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If someone were to tell Charlie Spring 8 months ago, that he would be here on a train on his way to meet his long-distance boyfriend for the very first time, he would shake his head and laugh at just how idiotic that sounds. But here he was, face pressed against the cold window pane as the landscape flew by outside.
Meeting Nick was purely by accident, all they had was a shared connection over a webcomic and that was enough to blossom into an incredible friendship and eventually an even better relationship.
Despite Nick and Charlie having come from the same hometown, with Nick off at University the two had never had the opportunity to meet, until now.
Charlie was determined to make this the best Christmas Nick had ever had. So he came up with a plan, stemming from an offhand comment Nick had once made about how he always wanted to be kissed under a cluster of mistletoe.
Charlie's plan was straightforward: convince his dad to let him stay at Tao's for four days of winter break and catch a train to surprise Nick. To distract Nick, Charlie casually brought up "Cherry Crush" during a call, triggering a lively, one-sided discussion. Nick's hyperfocus on the topic allowed Charlie to slip into a doze, the excitement in Nick's voice was enough to calm his nerves.
If Charlie was one thing, it was luck. Never did he think he would find someone who would love him for who he is, let alone be just the same as him.
As stupid as it sounds, Nicholas Nelson is the love of his life.
He spent months waiting for Nick to get bored of him, or worse, he might get bored of Nick, but it never happened. Every time Nick opened his mouth Charlie always found himself surprised by what topic Nick would settle on. Kinda like when Nick decided their song should be “Anything, Anywhere” by Noah Kahan instead of some cute love song.
———
3 weeks ago
“Nick, that is fucking disgusting,” Charlie says, his phone propped up on his bedside table as he watches Nick type on his computer.
“It is not disgusting! It’s meaningful.” Nick defends, his concentrated face immediately changing when he looks at his phone to see Charlie curled up in his hoodie he sent Charlie a few days earlier.
“You're joking, ‘I wanna love you till we're food for the worms to eat.’ That is not meaningful, and it is definitely not going to be our song. Why can't we have a cute song? What about Paper Rings?”
“Everyone says Paper Rings is their song. We cannot be that basic, we need something unique.”
“That is not unique, it’s gross, isn't the next line about bodies decaying?” Charlie's nose scrunches in that cute little way that Nick loves more than anything.
“Pfft, he uses the term decompose.”
“Nick, that is not any better.” Nick just shrugs, smiling at Charlie.
“Hush sleepyhead, trust me, you will realize in the morning just how right I am.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you love me.” Nick’s adorable grin is the last thing he remembers before drifting off to sleep. But when he wakes the next morning, his feelings for the song have not changed at all.
———
Startled by the overhead announcement declaring the last stop before Leeds, Charlie's eyes snap open. A quick check of his phone reveals that Nick had left the call. However any underlying concern as to why is immediately gone as soon as he unlocks his phone to see two new messages from Nick.
[8:52, Nick🐕] hey sleepy head, my mum
called so i had to hang up, but i love you
so much 🩵
[8:53, Nick 🐕] by the way, you have the
cutest snore
[9:29, Charlie 🐈⬛] nicholas, i do not snore!
He smiled at his phone as he made his way off the train and out of the station, following his Google Maps till he was standing outside Nick’s dorm room.
This was it.
The moment he waited for for months was finally here, he was finally going to meet Nick for the first time.
As beads of nervous sweat dotted his forehead, he hesitated outside the door, his hand frozen in mid-air.
I should just leave. What if Nick isn’t excited? No, he's gonna be so excited. I’ve got this.
He quickly wipes his clammy palms on his pant legs for what feels like the hundredth time, he takes a deep breath and musters the courage to knock.
There was a pause when the world went silent, the only sound was the loud beating of his heart.
Seconds felt like hours before the lock clicked, and the door creaked open to reveal Nick, standing there in all his tangible glory.
You can talk to someone for months on the phone, hearing their voice, seeing their face through a screen, but actually seeing Nick in real life. It’s unreal.
Nick was way taller than he was expecting and definitely more handsome than any screen could possibly show.
"Charlie," Nick uttered softly, his eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and delight.
With a beaming smile that threatened to split his face, Charlie says, "Surprise!"
The moments that followed felt suspended in time. Nick's eyes were locked on Charlie, looking him up and down, registering the unexpected reality. "I cannot believe you’re actually here!" Nick exclaimed, seizing Charlie by the waist and drawing him into an embrace that felt like coming home after a long journey. They stood entwined, smiles never fading, basking in the sheer joy of the moment.
As Nick finally pulled away, the intensity in his gaze spoke volumes. "You're really here. I can see you and touch you and smell you. God, you smell so good," Nick murmured, his disbelief echoing in those words. Any remnants of Charlie's nervousness evaporated as he playfully lifted the mistletoe above them, his eyes locked with Nick's.
"Oh!" Nick laughed, his fingers cradling Charlie's face as he initiated a kiss that sent electric sparks coursing through both of them. In that stolen moment under the mistletoe, surrounded by the warmth of their shared laughter, Charlie knew he had just stepped into what would undoubtedly become the happiest chapter of his life.