Chapter Text
Yes, Charlie was desperate for money. He was, in fact, in critical need of it. Tao jokingly suggested that he apply for the pizza delivery job offered to students on the campus, but unfortunately Charlie had to take him seriously, because there were no other opportunities. It was convenient too, if he was being honest. Not too many interactions with people, quite relaxing to drive and all. Still, when he actually went to inquire about the available positions at Gogo Papa’s Pizzeria, he felt as if it were only a forlorn attempt to get some money.
But he succeeded. He was stunned when they called him about the job.
And he shall thank Tao and his incredible humour every day until he dies, for his life changed as he was delivering a pizza to someone quite peculiar.
Returning to his campus while working isn’t uncommon, since the exam season has been coming up, and all the students are living on canned food or take-out. What makes Charie furrow his eyebrows is that it’s Saturday, 7AM. Who the holy mother of God orders pizza at this hour? He was used to weekend mornings being spent by chilling in his delivery car, studying or reading, but not today, it seems. At least he can listen to his music while he drives.
He gets to the college building successfully, climbs a flight of stairs, then knocks on door 11. A strawberry blonde, freckled guy opens the door, wearing a striped T-shirt, and, well, boxers. Oh, also long socks with giant Pikachus on them. What a sight for sore eyes, it is.
”Hi. Delivery for Nick Nelson? Pepperoni pizza from Gogo Papa’s?” Yep, he certainly is still terribly embarrassed to say that out loud, even if he’s been doing it for over a month. He will never get over that name, he fears.
Nick, he assumes, appers to be perplexed. He’s frowning, and hasn’t said a word yet. Oh, no. Did Charlie come to the wrong adress? That has been his biggest fear since he started working. It can’t be happening.
”Hi, uh, sorry, God I forgot I ordered this pizza, excuse me, I.. I don’t normally look like this, I swear. I’m a bit sick, and I just remembered that when I woke up half an hour ago, the first thing I did was order that and I really don’t know why, and then I went back to sleep and now I just stumbled out of bed, so. And now I’m rambling to you, please excuse me, let me just, uh, bring the money and..” With that, Nick disappears into the dimness of his dorm room, and Charlie physically cannot sustain himself anymore, he has to cover his mouth with his free hand to muffle his laugh. This guy is absolutely fucking hilarious. (And adorable, for that matter, but whatever.) Charlie has to compose himself before he emerges again.
”Fifteen pounds, please.” He requests, a smile permanent on his lips, amused by this boy’s antics. He doesn’t fail to notice that Nick is blushing, which causes the ends of his mouth to curl further up, and he might be getting a tad flushed too. Just a tiny bit.
He truly feels as if he were in a movie as Nick hands him the cash and takes the box: fingers brushing, palpable tension, then shared sheepish smiles.
”I hope that when we next meet I won’t be looking this rubbish,” Nick says, chuckling at his own mishap. Charlie doesn’t miss the way he says when, not if.
”Well, I hope you get well soon and make a habit of ordering from us!” He replies jokingly, then they merely stare at each other for a couple of seconds. Charlie’s heart is going berserk in his ribcage. Gratefully, the blonde boy is able to break the silence by telling him to have an amazing rest of the day, and after he retaliates the gesture, he walks away feeling like he’s on cloud nine.
-
”What’s got you all smiley?” Elle is perched on the sofa when Charlie enters their living room, and looks at him expectantly. He would be lying if he said that Nick hasn’t been on his mind all day.
”Well, I might have had a very pleasant encounter today,”
”Oh my sweet Jesus, with whom?” Elle’s facial expression indicates that she’s enthusiastic about what he has to tell her, so he sits right next to her with the biggest grin on his face and describes those few minutes that have been replaying in his head since 7AM.
”My, my, Charlie! I really want this to work for you. But I also don’t want you to get your hopes up for nothing.” She grabs a firm hold of his hands and looks deeply into his eyes, making sure he takes her seriously. He’s certain this is happening considering the fact that last year he went out with the most godawful guy who’s ever walked on Earth. His name is forbidden in their flat, and if he’s ever brought up, they refer to him as You Know Who. Charlie absolutely despises thinking about him.
”Of course, Elle. I’ll be careful. But honestly, I’m just joking. Like, there’s no way he was actually interested or something. Still, it made feel-„ He shrugs, hesitating, searching for the right word. “-appreciated, I guess. Does that make any sense? It was such a small interaction, but..”
Elle smiles compassionately. “I get it. It’s so unfair that a truly thoughtful, honest and just… incredible person like you, isn’t used to being treated properly.” She caresses his hands with her thumbs, then brings him in for a hug. Charlie might begin sobbing like a baby deprived of its mother. He has the best friends ever, he’ll never stop being thankful for them.
