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The bright afternoon sun was obscured by a massive cloud of translucent red and grey. Beneath the lustrous balloons, were bundles and bundles of silver white strings trailing down from the sky where the stretched latex floated, lofty in the expanse of blue. From these strings, pink and purple posies had been haphazardly tied, loose to not choke the flowers. This display, taking up half the carpark of the Harvey Greene Grammar School for Girls. Beneath the some four dozen balloons, a lone fellow in a smart looking uniform from the school across the way stood, calling out to a pretty girl who had just wandered out from the building.
A crowd was quick to gather at the commotion, whispers spreading to giggles as the girl blushed, ushered out towards the spectacle by her group of excitable friends. The closer she got, the denser the crowd, until she was just a few steps away. Just before reaching the dashing fellow, he released the silver strings, balloons taking flight for all to see. The mass of teenage heads craned towards the sky as gentle winds took the colourful inflatables and like magic, the delicate flowers began to rain down. Oohs and Ahhs raced through the throng of students as they reached to catch the falling petals.
“Posey Williams! Will you go to prom with me”? The boy called beneath the floral fallout. The girl, her eyes shone brighter than the sun as she exclaimed her ‘YES’ excitedly before launching herself into the boy’s arms. There were cheers and shouts, hoots and hollers, rambunctious celebrations as another successful promposal was executed.
“Doesn’t he even realise how terrible that is for the environment”? Elle scowled as she stepped off the curb and towards her bus.
“I think it was absolutely romantic”. Tara, one of Elle’s first friends at her new school chimed in. “Maybe he used a biodegradable latex”?
“Definitely over romanticising it now”. The bespectacled girl laughed, wrapping her arms around herself as they climbed up the shallow stairs, taking a spot at the back.
“Has Tao asked you yet”?
“He has! When I was over last night, he asked me while we were watching some movie I couldn’t follow”. She looked out the window thoughtfully a moment. “Though that could have been so I didn’t pass out on him”. Tara elbowed her playfully, the bus jerking to life as it pulled out from the school.
The shorter girl stared out the ruddy pane after Elle, wondering when she would be asked and if it would be done with extravagance or chaos.
XXX
The morning bell buzzed its warning signal. Hamlet House’s form room was all alight with talk of the grand gesture from yesterday’s display of young romance. Nick paid no attention to the chatter, lost in his own world, one that revolved around the stunning boy sat just to his left. It had become his favourite pastime, staring at the brilliant bright blue eyes who would follow him intently, listening to his every word. Charlie was different, possibly from anyone he had or would ever meet. There was something about him that made Nick feel like the most important person in the world. Charlie never let his attention stray when Nick talked, always acknowledged the things he was saying, even if they didn’t appeal to him. He would listen when Nick gushed about Fernando Alonso and his last race, or watching Owen Farrell replays while talking about aspiring to be him one day… even if it secretly was because he married his childhood sweetheart. Charlie would listen to how after Nick started to come into his own, he was scared he would lose the familiar things he used to love because he wasn’t sure if he liked them because of conventionality or genuine interest. The dark-haired boy would help him, stay up and watch racing with him, google stats so they could talk about them. Charlie would stay the night watching movies that explored his tastes and would giggle at him when he decided he did like something he always had, like pirates, or tease him when he realised, he only followed it because the lads had. Nick Nelson was in love with the boy before him and was desperate for him to know.
“Are you even listening mate”? The older boy shook the daze from himself, looking to the pair of year twelves across from them.
“Hmm”?
“I asked if you heard about Chris’s promposal yesterday”. These two boys joining Charlie and Nick at their form table were only here for gossip, had precious few moments before their teacher would usher them back to their proper tables.
“Heard Posey say she wouldn’t have said yes if it was anything less”!
“Where did you hear that, I don’t think she’s like that”.
“What are you talking about mate, you HAVE to do it big, how else will they know you really want to go with them”?
