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Truham’s resident gay kid Charlie Spring was hailed as “Overachiever of the Century”, and he embraced the title. It wasn’t like that was the worst name he’d been called in those hand print stained hallways. He’d rather be put on a pedestal for his minor achievements than being heckled for liking boys like he had in Year 9.
In complete honesty, Charlie wasn’t an overachiever. He was an excellent student and talented musician and overall great friend, but he was achieving just the right amount in his opinion. He had made that name for himself after he was made Head Boy that year, as suddenly all of Truham noticed him for more than his sexuality. But of course, Charlie had only gained that position with the help of Mr. Ajayi’s gentle nudging toward the administration in his favour. It pays to have a teacher-mentor, Charlie supposed. But, none of Truham Grammar’s student body needed to know that. Charlie was perfectly content with his new popularity status.
So while Charlie basked in his new power over his fellow classmates, Nick Nelson was struggling to keep afloat.
It was sort of fitting that ever-popular “Rugby King” Nicholas Nelson would be the boyfriend of the Head Boy. Nick had his comfortable place in the squad of the presumptuous, spoiled crowd of the school when he entered secondary school. He was always a charmer and incredibly kind, and his sexuality being made public hadn’t made a dent in his fame through the school. Nick was even an excellent rugby player, well on his way to an athletic scholarship to Leeds University.
If he made it through his A-levels. The cumulative exams were drawing ever nearer and Nick was at his wits end. The eighteen-year-old spent almost every waking moment studying and on the field.
It was mid-May and sweltering.
The English air was humid and oppressive, bearing down on the antsy students like a particularly persistent gnat. Charlie sat on the dewy grass of the Truham rugby field, watching the practice go on while a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. Slightly annoyed, the drummer wiped the liquid away with the fabric of his bib, wincing at the rough material.
Charlie watched Nick play from across the grass, watched his swift motions and quick tackles. It astounded him how much energy his boyfriend seemed to have every single day at practice. The team broke apart after what felt like hours and Nick made his way to Charlie, jogging lightly.
“Hey,” He said as he approached, dragging an arm across his forehead. Nick’s face shone with sweat and was marked with dirt from slamming into the ground repeatedly. Yet he still seemed just as bubbly and energetic as he had when they had arrived in the changing room.
“Hi,” Charlie returned the greeting, smiling up at Nick before getting to his feet. Their fingers found their way together, lacing between each other as easily as breathing. “Are you free after school?” Nick shook his head, pursing his lips in a frown.
“A-level exams, remember?” He sighed, holding up his blue banded watch. “I promise I’ll make time eventually, but I have to study.” Charlie groaned, squeezing his boyfriend’s hand.
“You cannot be any more prepared than you already are, Nick,” He said, exasperation creeping into his voice. He didn’t mean to sound needy or anything like that, Nick was just never around anymore. He missed his boyfriend.
“You never know!” Nick chirped, dragging Charlie by the hand to the changing rooms, ignoring his boyfriend’s protests.
The pair had not been together outside of school in nearly two weeks, which for Nick and Charlie was the equivalent to forever . At least, to Charlie it was. Nick was too consumed with studying, and it was a wonder that there was any material left to study. Even when they were together during school, Nick was always poring over his Maths work, or his psychology papers. They had not properly hung out or even kissed for so long that Charlie had lost count. It was properly pissing him off.
There was a logical part of his brain piping up while he sat next to Nick in their form group, telling him that A-levels were almost finished and this nightmare would be over in a few weeks. But the much larger portion of his brain was screaming curses at the stoically studious, stupidly hot boy that was dragging a pencil across a laminated study sheet. Charlie knew he was being absolutely ridiculous. Being self aware never really did anything for him though, did it?
Charlie decided he would finally put his foot down during their lunch period, furiously typing in their messages.
Charlie: meet me for lunch??
Nick: cant i have study group.
Charlie sucked in an annoyed breath, darting his eyes around to make sure his phone wasn’t noticed.
Charlie: please?????
Nick: char
Nick: i’ve got to study!!!