-
It is a few days later that he reads the name Nick Nelson on the list of orders he has to deliver today, and he cannot stop grinning. Like, literally, physically cannot wipe it off his face. He feels truly foolish for being this eager to meet him again, but he can’t be blamed. He’s been waiting for this so much that by the time he’s standing at door 11, he’s quite on edge, to say. It’s as if at any moment, he’s going to explode. It’s too late to back out now though, he’s already knocked.
”Hi,” Nick beams.
Alright. Charlie demands a break. He needs time to stop, and the planet to stop spinning. Last time they met, Nick was supposedly sick, straight out of bed, definitely not ready for human interactions, albeit Charlie believed he was gorgeous.
Now, though, Nick is beyond words. Genuinely. He’s wearing grey sweats with a red T-shirt that accentuates his fabulous arms. It’s a terribly flattering outfit, Charlie must admit. Gaping won’t get him anywhere, however it is enjoyable, that’s undeniable.
”Hi,” Charlie exhales. “You ordered a Hawaiian pizza, right?” He’s barely focusing on what’s coming out of his mouth, he just hopes that his staring wasn’t blatantly obvious, and that he’s not blushing furiously.
”Yes. Yes, I did.” He keeps a bashful smile on his face, that makes Charlie want to melt right there on the corridoor.
”Seventeen pounds, please.” He awaits the sacred moment when their fingers brush yet again, and swears that he feels some kind of magical connection.
Yep, he’s officially driven himself insane over a boy who he’s talked to for 5 minutes.
”Thank you.” They say simultaneously, then chuckle at themselves. Or each other. Or both, perhaps. Nick scratches the back of his neck with his free hand, and gives the impression that he wants to ask something, however he simply closes his mouth. He reopens it, but only to say goodbye to Charlie. He also gives him a tiny awkward wave, which Charlie reciprocates with a smile. This short conversation gives him something to dwell over for the next few days. Perhaps weeks. He tends to daydream about stuff like this.
-
Charlie isn’t fond of crowds. On worse days, it makes him anxious and stressed out to be in the same room as many strangers. That is exactly the reason why he’s very glad that he has friends who work at the library and therefore can provide him with priviliges like sneaking him into the book storage room. He’s rereading Iliad for one of his classes, but he’s not capable of concentrating on the book in the slightest. Ever since he’s met Nick, he’s had this deep urge to find him and he can’t put it off with his mind. He just aches to look him up Instagram, to ask around so he could learn what classes he attends, where he can be found and such things. He does know where his dorm is, that’s true, but how messed up would it be if he just showed up spontaneously? And anyways, he doesn’t really see himself doing all that communicating with strangers. He’d feel like a creep, as well. He wishes he could stop thinking about this.
”Charlie, hi!” Tara’s sudden words cause his train of thoughts to stop, and make him jump.
”Tara, you scared the shit out of me!” He laughs in disbelief, as he stands up to hug his friend as a greeting.
”Sorry, love,” She says, but looks nothing like she is. “I would’ve come sooner to keep you company, but one of my friends is having a gay crisis. I was needed.” She explains.
”Well, I really hope that this friend is gonna be successful in whatever gay business they have.” Even if I can’t be, he added in his head. Tara simply smiles at him, then nods.
”He will be. I can feel it.” She exhales.
-
It seems like Nick really did make a habit out of ordering from them, because every day he worked, which was Monday, Tuesday and Saturday, Charlie had to pay him a visit. He can’t help wondering if he played a role in this. He’s tried hard to delete You Know Who’s voice from his head, telling him all sorts of mean and destructive things, but sometimes he’s unable to keep his thoughts from clouding. Meeting Nick again is exactly what could help him lift his mood, so he’s grateful when he reads his adress and name on his list on that very Tuesday afternoon.
”Hi,” Charlie smiles coyly. He truly has no idea why seeing this boy makes him so overjoyed.
”Hi,” Nick says, returning the gesture.
”Margherita pizza for Nick Nelson?” Charlie questions. He honestly can’t cease to grin.
”Yes, correct.” Nick confirms with a facial expression akin to Charlie’s, if only a little redder. Then he hands him the cash without even being told the price, and he’s given the box of pizza in return. He clears his throat, then continues speaking. “Forgive me for asking, but what’s your name?” Nick asks, seeming very jittery.
Charlie’s taken so off guard that he merely stares at the boy before him, mind blank. So Nick is… interested? He can’t decide if he’s never been more ecstatic or he’s never been more fucking nervous. Both is probably the right answer.