“Who are you asking then”? Nick found himself zoning out again. Charlie was listening intently to the two older classmates yammer on about the promposal shenanigans and how important they were. There was a dreamy glaze over those intriguing eyes. It brought a strange mix of anxiety and excitement into the rugby player’s guts.
Prom was just over a month away, thirty-seven days to be exact. Prom… Nick never imagined, when he was younger, that he would be in this position. He had pictured himself shyly, awkwardly asking Tara to the prom, maybe giggling at her blushing, and looking away before biting her lip and nodding. That had been so long ago, he hadn’t thought of this new reality of asking a boy to the prom, his boy. Charlie deserved the grand gesture, the romance, the attention lavished over him, especially because Nick knew he felt like he didn’t deserve it. Charlie was Nick’s centre of attention, centre of gravity, had given him so much in this life that there could never be a gesture big enough to summate his feelings.
Thus, the crux of his issue… would his boyfriend want that? Want the gesture, the attention on him? They had been through a really rough time these past months, but they had been through it together. Charlie held his hand as he came out even though he was scared of the attention it might bring, he celebrated their wins when he was able to conquer his reticence for bullies and finally stood up to an apologetic Harry Greene, he even got a smile out of the redhead when his father didn’t show up to his birthday, stayed the night cracking jokes and showing Nick just how special he was. Charlie was really extraordinary and if Nick were to go through with a promposal, it had to be resplendent, worth the attention it would bring.
“Where did you go”? a soft melodic voice broke through the clouded thoughts that had begun to spiral around him. Charlie.
“Sorry,” he brought his focus back to his boyfriend. “Just thinking”. A long, slender hand found its way to Nick’s thigh, resting gently on the polyester material of his uniform trousers. How strange it was that such a simple act could completely quell all the uneasiness inside. In that moment, he wasn’t worried about how he was going to ask Charlie, instead he was inundated with lovely images of holding the boy close, swaying with him to dreamy instrumentals, a siren song for the soul as they danced close. Only them, always them. He almost slipped and just asked him outright, having to bite his tongue.
Blue eyes and dimples just flashed at him, warmly. Nick could figure everything out later.
XXX
The day flew by after that. That day and all the subsequent days of the week. Before he knew it, the weekend was upon him and he was lying in bed, staring up at the twinkling fairy lights. They spoke to him often, sometimes they would give quiet encouragement, solace, comfort. Today they mocked him, berated him for letting the time dwindle. There were outfits and rides and things to plan. More importantly, would the boy think that maybe Nick didn’t want to take him. He ached for some romantic intervention, for an idea so perfect that no other promposal would ever see its rival…
“Have you come up with a plan yet”? The week had passed, Nick was starting to feel the pressure. Monday’s end found him getting changed into his rugby kit, eyeing the empty place where Charlie used to sit with a twinge of bitter regret. Otis had casually asked while they got changed in the locker room before emptying out onto the field and Nick felt the room start to close around him. All his ideas had been flawed, garish, embarrassing. Nothing was perfect enough for what he wanted, envisioning the execution soured in his mind as everything was too small, too awkward, missing something.
“No… No em I haven’t decided how I’m going to do it yet”. The redhead dropped his gaze, feeling the looks of his three friends on him, hearing them sniggering at his shortcomings, unable to do something so simple.
“Prom is in like three weeks, you know that right”. This time, it was Sai chiming in, propping his foot up on the bench to lace up his battered shoe.
“Thanks, I was unaware”. He said through gritted teeth, the pressure wearing on him. The stale, humid air of the room getting to him, Nick stood to head out the doors. “I just…” He turned back towards the small group, “If it weren’t for Charlie, I still wouldn’t know anything about myself or how much I love being me now, how he helps me celebrate parts of me that…” trailing off, the fly-half looked at his three teammates, his friends. Not used to being so candid, so open about his feelings, the lapse in judgement frightened him. “Sorry… em”.
“I think that’s the most you’ve ever actually talked, feelings wise mate” Otis again. “You should do that more often.” There was warmth in those words, striking the redhead with the evolution of their friendship.
“Sorry, I just, let’s just get this game over with”. If he turned too quick to see the lads smiling after him, well that was on Nick.
