Part 13
"WES!" both boys shouted as they threw their arms around the little lordling. He hugged them back just as tight. He was so happy tears were leaking down his cheeks. They pulled back after a little bit and looked between each other.
"You look great", Wes told them.
"So do you", Hunter. "It's so good to see you. You're alive!"
"And so are you", Wes said and smiled. "We'd started to give up hope after last week's questions around here."
"Wait…" Sebastian said. "You've been around here asking about us before?"
"Every Saturday", Wes said. "I couldn't come here yesterday so I went today instead. But they said there was no Sebastian Smith or Hunter Carpenter around."
"We are no longer using those names", Sebastian said and blushed.
"Then what… oh!" Wes slapped a hand to his face. "Clarington and Smythe."
"Yeah", Sebastian said and looked sheepish. "We wanted to honor your memory by taking the names you gave us." Wes smiled at the both of them gently.
"It's very nice of you", he said and Hunter and Sebastian hugged him again. "I'm so happy that you are both alive."
"So are we", Hunter said and looked at their friend from first class, their first class friend. "We thought you had gone down with the ship when you didn't appear anywhere near us after you told us to run."
Wes shrugged.
"I was pushed back by some crazy man that was looking for his daughter. I helped him find her and get her on a life boat along with him. Then I ran."
Sebastian and Hunter smiled.
"We're so happy you're alive", Sebastian said. "Let's go somewhere to talk. We want to know what happened to you."
"No", Hunter said. "First we have to ask the office about Thad."
"But Hunt-"
"Seeing that Wes is alive gives me new hope. If he's alive Thad might also be!"
"Gentlemen", Wes tried to cut in.
"Wes wasn't at the same place as Thad was", Sebastian pointed out. "And he was here looking for him too!"
"Actually-"
"But Bas maybe this is a sign! We need to keep coming here."
"Gentlemen-"
"No I can't continue to do it Hunter", Sebastian said. "Every week we get rejected and we will continue to be rejected because… because he's gone."
"No", Hunter said and shook his head. "No, no, no Thad's not gone. He's not dead."
"If Thad wasn't alive wouldn't he have found us by now?"
"He might've asked about the wrong name…"
"We have described him to that man in there so many times", Sebastian yelled. "We've even given him a drawing that Thad made of himself! He's gone Hunter! Thad Coleman went down with the Titanic!"
Hunter looked at Sebastian, saw the distraught of his face and felt tears slide down his own. With a heavy sob Hunter pulled Sebastian into a hard hug and Sebastian hugged him back. Both were crying. It was at this point a man walked up to Wes and asked him something. Wes nodded but held up his hand for the man to wait. They waited for the two young men to calm down slightly. Wes cleared his throat and they looked at him.
"Come with me", Wes said and turned around. The other two followed him and he walked up to a car. Sebastian and Hunter gaped as a man opened the door and held a hand to his hat.
"My lord", he said.
"Thank you Donald", Wes said and then looked at the other two. "Are you two coming or what?"
Hunter and Sebastian ran over to him and got in the car.
They drove for a bit and soon reached some of the richer districts in town. The car stopped in front of a nice house just beside the park and Donald held the door open for them.
"My lord", he said. "Gentlemen."
"Thank you Donald", Wes said and smiled. He headed up to the door of the building and the doorman held it open for him and the other two. "Thank you."
"You're welcome my lord", the man said. Wes rolled his eyes and they headed over to the elevator. Sebastian and Hunter gaped at everything they saw. They had never seen such a clean entrance hall. They got off on the top floor and Wes walked up to an impressive looking door. Then he turned to Hunter and Sebastian with a smile.
"Welcome to my home", he said and opened the door. He let the two others inside and two maids hurried up and took their jackets and caps or hats. Wes rolled his eyes again as he gave a girl the cane his parents told him to always use as well as his hat, gloves and coat.
"Thank you so much ladies", Wes said. "This way gentlemen."
"Thank you my lord", Hunter teased and Wes rolled his eyes. They walked in and Hunter and Sebastian gaped. The apartment was bright and clean and cozy and warm. When you walked in through the door the first thing you saw was the big living room. There will be a chandelier in the roof, made of crystal and big windows to let the sun in. There was a cozy atmosphere from the furniture and in the corner a piano and on that a violin case. Wes smiled at them.
"We have one study, two big bedrooms, two bathrooms and two guest rooms and a kitchen", he said. "A big dining room where we can have parties for all our friends and a smaller for when it's just us.
"And a library", Sebastian asked.
"Yes."
"And a big balcony?" Hunter asked.
"It's a loft apartment so we have somewhat of a garden on the roof. We need one so we can watch the stars."
"And a room where you can just sit in the quiet for a bit", Sebastian asked.
"Of course."
"It the apartment from our dreams", Sebastian whispered in awe.
Suddenly there was two barks heard and two dogs came running up to them. They were both big German Shepherds. They ran up to Wes and licked his hands and face. Wes sat crouched down to greet both dogs. Then the dogs turned to the boys and the one that was a bit bigger growled protectively.
"Hey!" Wes barked and it got quiet. "Good boys."
"Who are these two", Sebastian asked.
"The smaller one, with big smart and friendly eyes is named Sebastian", Wes said calmly.
"What", Sebastian asked.
"Yes and the bigger dog, the protective and kind one that will always help is Hunter."
"Are you mocking us", Hunter asked.
"Of course not", Wes said and smiled. "We thought you were gone after all."
"We", Hunter asked suddenly realizing that Wes had been saying we all the time. "Is that how you lords talk about yourself? In first person plural?"
"Not at all", Wes said. "Follow me please."
He headed out of the room and the other two followed. They walked through the beautiful apartment to a room which door was closed. Wes opened it quietly and stepped aside. There was a person there sleeping in a warm and soft bed, looking so small amongst all the big pillows.
"Thad Coleman went down with the Titanic", Wes said calmly. "But Thad Clearwater made it off."
Sebastian and Hunter stared at Wes in shock and then at Thad. Their missing friend, brother, boyfriend… he looked so pale. He looked sick. He coughed in his sleep and it sounded painful.
"What's wrong with him", Sebastian asked weakly and Wes sighed.
"Pneumonia…" he said. "And some nasty flu at the same time… and… he's lost his will to live… he doesn't fight it."
"Wait", Sebastian said. "Please tell me that you're not saying…"
"Wes please I'm beggin you", Hunter said but the Asian looked at them with sad eyes.
"Gentlemen", he said and sighed. "Thad is dying."
TBC *digs hole in the ground and hides there*
wesandwarblers - Of course it was Wes ;)