”Or, you don’t have to. I’m sorry for-„
”My name’s Charlie Spring.” He interjects. He was hesitating for so long that it gave Nick the impression that he didn’t want to do anything with him. And God, that is so the opposite of what’s going on. He might be crazy, but he’s already envisioned his entire future with this strawberry blonde boy. He won’t let his anxiety get in the way.
Nick’s mouth slightly curles up at the ends. “Thanks for the delivery, Charlie.” he says. Charlie is probably going to dissipate into thin air if he keeps smiling like that.
”You’re very welcome, Nick,” He replies. Are they flirting? Is this what flirting is like? Is he doing it right? God, how unnerving this is. “See you later, hopefully.” He continues, then starts walking backwards, waiting for Nick to react to his latest sentence.
”Definitely,” He assures Charlie. “Have a nice day, Charlie.” He adds as he closes his door. Alright, Charlie is on the verge of a breakdown. Or he’s just going to jump around like someone belonging to a psych ward. Maybe he does belong there, he ponders.
Later that day, he gets a notification from Instagram and prays silently that it’s Nick following him, but sweet Instagram only alerted him about Taylor Swift’s new post. He curses himself for turning on notifications for her activities. On that same day, when he actually gets the oh so awaited follow from Nick, he’s already deep asleep. The morning afterward, he ventures that he’s still dreaming after seeing it.
-
”So you say you’ve been talking?” Tao questions. He’s way too wary about Charlie making new friends. Charlie understands, naturally, because Tao has always been a tad overprotective, and he loves his friend like that.
”Yeah, a bit,” No. In reality, they’ve been texting nonstop for the past three days. Tao would freak out for sure if he realised the thruth, though. Charlie knows him inside and out.
”Forgery! That’s your lying face!” Well, unfortunately Tao knows him just as much. He crosses his arms and frowns at his friend. He got too good at detecting Charlie’s lies, apparently.
”Yeah, yeah, okay. But keep your voice down, we’re in the library!” He whisper shouts. When he’s with people who he knows well, he doesn’t mind being in the public part of the library. Otherwise, he exploits his cuteness and asks Tara to sneak him into the private room.
”Charlie, I swear to fucking Jesus, Mary and Joseph that if he does something even remotely problematic, I’m going to-„
”Break his arms in half, I know.” Charlie interrupts him while rolling his eyes and letting a smile creep across his face.
”I was going to say have an extremely serious conversation with him, but that works too,” Tao replies, now him grinning, too. “Wait a second, you said he had this weird ginger-blonde hair and he was, your words not mine, marvelously muscular?” He asks all of a sudden. Charlie can hear and feel his heart beating in his ears. The quickening thump, thump, is unsettling. He has never seen Nick outside of his room, not to say he is not mentally prepared for this today. He isn’t looking his best either: his hair is acting especially unruly today, he’s wearing a large purple hoodie with an enormous white cat plastered on it, his oldest pair of black jeans, and his signature worn Converse shoes. “Do not turn around, Charles!” Tao warns him. It’s consuming all of his energy to listen to him. He needs to see that boy, but he despairs being seen as overly eager, so he settles for calmly (at least on the outside) waiting for him to come over. He fears he’s putting too much faith in Nick to be able to recognise him from behind.
Turns out he isn’t, as he hears someone approaching and observes as Tao’s facial expression changes from a judging frown to a don’t-come-any-closer frown.
”Charlie?” Nick’s voice is the epitome of serenity. Charlie’s nerves calm down in an instant. He stands up without considering what that movement hints at, and before he’d start regretting his decision, Nick goes in for an embrace. Damnation. He’s that type of a hugger who puts one of their hands on the nape of your neck and the other on your upper back. That leaves Charlie’s knees at the verge of collapsing when they separate. Nick really hit the nail on its head, since that is one of Charlie’s hugest weaknesses. And he smells so heavenly, too. Another trait that has Charlie’s soul in shambles.
”Nick, hi!” He greets him as smoothly as he can. He hopefully looks cool. As cool as anyone can with a bloody cat on their chest. “This is my best friend, Tao,” He continues, making this the possibly least uncomfortable for his friend. Including him is the best he could do, right?
Charlie can’t recall another time when Tao’s face sent the message I will break your neck any more than this, which must be pretty off-putting for Nick. It used to frighten Charlie in the past, but now he’s immune to Tao’s murder glares. Even if it does terrify the hell out of him, Nick doesn’t falter at all. He goes nearer to the boy and offers his hand for a shake. Tao doesn’t even bother to stand up, and Charlie feels the sudden urge to bash his head into the book he’s reading.
