Late Summer 1904

EDDIE POV

Eddie was chewing gum in the tunnel between the hedges. Everytime he blew a bubble he was thinking of some new invention that would make him more famous than Thomas Edison. His train of thought was ruined when Samantha's sullen face appeared before him.

"What is it?" Eddie drawled.

"Where is Nellie? She wasn't here earlier." her eyebrow was knit together with worry. Of course she would never willingly come to his house to see him.

"Nellie became ill last week. Mother doesn't think she can work anymore, the way she is. Morris is probably driving her back to the city right now." Eddie inspected a long string of gum.

"Next time we'll have to hire help that can actually work." he added thoughtfully. He looked up. He was just repeating something his mother said but he had realized this was not the person he should be talking to. Samantha looked like she was on the verge of tears. She drew her fist back. Eddie prepared for the impact. He realized he deserved it but his pride was stopping him from taking it back. So he waited.

What happened next was much worse. Before he could react Samantha had already stolen the wad of gum from his hand and jammed it into his already messy hair. Samantha stormed away. Probably to find her little friend.

After messing with his curls for several minutes Eddie went into the house to look for some shears. Mother would not be happy. Eddie fumed. First of all he was angry that Samantha couldn't see social boundaries. Eddie was only ten but he had observed much about society from his parents and elder cousins. Couldn't Samantha see her life would be so much easier if she just followed the rules? However he was most angry with himself. He took pride in never having truly hurt someone's feelings before. Everything he said was just to rile people up. He had made Samantha angry before but this was the first time he made her sad. He hated it. For the first time in Eddie's life he felt true regret. Not regret of having been caught like usual, but honest shame.

Eddie wandered his way to the kitchen. He immediately worried he had walked in on a private moment. Eddie hid behind the door archway. Samantha held Nellie's hand as tears slid down Nellie's face. Nellie was explaining her sudden absence and Samantha was trying to comfort her.

"Wait here. I'll be right back," Samantha squeezed Nellie's hand. She exited through the other door. Eddie had a feeling he couldn't kick.

NELLIE POV

But Samantha didn't come right back. A senior maid was escorting Nellie to the car in a matter of minutes. Morris the Ryland's driver, opened the door for Nellie. Two more minutes and she would never see her best friend again.

"Morris, wait!" Nellie looked back to see Eddie jogging towards them.

Nellie was surprised to see the young master. She couldn't remember a word he had said to her in her short time as a maid. Nellie assumed this was because Mrs. Ryland thought it inappropriate for Eddie to befriend a servant.

"What can I do for you Master Eddie?" Morris spoke. Eddie was bent over trying to catch his breath.

" Pick up this list of things my mother ordered before you drop this girl off. Mother says we need them before lunch. You know how she gets." Eddie hinted.

Morris picked the list from Eddie's hand and left in rush. He forgot all about Nellie. Lunch was in nearly half an hour. Nellie had already looked at the menu for today and she knew the house had all the ingredients. Nellie was shocked. Eddie was just as particular about social classes as his mother. Why would he help her?

Eddie turned on his heel. Nellie called out to him before he could leave, "Um. Thank you!"

Eddie looked back at her, "S'no problem. Just do me a favor and don't tell anyone I did this; especially not mother or Samantha."

Nellie just nodded her head and followed him back to the kitchen. She understood why he wouldn't want his mother to know, but Sam? Whatever. Nellie was just grateful to Eddie for the time he had given her. As they entered the Ryland House Eddie ran upstairs. She wanted to say thanks again but Samantha was already running towards her in a giant bear hug before she could say anything else. She just shrugged and hugged Sam back, glad to have one last goodbye with her friend.

(A/N: So… how's it going so far?)