'Cause I'd Find You In Any World (Nick and Charlie - Alternate Universe)

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Two.

 **TRIGGER WARNING** - this Chapter focuses on the aftermath of Charlie coming out to his mother; it will be going back and forth in MULTIPLE characters' POV.

James:
There's nothing Dad and I can do to stop Charlie from sobbing. My heart is truly and utterly broken for him. I really thought she would have initially not handled it well, but I didn't picture this. This is my fault, I encouraged him to tell her. I just didn't think she was going to react like this. I take out my phone and text the only person I think can help.

James: Dude, is there anyway you can come back here?
Nick: What happened?
James: Exactly what you think.
Nick: I'm on my way.

I didn't tell Dad that I texted Nick to come over, but I honestly don't think he's going to mind. We just want to help Charlie.

Nick:
I see the text from James that read "exactly what you think" and before I know it, I'm already out the door in a full sprint to Charlie's. I'm not even sure what I'm walking into but I know if James is asking me to come back, it isn't good. I knock on the door and James opens it. 

"Thank god you're here," he says.

He lets me in and as soon as I walk in, I can hear Charlie. He is sobbing uncontrollably. I run over to the kitchen and make eye contact with Sebastian who looks helpless. I bend down to the floor so I am eye level with Charlie.

"Hey, hey. I'm here. I got you," I say as I put my hand on his leg.

Charlie picks his head up from his hands to look at me quickly but then soon collapses back into sobs into my arms. I scoop him up and bring him to the living room and place him on the couch. As I'm hugging him, the sobs get quieter. I look around and notice his Mum isn't here. Either she went to bed, or completely left. I feel quite helpless here as I never experienced someone in my family not accepting me for who I am, but I just need to make this better for him. The sobs disappear and James walks in with tissues and a glass of water.

"You want to tell me what happened?" I ask softly.

He tries to speak but I see his eyes flooded with tears again.

"Hey, you don't have to tell me now. You don't have to tell me at all."
"She said she lost a son today," he whispers.

Rage. That is the emotion that consumes my body when I hear that. But I know that won't help anything.

"I'm sure she didn't mean that."

He shakes his head.

"You weren't here. She meant it."

I look up at James who is standing in the doorway. He nods his head confirming Charlie's statement. I wipe Charlie's tears and pull him into my arms.

"I'm so sorry," I say, not knowing what to do.
"I've never seen her look at me like that," he says. "She hates me."
"Maybe she just needs some time..."
"I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive her even if she does come around," he confesses.

Charlie:
It's honestly insane to me that my day that started off perfect turned into this. I'm numb. There's no thoughts in my head and I don't even have the strength to get up. I don't think this is ever going to go away. The two people that are suppose to love you no matter what are your parents. It's not like I confessed to being a criminal or anything like that. I just told her I'm gay. Her reaction made me feel like she would have rather me admit I was a criminal. How crazy is that? If she even decides to apologize to me, which I don't think she will; what am I suppose to do with that? I don't necessarily think I can forgive her for what she said to me. I'm the one with a reason to be angry, not her. I rest my head on Nick's shoulder for a minute before James and Dad walk into the living room. Dad sits down next to me.

"I should probably get going," Nick says. "It's late."

Dad looks at him.

"Nick, actually would you maybe want to spend the night here? On the couch, of course. I can talk to your Mum if needed. Charlie just had a really rough night and I just think he could use your company right now," he says.

I couldn't help but let the tears escape from my eyes again. Half because I never imagined this going so well with my Dad; he's literally been the best, but the other half is because he's right. I need Nick more than ever right now. Nick looks at me and kisses the top of my head.

"As long as my Mum says yes, then that'll be okay. But um, what about..."
"Sandra?" He asks. "She's not coming home today."

Nick gives my Dad his Mum's number and he walks into the other room to call her.

Sebastian:
Honestly, seeing Charlie pick up his face the second he heard Nick's voice made me see just how important he is to Charlie. Our house usually has a strict "no sleepover policy" when it comes to someone they like, but that doesn't matter today. I call Nick's Mum and explain everything that happened without too many details and she said he could stay without any hesitation.

"They really care about each other," she says.
"I know. I'm glad I can finally see how much they mean to each other," I say.

I get off the phone with Helen and walk back into the living room to let the boys know that Nick can stay. 

"I'll be right back," I say as I grab my keys.
"Where are you going?" James asks.
"I just need to go for a drive," I say.

To be honest, I knew exactly where I was going. This whole night hasn't been sitting with me right and I need to talk to Sandra right away. I need her to know that how she handled things is not acceptable and if she wants to stay in this family, that needs to change. I can't accept how she treated both our sons, but obviously more with Charlie. At first, I was in shock but now I just feel angry. I can't believe that was the woman I fell in love with but I know that if she doesn't fix what she did, she will be the woman that I will be divorcing. I arrive at Jane and Richard's house, walk right up to the door and knock on it.