Nick sat at the edge of the school courtyard, absently spinning a soccer ball under his foot as he waited for the others. It was a sunny afternoon, the kind that made everyone linger outside after classes instead of heading straight home. He glanced at his phone—no new messages from Charlie. Not that he was expecting any; Charlie was probably still in art class, completely absorbed in whatever project he was working on. That thought made Nick smile. Charlie had a way of getting lost in his art that Nick found both endearing and impressive.
"Oi, Nick!" Darcy's voice cut through the air, pulling Nick out of his thoughts. He looked up to see her strolling over with Tara and Elle, all of them wearing their usual carefree grins. Darcy was carrying a large bag of chips, which she promptly opened as soon as she plopped down on the grass beside Nick. "You're looking a bit spaced out there. Thinking about a certain someone?"
Nick chuckled, shaking his head. "Maybe."
Tara and Elle exchanged knowing looks before sitting down as well. "You're always thinking about Charlie," Elle teased, nudging Nick's shoulder playfully. "But that's okay, we love that about you."
Nick felt his cheeks heat up slightly, but he didn't deny it. "Can't help it," he admitted. "He's just... always on my mind."
Darcy tossed a chip into her mouth, raising an eyebrow. "Can't blame you. Charlie's kind of the best, isn't he?"
"He really is," Tara agreed, her voice soft with affection. "He's such a sweetheart. I don't think I've ever met anyone who cares so much about other people."
Elle nodded, her expression thoughtful. "He's always looking out for everyone, even when he's dealing with his own stuff. Like, he'll ask how you're doing, and you can tell he genuinely wants to know."
Nick's smile widened. Hearing his friends talk about Charlie like this made him feel warm inside. "That's one of the things I love about him. He's got the biggest heart."
Tara leaned back on her elbows, looking up at the sky. "I remember when we first became friends with him. He was so shy, but he was always so nice. Even back then, you could tell he was someone special."
Nick listened intently, always eager to hear stories about Charlie from before they'd gotten together. It was like discovering new pieces of the person he loved, little bits of history that made him love Charlie even more.
"I remember that too," Elle said with a smile. "He was really quiet, but whenever you talked to him, he'd give you his full attention. It's like he made you feel important, even if you were just chatting about random stuff."
Darcy nodded, her expression uncharacteristically serious. "Yeah, Charlie's got this way of making you feel like you matter, you know? Like, when he listens, he really listens. And he's always so kind, even when he's having a rough time."
Nick felt a pang in his chest at that. He knew better than anyone how hard things could be for Charlie. He was always so strong, always trying to be there for everyone else, even when he was struggling. It was one of the things that made Nick love him so much, but it also made him worry.
"Yeah," Nick said quietly, "but sometimes I wish he'd take care of himself more, too. He's always so focused on making sure everyone else is okay that he forgets to take care of himself."
Tara reached over and squeezed Nick's hand. "We all worry about him, Nick. But you're really good for him, you know? You help him remember that it's okay to lean on other people sometimes."
Elle nodded in agreement. "You two are good for each other. It's obvious how much you care about him, and I think that's really helped him open up more."
Nick looked down at the soccer ball under his foot, feeling a rush of gratitude for his friends. They all cared about Charlie so much, and it made him feel less alone in his worry. "Thanks, guys. It means a lot to hear you say that."
Darcy grinned, popping another chip into her mouth. "Hey, we're all Team Charlie here. He's one of the best people we know. And you're pretty okay too, Nelson."
Nick laughed, feeling the weight on his shoulders lighten just a bit. "Thanks, Darcy. That means a lot coming from you."
Tara and Elle both smiled at that, and for a moment, they all just sat there in comfortable silence, enjoying the afternoon sun. It was nice, Nick thought, to be surrounded by people who understood how much Charlie meant to him—people who loved Charlie just as much as he did.
After a while, Elle spoke up again, her tone a little more serious. "You know, I think Charlie's really lucky to have you, Nick. But I also think you're lucky to have him. You both bring out the best in each other."
Nick nodded, his heart swelling with affection for the boy he loved. "I am lucky," he agreed. "He's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Darcy leaned back, stretching her arms over her head. "Well, we'll just have to make sure you two stay disgustingly happy forever, then."
Tara laughed, shaking her head. "We'll do our best. But I have a feeling you two won't need much help with that."
Nick grinned, feeling a sense of peace settle over him. Being with his friends, talking about Charlie like this, it made him realize just how much love surrounded them all. Charlie wasn't just his boyfriend—he was part of a group of people who genuinely cared about each other, who would do anything to support one another.
"Thanks, guys," Nick said, his voice full of sincerity. "I really appreciate this. Talking about Charlie... it helps. It reminds me of how lucky I am to have all of you, too."
Darcy threw an arm around Nick's shoulders, pulling him into a side hug. "Anytime, Nick. We're always here for you, and for Charlie. You two are stuck with us."
Tara and Elle both nodded, their smiles warm and reassuring. "We're all in this together," Tara said softly. "Charlie means a lot to all of us, and so do you."
Nick smiled, feeling a deep sense of contentment. It was good to be reminded that he wasn't alone in caring for Charlie, that they all had each other's backs. As they sat there, enjoying the rest of the afternoon, Nick felt more certain than ever that everything would be okay—as long as they all had each other, they could get through anything.

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Heartstopper One-shots
Romanceheartstopper oneshots of nick and charlie, maybe others.