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Charlie purposely chose a table in the back, wanting just that little bit of privacy, even though privacy in a place like this seemed almost laughable. But the table was next to the wall, meaning only one larger table was near it, so the noise level was reduced.
He tapped the tabletop nervously, glancing towards the counter every few seconds. When Nick had asked him to come here, part of Charlie worried it was some kind of cruel joke. Sure, they’d been hanging out almost every day and holding hands whenever it was inconspicuous enough and maybe they’d made out so much that Charlie could no longer keep track of how many kisses they’d shared. But none of that was this. This was very possibly a real date in a crowded coffee shop.
Nick had been excited about the new Costa Coffee since it had been announced. “A real, proper coffee shop in our sleepy little town! Charlie, can you believe it?”
He’d apparently gotten addicted to it when he visited his cousins in Bristol over the summer and insisted Charlie go with him the first weekend they were open. Charlie agreed because it was Nick and then carefully scoured the menu to make sure he could actually find something to order.
When they’d arrived, it was packed, full of their schoolmates who seemed to have a similar idea for a Saturday activity. Nick turned to Charlie, shoulders squared and face serious, captain mode activated.
“Okay, I’ll get in line, you find us a spot. Preferably not in the middle of everything, but I’ll take what we can get. Text me your order.” Nick gave a short nod to indicate he was done talking and practically ran to get a spot in line.
And now, almost ten minutes later, Nick was still in line, and Charlie was still trying to believe he wasn’t going to bolt. Charlie glanced back at the queue, finding Nick already looking at him. When their eyes met, Nick pulled an exasperated face, causing Charlie to giggle, which in turn made Nick smile wide. Charlie’s heart stuttered, and he forced himself to look away now lest he never look away ever.
“Did you see Nick Nelson in line?” A group of girls sat at the table near Charlie’s, all holding brightly coloured frappes. “He’s so fit.”
“Oh my god, easily the fittest guy at Truham, for sure. And way less lad-y than the guys he hangs around. I wouldn’t mind some alone time with him.”
Charlie turned his attention to this table, curious about how Nick is discussed by the girls at Higgs. There was also something in him, something small and petty, that took pride in hearing Nick, the boy he may or may not be dating, be so desired. Nick was wanted, but he seemed to only want Charlie.
There were three girls, all looking to be around his age, one with long red hair, the other with a short bob, and the third, the girl who had just spoken, with curly blonde hair. They were all pretty, even Charlie could acknowledge that.
The girl with the bob smacked her friend’s arm. “Lottie! Have you ever even spoken to him?”
“I congratulated him after a rugby win once. Sparks flew.” All three laughed at that. “But alone time doesn’t mean we have to know each other. We could just… get to know each other.”
“Lottie!”
“What? Oh, like you two don’t feel the same!”
The redhead rolled her eyes and spoke up, “Obviously, but I wouldn’t say it! Having a crush on Nick is like a Higgs rite of passage, at least for girls in our year.”
“Sure, but why stop at just a crush?”
“Don’t let Imogen hear you.” Nick had mentioned Imogen in passing, noting that she was one of the only people he hung out with that he didn’t actually mind being around. “She’s had her sights on him for ages.”
Huh. Nick hadn’t mentioned Imogen having a crush on him. Before Charlie could fully spiral, he thought about how sweet and kind and totally oblivious Nick could be. He wasn’t hiding Imogen’s crush from Charlie, he probably just didn’t really notice it.
“Didn’t you see him brush her off at Harry’s party? She can’t keep dibs on a boy she barely makes a move on and doesn’t seem that into her.” Geez, Lottie was harsh. “She chickened out on asking him out after that St. John’s game, I think her hold is up.”
“And are you going to do something about it?”
Lottie shrugged with a coy smile around her straw. The girls dissolved into giggles.
“Sorry! I figured it would be crowded today, but I did not expect to spend so long in line! Did you miss me?” Nick had collapsed into the seat across from Charlie, looking far more exhausted than he really needed to be.
“Wow, so dramatic,” Charlie breathed out through his smile.
“Oh, so you didn’t miss me?” Nick pretended to stand back up. “I can go.”
Charlie reached out to pull him back down, unable to hide his laughter. “Nick! Of course I missed you. Stay here.”
Nick smiled softly. “Well, if you insist.”
“Two drinks for Nick!” The barista yelled out to the room.
They both laughed as Nick immediately had to get back up. “The timing of this is very bad. I’ll be back. And I’ll have drinks this time.”
“I want you to know that just you is enough.” Nick’s smile could have replaced the sun. “But I really want my coffee.”
Rolling his eyes, Nick began to walk away. “And here I thought you were just being sweet.”