XXX
Filtering out onto the pitch, the redhead felt an immediate extinguish to the gut churning nerves; in the stands, a raven-haired boy caught his eye. The glint, shine from the golden halo of sun drenching those curls, from across the field, he suddenly didn’t care. Nick didn’t care about making some outlandish statement, their night would be perfect, they were perfect, Charlie, in all his imperfections, was perfect. He would ask them after the game, unable to wait a second longer.
Within moments, twenty-five plus boys had poured onto the grass, slapping shoulders and backs, hollering out to the sparse crowd. Many people didn’t come to Monday games, but Nick was just fine with that, and among the small crowd forming in the stands were some of the most important people now in his life. His beautiful boyfriend sat flanked by Tara, Darcy, Elle, Tao, and Isaac, all brought to him in one way or another by getting to know that shy timid boy in his form.
The shrill cry of Coach Singh’s whistle and like magic, they all disbursed; in every direction they spanned out and Nick felt the familiar adrenaline flush beneath his skin. Charlie was watching. He was going to win.
XXX
“Incredible hustle today boys, that is what I am talking about”. Coach was flushed from the heat and the excitement of their fourth consecutive win. The stands had filled out with a healthy gathering and the cheers drowned out her incessant clapping as sweat drenched rugby players gathered towards the benches. “Bring it in!” The redhead could feel the heat from the bodies around him; it was unseasonably warm, new freckles making their debut from the blistering rays beating down on them. While Coach debriefed her team on their win, the plays, what was expected for this weekend’s game, water was passed around. Nick drank greedily, feeling the icy cool liquid splash down his throat.
“Right boys, before he hit the lockers, I think there was just one more thing”. Their coach tucked her clipboard under her arm as Christian, Sai, Otis… they dropped back digging beneath the bench. Coach didn’t finish her thought though… a bright serenade of music suddenly burst forth from the speakers used for announcements. The crackle startled him, but quick to notice… only him. Everyone else seemed to have expected it.
“What is…” The question died in his throat as he recognised the song playing. That song, their song. With the speed of wind, a million hummingbird wings fluttered into his belly as a hand guided him to turn around and face the bleachers. A good bit of crowd still hung around, interested in the commotion, but he only had eyes for the boy that had moved to be right in his line of sight a few rows from the ground. He registered movement in his periphery but couldn’t tear his gaze away, not when Charlie was smiling at him like that.
In fluid motion, his love was surrounded by their friends… Tao and Elle in the row above him, Isaac Tara and Darcy standing on the row below him and on the pitch, in front of the seats… his three friends, Otis, Christian, and Sai all holding signs. One by one they flipped each sign up.
DO - YOU
BI
ANY CHANCE - WANT TO - GO TO
PROM – WITH – ME
He stood frozen, music sparking through the aging speakers, and stared at the signs while it slowly sunk in. Charlie, his sign, it was painted in three distinct colours, standing out from the rest to make sure Nick knew who was being asked, as if it weren’t glaringly obvious. Icy blue eyes stared at him expectantly, waiting for an answer. Music faded into the background, as blood rushed in his ears, Charlie was asking him, asking him to the prom and all his friends and his team were in on it.
From behind him, a shoulder clapped on his back, shook him from the trance his boyfriend sucked him into. Harry? Harry. Surrounding him, the rest of their team, all holding a selection of tiny cakes, the signature lumpy attempt that could have only been produced by a certain Spring sibling.
“YES”!!! His brain caught up to his mouth and he called out the only answer. The sun dulled in the presence of those dimples. The remaining crowd, invested in the romantic scene incited a thunderous applause for the couple as the pink, purple, blue sign fell to the ground, the spry, athletic boy jogging down the steps then leaping the short wall, Nick taking the impact. Wrapping his arms securely around the boy with the momentum and swinging them around. It was incredible. “Yes, absolutely yes Char”. Cinnamon eyes glittering with joy and like second nature, he pulled the slender boy close, pressing his lips to those perfect raspberry-coloured ones, their kiss ruined by how hard Nick was smiling. Their kiss devolved into giggles, the rugby team crowding around them hollering in delight and excitement.
