Random A/N: It seems since I've started updating again, I've been on a bit of writing spree, so LUCKY YOU GUYS GETS VERY REGULAR UPDATES ALL OF A SUDDEN! I hope you're all liking this so far, and tbh I really like this chapter, there's lots more angst, and lovely fluffy platonic stuff between friends. Enjoy :)

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Everyone noticed it. Thomas seemed more lost, and Jimmy barely spoke. Ivy seemed to have recovered fast, making amends with Jimmy about the whole thing, but avoiding Thomas, which only made him feel worse. She now settled in with the rest of the staff, who seemed to awkwardly observe the two boys' behaviour, without any commentating. Miss O'Brian seemed to be revelling in it though - being the only one brave to provoke them both on how strange they were acting.

One evening, after they'd all finished dinner and some had left the room, before Thomas could escape up to his room, Miss O'Brian started on at him.

"I must say, my curiosity is peaked," she smirked, knowing exactly how irritating she was being.

"Dare I ask why," said Thomas rhetorically with a bored tone of voice.

"Oh I think you know why," she continued, "you two," motioning her head in Jimmy's direction, who avidly avoided her gaze, "have been in the most peculiar sort of way recently. Care to explain?"

"That's none of your business, and if you know what's good for you, you won't ask again." Thomas continued to walk out the doorway and rounded the corner, just catching what she then said, "must've been an argument of some kind. Tell me, James, have you broken each others hearts?"

Thomas held his breath, angry at Miss O'Brian, and also keen to hear Jimmy's response. His shoulders tensed at the sound of his voice.

"Don't be daft," he said, voice cracking a little. "And he's right, it's none of your business."

He let out a little sigh of relief. Of course Jimmy wouldn't tell anyone, least of all Miss O'Brian, what had happened between them. The day after their argument had been the worst. In the morning at breakfast, Jimmy looked tired and his eyes were red. Alfred had pointed it out and asked if he was okay, and when there'd been no response, just a glare at Thomas, that's when it got... weird. It didn't feel right not talking with Jimmy; it felt like he'd lost his best friend. Well, that's exactly what had happened. Jimmy was his best friend, and he wanted more than anything else for it to be fixed between them. But he was far too stubborn to apologize right now, or accept any blame for it. He couldn't help that he wasn't a very open person, he certainly had his reasons. If Jimmy had just told him, none of this would've happened. But then, he supposed Jimmy must be feeling the opposite.

And in a way he was, but he also felt very similar to Thomas as well. Jimmy's stomach seemed to flip any time Thomas walked into the room now. He couldn't stop his heartbeat from quickening a little either. It was starting to become a real pain, and Jimmy was desperate to get rid of it. But much like his infuriatingly unfair best friend, he was not going to apologize for his actions. Not yet at least. He was just so desperate for Thomas to talk to him. He wanted to know as much about Thomas as Thomas knew about him. And although this could easily be viewed as a stupid argument, it was more than that; it was the dissolving of their trust for one another. And that made Jimmy sadder than he'd been a very long time.

After a few days had passed between them, the silence was getting unbearably uncomfortable, but apart from Thomas and Jimmy, everyone had seemed to have adjusted to their current state and just learnt to ignore it. At least Jimmy still had some friends though. Somehow, Alfred, Ivy and himself had somehow come to a wordless agreement to put it all behind them, and it seemed Alfred especially managed to be the only one to get a smile out of Jimmy now, whether purposefully or not. It made Thomas both happy and sad at the same time - happy to see Jimmy resemble something like he used to be, but sad that it wasn't him who was putting a smile on his face.

"Mr Carson, would it be alright if we went to the fair this evening in the village?" asked Alfred.

"You needn't bother asking me anymore Alfred, we are on holiday," he mumbled, frowning at the last word.

"Great," said Alfred excitedly. He turned to Jimmy, who unsurprisingly, had been moping all day. "You'll be coming, right?" he asked hopefully.

Jimmy frowned, sighing to himself in uneasiness, "I don't know..." he trailed off. Alfred's expression turned grim.

"Oh come on Jimmy, you need this. It'll make you feel better, I promise." Jimmy didn't know why Alfred had taken this friendly turn on him over the last few days, it was probably out of pity, and thankfulness for not insulting him so much anymore, but Jimmy appreciated it all the same. He stared at Alfred's pleading eyes and after a moment's thought, he gave in.

