Hi there!

Just a quick note to say that if anyone on here reads Never Let Me Go, there's almost another chapter up!

Thanks to Melbi for reviewing :)

"Ugh," Jeff groaned as he tried to unlock the door, Nick's weight leaning heavily against one side of him. "Why have you got to be so heavy, Nick?"

"It's muscle."

"Oh yes," Jeff rolled his eyes. "It must be all that muscle you built up eating those three plates of pancakes at Joe's this morning."

"Hey, I need to eat lots, thank you very much. I'm an athlete."

Jeff snorted. "You're not an athlete, Nick. You play sport once a week for a couple of hours."

"That's a couple of hours more than you."

"You'd better watch yourself or I'll leave you out here in the hallway all night." He tried the key once more and sighed in relief as the lock clicked.

Nick reached across in front of Jeff and turned the knob, pushing the door open in front of them.

Jeff picked up Nick's sport bag off the floor with his free hand as he guided his friend into their room. "I don't even know why you play cricket. If it was a sport that actually mattered, America would have an official team."

"I like it."

Jeff snorted. "Yes, well, you also like polo but that doesn't mean you have to play it."

"Hmm," Nick lowered himself onto his bed, removing his arm from around Jeff's shoulders, "I could give it a go."

"Please don't."

Nick laughed but then winced at the pain in his ankle.

"Are you alright? Do you want some more painkillers?"

"Nah, its fine. Thanks though."

Jeff shook his head, turning to the fridge and pulling out a bottle of water. "I don't know how you actually managed to hurt yourself. You should have just let the ball go."

"Um, no. The point of the game is to catch the ball after it's been hit."

Jeff rolled his eyes. "Right."

"And, hey, I did a good job, thank you very much." Nick smiled smugly. "We got a wicket."

Jeff shook his head again, the logic of the sport failing him – as did most – and looked at Nick's newly plastered ankle. After spending almost an hour in sickbay, the school nurse had said she'd bring up the crutches once she'd found them. For being such a posh school, Dalton sure could do with a few more resources.

Nick glanced over and saw Jeff watching him.

"It's just a cracked ankle. I'll be fine."

Jeff rolled his eyes. "Then stop acting like the world's ending."

"It is. I'll be out for the rest of the season."

"Oh no! What am I going to do with my Saturdays now that I don't have to watch your cricket game?"

"Match." Nick smiled. "And watch your tongue, Jeffy. Of course I'll still be going to watch, so obviously someone's going to have to drive me."

"I really, really, really dislike you sometimes, you know."

"I know. But as your reward I'll shout you lunch every week for taking me."

Jeff pursed his lips, hating that Nick knew him so well. "You've got yourself a deal, Mr Duval."

"Well, you know what they say, the best way to a man's heart…" Nick grinned.

"Can't disagree with that."

Nick settled back in bed, wincing at the pain once again. "Ok, I think I'm ready for those painkillers now."

Jeff grumbled and shook two tablets out of the container, realising this was probably going to be the longest six weeks of his life.

He walked to the bed and handed them to Nick. "Do you want me to shower you as well?"

"I think I can manage that one."