HEARTBEAT

3. Real

"It's not ridiculous, and Bens definitely not my friend anymore! Okay? You didn't scare me off I'm still here... I'm literally right here!" Nick pulled him into a hug, he was even about to cry.

Charlie never noticed how comforting his smell is for some reason it smells like home, he feels like home, and the way his hair feels soft. Charlie doesn't want to let go. So he just hugs him tighter melting into his solace embrace. Until that moment was ruined when Tao interrupted by awkwardly clearing his throat Nellie beside him. They jumped apart.

"I'm not interrupting something, am I?" Tao says blundering with Isaac standing by him uneasy.

"Um... no!" Charlie blurts out. Nick looks down flushed. 'Wait why am I blushing?', Nick thinks.

xx

Charlie walks into school but he literally can't stop thinking about that hug him and Nick shared the other day, it been on his mind for a week now. Just everything about him felt like home for Charlie, he for some reason felt safe in his arms.

Charlie walks in to form and sat down by Nick. Nick smiled but he seemed super nervous for some reason, but Charlie didn't think much of it.

"What's up?" Charlie asked, Nick flinched getting startled by Charlie.

"Huh?" Nick looked at Charlie. Charlie tilted his head concerned.

"Y-you seemed... nervous." Charlie gazed at Nick with a caring look stuck on his face.

"I'm not! I just... spaced out" Nick declared, but Charlie could tell something was bothering him, but he decided to drop it.

"Okay..." Charlie said awkwardly. Nick just looked at him like was going to say something but couldn't find the words.

"Is it okay if... I eat lunch with y'all again?" Nick asked. He really didn't want to deal with Harry's bullshit today, and he really started to grow in Charlie's friend group.

"You don't have to ask to eat lunch with me, you can literally just join us." Charlie chuckled. Nick was so grateful to have someone like Charlie in his life.

"Cool," Nick simply said as he smiled. Charlie let out a short chuckle.

"Cool" Charlie simply replied giving a warm smile back.

xx

Tao, Isaac, and Charlie are all in maths well it's the only class they really have together but Charlie wasn't really paying attention he was texting Nick. They've been doing that a lot ever since they hung out at his house, texting in the middle of class, at home, FaceTiming so Charlie could see Nellie, calling until 2 A.M, texting on car rides, and it's been amazing for Charlie.

Charlie started to realize he fell a lot for a straight boy, okay that's a lie. Meanwhile, Tao looks over at Charlie's phone to see what the hell I'm smiling ridiculously at. Once he realizes who he's texting he scoffs and says,

"Ugh he's straight Charlie!" Tao rolls his eyes. Charlie sighs knowing very well what he got himself into.

"I know" Charlie agrees. Isaac who was reading a book this whole time smirks.

"You're falling for him" Isaac adds. Charlie rolls his eyes knowing he's right.

"I know!" Charlie raises his voice a little starting to get annoyed.

"Your causing your self pain." Tao speaks up. Charlie groans.

"I know that!!!" He finally yells, which alerts the teacher.

"Boys keep it down!" The teacher yells. Charlie's head collapses on the table, and he groans.

"I just... can't let him go," Charlie says this so softly almost about to cry in the middle of class.

xx

"Mr. Ajayi!" Charlie calls his favorite teacher who was the only was by his side when the bullying was really bad. Also Mr. Ajayi is gay too.

"Charlie Spring!" He replies smirks putting a few things away.

"How do I stop liking someone, specifically a straight guy?" Charlie asks curiously, taking a seat across from him.

"So who are we talking about now because last time you said you had a boyfriend." Mr. Ajayi leaned back on the art counter with crossed arms raising an eyebrow.

"That's ex-boyfriend to you Mr. Ajayi." Charlie corrected him. Mr. Ajayi lets out a soft chuckle at his correction.

"And I'm talking about Nick Nelson-

"Oh god." He looked down speechless on what to say. "Okay Um... we'll this is going to be easy just put some distance between y'all-

"I actually take full offense to you calling that easy!" Charlie scoffs. "I can't just do that... he's a really good friend." Charlie says walking out.

"I'm afraid your just going to have to suffer than!" He yells on his way out. Charlie ignores him, there's no way he's going to sacrifice their friendship.

xx

That moment him and Charlie shared was real. He knows it was. But it's not like he's crushing on him. Is he? No, he knows he's not. Does he? No, he can have a real moment without... crushing on a guy. Can he?

He's straight. Am I?! He gets home and plops down on his bed and he starts going through his camera roll and looking through pictures of the day him and Charlie hung out. Suddenly, he finds himself zooming in on his smile and he realizes how nice, heartwarming, cute, and adorable it is. He looks up suddenly just knowing he's sure he has a crush on him like he keeps wanting to hug, hold his hand, and kiss him.

'I know for a fact I'm not straight', Nick thinks.

xx
Authors Note:
Nick finally realized he's crushing on Charlie.
Edited: Dec. 2nd, 2023, 4:01 P.M