Work Text:
🍂🍂
From somewhere close, something beeps. And beeps. Beeps again.
Nick stirs, but his brain's pounding against his skull along the beat of his heart so he tries to ignore the outside world a little longer. He almost succeeds and -
It beeps again.
Nick blinks. What is going on? Is it coming from his phone? It sounds different than he remembers, most likely because he usually has his phone on silent. He rubs his temples in what he hopes are soothing circles, the pressure of his thumbs strong. Probably just a menacing Darcy messing with the settings again, he assumes, still half-asleep and pretty hung-over.
It beeps. Multiple times.
With a zombie-like groan, Nick tries to locate the offending device to silence its relentless noise but when his patting hand can’t find the hard object in the pile of fluffy blankets, he lifts his head – and regrets it instantly.
Grimacing, all he can think is do not throw up do not throw up do not throw up do not throw up…
Finally, his head stops spinning and he dares to open his eyes to let his gaze expand a little further. He’s slightly surprised to find his phone on his nightstand, plugged in. It’s quite new, the battery’s still fully reliable and Nick’s a hundred percent sure it was fully charged when he had left his flat last night. So what on earth had he done with it??
No more alcohol for the foreseeable future, he scolds himself half-heartedly while he’s trying to remember last night’s shenanigans, laying back down again and closing his eyes for better concentration. He went to a party in Sheffield – that one he’s sure about, as his best friend Tara had nagged him to join her and her girlfriend Darcy for weeks. He remembers drinks, many of them. He remembers his slight apprehension about putting his phone in a box when entering the place, but Darcy had kept insisting that he could enjoy the party much better without any distraction. And if his friend is one thing, it’s being persuasive to the point of threatening. Very distantly, he remembers fairy lights reflecting in blue eyes, curly hair dancing gently with each movement, dimples deepening when full lips were pulled into a gorgeous smile and a soothingly deep voice - but there’s no actual face and it all just starts to blur back into a dizzying alcohol-induced fog.
Nick opens his eyes and takes in his surroundings. He’s in his room, at least there’s that. He’s still wearing yesterday’s clothes, something he can feel, see and smell. But he didn’t forget to take his phone with him when he left the party, so either he wasn’t as drunk as he now feels or he had help. Blue eyes, gorgeous smile, dimples. Nick blinks, who is this person his mind keeps feeding him snippets of?
His phone beeps.
Slowly, Nick reaches out to get a hold of it to finally silence the offensive sounds it’s making. It feels slightly different in his hands but he can’t quite pinpoint why; the rubbery sensation against his skin is the same. He squints at the screen and is more confused than concerned upon seeing the picture of a young woman with striking blue eyes and straight black hair framing a face that’s scowling at him. What the fuck happened with his phone last night? Where are his dogs that usually greet him?
A string of text notifications awaits him and he assumes the rugby group chat is sending obnoxious memes again. It’s then that his mind registers something unusual: it's an unknown number trying to reach him. It takes him way too long to figure out why the digits seem so familiar before it suddenly hits him.
It’s his number. With a jolt, Nick sits up and is so surprised, even the urge to vomit takes a backseat.
How on earth is this possible?? Did he get hacked? Is he about to get blackmailed? He knew it was a bad idea to leave his phone with literal strangers! How can he -
It beeps again. And again, a whole set of notifications flashing over the screen. Nick tries to focus on the words in front of him even though he’s really scared of what’s awaiting him.
<unknown>
please i really need you to message my sister or she’ll call the police!
umm okay that sounded way too dramatic sorry!
not because she thinks it got stolen but because she’ll think i got murdered
(long story, sounds more adventurous than it is, she just worries)
ah for a little more context my sister is the woman probably glaring at you right now
What the fuck? Nick’s heart rate starts speeding up for a few seconds as his gaze darts around the room looking for a woman staring at him. When he sees nothing more than his usual mess, he feels his cheeks warm upon the realisation that this person is talking about the dark-haired woman from the phone in his hands. Jesus, absolutely no alcohol for the foreseeable future.
He tries clicking on the message thread and is met with the keypad asking for his code. Huh? His confusion derails his brain from the tracks of logical thinking again because all he can think is I don't use a code, so who the fuck set one up on my phone, it must've been Darcy, so what numbers could they've chosen, probably 69 but what else, what do I do now -
Nick almost misses the new message swooshing in from above.
<unknown>
072704 is the code
Nick’s eyes widen – whoever this is, they seem to be a mind reader!
<unknown>
AGAIN
but i know you need it so i’ll just keep repeating it until your majesty decides to wake up
..or just not as dumb as I am, Nick chuckles to himself, his whole upper body now flushed in embarrassment.
