Invisible string ; Nick & Charlie

TWO

"So as you can see, I've already improved the place," Darcy says proudly, falling back onto the livingroom couch. "This house would look boring without my magic touch."

"Whatever," Tara rolls her eyes fondly. "I might be rethinking the whole moving in this," Tara whispers to Nick loudly.

"Hey!" Darcy shouts. Tara laughs, giving her a peck on the cheek and sitting on the couch.

"Seems you've settled in nicely, Darcy," Nick chuckles, taking a seat next to Tara.

"My last roommate was a psychopath that kept removing the locks on my door so this is a quite nice change," Darcy says amusedly.

"Sounds like a lot of fun," Nick jokes.

"Loads."

"Oh, Nick! How did the new teachers aide go? Mine has been absolutely useless," Tara sighs. Nick pauses.

"Um, yeah. He's... Nice," Nick almost mumbles the words. Darcy's eyebrows raise as soon as the words leave his mouth.

"Nice?" Darcy repeats.

"Yeah... Paris loves him! He's actually really helping her," Nick says, a small smile on his lips.

"Not jealous you're not the favourite anymore?" Tara asks.

"I'll always be the favourite, Charlie will never take my spot," Nick scoffs.

"Oh it's Charlie Spring?" Tara asks with a gasp. "I know him!"

Nick gives Tara a funny look. "How did you know it was Charlie Spring?"

"I just figured there wasn't any other Charlie's who are teacher aides," Tara explains. "He's like best friends with our friend Elle and I've hung out with him a few times. I also thought I saw him walking around the school not long ago, he was probably getting a tour."

"Right..." Nick trails off. "So, he's alright then?"

"He's so sweet," Darcy answers. "Funny that he ended up in your class."

"Small world," Tara nods in agreement.

"Anyways, what was so bad about yours?" Nick asks, changing the course of the conversation.

"Oh, she basically just gave Eddie an iPad so he played games the whole class, didn't even help him with my class content," Tara complains, "Like what was the point of her even being in my class."

"Oh wow, yeah I had the complete opposite experience," Nick says. "Charlie asked me to email him the lesson plan for tomorrow so he can prepare activities."

"That's so not fair, I wish I got Charlie," Tara huffs.

"Yeah, he's alright," Nick hums amusedly.

***

The air is frosty outside the classroom, the windows fogged up. It's 8am and Nick is sat at his desk, his hands wrapped around his coffee cup to bring him more warmth and the heater blasting. His glasses start to fog from the steam coming from his coffee. He stares at his lesson plan for today, nothing seems to be sticking after the many drinks had at Tara and Darcy's last night.

There's a knock and Charlie appears as he opens the classroom door. "Good morning!"

Nick almost knocks over his coffee as he abruptly looks up, not expecting anyone anytime soon."Morning Mr. Spring, you're here early?"

"Oh, sorry, do you want me to go wait in the staff room? Also, please just call me Charlie, Mr. Spring sounds too serious," Charlie chuckles nervously.

"No, you don't have to go!" Nick blurts out. "Sorry, I mean, there's 40 minutes until the bell goes for class. Just didn't expect you to be here so soon."