"Oh alright then, but if you start harping on about the length of the queue lines again like last time, I will leave."

Alfred smiled, looking pleased with himself, then sauntered off to go and ask others if they were coming as well. Jimmy stayed seated drinking his tea, half looking forward to the evening, half dreading it. He hadn't really socialised with anyone recently, and he really didn't want it to be as awkward as it was at the house. Maybe this would be the perfect opportunity to just forget about Thomas and their problems though. At that moment, said problem walked through the door frame and picked up the newspaper. It was just them.

Jimmy coughed awkwardly, and opened his mouth to speak, and Thomas looked at him with a raised eyebrow. He didn't know what he wanted to say, so he came out with a weak, "so, are you going to the fair tonight?"

Thomas seemed surprised at the question, and Jimmy tried to stop himself from shaking. Why was he even bothering to ask?!

"I don't think so."

"Why not?" he asked before he could stop himself, although he already knew the obvious answer.

"Um... W-well because I don't feel like it," he paused awkwardly, "and I assumed you probably wouldn't want me there anyway."

He made a good point, but the truth was, Jimmy did want him there, so badly. "You should come anyway," he said, trying to be nonchalant. "It might be good for you." They locked eyes for a moment. Thomas was fighting with himself on the inside, he wanted to go with Jimmy of course, but their situation still wasn't resolved, and he didn't want to feel like he'd given into Jimmy just like that. But he failed miserably.

"I guess I could," he murmured, unsure of himself or why he was suddenly so willing to throw himself into the line of fire with Jimmy again. Jimmy's lips twitched into a small smile briefly, before it disappeared and he nodded, "ok, well I'll see you there."

"Right," Thomas finished awkwardly, and quickly left the room, leaving the newspaper behind that he had intended to read.

The evening came around really fast, too fast for either of their liking. It wasn't like there was some rule that they had to talk, but since their conversation earlier Jimmy sort of felt he had to, he'd more or less been the one who'd convinced him to go anyway. After an early dinner, everyone who was going sort of went off group by group at a time, Daisy and Ivy (who had become very good friends) had linked arms with each other, and they walked just a few steps ahead of Jimmy and Alfred. And then behind them were Bates and Anna, and finally Thomas trailing a little behind. Anna looked back at him in concern, and momentarily fell behind Bates to walk in pace with him. Anna was the only one of all the downstairs staff to have asked Thomas if he was okay. It had been the day after, and she'd plucked up a bit of courage to ask him. He was unnecessarily rude to her at first, but she didn't budge until he replied properly. He hadn't told her exactly what had happened, just that he was not okay, and that he'd had a fight with Jimmy over something. Thomas was glad of the somewhat wobbly and unsure bond him and Anna had. Not quite friends, but not exactly enemies either.

"How are you Mr Barrow?" she asked softly.

"As good as one can be, I suppose. And you needn't call me that," he replied with equal softness, or maybe it was just his tired tone of voice.

"Ok Thomas, but really, do you not think tonight would be a good time to settle whatever happened between you and Jimmy?"

Thomas sighed and rubbed his eyes, igniting a concerned look in Anna's. "Ugh, I don't know. I want to but, I don't think I can right now..."

"Thomas," she cut him off, more sharply this time, "you can't stay like this forever. It's not healthy, for you or Jimmy. It's pretty clear to see how miserable you both are at the moment, and if you keep putting it off it's only going to get worse. So pull yourself together and," she lowered her volume a little, "go get your best friend back."

Thomas knew she was right, but he felt so embarrassed that he couldn't even say thanks to her. But she understood him as he nodded to her. She was about to catch up with Mr Bates again, until she turned suddenly remembering something. "You know, I think he really cares about you. He came to me a while ago asking about why you were so closed off with people, and why you weren't so popular with everyone. I told him enough, but he didn't seem bothered by it."

Thomas' chest swelled at that, as he watched her skip lightly back to Mr Bates' side. Ok, this was it, tonight he would try and sort it out.

Jimmy turned around at the sound of Anna's heels, startling him a little, and as a he turned back, he couldn't help but look past her, and at Thomas, he looked so alone at the back all by himself. He couldn't take this anymore, tonight he would do it, he would apologize and everything will go back to normal. He took an enormous shaky breath, as the top of the Ferris wheel came into sight.