Chapter Text
"Charlie, if you want Nick to notice you, you can't wear a jumper DURING THE SUMMER!" Elle scolded me. I rolled my eyes and looked at her as Frank Ocean is playing on my alexa. Elle and Isaac are sitting on my bed while Tao is putting his bag together as I'm putting my own together. Tao has been coming with me to the Nelsons every summer since 6th grade when his dad died. We've been friends since third grade. I've been going there every summer my whole life. Every summer I look forward to one thing, Nick Nelson. I've always known I was 'gay' in a way. I just have only had eyes for Nick since I was like 6 probably. He's definitely straight so there's really no reason in trying anymore. "Elle, In no way is Nicholas Nelson noticing me this summer or any other summer. Taos known him for years tell them Tao!" Tao just looks at me and makes a face, "Charlie I mean.. He is always with you. I'm not like trying to get your hopes up or anything but from my experience Nick Nelson is always at your rescue" Elle just smiled and crossed her arms. I threw my swimming trunks in my bag and shrugged it off. "Charlie come onn, even Sarah said that a Spring is destined to be with a Nelson" Elle rebutted. Shivers went down my spine because when Sarah said that she was referring to my sister, not me. "I'm done talking about this Elle, seriously!" Isaac put his book down and looked down at me, "Charlie don't they know that you have a crush on Nick. Doesn't everyone BUT Nick know" I shrugged, "Yeah.. but his brother just makes jokes out of it. If Nick didn't know before he definitely knows this summer" Elle got up and crouched down on the floor next to me, "More of a reason to get in his eye line and show off those new track team abs!" She grabbed my jumper and tossed it out of my suitcase and replaced it with a T-shirt. She knows how I feel about tank tops so she packs for me according to my insecurities. Sometimes I think she knows me more than I know myself.
Tao packed up my last bag to the trunk of my family's car. My mom already in the drivers seat is honking to make us hurry up. Tao and I give our friends our last hugs and get into the car with my sister and my brother. Olly already got ahold of the aux and is playing music none of us really want to listen to, but are stuck listening to anyway. Tao whispered to me, "Whats your summer wish?" I look at him and shrug, "Just that I don't make a fool out of myself" Tao nudged my shoulder, "You won't. In fact, I bet your actual wish is a make out with Nick Nelson" I covered his mouth and shushed him as literally anyone in the car could've heard him say that. My sister Tori definitely did as I looked over to see her laughing to herself. I slouched back in my seat and and sighed. The car ride is the best part. The air going from smelling like trees and flowers to salty and like the sea. It's like coming home after being gone for a long time. I remember last summer Nick actually took me on a ride around the town because he just got his permit. We went to the clubhouse and snuck into a game of bingo where he actually won the blackout round. The prize was a free large pizza from Salty Joes Pizza Parlor just by the pier, we went to share the pizza together. Afterwards, we played some games on the pier, then he saw this girl named Imogen. The rest of the day included her and thats when I stopped the memory. I didn't want to remember the rest. Just looking out the window on the ride to their house gives me that excited feeling you get before you go on a rollercoaster. I want that feeling to stay, not the feeling I get thinking about Nick with girls. He's the average Rugby jock, he can get any girl he could ever want. I've seen it happen firsthand.
After about two hours I feel the car make that specific turn while I'm asleep. We made it. I nudge Tao and my sister to wake up. My mom already ran out of the car to hug Sarah. Sarah Nelson and my mother have been best friends since they were my age. I hope that will be me and Tao someday. Sarah always said that everyone has two soulmates a romantic one and a platonic one. I full heartedly believe Tao is my platonic one. We'll be bringing our families together every summer when we get older. It's funny to think about. I open the door and walk over to David, Nicks older brother, and hug him hello.
"You finally ditched the Star Wars T shirts!" He said.
I laughed, "And you finally ditched sneaking girls into the beach house!" He looked over to make sure our moms didn't hear that and ruffled my hair with his hand as he walked over to say hi to Tao and my brother. Their dog Nellie ran up to me sopping wet practically soaking me as well. Thats when I heard him. "Nellie No! Come back here and let me dry you!" Nick yelled as he ran to the front of the house where everyone was. "Nicky I called you to come up ages ago! You look like you just came out of the water!" Sarah scolded. I braced myself because I knew that if I looked up I would be frozen. I knew Nick Nelson was in just his swimming trunks and I also knew he worked out a lot this summer for Rugby. "Oh Charlie I'm so sorry. Nellie is such a jerk for that!" Nick said as he walked to me. I looked up, immediately wishing I hadn't. His big eyes met mine, water dripping from his hair, his chest, his trunks. I stood there like an idiot. "Oh um I-Its okay" I finally said. Nick smiled that same sweet lopsided smile. "You know guys" Nick started to say as all our siblings and Tao gathered around. "Since Charlies already wet.. I think it's time for the churricane!" Nick yelled as he picked me up by my waist and threw me over his shoulder.