Before long, the rest of their friends found their way to the field, gushing about how well it went and how perfect it was. Not wasting another moment, the lads tore into the cakes they were holding, laughing and enjoying the free confections and sharing in the thick, colourful elation of this most perfect moment. Coach Singh agreeing that it was indeed special but that they needed to wrap it up soon and head to the lockers.
Nick couldn’t wrap his head around the incredible moment. Charlie, Charlie Spring who was so soft spoken and was literally dragged through the emotional trenches, still the had capacity for such great love. It made him, them, stronger and Nick thought happily to himself as they traipsed across the field, it was so beautiful, he hadn’t realised that maybe the reason he was unable to come up with the perfect promposal is because he was the one who wanted to be asked. He had been the one to have all the attention on him. Maybe when he had been thinking all those years ago about asking Tara, he was really thinking about how he’d react if someone had asked him. Charlie was extraordinary, and Nick was unbelievably lucky.
.
.
.
“I still cannot believe how incredibly romantic that was”. Nick sat at the Spring’s kitchen table, licking the tricoloured frosting off one of the cupcakes Charlie had reserved and kept in his fridge, knowing the heat would ravage the others. The boy blushed, coming to sit at the empty seat beside him, setting a fresh mug of tea down.
“I was worried about asking the team but once I told Christian about it, he insisted they get to be there” Nick was so far gone for this wildly thoughtful boy.
“It was perfect, thank you darling.” A soft, gentle hand came up to cradle Nick’s cheek, brushing some errant frosting away. “Are you upset I didn’t ask you first”?
“Gosh no, I had been planning to ask you like that for ages, just wanted it to be the right time, not too crowded in case you felt uncomfortable”. There was no limit to his boyfriend’s sweet considerations and endless thoughtfulness. “Were you upset I asked”? Nick didn’t answer that verbally, just kissed the boy’s soft, full, sun kissed lips, the beauty of this feeling straining him, all the weight he would forever take as long as it was with Charlie.
“Although, I do wish I did get to do something extravagant like that for you”. He lamented aloud.
“There is still time to, if you’d like”. Those supernatural eyes were glinting with mischief as they roamed Nick’s face…
That is how Nick found himself folding nearly twenty tiny sheets of paper into various little origami shapes, black fountain pen sitting quite contently off to the side after vigorous attention. It took hours to get them all perfect but both boys carefully tucked the tiny little shapes into a bag and stowed it somewhere safe for the night.
It would also be how he found himself with Charlie at the front gates of Truham Grammar at half six in the morning the following day, Charlie carefully threading strings into the paper animals and handing them to the redhead as he climbed up into the tree above the picnic benches where they now sat, meticulously tying them into the low branches. Just before the busses arrived, they stood admiring their work, the breeze blowing the paper menagerie gently, giving off a dream-like quality.
“Oooh what have we here”? Isaac chimed as he and Tao made their way to the usual morning meeting spot. “Another promposal in the works? Tao is this for Elle”?
“Dunno, want to tug one down and have a look”? The curly-haired boy offered”. Curiosity sparked, he reached up and plucked a small paper bunny from the tree, its white outward appearance belying the inside that was full of colour. Without prompting, he peeled back the folds as a bright purple sheet held an elegant scrawl.
Never love anyone who treats you like you’re ordinary ~Oscar Wilde
The boy looked up confused, pulling down another, this one a frog with grey on the inside.
I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book ~Jane Austen
The more he tore down, the more quotes he found, all excerpts from his favourite books and authors. They were scribed out in greys, whites, blacks, purples… and once all had been plucked free from their strings, only one remained, a large dragon that Nick pulled from his shoulder bag, handing it over to the shaking boy.
Would you please join us for prom? ~Nick and Charlie
It was absolutely lovely and romantic and overwhelmed the boy to tears, all he could manage with that massive smile was a simple…
“Yes”