Chapter Text
*Loud yawning*
“Nick! This was at least the third time you've yawned in the last five minutes,” Charlie said.
“I'm sorry. I just didn't sleep properly last night, that's all,” Nick replied.
“You don't have to apologise for that! It's just... I can see you're barely getting any homework done anyway, so wouldn't you rather just take a nap instead?”
The two boys looked at the open book in front of Nick and the homework that wasn't anywhere near finished.
“No! It's fine really. I don't want to waste any time by sleeping, when I could do something with you instead!”, Nick said, scratching his neck.
“Oh come on. You can't be seriously thinking that you, procrastinating on your homework because you're too tired, is NOT time wasted.”
Nick looked very uncomfortable now and Charlie wasn't used to that look on the other boy's face.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing, just… wouldn't it be weird if I took a nap at your house?”
Charlie didn't know what to reply for a moment. Normally he was the one who would overthink every tiny thing but there he was, THE Nick Nelson in Charlie's bedroom, so unsure of himself.
“No!”, Charlie finally blurted out, “No, not at all! You know, I often take a nap when I'm at Isaac's house, especially when I spent the whole night replaying every mistake I ever made in my entire life. He just likes to read in the meantime and afterwards we just talk, like, about his book or school or anything else really… Sorry! Now I'm oversharing,” Charlie trailed off.
“Oh my God, don't say the s-word! I like listening to you. And Isaac seems really cool! All of your friends are so different than mine, to be honest. I mean, I could never picture myself taking a nap at Harry Greene's house, that's for sure.”
This made them both laugh. As they caught their breaths, Charlie spoke again.
“Well, I'm not Harry and I honestly don't mind. You clearly need some sleep. Otherwise you wont be any challenge at Mario Kart later at all.”
“Oi! Just you wait. I will be so rested that you don’t stand a chance, Spring!”
“Ha! You wish,” Charlie replied.
There was a short silence where they just looked at each other before Nick got up and walked over to the bed. Charlie watched as he got under the covers and made himself comfortable. It was awkward, that's for sure, but somehow it also felt… familiar to Nick. Like a warm, tight hug. He was a bit confused at first until he realised that the blanked and the pillow and simply everything around him smelled like…Charlie.
It shouldn't have come as a surprise, really, given that the other boy was sleeping in that same bed every night but Nick simply wasn't prepared for this.
“Sweet dreams,” a quiet voice came from the other corner.
“Err… thanks,” Nick let out a small laugh before closing his eyes. He didn't think that he would actually fall asleep because his heart was pounding so fast but with the sound of Charlie's pen and his smell completely surrounding Nick, he soon drifted off to sleep.
Charlie tried not to think about the blonde guy that was currently sleeping in his bed on the other side of his room. But as the breathing got slower and steadier, he couldn't resist to steal a glance. Nick's face was completely relaxed. His hair was a bit messy from laying down. It was quite peaceful to look at and maybe Charlie caught himself staring for too long and maybe he couldn't get himself to focus on his math problems anymore.
After a while, Charlie decided to go on Instagram instead, when he heard a sound coming from his bed. He was confused until he realised that Nick was talking in his sleep. At first it was just some mumbling but Nick's voice grew clearer.
“Hi! ... You look… cute.”
Charlie wondered what Nick was dreaming of -or who. Probably Imogen… or Tara maybe. Somehow that thought hurt Charlie a bit, even though he didn't want to admit that to himself.
“Nellie! … Good girl. … No, you won't get me. … Come here…”
Now Charlie couldn't help but smile to himself. Thinking of the bordercollie and Nick playing made him feel warm. It wasn't too long ago when the two boys were in the snow, playing with Nellie together. Charlie finds himself remembering that day quite often lately. He could see a little smile on the other boy's face now as well.
After some time, the blanket rustled. Nick, slowly blinking, tried to find his way back into reality.
“Did you sleep well?”, Charlie asked from across the room.
“Um, yeah! Thanks,” Nick replied.
"Enjoyed playing with Nellie?” Charlie asked teasingly. Panic washed over Nick's face as he remembered his dream.
“What?”, Nick said, suddenly sitting.
“Okay relax, Nick!”, Charlie laughed a little, “You talked in your sleep. I figured you were playing with Nellie, that's all.”
“Oh… Yeah,” Nick said while getting out of bed and stretching, “I'm sorry. I didn't know I was still doing that.”
“Honestly Nick. For someone who doesn't like it when I'm saying sorry, you are apologising an awful lot today. It's fine!”
If anything, it's adorable. He wanted to say but didn't.
“Now, are you ready to LOSE in Mario Kart?”
“Oh! Don't underestimate the energy boost I got!”
They laughed with each other while the game loaded. For a moment, Nick thought about his dream again. And about the way Charlie had smiled at him with tiny snowflakes in his hair.