Author Note: I've just noticed that I've got 99 followers for this story and can't believe it I am so chuffed. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read it, it genuinely means a lot. Thank you x.

Jeff stood in front of his closet door putting the finishing touches to his elaborately knotted tie, "you know you really need to show me how that's done one day" a voice came from the direction of his bed where Nick sat patiently waiting for him to finish getting dressed.

Smiling at his boyfriend in the reflection of the mirror Jeff continued to fiddle with the knot before tucking it inside his sweater and pulling on his blazer.

"I'd prefer to show you how to un-do it" Jeff grinned as he bent to collect his bag from the end of the bed.

"Well if you put it like that" Nick smiled before leaning across and capturing Jeff in a deep kiss earning himself a soft growl from deep in Jeff's throat.

Pulling apart Jeff gazed at him with crystal blue eyes "no fair Nick" he pouted breathlessly, Nick beamed delightedly back at him, "c'mon we've got classes to get to" Nick laughed jumping up from the bed leaving Jeff to nearly fall forward at the physical loss of his boyfriend.

"Oh Duvall you will pay for that" Jeff growled through narrowed eyes as he tracked his laughing boyfriend across the room scowling as he disappeared into the corridor. Grabbing his bag and storming across the room he slammed his door behind him before stalking after his boyfriend.

Kurt and Jeff sat together at lunch trying hard to ward off the growing interest in their matching bruises, Kurt had constructed his outer shell again which was working well along with his bitch glare while Jeff had gone with a more comedic approach, aware that any discussion would dredge up bad memories for Kurt so deflection seemed the most sensible option.

"Not again..." Thad said to Kurt with a roll of his eyes as he passed their table carrying his lunch tray, Kurt smiled thinly in response before Jeff slung his arm around his shoulders and launched into an elaborate tale involving a rogue football which magically managed to hit them both in the face as they were out bird watching."

"Riiggghhht" Thad nodded when Jeff had finished before speaking directly to Kurt, "you sure you're okay?" he asked sincerely, "yeah, thanks Thad."

"See you in class then" he nodded before heading over to sit with his friends.

"Really, Jeff, a rogue football" Kurt laughed as Jeff smirked next to him, "Hey, it's not the best one I've told today" Jeff grinned and Kurt rolled his eyes at his friends goofiness.

Nick dropped heavily into the seat across from them, his lunch tray banging unceremoniously on the table causing Kurt to jump and Jeff to look up at him surprised.

"What's up with you" Jeff asked incredulously.

"Long day" Nick grumbled as he took a swig of his soda.

"but it's only lunch time" Kurt stated in confusion, he'd never seen Nick anything but amiable and this change of attitude was a little shocking.

"I am well aware of that" Nick grumbled.

Jeff eyed his boyfriend in concern, he hadn't seen him since the start of classes and he was certainly in fine spirits then. Shuffling across to sit next to him he placed a hand on his thigh before dropping his voice and speaking quietly to him, "Nick what's happened?"

Nick closed his eyes enjoying the calming feel of his boyfriends hand on his leg before returning a small smile and shaking his head slightly, "nothing it's okay baby, don't worry. Just classes that's all."

"Nick c'mon" Jeff tried again softly, "tell me..."

"Jeff I said I was fine" Nick snapped grabbing his bag and heading out of the room shoving past David, Wes and Blaine as they made their way through the cafeteria doors as he pushed through.

"Nick?" Blaine called after him, David and Wes also looking after him in concern as a blonde blur flew past and hurtled after him.

"What's up with Nick" Blaine asked a stunned Kurt as he occupied the seat next to his boyfriend, Wes and David dropping into the seats opposite.

Kurt was still staring at the cafeteria doors where Nick and subsequently Jeff had disappeared moments earlier, "I honestly don't know" he said without looking at Blaine.

"I'm assuming this is Jeff related?" David asked matter of factly as he stood up to go get some food, "actually I really don't think it is" Kurt answered finally looking away from the doors to address David directly. "Jeff was fine whatever is wrong with Nick has happened since breakfast."

