Work Text:
Charlie’s first day back at school since coming home from the hospital was soon approaching, after weeks of complex discussions with his parents, Geof and the school, everyone agreed to try going back to school. He was better, now more good days than bad, even though Charlie knows this next part of recovery is going to be hard, going back and having people talking about why he was out of school for months a part of him wants to hide away from it all but deeps down he knows he’s got to do this. It was the Sunday before charlie goes back to school and like normal, Nick was round. He knew Charlie was anxious about going back to Truham without actually telling him (he was fluent in reading Charlie Spring). He knew not to push charlie to talk about it and to stick to charlie’s safe food and do things that aren’t too overstimulating and fun for him, like beating Nick and Mario Cart. They’re laying on Charlie's bed, watching some youtube video, Nick was running his hands through the messy curls “I’m so scared for tomorrow” charlie whispers into Nick's chest “I know you are char, but what we will do is I’ll meet you at the bus stop with Tao, Issac and Elle while Elle walks with Tori to Higgs, us lot will just walk into school the other gate entrance then we don’t need to see them idiots, and head to form, hand in hand. Then for lunch in the art room just us” Nick runs his hand down from Charlie’s hair down his arm to lock their fingers together “it's a plan” Charlie nodes, nick smiles kissing his forehead before wrapping his arms tightly around his boyfriend.
And right by my side, there was you
“I’m home” Nick announces as he shuts the door and walks into the kitchen and sees his mum making a cup o tea “how’s Charlie baby?” Sarah asked placing a kiss on Nick's cheek before reaching for another cup “he’s okay, he’s so nervous about tomorrow and to be honest, so am I, just want it to go okay for him” Nick says leaning august the worktop while his mum makes their cup of tea “I know you are baby and I am too how was he when you left?” she asked passing the letter N cup “he’s okay, I promised him I would meet him at the bus stop outside of the main school gates with Tao and everyone” taking a sip of tea “that’s a good idea, you also tell him he's welcome round after school if needs be” she squeezes Nick hand “I will, we just need to get through tomorrow” Sarah nodes. Nick got his bag, school uniform and sports kit ready, he didn’t want to leave much to do in the morning, all he wanted to do tomorrow is get up, have breakfast and go to school and wait for charlie to arrive. He sends Charlie a photo of Nellie knowing she will cheer him up, Nellie always makes everything better, to be honest before saying night to each other.
Nick set his alarm a little bit earlier than usual, but he doesn't mind. The alarm woke Nick from a dreamless sleep, he quickly gets up and downstairs to make himself a cup of tea and toast “morning mum” he says walking into the kitchen and placing a kiss on Sarah's cheek “morning Nicky”, making small talk while eating their breakfast. He puts the cup and plate into the dishwasher before going upstairs to get washed and dressed for the day which could go either good or awful. He sends a quick text to charlie.
Morning char, I love you and I'll see you outside the gates in a little while, you're stronger than you realise x
He locks his phone and gathers his bags and heads downstairs and to the car. Nick and his mum don’t say much on the car ride to school both are nervous about today, the morning radio breaking the silence, as they pulled up to the pavement on the opposite side of the main gates, Nick takes a deep breath before getting out “Nicky” Sarah’s soft voice says Nicks turns to look at his mum “if you need me, just give me a text and I’ll get you both out” Nick nods “thank you mum” he kisses her check before leaving the car.
Thankfully Harry wasn’t at the picnic tables just yet, with a sigh of relief, Nick sits at the bus stop, scrolling through his phone when a text come through from Charlie.
I love you too
Just coming down the road now x
Nick stands up from the bus stop so Charlie will be able to see him, soon enough the bus arrived and nervous starts to rise again, in the sea of people the thing he could see was Tao's signature beanie hat and next to him the curly haired boy followed by Tori and Elle, his heart breaks seeing the look of dread writing all over Charlie's face, he's head down avoiding eye contact with everyone, “Char” NIck called softly to get his attention “Hi” Charlie says breathly, “Hi’ NIck replies, Taos rolls his eyes “come on” Tao says leading the way to the other gate, “if you need me text me” Tori says to both Nick and Charlie (mostly at Nick, she knows Charlie wouldn't tell her the whole truth) giving them her deadly stair and blunt tone of voice, Elle hug Charlie “I love you, you’ll be okay” she says before catching up with Tori as they walked to Higgs. Nick turns to face Charlie “together” Nick says taking Charlie's hand and locking their fingers together squeezing his hand, “together” Charlie says quietly
You were just there for me
They work their way through the busy corridors to get to their form room, saying bye to Tao on the way, Tao looks to Nick saying take care of him or else Nick just nodded. They arrived at their form room “wait” Charlie says “Char” Nick whispers “ everyone's going to look at me when as soon as I walk in and when my name is called out” Charlie's heart now rising, panicking slightly “hey it's going to be okay, once this first one is done, the rest of the day will be easier” Charlie nodded he knew this “together on foot in front of the other” Nick says softly. They walked hand in hand into the classroom, it wasn't exactly unusual for everyone in their form to see, some taking a double look seeing Charlie is back. They sat in their normal seat, hands still locked together, Charlie's knuckles white as he clung onto Nick's hand for his dear life before saying “here” to his name being called out the relief he felt after, Nick smiled of pride at charlie stroking his hand, for the first time today, Charlie smiled, the smile that says I've done it
I fell and you helped me to stand
Nick didn’t want form to end, he knew that he wouldn’t see charlie till lunch but he also knew that he had Tao and Issac in a couple of his classes, the bless rung “art room for lunch?” he asked Charlie as they walked out of form “I’ll meet you there” he half smiled “just text me okay” Nick pleaded with him “I will but as you said the first one is done and the rest will get easier” Nick winked and smiled “exactly” he confirms to his boyfriend he placed a kiss on his check “see you at lunch” before heading the opposite direction of Charlie, he gave a small wave. Charlie took a deep breath before heading to his next class where Tao will be there.
