Work Text:
Charlie: nick come back
Nick: Char I’ve been on the train for half an hour
Charlie: but now i have no friends here :(
Nick: Don’t worry you’ll meet people!!
Nick: Also wait did you just friendzone me
Charlie: no, but can i confess something?
Nick: Wait are you actually breaking up with me? If you are, this is a terrible way to do it. I’ll never forgive you
Charlie: NO you numpty. ok but anyway. basically i’m scared of starting over and getting people to like me ugh
Nick: Oh Char :( Now you’re making me want to turn this train around. But you’ll be okay!! Uni is so different than secondary, you will meet so many people like you, and who will like you, trust me. Need I remind you about the absolute disaster that was my first day last year? Like, as long as your queer flatmate doesn’t get the shock of their life after finding out that you’re also queer and proceed to try to get you pissed and make out with you even though you’ve mentioned your boyfriend 6000 times then you should be fine.
Charlie: ok i know you said that to make me feel better but it isn’t helping. that was a really stressful few hours
Nick: Okay I’m sorry :( Have your flatmates come yet?
Charlie: no
Nick: Oh, I thought the rest were coming by 4, you’d mentioned that a few weeks ago when you got the accommodation for the earlier move-in time
Charlie: huh, strange. maybe they’re late
Nick: …Charles Spring are you telling me the truth
Charlie: yes nicholas nelson, apple of my eye, light of my life
Nick: You should’ve called me an idiot it would’ve made it more believable
Charlie: yes, idiot
Nick: Nice save, bucko
Charlie: bucko? wtf. you’ve been watching too much marvel again
Nick: When do they say bucko???
Charlie: idk but whoever chris pratt is playing definitely does
Nick: CHARLIE you’re distracting me. Why didn’t you want me to know that your flatmates came already?
Charlie: ugh why do you have to remember everything i tell you. curse your active listening (i love it please never stop). but yeah, caught. it’s bc i’m scared
Nick: CHARLIE SPRING. FORMER HEAD BOY. DRUMMER OF QUEER INTENTIONS. I don’t think you’re capable of being scared anymore. I don’t buy it. Go
Charlie: fine. i’ll update you. talk to you later, bucko
Nick: Speak soon, apple of my eye, light of my life
******* 2 hours later ********
Nick: Hey Char, just got back to Leeds. How are things?
Charlie: hey google why isn’t weed legal in the UK
Nick: CHARLIE WHAT
Charlie: long story short one of my flatmates gemma has medical weed for her anxiety. and guess who was intrigued because he has anxiety
Nick: CHARLES FRANCIS SPRING are you telling me you’re high while i’m not there?? BETRAYAL
Charlie: god it feels like someone is using a head massager on me but there’s no one actually there. this is amazing
Nick: Glad to hear it. I know this is your first time so are you feeling okay? Do you need anything?
Charlie: first time? nicholas what are you talking about we’ve been having sex for 2 years
Nick: Oh Char. I mean first time getting high, darling. How much have you had?
Charlie: 3 hits? or 4? i definitely did the first one wrong so i’d say 3. also feeling a bit insane, but in a good way
Nick: How so??? Are you okay?
Charlie: babe i’m fine. i just mean that i ate half a bag of the family sized monster munch olly gave me which never happens. you know i’m not a snacker. is this what normal people feel like? LIKE CAN WEED CURE MY ANXIETY AND ED WHAT IS THIS MIRACLE DRUG
* ring ring ring *
“Hey Char? Are you sure you’re okay?” Nick asked.
“Oh my god you sound so sexy over the phone,” Charlie growled. “Do you always sound like this? I’m okay. Gemma’s okay too. Say hi Gemma!!!”
Charlie put the phone on speaker. Then, Gemma exclaimed, “Hi Gemma, I’m also Gemma!”
“NO IT’S NICK,” Charlie yelled. “Nick is my lovely boyfriend who I told you about that is currently in Leeds. Nick, introduce yourself.”
Nick laughed. “Hi Gemma, I’m Nick. I left a few hours ago after helping him move in but would’ve loved to meet you in person. I just called to check up on him!”