Blaine and Wes frowned and David nodded deep in thought before turning and heading for the queue. "What did he say" Blaine asked from his place beside Kurt, "Nothing really, whatever it was he didn't want to talk about it."

"and I suppose Jeff pushed" Wes said with an understanding nod.

"Actually no he didn't, not really" Kurt said backing up his friend.

"Well I'm sure they'll sort it out" Blaine said confidently whilst pulling Kurt to his side with the free hand he had placed around his waist, attempting to erase the concerned creases which were sitting between his boyfriends eyes.

"I hope so"

Jeff found Nick sitting in the cold court yard. The air was crisp but the skies were clear. He was sitting on a low wall, his head resting in his hands which were braced on his knees, fingers fisting in his hair and deep breaths escaping his labouring lungs.

Approaching quietly Jeff sat softly next to his boyfriend their legs barely touching but didn't reach out to touch him.

"Nick..." he tried softly, a long exhale received in response.

"Honey..."

"Jeff I'm sorry" Nick said into his hands, "I'm sorry I snapped at you, really I am but I'm not very good company at the moment, so maybe it would be best if I see you later yeah."

Jeff slipped off the wall and knelt down in front of his boyfriend capturing his chin in his long fingers before slowly lifting it up so that he could meet his gaze, "I'm not leaving you here like this Nick. Just tell me what's wrong. Please baby."

"Jeff..."

"Okay look you don't have to tell me right now if you don't want to but I'm still not leaving" Jeff said with a cocky lilt to his voice which made something flash behind Nick's eyes before he looked away, "Jeff you have classes..."

"Baby you know I'm a genius" grinning and cocking his head to one side Jeff smiled before becoming sombre, "you are more important, now do you wanna go back to my room and cuddle?"

Nick looked into his boyfriends affectionate yet stubborn eyes and smiled despite himself, "Actually Jeff I think I need to concentrate on classes today" as he pushed Jeff's fringe back off of his face in a tender movement.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I need to fill my mind with useless stuff so I don't think about this....."

"and you're gonna tell me what 'this' is at some point?" Jeff asked, punctuating the 'this' with air quotes.

"Yeah" Nick sighed softly, "just not now baby, please, I promise we'll talk later okay?"

"Sure whatever you need" Jeff smiled and kissed him tenderly on the forehead before standing and offering his hand, "are you coming back inside?"

"No" Nick squinted up at his boyfriends expectant face his eyes screwed up against the glare of the sun, "I think I'm gonna stay here for a bit, I kinda need the air."

"Okay" Jeff smiled sitting down once again, reaching into his blazer he pulled out a large granola bar which he proceeded to tear in half and hand the larger part to his dumbfounded boyfriend, "I fancied a picnic anyway" he smiled as Nick shook his head and smiled in disbelief at his perfect boyfriend.

Wes took the opportunity to talk to Kurt alone when Blaine left the table to join David in the queue for food, Kurt was studiously studying his lunch, poking it like it had offended him when Wes captured his attention, "so Kurt how are you doing?" he asked casually.

"Um good thanks Wes"

"Good, good"

"Uh why do you ask?"

Looking up to meet Kurt's pointed gaze Wes took in his posture before levelly answering, "David said Christian was bothering you again."

Looking quickly down at his food Kurt let out a small "Oh" in answer to Wes's statement.

"Look Kurt is he being a dick? Do we need to have a word with him because believe me David and I are more than happy to even if he isn't a Warbler. Only if you want us to though, we won't overstep" he added quickly.

"Honestly Wes I'm fine. He's just being a prick, I'm sure he'll find someone else to annoy soon enough"

"Well if he doesn't you know you can come to us right"

"Yeah, I know" Kurt smiled as David and Blaine returned laden down with food, "I am so hungry" David moaned stuffing a fork full of pasta into his mouth with one hand while the other reached for a bread roll.