”I’m so glad to run into you both,” Nick says with that beam on his angelic face. God, he renders Charlie absolutely speechless. “Actually, I was just about to text you. Do you wanna hang out with two of my friends and I? We’d stay in my dorm and watch a movie or play something. It’ okay if you don’t-„
”I’d really love to,” Charlie cuts in. He’s a socially awkward person, especially when getting to know people, but his curiosity gets the best of him. He would honestly like to meet his friends. He’s been longing to know what kind of people Nick hangs out with, usually.
”My place at six? If it’s convenient, that is,” Suggests Nick. When Charlie confirms with a nod, he adds: “You already know where it is.” He giggles. Motherfucking giggles. He’s gonna be the death of Charlie, in all seriousness.
-
Nick’s friends are decidedly not what Charlie was expecting. They’re Tara, one of his own best friends, and her girlfriend, Darcy. As it turns out, Charlie was worrying for nothing when he paced in his room for over half an hour wondering about how he could screw up their first impression of him. It’s the best possible outcome, though, because Charlie’s having the time of his life laughing with them while they play Monopoly. He’s exceptionally happy when he wins it. He’s always been the king of the game, so it’s no surprise, really.
He just feels so at ease with them, it entirely exceeded his anticipation. Simply listening to them talk without him joining in is fun. When he starts getting a bit weary, he leans his forehead on his knee, which is pushed up against his chest, and is in the process of zoning out, but something induces him to look up so fast that he most likely injures his neck.
”It’s so annoying, I know! My ex-boyfriend did that all the time. Honestly, that might have played a part in our breakup.” He hears Nick complain. He has no idea what the topic is, but he is sure as hell Nick just pronounced the word ex-boyfriend.
Charlie’s brain is a mush of confusing half-sentences, exclamations, images of Nick and him together, big question marks and such. He requires a few moments to compose himself. His brain refuses to register anything going on around him. After a couple of deep breaths, he can finally hear something other than his own heartbeat.
”-you’re so unserious!” Snickers Tara. “And that was your reasoning when you broke up?”
”No, but like, he was really bad at it! Like awfully, horrendously. I didn’t even wanna play with him anymore,” Says Nick, chuckling with the girls. Oh, sweet Jesus. That smile.
Charlie feels so embarrassed to ask what’s happening, but he needs to know now, after all even Nick’s ex came up, which is pretty important to Charlie.
”Guys, sorry, I almost fell asleep there for a sec, but what are we talking about?” He asks.
”Oh, Nick claims that his ex always used to cheat in board games and he broke up with him beca-„
”That was not the actual reason, Darcy!” Nick is still laughing, though Charlie senses that something is off, like he’s not completely sincere. He makes a mental note to confirm that he’s okay, after the girls have left. He doesn’t have to wait long, because Darcy suddenly announces she wants to sleep immediately, so they leave in a hurry. It isn’t that late yet, therefore Charlie doesn’t feel too awkward to stay a little longer.
”Hey, uh.. I’m really sorry to ask, you don’t have to answer if you don’t feel like it, but are you alright? You seemed a little distracted when you were talking about your ex.” He tries to inquire as softly as he can and every inch of him is begging for Nick not to be uncomfortable.
They make eye contact, and he watches as Nick’s cheerful facial expression transforms into a solemn one.
”Well, Lucien had a lot of problems, you see. He was sad most of the time, and I was there for him, but he just - didn’t want anyone’s help. He had his happy days, but the bad ones overshadowed everything. He was the one who initiated the breakup, actually, because he realised that what he was doing wasn’t good for either of us.” Nick explains glumly. He appears so vulnerable, just sitting on the floor next to Charlie and speaking about his past. Charlie values not being afraid to show vulnerability and talking about your emotions. He knows how fundamental they are, from experience.
He brings his hand closer to Nick to caress his back gently.
”I hope you’re both doing better now. And, you know that you can talk to me any time, right? Like about this or other serious stuff, or even if you just a need a little distraction from these horrid things in life.” Says Charlie, offering as much comfort as he possibly can. When their gazes meet again, he genuinely gets lost in Nick’s brown eyes. They remind him of the colour of the old furniture at his grandparents’ home, and they remind him of hot chocolate in winter, and of little dogs, and he’s… so astonished. But that word is not expressive enough. There are no words for it. In any language.
”Thank you so much, Charlie.” Nick murmurs as he slowly puts his temple on Charlie’s shoulder. Charlie wouldn’t complain if he’d be compelled to stay like this for all eternity.