A/N: Hi lovely people,
Just a heads-up, this story will eventually have a time jump, to when Tommy is an adult. 

Doing research for this (not that it's completely accurate) has made me grateful for everyday items like duvets, shampoo and underwear. All those things I take for granted 🤍 

This is unedited.

Chapter 3. 

Tommy was still tired the next day, but he made it through his classes with only a few raps of the strap. Once for stuttering and again when he glanced out the window. 

Several boys were caned for minor mishaps and one even received his caning in front of the class, for having a corner of his shirt untucked. 

He bore his punishment in tight-lipped silence and when he returned to his seat, Tommy thought he saw a flash of pride in the boy's hazel eyes. A quick look around revealed grudging respect on his classmates faces - and it made him wonder if the boy had untucked his shirt on purpose. 

After supper, Tommy decided to brave the baths. There was only so many days he could go without one. Three boys were already in the tubs, when he walked in. Two with dark hair and one with red. 

He chose a bath away from the windows and turned the faucet. There were no privacy screens or separate rooms to change in. This was what he'd been dreading, but there was no way around it. 

He turned away from his audience and undressed quickly, then placed his uniform on the bench, next to the other boys clothes. 

They giggled and whispered to each other. 

Tommy felt his face heat and kept his eyes down as he turned and clambered into the tub. The water was a little chilly, but he didn't want to dally in here for too long anyway. 

There was a soap dish attached to the tub and he washed his skin and hair thoroughly. It wasn't the gentle scented soap he was used to and it left his hair feeling coarse. 

The other boys finished their baths and drained the tubs. After they had towelled off and dressed, they snatched up Tommy's uniform and ran, leaving the bathroom doors wide open. 

"Hey!" Tommy gripped the edge of the bath and half-stood, then quickly sat when a junior walked past the doors. He felt frustrated tears rise in his eyes. He hated this school. He wanted to go home, but there was no home to return to. 

He counted to five, gathering his courage, then climbed out and searched the cupboard. They had taken the towels too. The only thing they left was his shoes. 

"Did they take your clothes?" A voice spoke. 

Tommy spun around, covering his crotch with both hands and flushing bright red. 

Dom's dark eyes stayed on his face and Tommy felt a fragile hope. Maybe this boy would become a friend or at least an ally. 

"Y-yes..." He said weakly. 

"Get in the bath. I'll be right back." Dom walked out, closing the doors, and Tommy hurried back in the water. 

Dom returned a short while later with fresh towels and a spare uniform. "They've done it to me too. You have to be mindful of who's in here and keep an eye on your things." 

"Thank you!" Tommy took the towel gratefully and stood, wrapping it around his waist. 

"Don't think this is free, you owe me. Uniforms are expensive." Dom said tartly and approached a tub, switching on the tap. He unbottened his shirt and Tommy caught a glimpse of bony arms and brown skin, before he looked away. 

He knew his grandmother had left him some money, but he had no idea how much or how to get hold of it. He didn't even know who to ask. A sense of panic grew inside him and he suddenly had to concentrate on breathing normally. 

"I'll pay you back." He assured, hoping it was true. He heard the water ripple as Dom got in the bath and glanced over his shoulder. "Do you want me to stay? In case they come back?" 

Dom tilted his head back, wetting his black hair. It clung to his delicate face and made his eyes look twice as big. "Fine. Just don't get excited." 

"About what?" Tommy asked and Dom just snorted.

When he had finished bathing, Dom reminded Tommy of his debt, and left. 

That evening, Blake asked Tommy if they could work on their homework together. The boy placed his books on the desk, clearly intending to stay in their room, and Tommy was relieved - his last encounter in a study had made him reluctant to explore at all - but he quickly discovered that Blake wasn't a good study partner. 

"My grades aren't the best." Blake admitted. "Sometimes my father has to have a talk with the Headmaster, but my boxing mostly makes up for it. That's what I'm counting on for university." Blake brushed his forelock out of his eyes and squinted at the paper. "Define a verse. What the hell does that mean?" 

"You know, a verse." Tommy explained, propping his chin on his hand. "Like a line of poetry." 

Blake glanced sideways at Tommy, brow furrowed. "I'm not following." 

"Write this: a sequence of words arranged metrically, such as a poem." Tommy said patiently. 

"Metrically...how do you spell that?" Blake's ears grew pink and his fingers tightened on the quill. 

Tommy resisted the urge to roll his eyes and leaned over Blake's paper. He examined the boy's clumsy writing and copied it easily. 

"There." He looked up and found Blake inches away from him. In this light, his eyes were more blue than grey. His nose was crooked, as if it might have been broken once, and his mouth was wide. 

Blake smiled and stroked the feather of his quill under Tommy's chin. The smaller boy jerked away and Blake grinned. "You're clever. A real bookworm." 

"What's a bookworm?" Tommy's skin tingled where the feather had touched him and he scratched it. 

"Oh? Something I know and you don't." Blake chuckled and Tommy frowned, feeling unreasonably flustered and a little vulnerable. 

"That's not funny." He muttered. 

"Hey, I'm just teasing." Blake leaned forward and touched Tommy's wrist, fingertips warm on his skin. "Thanks for helping a dumb sod, like me." 

Tommy smiled and felt his tension ease. "You're not a...a sod." He whispered. He could hardly bring himself to say such a word. 

"Just dumb?" Blake smiled softly, thumb gliding along the smaller boy's wrist. Tommy felt that strange warmth in his belly again and he couldn't bring himself to look away from Blake's eyes. 

A knock sounded on the door and Blake straightened quickly, lifting his hand. "Come in." 

Dom entered and shut the door, dark eyes flicking between them, before settling on Blake. "I was wondering if you could help me study?" 

"Maybe later. I'm studying with Tom right now." Blake said and smiled at Tommy. The boy returned the gesture shyly.

Dom leaned back against the door and canted his hip slightly, watching Blake through heavy lashes. "Please? I could really use a hand." 

Blake stared a moment. "Alright, if it's that urgent. Sorry Tom." He gathered his books and squeezed Tommy's shoulder. "I'm sure you can manage without me." 

Dom smiled and held the door open for Blake. He looked at Tommy briefly and the smile faded. He shut the door. 

Tommy turned back to his papers, frowning. He wasn't a simpleton. Blake clearly needed a tutor himself and it was unlikely that the boys were actually studying. 

He was hurt that Blake had left him for someone else. He had thought they might be becoming friends. He would like to know what that felt like. To have someone he could rely on. His eyes smarted and he took a breath, focusing his attention back on his work. 

Blake returned just before lights out. Tommy stilled under the covers and listened as the boy undressed and slipped quietly into bed. The smaller boy wiped his eyes and tried to quiet his sniffles. 

"Tom?" Fabric rustled and steps approached. A hand touched Tommy's hair. "You alright?" 

Tommy just shook his head and a sob squeezed past his tight throat. Loneliness and bleak thoughts of his future had been plaguing him all evening. He had tried to read the bible for a few hours, but the scripture hadn't brought him any comfort.

Blake moved under the covers and pressed warm against Tommy's spine, arm slipping around his waist. "Sh sh sh sh." 

Tommy closed his eyes and relaxed against the taller boy, tears sliding hot down his cheeks. A calloused hand splayed on his sternum and held him firmly against Blake's chest. 

"Shh, lovey." Blake's mouth skimmed his ear and then brushed lightly against his neck.