Charlie: ditch it for once, come onnnnn
Nick: finee
Nick: you’re helping me go over my psych notes tho
Charlie: deal
Charlie: ily :)
Nick: lol ily too
Charlie smiled to himself. Little victories, he thought. Little victories. He kept the small grin on his face throughout the entire period, carrying with him through the halls and into Mr. Ajayi’s empty classroom. It had become their designated lunch spot, mainly because Mr. Ajayi spent his lunches in Mr. Farouk’s room for reasons Charlie could only guess at. He had his suspicions but knew not to pry.
He sat in one of the chairs by the windows, one of the legs loose underneath him. Charlie sat for a while, anxiously checking his phone as he waited. Two minutes passed, then three, then five. Just as Charlie was about to get up, the door opened. His waning smile returned, grinning widely at the blond boy as he got up to greet him at the door. It took him all of ten seconds to realize something was wrong.
Nick took a step forward, letting the door close behind them, a glazed look in his eyes. Charlie scanned his face, noticing the paleness that wasn’t there this morning, and the sweat that hadn’t seemed to lessen even in the air conditioned classroom.
“Nick?” He questioned, holding out his hands as Nick took another wobbly step. He looked so ill, it was frightening. Nick opened his mouth to speak but didn’t manage to get a word out. Charlie barely managed to catch him before he fell.
Nick crumpled to the floor, only supported by Charlie’s arms under his own. His eyes were half lidded and he seemed to have fainted. Charlie felt a wave of anxious nausea rise into his throat as he gritted his teeth, angling the older so he was leant against the wall. As soon as he was certain that Nick wouldn’t topple over, Charlie was on his feet. He threw open the door and ran across the hall, heart pounding. He barged into Mr. Farouk’s classroom in a whirl, not caring to notice how quickly Mr. Ajayi seemed to move away from the other man.
“Charlie, what’s wrong?” He asked urgently, seeing Charlie’s panicked look.
“Nick fainted in the art room, I don’t know what to do!” He explained in a rush, waving his hands around in an anxious fashion. The two teachers exchanged glances and ushered Charlie out the door and back to the art classroom. Nick was as he had been left, still asleep or unconscious. Mr. Farouk left with a muttering about letting the administration know as Mr. Ajayi knelt down to try and rouse the Year 13. It was a few moments of gentle shaking until Nick blinked.
“Oh thank fuck,” Charlie cursed, dropping to his knees at Nick’s side.
“What-?” He said groggily, squeezing his eyes open and shut a few times before focusing his gaze on Mr. Ajayi and Charlie’s twin worried stares. “Why are you looking at me like that?” The oblivious statement made Charlie burst into nervous laughter, leaning his head weakly on Nick’s shoulder.
“You are a proper idiot,” He hiccoughed, earning a watery chuckle from his other.
“Did I fall?” Nick asked, looking up at Mr. Ajayi. The teacher nodded.
“Charlie came running after you fainted, any idea why you collapsed?” Mr. Ajayi pressed gently, a knowing look in his eyes, hinting that he knew why. Nick hesitated, feeling the heavy exhaustion and stress that was weighing on him. His head was swimming and tears pricked his eyes. This wasn’t good. Nick swallowed hard and shook his head.
“Guess it was just hot,” He lied, avoiding Mr. Ajayi’s piercing stare. He could feel his eyes burning a hole into him until the door creaked open again. Mr. Farouk walked in, a composed frown stretched across his face.
“You alright then?” He asked curtly, nodding at Nick. The younger nodded back in assent and Mr. Farouk motioned for Mr. Ajayi to leave the room with him.
“Did you need the administration to call your parents, Mr. Nelson?” He asked finally, pushing off the ground to get to his feet. Nick shook his head hard and Mr. Ajayi shrugged, closing the door behind him as he exited.
There was a heavy silence left behind as Charlie remained with his head pressed against Nick’s shoulder, their breaths synchronized. Nick felt the tears that he had swallowed down fighting to get to the surface and he gritted his teeth, shifting against the wall and drawing in a deep trembling breath. Nick was scrambling in his head to remember all the things he told Charlie to do when he helped him with his meltdowns but his brain was too loud. Words were going every which way and all Nick could really understand was that he felt like shit. Things had begun to pile up in his mind, and the silence made it worse.