He pushes in the numbers and is greeted with a slew of messages. He scrolls and scrolls, the snippets of conversation he catches going from stressed out to amused the longer Nick swipes his thumb downwards.
<unknown>
hi!
maybe you realised already we must’ve switched phones at the party last night
it’s really not advised to NOT have a password
helps me right now tho
cute dogs you have on your screen btw!
😉
072704 is the code to my phone
okay you’re probably still sleeping
i hope i actually left it on loud last night so my messages wake you up
i should probably try calling you but i hate phone calls
please don’t make me call you
but i need you to wake up soon PLEASE
because i’ll be late to meet my sister for breakfast because of stupid road works
or more accurate i’m late since the moment i woke up, i had to leave in a hurry
would’ve probably realised this whole wrong phone-thingy way earlier otherwise
anyway
my sister doesn’t like me being late
and i can’t for the life of me remember a single phone number right now
no more alcohol for the foreseeable future!
Nick snorts, at least they have something in common.
<unknown>
could you please wake up now?
hi!
hello!
hola!
bonjour!
hallo!
umm
that’s all i know
i could google more but it feels invasive to do that on your phone
i mean i'm intrigued to see your search history ngl
👀
just kidding
you don’t look at mine and i won’t look at yours
❌👀❌
Now Nick laughs out loud. What a dork. But, fair point, search histories are between user and god only.
<unknown>
fuck, you must be a hell of a good sleeper
or i left my phone on silent after all
i'm so tempted to go to your pictures and see what you look like
does THAT finally get your attention?
what would i find? 👀
i won’t tho
not yet anyway
honestly i don’t even know your name
i didn’t snoop at all i promise!
not yet anyway 😉
please
wake
up
its
getting
late
sleeping beauty
i’m impressed if not slightly annoyed
okay my code again: 072704
please i really need you to message my sister or she’ll call the police!
umm okay that sounded way too dramatic sorry!
not because she thinks it got stolen but because she’ll think i got murdered
(long story, sounds more adventurous than it is, she just worries)
ah for a little more context my sister is the woman probably glaring at you right now
072704 is the code
AGAIN
but i know you need it so i’ll just keep repeating it until your majesty decides to wake up
SORRY!!!!
I just woke up
And then I was so fucking confused what was wrong with my phone
Must’ve been a hell of a party
I’m so hung over 😭😭
I needed some time to catch up with your messages, sorry!
But I'm here now, as awake as possible
<unknown>
HI
FINALLY
OH MY GOD
sorry
please tell me your secret for being able to sleep through all of my messages
but first i need you to message my sister and tell her what happened
please
PLEASE
Of course
What’s her name?
I mean how do I find her in your phone?
<unknown>
ah shit of course
she's saved as sunshine
Based on your lockscreen I’m slightly surprised 🤭
<unknown>
ah well
only did that to annoy her
we love each other don’t get me wrong!
but
🤷🏻♂️
I only know the *🤷🏻♂️* part of your message
Saved my brother as pain in the ass
And I mean the bad kind and not the good kind
Anyway give me a minute
<unknown>
o-kay 👀🤭
thank you!!
Nick’s skin warms. What a way to overshare. What is wrong with me today? He groans and runs his free hand over his face; at least the other person seems to take it in their stride.
His smile returns when he searches for the name in the person's contacts and sees the profile pic saved for 'sunshine'. It’s of her face, sporting another glare, this one so pointed that a chill runs down Nick’s spine, causing him to suck in a breath and chuckle awkwardly. What the hell, he doesn’t even know her.
So this might sound strange but your
Nick pauses to think back. Does he know if it’s sunshine’s brother or sister he’s messaging? He switches chats.
Umm sorry can I know what your pronouns are? I was about to message your sister but didn’t know how to address you and ‘your sibling’ probably sounds ominous…
<unknown>
sorry of course!
it’s he/him
my name’s charlie
Charlie. Why does that ring a bell?
Thank you Charlie!
Mine are also he/him to make this even
My name’s Nick
<unknown>
nick?
oh wait!
OMG!!!!
What?
<unknown>
oh
um
nevermind
Hm. Weird. But Nick shrugs it off for the time being and goes back to messaging sunshine.
Hi! This might sound strange but your brother Charlie and I accidentally mixed up phones at a party last night. He can’t remember your number and is stuck in traffic. You can contact him with my number: xxxx until he has his phone back.
Apparently you made plans to meet for breakfast and he doesn’t want you to call the police because he’s not getting murdered.
Re-reading this, Nick winces. He probably should’ve messaged her more like a normal person his age if he wants to gain her trust; the part about Charlie not getting murdered is hardly going to fill her with confidence.
