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“He did what?” Tori asked.
“He carried me in bridal style, ran into the ocean and screamed “You’re my boyfriend! I’m your boyfriend! We’re boyfriends!” Charlie said with a dreamy smile.
“Yeah, I heard that part, but I still can’t believe it’s actually true,” she said blankly.
“It is,” Charlie replied without missing a beat.
They were sitting on the floor in Tori’s room, far away from their parents' ears. It was almost 10 pm. Charlie had come back from his date with Nick some time ago and couldn’t wait to tell Tori everything that happened as soon as possible.
“That’s the sappiest thing I’ve ever heard,” she said, taking her lemonade glass and drinking it through the straw.
“Maybe,” Charlie shrugged. “But I think it was romantic,” he added with a cheerful smile. He didn’t even try to hide his excitement.
“Of course you do,” she sighed. “But I’m glad to hear it, Nick seems like a really good guy. And you deserve to be happy.” She took a sip again. “Because you are happy, aren’t you?” she asked after a moment.
“Yes, I am,” he beamed. “I really, really am.”
Tori smiled, “I have good feelings about all this,” she said. She was so relieved to see her brother happy again - no one deserved it more than him.
“Me too,” Charlie replied. He couldn’t stop smiling. He knew he must be grinning like an idiot, but he couldn’t care less. He had the most wonderful boyfriend in the whole world and now everything would be amazing; his heart was bursting with happiness.
Maybe it was naive to dream about his future with Nick already, but Charlie was strangely calm and optimistic about it. He knew they would encounter some issues eventually, but he also knew that with Nick by his side, they could face anything as long as they were together - he never felt so sure about something before.
He looked at Tori and knew she was happy for him too, even if she tried to play it cool. They understood each other without words.
~ Ten years later
Nick was nervous.
He’d dreamed about this day for years. From the moment he’d asked Charlie to marry him. No, from the moment they’d moved in together. No… To be completely honest, he dreamed about marrying Charlie from the moment they became boyfriends, and this day had finally come. He knew how sappy it sounded but he didn’t care - he wanted nothing more than to call Charlie his husband.
Logically he knew it didn’t really change anything, but for his big, soft heart it changed everything. Everything he’d ever wanted would become a reality in less than an hour.
Nick was standing in front of the mirror and tried to fix his tie with slightly shaking hands. He was excited but also nervous; he wanted this day to be perfect. Suddenly he heard a soft knock.
“Who’s there?” he asked. Otis, Sai, and Christian had left his room just a few minutes earlier and he didn’t expect anyone else.
“It’s me,” Tori’s face appeared through the open door. “Can I come in for a minute?”
“Sure,” Nick replied. He was a little surprised to be honest. He’d always had a good relationship with Tori and he knew he could trust her, but he was always a little intimidated by her, even after all these years.
“I was in Charlie’s room, Elle is helping him get ready,” she said and closed the door. “He’s so excited he can barely sit still. He keeps saying that his hair will be a disaster,” she said with a smirk.
“I’m sure it’s not that bad. Besides, his hair always looks good,” Nick smiled to himself.
“It looks the same,” she stated.
“What?”
“It always looks the same.” She shrugged, stood next to Nick and looked at him in the mirror. “So, I just wanted to check on you. How are you feeling?”
“I’m excited, I can’t wait to marry him.” He smiled the biggest smile ever.
“Charlie said the same. God, I can’t believe what big saps you both are,” she said and rolled her eyes playfully.
“Yeah. I’m so lucky,” he whispered and shook his head in disbelief.
“You both are,” she said.
“You think so?”
“Of course,” Tori smiled. “Are you nervous?” she asked carefully.
“A little,” Nick admitted. “I guess I’m just disappointed that my brother is not here,” he said and pretended to be busy with his tie again.
He’d talked about it with Charlie many times and they eventually decided to invite David, but he didn’t come, and didn’t even bother to notify them. Nick tried to not care, but deep in his heart he couldn’t help but feel sad and disappointed.
“That prick,” Tori murmured with anger in her voice and Nick snorted. She always knew how to cheer him up.
“Try not to think about him right now, he doesn’t deserve you. Besides,” she added softly, taking his tie and fixing it quickly for him, “he might not be here now, but your sister is,” she smiled, “and there’s no place she’d rather be,” she finished and patted his arm lightly.
Nick looked into Tori’s eyes, surprised. They’d never called each other brother and sister before. They saw each other frequently and were quite close, but some things had remained unsaid between them through the years. Nick took a deep breath and blinked away the tears forming in his eyes.
“I always wanted to have a sister,” he whispered shyly.
She took his hand and squeezed it. “You’re a good person, Nick," she said firmly. "I always knew it, and everyone here knows it, too. Fuck the rest.” Nick laughed. Tori was right, he should focus on Charlie and their big day now.
“I don’t have a lot of experience when it comes to marriage,” she added with a smirk, “but I’m sure there’s nothing to be scared of. You two are perfect for each other. You’ll be disgustingly happy and that’s all that matters.”
“Thanks, Tori,” Nick replied and squeezed her hand back. “For everything.”
“Sure,” she said, turning around and making a step towards the door, but after a second she turned back to Nick and wrapped her arms around his neck. She was much shorter than him so she had to pull herself up onto her tiptoes.
“Take care of him, Nick,” she whispered to his ear and hugged him tighter.
“I will,” he whispered back with a trembling voice. “I promise.” Only Tori could make him this emotional with only a few words.
“Thank you,” she said, took a step back and looked him in the eyes. “If you ever mention this to anyone…”
“I know,” Nick smiled and pretended to zip his lips and throw the key away.
“Good. I need to take care of my reputation, you know?” Tori said seriously and opened the door. Nick turned back to the mirror and took a deep breath.
“Hey Nick?” Tori called and he looked at her, surprised that she was still there.
“Good luck,” she said and disappeared behind the door.
Nick shook his head and smiled to himself. She really acted like a ghost sometimes.
He wasn’t nervous anymore. He knew he’d do everything he could to make every day of his and Charlie’s lives as happy as possible.
And not only because he was slightly scared of Tori’s reaction if he wouldn’t.
“I now pronounce you husbands!”
Everyone cheered and started clapping when Nick cupped Charlie’s face and kissed him senseless. They did it. They were married. Another beautiful chapter of their life together has just begun.
After a few blissful moments, they looked at each other, wiped tears from each other’s cheeks and whispered “I love you” like they were the only people in the world, in their little love bubble.
They held hands and caught Tori’s gaze. Her eyes were sparkling with joy and pride and she was grinning from ear to ear - a very rare sight.
She hated public affection, big gatherings and weddings in general. Normally she would roll her eyes and try to escape as soon as possible… but not this time.
This time was different: it was about two people who were so dear to her heart and they deserved their happy ending. She couldn’t be more thrilled for them, they looked so fulfilled and impossibly elated.
“Well done,” she said and Nick and Charlie started laughing.
She was the happiest sister ever, she didn’t want to hide it. Turned out she didn’t care about her reputation that much, after all.