To Charlie's joy, the morning went fast and before he knew it the lunch bell rang, he packed his bag and headed to the art room. “Ah, Charlie spring” Charlie smiled being greeted by his favourite teacher “hi sir” he replies “No crumbs” is all he said before walking away, Charlie walks into the room and there was the ginger-haired boy waiting for him “Hi,” Nick says smiling at Charlie as he walked to the table he was sat at “Hi’ Charlie replies pulling out his seat “all okay?” Nick asked taking Charlie's hand “ yeah more so now,” he says smiling.
They caught up and talked about their classes, Charlie opened his lunch box seeing an apple, ham and cheese sandwich with a packet of walker crips, picking it up taking a breath before closing his mouth around the sandwich and taking a bit, he felts Nicks hand on his knee, he looks at his boyfriend whos smiling so brightly as he took the next bit. It was a big step, having lunch outside of Charlie's confer zone, in the place that caused so much anxiety; but he did it, and another milestone was reached
You were there as I battled my fears
The bell rang too soon for their liking, “proud of you, want to come round mine after school? Nick asked as they walked out of the art room “please I want some Nellie cuddles” Nick playful scoffs “oh okay I see how it is” they laugh, Nick places a soft kiss on Charlie’s lips, “I love you meet you outside the bus stop?” Charlie nodes “I love you too”. They walked together down the corridor hand in hand till they had to go their separate ways. Walking to his next class Charlie felt more at ease not exactly relaxed but with a feeling of accomplishment, he had done his first day back and ate his lunch only leaving a handful of crips left, a couple of little battles won on his recovery journey.
The final bell rung and everyone stormed towards the gates, Nick was leaning against the rails talking to Otis, and Sai, “I’m meeting Elle, so I’ll text you later” Tao announced Charlie nodded “say hi to her for me and that I'm okay” Tao nodded and nodded to Nick as he walks past him. Nick then sees Charlie not too far behind Tao “you ready” Nick asked taking his hand “yeah” Charlie smiles, both of them saying bye to Otis and Sai, but as soon as they were about to start walking they hear the voice of someone they didn't want to see “Oi” the smile on their faces soon dropped, they were this so close to not having dealt with harry all day.
“Charlie spring, long time no see where you've been ?” Harry says smirking “yet not long enough Harry” Charlie spits back Nick looked shocked at Charlie's confidence “Harry just piss off okay,” Nick asked “what? only asking a simple question Nicholas” oh what Nick would do to whip that smirk off Harry's face right now “but it’s not though is it, Harry,” Nick says “Nick it's okay, clearly he doesn’t remember what I said to him on the Paris trip” he looks at Harry, “Look neither of us want to create a scene right,” Charlie says Harry starting looking around dipping his heads down “my thoughts exactly, so just leave us alone okay, now if it's okay with you we would like to go home, have a nice evening Harry” Charlie takes a breath, his chest felt lighter, and his shoulders now relaxed. Nick places a hand on the small part of Charlie’s back, a simple small gesture of support as they walked away.
They continued to walk down the road when they were out of sight of the school grounds, Nick stop their tracks and pulls Charlie into a tight hug “are you okay?” he asked Charlie, studying his face “yeah, I am” he says smiling, they both laughed in disbelief in the best way “now come on, I want my Nellie cuddles” taking Nicks had again and lighting tugging him to walk faster to the Nelson house, Charlie passed him one of his headphones and puts on a playlist. What started as a dark and gloomy day filled with anxiety turned into a clear bright day, it can only continue to get better from here, with Nick and his friends by his side.
And looked up to find that the sky
Had turned blindingly blue
And right by my side, there was you
Quietly taking a stand
And you were holding my hand