Jeff stayed in his room for hours.
When the time for lunch came, he ignored the bell, choosing to skip his second meal for the day and hide away in his room. He wasn't afraid of his parents, or the opinions of anyone else on the ship for that matter, but he just wasn't sure what he'd do if he went outside the cabin. He'd never been so angry, yet saddened, in his life. He was afraid he might scream, or cry, or break things. Or even worse still, he'd sit quiet and take the haughty, judgmental looks from everyone.
Jeff was fairly certain he was finished with sitting quietly and obediently.
When the lunch bells had initially sounded, he'd expected his mother to come after him, rapping on the door and ordering him to lunch. But silence was the only thing that followed. Maybe she realised he'd need time to cool down.
Or maybe she just couldn't be bothered with him anymore.
He sighed, leaning back on his bed head and looking out the window. He'd just slipped his eyes closed when he heard a quick knock on the door of the cabin.
Jeff stood up, leaving his room and heading for the entrance room when the knocks sounded again. "I'm coming, I'm coming!"
He opened the door, the sight before him surprising him. "Nick!"
"Hello there." Nick grinned at him, his smile causing Jeff's heart to flutter. He had a bag in his hand and rolled canvases under his arm.
"Come on in." As he walked past him, Jeff noticed he what he was wearing. "Is that my suit?"
Nick looked down. "Yeah. I was coming to return it to you. I knew it was lunchtime so I thought I'd try to get your attention in the Dining Room, but I couldn't see you there, so I assumed you'd be here."
"You assume correctly, sir." Jeff grinned, closing the door and sitting on the settee.
Nick took a seat next to him, turning to look at Jeff. "So I thought – hey, what's that?" He gestured to the red mark on his cheek, concern on his face. "Did someone hit you?"
"Yes, but it doesn't matter anymore."
Nick cupped Jeff's face in his hands, his eyes searching his. "Of course it matters, Jeff. Someone hurt you. Was it because of me?"
"No, Nick. It wasn't your fault. My mother didn't like the fact that I didn't return last night."
The older boy grazed his knuckles over the angry, red mark. "Does it hurt?"
"It stung when it happened, but it's not so bad now."
Nick dropped his hands slowly from Jeff's face. "Well...good then. But I shouldn't have taken you to the party, Jeff. It was silly of me."
"No, I agreed to go. I wanted to go. And I'm glad I did."
Nick smiled. "Good. Because I had an excellent time."
"So did I."
He nodded and handed Jeff the bag he was holding. "Here, some food for you. I know for a fact that you didn't eat any breakfast, and when I couldn't see you at lunch I just knew that I couldn't let you go hungry."
Jeff took the bag eagerly, realising how hungry he was. "Thanks, Nick. That really means a lot to me."
"It's alright. It might not be the grub you get in First Class, but I think it's pretty good."
Taking the sandwich out of the bag, Jeff took a bite, moaning at the taste. "Are you kidding? This is better than anything they serve in First Class."
Nick smirked. "Talking with your mouth full now? You really do belong in Third Class."
Jeff just laughed through the food.
They sat in silence while he ate the rest of the sandwich, Nick looking around the room.
As he crumpled the empty sandwich bag, Jeff spoke. "So how exactly do you plan on returning the suit if you're wearing it?"
Nick shrugged. "Well, I was just planning on taking it off and doing a nuddy run back to steerage."
As Nick was speaking, Jeff swallowed. So, naturally, he choked, looking at him incredulously. "What?"
"I figure if I'm not wearing any clothes they can't tell which class I'm from."
Noticing the smirk on his face, Jeff laughed. "Right, you're joking."
Nick looked thoughtful. "I think so. Got any better ideas?"
"You're such an idiot."
Nick grinned. "But you love me anyway."
They both looked at each other seriously for a moment, Jeff unsure how to continue until Nick laughed. "It's alright, Jeffy. I know you're not quite ready to declare your undying love for me just yet." He winked at him. "And I bought a spare set of clothes to change into. My Sunday best, of course."
All Jeff could do was shake his head. He sure was one of a kind.