Charlie followed Nick with his eyes, gaze lingering for a moment, before turning away. He saw all three girls gaping at him; he gave them a polite smile, causing them to quickly look away, whispering frantically to each other.
He could just make out parts of the conversation, mostly them questioning who he was and why he was here with Nick.
Rarely did Charlie have moments of smugness; he never felt much like someone who had anything to be smug about. When he proved Tao wrong or successfully out-sarcasmed Tori, he felt pride but never smugness.
But sitting here, listening to these girls, who only a moment ago were gushing over Nick, and knowing that he’s the reason none of them had a chance with Nick? Yeah, he felt just a little smug. Charlie never got a win like this, was never anyone’s first choice. Until Nick.
“Your beverage, good sir.” Nick slid into his chair again, placing Charlie’s drink in front of him with a big smile, brandishing a straw. “I got you the longer straw even though you only got a small.”
Charlie had mentioned hating that straws were too short to be able to take a sip while his drink was resting on the table, at least without having to strain his neck. It had been an off-handed complaint while they had lunch one day.
“You remembered.” He knew he sounded awed. He was awed.
Nick looked at him with confusion, as though remembering little things Charlie said was just the norm. “Of course I did. I have a running list of all the ways I can make your life easier.”
Charlie felt like he was melting, felt like he would never not have this magnificent flush Nick elicited. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Nah, you’re just worth the effort.” Nick grabbed Charlie’s hand under the table. Charlie squeezed his hand.
He dropped his voice low, motioning for Nick to lean closer. And Nick, the little shit, leaned just a bit closer than necessary, bringing their faces only a few inches apart. To anyone watching them, they probably just looked like they were having a normal, platonic private conversation, but Nick’s quick glances down to Charlie’s lips said otherwise. “Ridiculous.” Nick breathed out a laugh, tickling Charlie’s face.
“Not that I’m not thrilled with this turn of events — wow, you’re somehow even cuter up close — but what’s up?”
“Nick!” Despite being chastised, Nick just grinned wider. “Okay, I wanted to tell you that the girls at the table next to us were talking about you. No, don’t look!”
Nick quickly stopped his head from turning, bringing his eyes back to Charlie. “Who are they?”
“I don’t know. They’re in your year at Higgs. Three of them. One’s called Lottie?”
Vague recognition dawned on Nick’s face. “Oh yeah. I think Christian fancied her for a bit. What were they saying?”
“Just that you’re the fittest boy at Truham, and they wanted to make a move now that ‘Imogen’s hold is up.’”
“Imogen‘s what?”
“I don’t know, Nick, I wasn’t a participant in the conversation!”
“You’re cute when you’re frustrated.”
“Nick!”
“Sorry, sorry.” Nick didn’t look sorry, he looked smitten. Charlie couldn’t continue to be annoyed, not when Nick looked at him like that.
“Anyway, Imogen didn’t ask you out after the St. John’s match so she lost her dibs, I guess. I don’t know. But just be warned that Lottie may be doing something about it.” Nick’s face scrunched adorably at that, apparently not understanding what a popular crush he was. “You really don’t get it, do you? Almost everyone in Year 11 at Higgs seems to have a crush on you. Probably other years too.”
Charlie leaned back, pointedly ignoring Nick's look of disappointment at the distance created. But Charlie wanted his coffee, sue him. Not to mention how hard it was to be that close to Nick and not be able to kiss him.
“The girls we hang out with don’t.”
Charlie rolled his eyes. “Two of them are lesbians and the other has a crush on Tao. Not exactly the most accurate sample size.”
“Okay, but still, the one straight girl we hang out with doesn’t like me.” Nick shrugged his shoulders and took a sip of his drink.
“Because she likes Tao! And Imogen does like you. That’s a straight girl you hang out with.”
Nick opened his mouth, looking like he was going to protest, and then closed it, seemingly re-evaluating interactions he’d had with Imogen. After a moment, he nodded.“Okay. Yeah. One for two, I guess.”
Charlie shook his head, laughing at Nick’s complete unawareness of his appeal. “I’m sure Tara, Darcy, and Elle could confirm how much of a hot commodity you are with the Higgs girls.”
He laughed, full and bright, and Charlie marveled at how gorgeous he was, how lucky Charlie was to have his attention. “They’d love the gossip, I’m sure. But that doesn’t matter to me.”
“No?”
“No. You see, I have on good authority this guy at Truham has a crush on me, and that’s really all I care about.” Nick smiled a smug smile as Charlie turned bright red.
“Wow, I didn’t know you cared so much about Harry.” It was a weak joke, delivered much too breathily, but Nick laughed anyway, no hint of pity in his face.
“Excuse me, Nick?” Both boys looked to the side, Lottie now standing by their table, a determined look on her face. Charlie dropped Nick’s hand, ignoring the crease that appeared between Nick’s brows.