“Oh that’s so sweet. Charlie’s told me this is his first time smoking, so don’t worry, I’m a self-proclaimed stoner and your boy is in good hands. I made sure he didn’t have any more than four and that he’s well-hydrated and fed, and if he needs to, he can sleep it off. We didn’t really have much planned for tonight because of all the welcome events tomorrow.”
Nick wanted to sigh with relief because she seemed sensible. “Okay great, thank you! Char do you want me to stay on or hang up?”
Charlie took him off speaker. “You can go, but I might call you later if you’re around. I miss your face and you sound so hot… like are you sure you’re not deepening your voice or something?”
Nick chuckled. “I’m very flattered, but no I’m not doing anything. And yes, please keep blowing up my phone.”
“Wish I wasn’t blowing your phone but you instead,” Charlie whispered.
Nick’s breath stuttered. “For fuck’s sake, is your flatmate is still next to you? Normally I’d applaud your wit, but way to make a first impression Char.”
“No, she went into the kitchen. I don’t know if I’m quite ready to scare her off yet with my gay freakiness.”
“I happen to love your gay freakiness. Now go enjoy yourself. I love you, you numpty.”
“I love you too sexy man with the sexy voice. Okay bye.”
***** 2 hours later ******
Charlie: now that i know how horny weed makes you on top of everything else i’m wondering why you’re not in my bed rn. and i’m not even that high anymore
Nick: I will literally book the first train I’m not even joking. I don’t need to attend the first rugby practices or classes of my second year IT’S NOT THAT IMPORTANT
Charlie: gonna tell your mum you’re wasting your education to spend time with your stoner boyfriend
Nick: STONER boyfriend you say… the boy smokes weed once and all of a sudden
Charlie: LOL in all seriousness i probably won’t do it often and i’m honestly surprised i did it tonight tbh
Nick: Why did you then? Of course not judging you or anything just curious
Charlie: well i know you don’t really get high or anything because of the rugby drug tests, and i know there’s been offers at some of the parties i went to w you, but the idea of getting high for the first time in front of SO MANY strangers is terrifying. and i would’ve probably only done it if you were too. when gemma told me it helps with her anxiety but said it might not be for everyone, i felt safe and she seems dependable. and a lot of her personal experiences seemed similar to mine. and i knew that i was at my flat so if i had a meltdown i could just go to bed. maybe not the smartest idea but it felt like enough to try it.
Nick: That makes sense! I’m glad she made you feel safe, that’s huge. Okay wait now I have to ask, what does it feel like?
Charlie: Definitely different from alcohol because I'm more drowsy than excitable. I think getting drunk helps my anxiety because I get hyper and extroverted but weed seems to help it in a way where like the buzzing in my brain just stops. Like somehow I forget about the things that are stressing me out. And it makes you sluggish and relaxes you, probably explaining the libido.
Nick: Once I'm not bound by the rugby gods I'd be down to try it w you tbh. You make a good pitch. How are your other flatmates?
Charlie: join the dark side lol. i haven’t seen too much of them but they seem nice. one guy, alex, is out with his family right now so he only stopped by to drop some stuff off. and the other girl olivia has a boyfriend who’s a year above us here that she’s staying with tonight. if only my boyfriend who’s a year above us was here…
Nick: CHARLIE YOU’RE KILLING ME. I WILL CRAWL ON MY HANDS AND KNEES
Charlie: I KNOW i know you would but i’m kidding. and you were right earlier, meeting my flatmates helped. also i should get ready for bed because of welcome day tomorrow
Nick: Yes yes you had a big day today. And a BIGGER day tomorrow
Charlie: I miss doing big days with you :( Okay sorry I’m being clingy and annoying
Nick: Stop that, never clingy and never annoying. You’ll have so much fun tomorrow and I’m so excited to hear about it. So excited for the good people of UCL to meet my mysterious and sexy boyfriend, who is now a stoner
Charlie: LOL NICK. goodnight i love you boyfriend who goes to another school, willing to crawl 300 kilometres to come back to me, exhibiting hozier levels of pining
Nick: Goodnight I love you boyfriend who is now a Londoner and a dopehead. Can’t wait to watch you take over the world
🍂❤️