Charlie doesn't even know why he's shocked about it. He sort of knew this would happen. Ben's not really a good boyfriend anyway. Charlie walked away with his head held low, wondering why he even liked him in the first place.
'Why are there tears pouring down my face? Am I heartbroken?', Charlie thought. Part of Charlie is happy he's cheating on him because now he has a reason to break up with Ben, but also part of Charlie is still aching, wondering why he would even want to date someone like him.
Before he realized it, he's speeding down the hallways not even realizing how fast he's going. A million thoughts ran through his head. Then he ran into Nick.
"S-sorry." Charlie apologized. His eyes were teary. He just needed to get out of here.
"Are you okay Charlie?" Nick asked, a worried expression on his face. Nicks soft side activated.
"Yes I'm okay, I'm not crying, my boyfriend didn't cheating on me, and I'm not heartbroken', but instead I just say-", Charlie cut off his thoughts by saying,
"I-I'm fine" he muttered this sort of annoyed, but sounding like he was in a rush.
"You sure? You just... look like your crying." He says this so softly, while giving Charlie a worried expression.
"I'm fine okay?" Charlie snapped. "Why are you being nice to me anyways! People like you and Haryy don't care about anyone else but yourself! Just... leave me alone!" Charlie finished lashing out at him, and stormed off, angry tears pouring like a rainstorm.
Charlie instantly regretted his words. 'God why did I do that?', Charlie thought.
Nothing he said was true obviously. But he couldn't help the fact the he was just so angry. He accidentally took it out on Nick. He felt really bad. The word 'idiot' repeated constantly in Charlie's head.
xx
"Hi." Tori said, completely scaring the shit out of Charlie.
"God Tori!" Charlie was startled. He jerked his head towards Tori while jumping back.
"What?" She asked confused on why he flinched like he saw a real-life ghost.
"How do you just appear out of nowhere?" Charlie asked smiling but also shocked.
"Older sister magic," Tori said the obvious, standing there like a statue. "What's wrong?" She questions tilting her head, her brother didn't seem like her brother, there's definitely something wrong
"Um, I'm fine... just," Charlie paused before continuing. "My boyfriend cheated on me," He sighed. Tori didn't say anything, and Charlie didn't need her to, he just needed her comfort. Tori pulled Charlie into her embrace.
Tori is Charlie's older sister, who's a year 11, student at Higgs. She's always been there for Charlie. He was her whole life. Usually, siblings always fight like cats and dogs. Not them. They cared for each other like nobody else.
xx
The next day of school Charlie was about to walk in form when he remembered what he'd said to Nick yesterday. He caught Nivk's glance and quickly looked away.
Charlie walked over to Nick sitting down in his assigned seat, which was obviously by Nick.
"Hi.." Charlie said shyly but hopefully. He hoped Nick had forgotten all about their yesterday's fight and the last thing he remembered was the last conversation they'd had in form. Charlie was wrong. Nick ignored him. Charlie doesn't blame him. He told Nick to leave him alone, so that's what he's doing right?
"Nick... I- I'm sorry. I was just angry I-I took it out on you when I shouldn't have. I'm sorry," Charlie paused before saying, "I'm so... so sorry." Nick looked at him, and sighed.
"It's fine. I know Harry can be a dick, and honestly, I don't know why I'm friends with him, honestly all my friends are annoying, but" Nick took a deep breath from all his rambling before continuing. "I'm not like him. I promise." Charlie was relieved he forgave him, even though he knew he didn't deserve Nick's forgiveness.
"I know you're not. All that nonsense I said wasn't true." I assured him. Nick gave Charlie an affectionate smile. 'That goddam smile', Charlie thought.
"Friends?" Nick offered. Though Charlie wished they could be more, this was a beautiful start.
"Friends." Charlie agreed. Returning a smile back to him. Nick could stare into those
ocean-blue eyes for hours, which confused him.
"Maybe... you should eat lunch with my friends and I, if you need a break from yours." Charlie laughed. "They're nice I promise." Charlie offered. He's mostly worried about Tao, he can be a bit harsh, but that's because he's overprotective with Charlie.
"Yeah... okay" Nick chuckled softly. Nick felt like he could just honestly relax around Charlie.
xx
"So I kind of invited Nick to hang out with us at lunch." Charlie mentioned. Tao choked on his Apple juice that he was drinking.
"Like rugby king Nick Nelson?!" Tao gasped after c As calming himself down from choking so much.
"Doesn't he look like a golden retriever?!" Isaac asked smiling innocently, as he sits there eating a sandwich.
"Yes?" Charlie confirmed, confused about why they're acting like Charlie mentioned their going out. Nick then starts walking up to them.
"Charlie what the hell what are we even supposed to talk about!!" Tao whispered freaking out. Finally, when Nick got over there, he cleared his throat making them jump as they went silent.
"Um... hi," Nick said shyly, taking a seat by Charlie, shifting uncomfortably.
"Hi," Charlie replied awkwardly also clearing his throat.
"Wow he is more golden retriever looking up close!" Tao just blurted out lingering. Charlie kicked Tao's chin making him yelp into, "Uh- I mean how was you day today!"
"Um... Good" Nick chuckled awkwardly. He looked uncomfortable, not really sure what to say.
"How is rugby?" Isaac asks, trying to relax him.