“Um, yeah, hi. Lottie, right?” Charlie stifled a laugh behind his hand, and Nick kicked him lightly under the table.
She lit up at Nick’s recognition, completely missing Charlie’s reaction. “Yeah! Wow, I didn’t think you’d remember.”
“Mm, I’m just good with names, I guess.” Nick kicked Charlie again before he could even begin to react. “What’s up?”
“I was just wondering if you were busy tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Um, I don’t know.” Nick turned to Charlie, a plea hidden in his forced smile. “Charlie, did we have plans?”
Charlie smirked back. “Not that I know of.”
Nick’s eyes widened, and he mouthed “traitor” before turning back to Lottie, forced smile a bit more pinched. “Apparently, I don’t have plans. I really thought I did,” Another light kick. “But I guess not.”
“Okay! Would you maybe want to hang out with me tomorrow?” She looked so hopeful, much different than the self-assured air she had with her friends not too long ago.
“Yeah, sure! A big group hang!” He turned back to Charlie, his plea more insistent. “Charlie? Big group hang?”
Lottie balked, clearing her throat. “Oh. I meant just us. Like a date.”
And there it was. Charlie thought he was having fun. He liked watching Nick squirm, he liked being right about people having a crush on Nick, he even liked watching other people get flustered by Nick. But now he was sat across from his not-boyfriend as someone else asked him out. Someone who he could be seen with without any questions or weird looks. Someone who, if Nick acted around her as he did around Charlie, people would assume he was dating. Charlie wasn’t having fun anymore.
“A date?” Nick squeaked out.
“Yeah. I know you don’t really date. At least I haven’t heard about you seeing anyone from Higgs. It could be low key.” She shrugged, but her tone betrayed her act of nonchalance.
“Wow, that’s so nice. I’m flattered. But…” Lottie’s face dropped, and Charlie’s heart skipped several beats. “I’m actually seeing someone. We’re being private about it, but I like this person a lot. So, I can’t. Because I’m taken.”
“Oh. I hadn’t… heard anything about that. Sorry.”
“Yeah, like I said, we’re private. But I’m definitely not available.”
“Okay, yeah. I’m sorry.” Lottie smiled, small and tentative, as though scared Nick might actually be offended by her asking him out.
Nick began shaking his head as soon as her apology was out. “No, no, don’t be sorry. Not a lot of people know, and it’s not as if we see each other enough for you to pick up on any sort of hints I wasn’t single. Please don’t apologize.”
Her smile brightened somewhat, still saddened by the rejection, but no longer scared she had upset Nick. “Okay. Thank you. For being so nice about it.”
“Not a problem.” She turned to go back to her friends when Nick stopped her with a hand on her arm. She flushed bright red. “Just… you can let people know, if they ask. Or if people talk about me. You can tell them I’m seeing someone.”
She nodded, small jerky movements. “Yeah, okay, I can tell people.”
“Nick,” Charlie breathed out once they were alone again. “You didn’t need to do that.”
Nick looked scandalized. “I wasn’t going to say yes!”
“But you didn’t have to say you were with someone. If you didn’t want to.”
Nick grabbed Charlie’s hand again, stroking his thumb over his knuckles soothingly. “I wanted to. I’m not single, Charlie. You of all people know that. And if you’re right about a lot of people having a crush on me—”
“I am.” Nick smiled a beautiful lopsided smile at Charlie’s interruption.
“Well, then I want those people to know to not ask me out. It’s going to make my life a lot easier. And don’t think I didn’t notice your face fall when she actually mentioned a date. I don’t like you being sad.”
Charlie felt warmth spreading through him, seeping into every corner of his being, a physical reminder of how Nick made him feel. “We can take these to go, right?” He gestured to the drinks with his free hand.
“They’re in takeaway cups, so yeah, I guess so. Do you have to be somewhere?” Nick frowned at the possibility of his time with Charlie being cut short.
“No. But I do need to kiss you, which I can’t do in this crowded coffee shop.”
Nick’s eyes widened comically. “Uh,” he said, voice hoarse. He cleared his throat and tried again, “Yeah, that sounds important. We should go do that.”
He grabbed both drinks and stood, hurrying to the door, Charlie laughing and trailing behind him. Charlie chanced a glance back at the trio of girls, all three watching them leave, a knowing smile on Lottie’s face. Before Charlie could panic, she mimed keeping her lips shut and gave him a thumbs up.
Someday, hopefully soon, everyone could know that Nick Nelson, the top choice for fittest boy in Year 11, liked Charlie Spring. Someday, they could hold hands on the table instead of under it, kiss publicly, turn people down by saying they had a boyfriend. But today, Charlie got to go on a date with a boy he really liked who actively chose him back, and that meant more than every person in the world knowing about them.