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

Chapter Thirty Eight

[THE NEXT DAY]

Nick:
I can't help but still think about everything that happened between Charlie and I yesterday. I'm hoping he comes here alone to walk to school today so I can talk things out with him. I walk outside, sit on my steps and wait. I see Charlie getting closer and notice that he's alone; maybe he wants to talk about things too.

"Hi," I say as he walks over and hugs me.
"Hi," he says as I kiss his cheek.
"James and Mia?" I ask.
"They'll meet us at school," Charlie says as her intertwines our fingers and we begin to walk.

"So about last night," we both blurt out at the exact same time.

We both laugh.

"Well, at least we both want to talk about it," I say.
"Yeah," Charlie says as his voice trails off. "You first."
"Why me?" I say as I gently push him.
"I feel like you said it slightly faster than I did, so it would be rude if I went first."
"Oh, of course. How gentlemanlike of you," I say with a smirk.

"I just want to make sure you didn't feel pressured or anything last night. Like, that you felt the need to move quicker because I had just told you that I have done some things.."

He squeezes my hand.

"No of course I didn't feel pressured. You have never once made me feel pressured in any type of way," Charlie says.
"Okay. Just because it kind of felt like we went from 0-100 pretty quickly and I just wanted to make sure."
"To be honest, I was really caught up in the moment. You're also really hot so that's also another thing," he says as we both blush.
"You're not so bad yourself, handsome," I say with a smile.

We reach the school steps and say hi to Mia and James.

"So guys, I was thinking since we have a long weekend, maybe Friday we can go to my old town, see everyone, maybe spend the night? Mia you can stay with Erin and James, Charlie and I can stay with Michael at Will's."
"I'm not sure if my dad with let me stay over if he knows you'll be there, but maybe since James will be there, and Will and Michael, it will be okay," Charlie says.
"I mean, he let Nick stay over our house before," James says.
"But that was because Mum was awful and it was also under his roof," Charlie says.
"No harm in asking," Mia says. "But I'm not sure, Erin and I haven't spoken much."
"Well, you should. I need my two favorite peoplpe to get along," James says.
"Hey!" Charlie exclaims. 
"Yeah, I kind of second that," I say with a chuckle.
"Okay, fine Charlie. I wasn't counting you. And Nick, you're still new so you can't rank above Mia, yet anyways," he says as he sticks his tongue out at Mia.
"I hate it here," Mia jokes.
"Is that a yes?" James asks.

"Ugh, fine James. For you, that's all!"

James hugs Mia and smiles.

"This is going to be great!"
"Maybe your Mum can talk to my Dad on Thanksgiving and he'll feel more comfortable saying yes?" Charlie asks as he looks at me.
"Great idea!" I say.

[THANKSGIVING DAY]

Charlie:
Dad, James and I have been in the kitchen all day cooking. usually, Mum and Dad are in here, but since Mum is absent this year, James and I decided to step in and help. 

"Everything looks and smells great!" I say.
"When is Nick and his Mum coming?" Dad asks.

The doorbell rings.

"I guess that answers my question," he says with a laugh as he goes to the door and opens it.
"Happy Thanksgiving!" Helen says as she wants in. "We brought dessert."
"Wonderful, thank you," Dad says as he hugs her hello.

Everyone says Happy Thanksgiving to everyone as Helen offers to help Dad in the kitchen to finish everything up. James, Nick and I go into the living room.

"I really hope he says yes," I say to both of them.
"I honestly think he will since it's not like you two are going to be spending the night alone," James says.
"Plus, Will's parents will be there. Completely supervised," Nick adds in.

Dad and Helen call us into the kitchen to help grab the food and set up the table in the dining room. After we all sit down and begin eating, Dad looks at me.

"So Helen tells me you were invited to stay at Will's this Friday with James and Michael."

I gulp.

"Yeah..."
"I don't really see why it would be any problem but --"
"But what?"
"Your Mum was asking if we wanted to have dinner with her Friday."

I roll my eyes. Even when she isn't here, she's still trying to make sure I don't spend time with Nick. 

"If I say yes to either lunch on Friday or dinner Saturday, can I please go?" 
"I mean, seems like a fair enough deal to me. Charlie is agreeing to have a meal with her," James adds.

Nick grabs my hand from underneath the table.

"Yes, you can go. I'll work it out with your Mum and we'll make it work."
"Thank you Dad, you're the best!"
"Won't argue with that," he jokes.

As we are all eating, I'm looking around the table and I honestly don't think I have ever felt this fulfilled, this at peace. 

"I just want to say something, make a toast, I don't know," I say.

Everyone looks at me.

"A couple of months ago, as you all know, I was in a dark place. And now, I look at how far I have come and how you all have helped me so much, and I feel like this is as good as a time as any to tell you all how thankful I am for all of you guys."
"Charlie, you're laying it on a little thick here, Dad already said yes," James says as everyone laughs.

Helen gets up and walks over to me and hugs me. 

"Everyone is so proud of you. You're an amazing young man and I'm very happy Nick has you in his life."
"I'm pretty happy about it too," Nick says with a smile.

Everyone walks over and we share a group hug. My heart is so full.