"It's- it's good." Nick stuttered, he honestly wanted to leave before this got too awkward.
"So tell me more about you?" Tao asks.
"Um I guess... I have a brother, I live we with just my mom, I have a dog, and-
"Wait you have a dog!?" Isaac exclaimed, interrupting Nick. They all state at him stunned, even Charlie.
"Yeah.... her name is Nellie! Here I have a photo of her." He pulled out his phone showing then cutest thing ever.
"Oh my god, she's so cute!" Charlie said in awe. He looked at Nellie, like he wanted to kidnap her for himself.
"We have to meet her!" Tao demanded. Everyone else agreed
"Well... I'm free after school if y'all wanna come over." Nick offered. Their faces lit up.
"Yes obviously!" Isaac exclaimed. Everyone else approved.
xx
"You're friends are nice. Way nicer than mine." He says as him and Charlie were walking down the hallway side by side.
"Thanks, but sorry Tao can be a little harsh." Charlie apologized. Nick sighed.
"Yeah.. at first I thought he was gonna bite me." Nick joked making them burst out laughing, something Charlie never did with Ben and he enjoyed that.
xx
Charlie kept getting text after text all day from Ben, it's honestly like he's obsessed or something. All he gets is; "you're so USELESS at replying" or "Please Charlie wtf did I do!?" then he starts getting really angry, making it harder for Charlie to ignore, "WHY TF ARE YOU IGNORING ME!!!" and "ffs Charlie!! ANSWER ME!!!"
His phone dings again and he's getting a text saying; "Can we just... please meet up? I need to talk. Please?"
Charlie decides he was just gonna go, so he could leave him the fuck alone, so he texts back saying, "Fine." and turns his phone off.
xx
As he's walking done the music hall, he gets a really bad feeling about this. He feels like something is not right, like a puzzle piece that doesn't fit.
"Charlie" Ben calls out, his voice being firm. Charlie walks in there not in a good mood, setting his bags down.
"Why the fuck are you ignoring me Charlie! What did I do!" Ben yelled at him. He got so close that Charliews uncomfortably against the wall. Charlie stepped towards him gathering all his confidence.
"We need to break up" Charlie said avoiding eye contact. Hidding the fact that he's terrified.
"What are you talking about!" Ben yelled directly in his face, making Charlie flinch. Char returned his tone back.
"I saw you cheat on me!" He raised his voice now getting in Bens face.
"Don't be angry at me for not wanting to come out yet!" Ben excused. This made Charlie furious. He can't take this anymore all his anger that's been building inside him finally bursts.
"I'm not angry about that! If you're figuring stuff out fine I've already been there for you! But I'm not gonna date someone who makes out with some girl, because he only uses me when he needs someone to make-out with!" Charlie yells arguing back, Ben looks shocked. Maybe it's true, but Ben doesn't care.
"Well it not like anyone else is gonna go out with you!" Charlie's heart shattered. He knows Ben's right. Who would want to go out with Charlie? No one.
And before he processes it he's being shoved up against a wall and Ben forces his lips onto Charlie's. He doesn't like this feeling. It doesn't feel good. He knows what he's doing. He's obviously assaulting him. But Charlie feels completely helpless as tears are silently pouring down his eyes. So he just lets him.
"Stop... stop it!" Charlie yelps. He feels weak, like he's so small, but somehow to his savor, someone jerks Ben off of Charlie revealing Nick Nelson out of all people.
"He told you to stop!" Nick roared, his arms being crossed. "Go on, piss off!" Nick enunciated furiously as Charlie was just standing behind Nick the only place where he felt safe. Ben finally ran off scared. Nick turned to Charlie with a worried expression stuck on his face like glue.
"You okay?" Nick asked him in a gentle, caring voice.
Charlie was so speechless with his tear-stained cheeks. He rubbed his eyes still unsure about everything that just happened. Confused, so confused.
"Yeah..." I said with a faint voice head held down embarrassed. He finally met Nick's concerned gaze.
"How'd you find me?" Charlie tilted his head.
"Oh... I uh- I kind of followed you. Y- you seemed stressed today and I just wanted to check if everything's okay." Nick explained. Charlie's cheeks flushed but he's grateful Nick showed up before he got raped.
"Sorry" Charlie says, his voice cracked as a tear streamed down his eye. Nick noticed which made his face soften.
"You have nothing... to be sorry about." Nick said softly. He was getting so close to Charlie, he cupped Charlie's face and wiped the tear away with the pad of his thumb, and honestly Charlie was literally going to melt at his touch.
"Umm... sorry" Charlie muttered awkwardly totally not freaking out at the fact that his face was in Nick's hands.
Nick let go of Charlie's face before saying, "You say sorry a lot. Don't say it." he gave Charlie a reassuring smile.
"Okay," Charlie said so softly, giving Nick a very slight smile that Nick melted at.
xx
They made it outside and Nick turned to Charlie, "Since you're coming over after school, my mom can give you a ride to my house." Nick offered. Charlie's face lit up.
"Sure, yeah!" Charlie nodded excitedly. Nick smiled, and he knew that everything was going to be okay.
—————————
Authors Note:
I'm working on editing every chapter, finally done with this one!!
Posted: Nov. 8th, 2023, 12:22 P.M
Edited: Dec. 2nd, 2023, 1:10 A.M