Nick. Nick never got distracted, or caught gawking, but just this once, he was drawn to the presence of a tall boy with hair so bright it could light up the courtyard better than the actual sun. He was clearly the centre of attention of the small group he was standing in. His shirt was untucked, and his tie was loose, and for whatever reason his head was thrown back in hearty laughter that sounded so happy, it was impossible not to feel some kind of cheeriness in return. Nick found himself smiling, only really realising he was staring when the other boy caught his eye and grinned in a way that was somehow teasing and forgiving at the same time. He couldn't help but blush as he smiled back, wondering how someone's eyes could reflect the sun as well as his before looking ahead and walking purposefully away. When he heard running behind him, he didn't think it would be the same guy he'd been ogling only seconds ago.

"Hey!" a voice called, just before a hand landed on Nick's shoulder. He turned around, frowning before stopping sharp. He was suddenly afraid this guy was going to punch him for staring or something.

"What?" he asked, trying to come off just a little threatening which the guy only seemed to find amusing. It irked Nick to see him smile so much.

"You dropped this," the boy smiled, handing him a vital piece of paper that Nick had stuffed into his pocket containing his timetable. Nick did all he could not to blush again, snatching the piece of paper from him and feeling stupid for thinking this overly-happy person was going to hit him.

"Thanks," he murmured, turning to walk away but finding the other boy just followed him, walking with him like they'd known each other for years.

"You seem tense," he commented, seeming genuinely concerned.

"Are you following me?" Nick asked.

"Nope. We have the same class. I looked," he grinned. "Is that why you're grumpy?"

"I'm not grumpy," Nick snapped. "Just… a little irritable."

The boy laughed. "I guess first day at school can get you like that. But that's why you've gotta be open to people, right?" he stopped, smiling down at Nick and holding his hand out. "I'm Jeff, by the way," he said. "Jeff Sterling."

"Nick Duval," he replied, taking his hand and frowning when Jeff just stayed where he was, feeling intimidated under his gaze. "Why aren't you moving?"

"We're here," Jeff grinned, and Nick blushed, seeing he was right. "Why aren't you moving?"

Nick just stuttered over words he couldn't make, quickly pushing past Jeff and into the empty, calm classroom. He exhaled, running a hand through his hair and trying not to watch the door for the other boy to walk in. At the time, he was sure Jeff Sterling would be nothing to him other than a boy who smiled too much and spoke like he had the world in check. He would never have guessed in a million years he'd turn out to be his best friend.


He hadn't even realised he'd fallen asleep until a cold bead of water dropping on his nose suddenly woke him up, stirring him back into the hot summers day where he'd been sunbathing in the garden. He frowned, not opening his eyes straight away as he tried to work out what was happening, still pulling himself back into consciousness.

"I'm gonna give you until the count of three," a familiar voice warned him, and finally, he opened his eyes, seeing his best friend towering over him with a mischievous smile on his lips – and a water gun.

"One…"

"Jeffy, no…" Nick grunted, not moving. Jeff just raised his eyebrows.

"Two… You know I'm gonna do it anyway, Nicky," he grinned. "I'm giving you a headstart."

"Getting me in the state of waking up isn't giving me a-"

"Three!"

Like lightning, Nick was up, rolling off the blanket he was lying on and further into his garden while Jeff chased him, cackling and shooting the water gun while Nick responded with noises of protest.

"This means war, Sterling!" Nick yelled, despite being the obvious inferior subject in their situation.

"You're gonna call war on the guy with the giant water pistol?" Jeff asked. Nick responded by grabbing a bucket that was full of rain water – his dad left buckets out to collect the rain in order to conserve their water – and emptying it over Jeff, who had no time to slow down after chasing Nick and ended up running right into it. He gasped, using the fact Nick had stopped running to his advantage and covering as much of him as he could while Nick attempted to use the bucket as a shield. When he'd finally run out of water, he just took a step closer to Nick and shook his hair, creating a very accurate wet dog impression.

"If this is how you're gonna greet me from now on, I might have to terminate our friendship," Nick teased, but Jeff just pouted, looking at Nick with wide eyes. Nick shook his head, telling him I'm not falling for the puppy eyes but it didn't stop Jeff pulling him towards him into a hug.

A really wet hug.

"I missed you," Jeff mumbled fondly, hugging Nick tighter for a moment. Nick giggled, knowing he should probably say something about how long the hug was taking but finding he really didn't care enough.

"You only saw me two days ago," Nick pointed out, causing Jeff to pull away, feigning offence.

"Fine, next time I won't come see you for a week!"

"You won't manage that," Nick teased, and Jeff folded his arms, pouting again. Nick reached out, pulling at the corners of Jeff's mouth until he had to smile, laughing at his best friend's attempts.

"You're right," he smiled. "I could never do that to you."

Nick laughed again, and Jeff smiled, following him as Nick lead them back to the front of the oversized garden. A part of the reason Jeff found himself at the Duval residence so much was just for the astonishing scenery – not only was his garden some kind of baby countryside, complete with pool and patio, but the house itself was bigger than two houses on his own street put together. The sandy coloured building was three stories high – four if you counted the basement – and was fully kitted out with environmental friendly features but wasn't lacking in the grander décor, either. Each five members of the family had their own study separate from their bedroom – apart from Nick, who had a bigger one than everyone else but had to share with his sister, Lucy. There was a first lounge and a second lounge, which used to be dedicated to the staff when they needed a break (but now their only regular staff was a maid and a gardener), their own personal gym on the second floor, and a piano room just as you walked in to the large foyer.

It needed no saying that Nick was privileged, to say the least.

"What song is that?" Nick asked, noticing Jeff was humming as they approached their usual spot by the pool. Jeff chuckled, barely realising he was doing it until Nick pointed it out.

"You Are My Sunshine?" Jeff told him, looking at him with wide, keen eyes. "It was on the radio before I got here. I guess I like it," he shrugged.

"That fits you perfectly," Nick grinned. "The song."

A flicker of a frown passed across Jeff's face, and a breathy laugh escaped him as a shade of pink crawled up his neck. "Nicky… have you actually listened to the lyrics of that song?"

"Uh," Nick stuttered, biting his lip and looking at Jeff apologetically. "…no."

"Maybe you should," Jeff giggled. He decided not to say any more on the topic; instead pulling his shirt up over his head, lying down on the large blanket that was already waiting for them and closing his eyes, sighing happily as the sun washed over him. Nick couldn't help watch him a moment longer, tilting his head to admire the content smile on Jeff's face. He was barely aware of his gaze drifting further down, taking in the already tanned skin of Jeff's very toned chest and how it was glistening just slightly where the water had hit him earlier. He followed the few freckles that dotted across his collarbones, knowing already how he could trace them all the way down his abdomen, where his shorts sat low on his hips to reveal well-sculpted hip bones that had his heart beating faster whenever he caught a glimpse of them. Catching himself, he felt heat rising quickly to his cheeks, and his gaze snapped back to Jeff's face which was just a peaceful as before. He sighed, smiling and lowering himself down next to Jeff, noticing for the millionth time how impossibly long his eyelashes were. But he'd never let himself admit that in that back of his mind, he called them beautiful.

Jeff was his best friend. Nothing more.

Except just maybe, he could let himself look over at him and feel no guilt in thinking, you are my sunshine.