Looking around, he noticed the scrolls. "So what are those canvases for?"
"These? Oh, I was up on deck painting earlier and I didn't want to leave them in the room where Sebastian would look at them."
Jeff was shocked. "Wait...so not even Sebastian has seen any of your paintings?"
"No. I've never shown anyone before."
"Wow. So, understandably, you brought them here, where I definitely would not want to see them." He eyed off the canvases.
Nick looked at him. "Well now I'm beginning to think it wasn't such a good idea."
"You're right."
As Jeff lunged over Nick for the scrolls, the other grabbed them and held them above his head, trying to fight Jeff off. He stood up. "Not gonna happen, Sterling."
"Oh, really, Duval? And how are you going to stop me?" He pounced on Nick, knocking them both to the ground. Nick raised his arms above his head again in a futile attempt to get them out of the other boy's reach as Jeff sat on him, laughing.
"Hmm...what's that you were saying, Nicky?" Jeff laughed as he flung the paintings to the other side of the room.
"I said, go get them."
Jeff looked thoughtful. This was most definitely a trap. But he was going to do it anyway.
He climbed onto his hands and knees, scurrying toward the scrolls. Half way across, he felt Nick pounce on his back, stopping him. Jeff stretched up onto his knees, knocking Nick flat onto his back the floor. Turning around, he sat on the boy again, pinning him to the ground.
Nick was breathless with laughter, and all Jeff could do was look at him again. He looked just as he had the night before at the party, his eyes sparkling, hair messed up and cheeks flushed.
He squirmed beneath him, and Jeff laughed at his weak attempt to get free. He leant forward, placing a hand on each side of Nick's face, still straddling him, his legs over the other's waist.
They looked at each other for a long moment as the laughter died away from Nick's lips, his eyes looking into Jeff's searchingly.
It was as if the moment was frozen in time, and neither of them were in any hurry to end it.
They were both startled when a throat cleared behind them. Jeff turned his head to look back and noticed his mother and Brittany standing in the doorway of the cabin.
He rolled off Nick quickly, trying not to let the disappointment show on his face. Nick sat up, his hands uselessly trying to tame his brown hair.
Jeff's mother took a few steps forward into the room towards the boys. "Nicholas, I presume?"
Nick stood, straightening his clothes. "Yes, ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you." He held out his hand.
Lydia Sterling eyed his outstretched hand, but did not return it. "Likewise."
Even Nick could tell that she didn't mean that. Jeff rolled his eyes, still sitting on the floor.
His mother looked at Nick. "Is that your suit, Jeffery?"
He looked over at Nick, who met his eyes. "Yes, mother. I lent it to Nick yesterday."
"Whatever for? I can't imagine Third Class having any formal events." Her nose turned up. "Well make sure you wash it once you get it back."
Nick stood quietly, his hands in his trouser pockets, looking embarrassed. Jeff was outright outraged at what she had just said. He stood up abruptly. "Excuse me?"
Brittany took a few steps forward, her hand on her hip. "I'm not sure if they even have hygiene facilities in Third Class."
Jeff's face was flushed with anger. "How dare you? Both of you! Nick is my friend, and he is here because I want him to be. I won't let you stand around and insult him like he's not even a real person."
"Oh, get over yourself, Jeff. Third Class has no place in this part of the ship." Brittany's voice was sharp and accusing.
Nick looked up, his face flushed red in embarrassment. "It's alright, Jeff. I'm going to go now. I'll see you later on, maybe." He nodded politely to the women before slipping out the door, his paintings forgotten on the floor.
Jeff just couldn't understand how he could be so chivalrous after they had insulted him in the worst imaginable way. He turned to his mother. "Who are you? Nick is just as much human as you or I. Although I'm not even sure that's what you are anymore."
"Oh, Jeffery. Stop being so darn stubborn. You need to learn who is worth your time and who is not."
Jeff laughed humourlessly. "Don't you worry, mother. I just have. And it's not who you want it to be." He threw them one last look as he strode out of the cabin, still not believing the cruel words that had just been spoken.
He had to find Nick.