Kurt eyed him in fascination as he stabbed his own normal sized portion of pasta, "are you really going to eat all that?

"Sure why not" David replied through a mouthful of food.

"Ew gross" Blaine moaned throwing a balled up napkin at this friend in disgust, "shut your damn mouth David."

"Sorry man" he smiled back, "but the guy asked the question"

"He's right Blaine he did ask the question" Wes laughed and Blaine stuck his tongue out in response, Kurt shaking his head as he watched.

Blaine turned his attention to his boyfriend, more specifically his lunch, "no salad today?" he questioned with a raised eyebrow and a happy lilt to his voice.

"Not today" Kurt smiled back, happy that Blaine seemed relieved at his lunch choice for once, "the damned running is making me hungry so I'm carb loading" a touch of annoyance tinting his reply, "It's a bloody vicious circle. I'll have to run even further tomorrow to burn off what I ate today after today's running made me so hungry that I had to eat like a horse. I swear it's just easier to do nothing, I might take up reading instead."

Wes and Blaine laughed at his stroppy outburst, David too intent on his lunch to bother. "When are you going again?" Wes asked.

"Um not sure, maybe tomorrow...Did David tell you I'm trying to increase my pace so Jeff doesn't trounce me when he finally convinces me to let him come with us?"

"Ah, no he failed to mention it actually but it's a good idea though. Jeff is far too smug when he wins, what with the victory dances and the lap of honour and all that. We should at least give ourselves a sporting chance" Wes agreed.

Smiling nervously at his friend Kurt nodded before turning to Blaine, "seriously he would do a victory dance?" which was met with a burst of laughter, "um actually yeah he probably would" Blaine smiled warmly.

Kurt turned back to Wes, "Okay Wes, tomorrow, we'll go tomorrow, there is no way Sterling is doing a victory dance at my expense" causing Wes and Blaine to laugh loudly at his completely earnest statement.

Nick made his way back to his dorm at the end of classes, as he expected sitting on the floor outside his room, back leaning on the door with a book propped up on his knees was Jeff; smiling at the sight of him he pulled his bag further onto his shoulder as he walked closer trying not to make him jump as he approached.

"Hey baby" he smiled down as the blonde head turned up toward him, gazes meeting, a wide smile beaming from Jeff's face, "hey yourself" he grinned.

"Any particular reason you're sitting in the corridor? No seats in the common room?" Nick asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nope"

"Library? No seats there either?"

"Nope."

"How about your room? Nowhere to sit there?"

"Now you mention it, no, I can't recall there being anywhere there either" Jeff grinned back at a still smiling Nick who rolled his eyes before holding out his hand and pulling his smirking boyfriend to his feet.

"Well I guess you better come in then, I'm sure I can find you somewhere more comfortable to sit than the corridor"

"Oh I know you can" Jeff grinned with a waggle of his eyebrows and a quick peck to Nick's cheek, earning himself a genuine smile and a shoulder nudge as Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out his dorm key ushering Jeff inside before picking up his bag and following him into the room.

Jeff pulled off his blazer as he crossed the room toward Nick's perfectly made bed, stopping only to hang it on his wardrobe door before dropping down and throwing himself backwards in a long stretch, his feet on the floor, arms stretched over his head as he let out a long groan.

Nick meanwhile had kicked off his shoes and placed them carefully behind his door and was in the process of shedding his blazer, hanging it carefully on the back of his door before tugging free from his sweater and tossing it in the waiting hamper, "So, how was your day dear?" he asked with a smile looking down at his boyfriend as he passed the bed on his way to the bathroom.

"So, so" Jeff smiled back, "how are you doing now?" he asked tentatively.

Nick had known that Jeff would want to talk about his little outburst and so wasn't surprised when he brought it up so quickly, taking a deep breath he smiled, "just let me freshen up and then we'll talk okay."

"Sure, take your time."

Author Note: So the conversation will be in the next chapter...It was difficult trying to find something that would upset him coz my Nick's pretty easy going but I guess everyone has their moments. Find out next time. x