I kicked my legs and pounded my fists like a toddler trying to get him to put me down. Thats when Olly, Tao and David got ahold of the rest of me to hold me in place as they ran to the pool. The Churricane was an old stupid tradition started by David. He threw me in the pool after I accidentally mixed a red towel with his white clothes in the washer. He made a joke out of it and called it the Churricane. Now, whenever everyone gets the chance they just throw me in.
They finally get to the pool and start counting down from 5. Tori is just standing off to the side recording.
They get to one and toss me in as I scream like a little boy. Once I hit the water it officially felt like summer. There's no better feeling than the water. I get to the surface and saw everyone laughing at me.
"Ow, I think you guys hurt my ankle I can't swim" I said splashing around and faking my injury. Nick leaned down and lent me his hand. I took it and pulled him in with me. I heard another roar of laughter with the sound of Nick splashing next to me. Not even two seconds after he got to the surface he started splashing me with water. "I'm sorry, I had to!" I protested. I splashed him back and lost my balance in the water and grabbed his arm. I completely forgot he was shirtless, once I looked up and realized I flushed red. I looked to see everyone but they all left. It was just me and Nick. "You got your braces off" Nick said, my hand still on his arm. "Yeah it was about time" I responded. He ran his hand through my hair and ruffled it at the bottom by my neck. "You grew your hair out" He also pointed out. I just nodded this time, swallowing back my nerves. He looked into my eyes and his smiled went straight, "I liked you better with glasses" I laughed a little. "I think you should start liking me better without them" I said. I saw him open his mouth to say something, but Tori cleared her throat which caused our heads to turn and my hand to let go of his arm and fall into the water. "The moms want help unloading summer groceries in the kitchen. Olly keeps eating things as he puts them away and Tao is getting frustrated" She said as she looked between me and Nick in confusion. I sigh, "Yeah, okay. I'll go inside right now" She nods and walks away laughing.
I turn back to Nick, "Duty calls"
Nick nods and smiles as we both swam to the edge and lifted ourselves up and out of the pool. "Shit" I say to myself. I realized I didn't have a towel. Nick walked up behind me and rested a towel over my shoulders. I turned to look at him and smiled, "Thank you Nicholas" He laughed, "Of course Charles.
Better go rescue Tao from the Spring-Nelson summer torture now" I nodded,"Yeah, we should probably get in there soon" We both dried up and walked inside the house.
"Charlie are you sure you're going to be okay? I saw you and Nick out there... from the window" Tao asked as we were unpacking our stuff in our shared bedroom. The view from our window displays the big pool and the beach a bit more beyond. I threw my t shirt at him. "Tao! Why are you spying on me!" Tao laughed "Because I-" Nick cut him off by walking in the room. Nicks strawberry blonde hair almost dry and he's in a Ruby T shirt with black sweatpants. "Oh um Tao, me, David, and Olly are heading out to the bonfire if you're ready" Nick said. I looked between them, "What about me?" Nick and Tao laughed. "Charlie literally last summer you told me you'd rather die than go to the beach bonfire" Tao said elbowing Nick. Nick smiled, "Didn't he also say that beach bonfires are just an excuse for dumb jocks to drink alcohol and break their athletic sobriety" I rolled my eyes, "Do you guys just remember everything I say?" Nick nodded his head yes and crossed his arms. I look straight at Nick, "Maybe this summer things can be different" Nick shook his head, "You're not going Charlie. Stay here! The moms are setting everything up for board game night and Tori needs company." I laughed, they must think I'm stupid. I know I almost always stay with the moms and Tori but why are they treating me like a little kid? Olly was going and he's younger than me. It was ridiculous. "Whatever. You guys are just dicks" I said as I put my last T-shirt away and glared at them. Tao scratched his head and looked at Nick, "One bonfire won't hurt him" Nick looked at Tao almost scared and pulled Tao out of the bedroom. I was left there all alone. Nick definitely just sees me as some little brother. I pulled out my phone and called Elle. She always knew what to do. She picked up right away, "Hey Charlie!! How is it?" She was putting products on her hair on the facetime call. I sighed and placed my phone on the white rusted dresser. "Terrible! I'm trying so hard! I want to be more out there this summer you know? I was going to go to the beach bonfire but Nick and Tao-" Elle cut him off, "Don't you worry about Tao. I'm his girlfriend give me like 10 minutes okay? You are going to that bonfire. You will be with Nick Nelson in no time. You understand me?" I laughed and nodded. She hung up the phone and not even 2 minutes later I received a text from Tao.
Tao
Tao: You can go to the bonfire.
Tao: Just stay away from any athletes okay? They're all shit Charlie. They're gonna say weird shit to you. Just stay with me and Olly. Okay?
Charlie: oh so i can go but i have to stand behind you like some little kid? i don't care what people say about me!
Tao: The people on the Rugby team are massive homophobes Charlie! Nick is scared that they'll scare you away.
Charlie: Nick doesn't get a say in anything. i can handle it i promise.
Tao: Okay, we're leaving soon hurry up.