Charlie noticed Nick’s laboured breathing and shifted away to get a better look at his face. Nick was biting his lip hard, eyes squeezed shut. He looked like he was about to burst into tears.
“Nick?” The quiet question nearly tipped him over the edge. Nick managed to keep it in, cracking his eyes open and wrenching his mouth into a slightly manic smile.
“I’m okay, really,” Nick tried to say, but his trembling voice gave him away. “I just need to breathe-“ His voice cracked on the last word and he sobbed, a dry sound that didn’t expel any tears. He clapped a hand over his mouth, shoulders hunching inward as he gasped for air, trying to regain any semblance of control. It was the type of crying that locked a person’s lungs away, a type that never let air out, only in. Charlie stayed quiet, rubbing Nick’s back with his hand in slow motions. He ached, wanting to console him but just not knowing how. “God,” Nick gasped, an anxious laugh bursting forward. He ran shaking fingers through his hair as he forced himself to inhale and exhale, shaking his head. “These exams are going to kill me, I’m going to actually die.” Charlie moved his arm so it looped around Nick’s torso, bringing them closer.
“You were working too hard, you needed to have a break,” He insisted, squeezing the skin there.
“I’m going to fail,” Nick moaned miserably, dragging his hands down his tear stricken face. “I’m going to let down my team and flunk all my exams and games and lose my scholarship and-“ The tears kept flowing and Nick kept babbling, talking and talking and crying. The build up of tension around his exams and the big game against St. John’s was so crystal clear now. Charlie felt a wrench of guilt in his stomach, remembering his own shallow complaints just twenty minutes ago. “What if I’m not good enough for Leeds or for anywhere? I don’t know what I’m doing, Char, I’m fucking terrified. I just…”
“You’re obviously good enough for Leeds,” Charlie tried to soothe, nudging his knee against Nick’s thigh. “You are more prepared for your A-levels than any other Truham student in the history of the entire school. Nick, you’re good at what you do, you just freaked yourself out and tired yourself out too!”
“I guess…”
“You’re dating the school overachiever,” Charlie joked. “I would know if you’re doing well and you’re doing more than that. I could not ask for a more amazing and talented boyfriend and yet here you are.” Nick laughed a watery laugh and leaned his head on Charlie’s.
“I suppose I was due for an exam-related breakdown at some point,” He said lightly, sniffling. Charlie laughed.
“Mine isn’t scheduled for another week, unfortunately,” He responded, sending them both into a fit of giggles.
“I love you, you know that?” Nick whispered after they both gained their composure. Charlie shifted to look up at Nick and grinned.
“You better,” He teased, earning himself a signature Nick look of disapproval. “I love you too, you study freak.” Nick brought his lips down to meet Charlie’s and they closed their eyes. They savoured the moment, quietly intertwined on the art room floor, exchanging chaste kisses. Charlie was the one to deepen it this time, wanting to drown himself in the sweetness that was Nick Nelson. His arm tightened around Nick’s torso as they kissed, all tongue and teeth. Not that they cared.
“I want to kiss you for the rest of the day,” Nick sighed against Charlie’s lips as they came up for air. Charlie snorted, his stomach doing a somersault as Nick’s causal hand in his hair moved slightly, bails gently scratching his scalp.
“No objections here,” He murmured, meeting Nick’s mouth in the middle as they resumed their movement. Charlie could swear that Nick’s lips were the cure to all illness, disease or unhappiness. His lips tasted of mints and fruit flavoured energy drink, soft against Charlie’s skin as they drifted away from his own lips. He kissed Charlie’s dimple, his cheekbone, his jaw. Nick paused on his jaw, teeth dragging across skin for a moment. He drew out the reaction he wanted, a smile gracing his lips as Charlie inhaled sharply. “Tease,” Charlie cursed sullenly as Nick kissed his cheek.
“Deserved it for distracting me from studying.”
“No studying!”