Ok that sounded super weird 😬
Sorry!
It’s what he’s told me. Also that the last part’s a long story but he didn’t tell me more so I don’t know what it’s about
Oh and I’m Nick
God this is a mess. I’ll never drink alcohol ever again!
Sunshine
🤨
You are a weird guy Nick.
But it’s weirdly believable
I know what you meant even though you clearly don't.
Okay just checked if Charlie’s really Charlie
Turns out you really told the truth.
Guess you both were rather drunk last night?
My head feels like exploding
I can’t even remember getting home and I had to take a train ffs
No wonder I took the wrong phone
Oh fuck
I don’t even know where he lives!
Sunshine
Funny, he just said the same.
Like, exactly the same!
Weird shit.
🤨
Two peas in a pod two idiots one braincell soulmates you get the gist…
Nick’s face heats up as another bell goes off in the very back of his mind. He doesn’t know how to respond to that so he goes with the lamest of lame replies:
…
Sunshine
🙄🤷🏻♀️
Whatever.
Now go sort your shit out with my idiot of a brother
Nick snorts. Intriguing family.
Will do, enjoy breakfast!
Sunshine
🫡
He swipes back to his thread with Charlie.
Your sister told me to sort our shit out
<unknown>
i know
and she pointed out that I could have simply asked you to send me her number
sorry i didn't think of that!
Oh! True 😂
All good, didn't think of that either so
<unknown>
🤭🫱🏻🫲🏻
so i hope you don’t mind me asking but
where are you from?
Leeds.. you?
<unknown>
i’m from manchester
Somewhere in Nick’s mind, another bell goes off. Charlie, Manchester… He waits a few moments, hoping for the fog slowing down his brain to lift, but nothing comes to him so he gives up. He shakes his head and goes back to chatting with Charlie.
Could be worse!
<unknown>
well yes but i have no idea when i’ll be able to come to leeds… breakfast with my sister will be like my last time out and about for idontevenknowhowlong, exams are kicking my arse
but i don’t know, sending a phone via mail sounds like something we shouldn’t do ig 😬
Oh hell no we really shouldn’t
No worries I can come to Manchester!
<unknown>
oh, you sure?
Nick pauses, willing his brain to work. He is sure; in fact, he could even do it today.
...after some greasy breakfast and an aspirin or two.
I’m free, I could come by later today
<unknown>
oh WHAT?
i mean
that would be great but also i feel like i can’t ask you to do that
You’re not asking I’m offering
<unknown>
true
no but
no sorry
😉
<unknown>
😬
😂
oookay
i feel seen
🤭
Something warm spreads from Nick’s chest to his face and he doesn’t even bother to hide his smile. There’s something about Charlie that he can’t quite place but makes him happy nonetheless.
<unknown>
i’m so sorry but i have to go now
i finally made it to this place to meet my sister
could you text me when you plan to arrive in manchester?
i’ll come meet you at the train station
if it’s still okay with you ofc
Yes!
Of course! I mean it
<unknown>
THANK YOU in advance
you’re really kind
You’re welcome
Have fun with sunshine!
I’ll text you as soon as my brain’s able to comprehend timetables again
<unknown>
don’t be so hard on yourself
it was a good party
…as far as i remember it myself anyway
Another faint ringing in Nick’s mind gives him pause; he feels like he really really should remember something important. He groans in annoyance.
Seems like it I’d say
I need to get some food in me now too 🙃
Enjoy breakfast with your sister!
<unknown>
🫡
ttyl, bye!
Nick puts Charlie’s phone back on his nightstand and lets himself fall back on his bed gingerly. What the fuck happened last night? He needs to try and make sense of this mess, needs to know what his subconscious is trying to remind him of; it keeps bugging him too much. Charlie sounds oddly familiar, but he can't think of anyone he knows with that name.
They were at the same party last night, though, so maybe they met? Blue eyes, curly hair, dimples, full lips, Nick’s brain instantly supplies. Huh. If only there was a way to find out what Charlie looks like, Nick asks himself, wondering if that would maybe help his lousy memory. He could ask him for a picture? Under the disguise of ‘so I know who I’m supposed to be meeting’ maybe?
His palm meets his forehead in a rather painful gesture. Will my brain ever return to its full capacity? Exactly what is its full capacity anyway? He reaches out for Charlie’s phone but then pauses with his arm hanging mid-air.
Is he really about to do this? Or is this too invasive of Charlie’s privacy?
It probably is, I don’t know what pics he has saved in his phone. What if it’s dick pics? What if it’s candid pictures with his partner? What if it’s simply stuff he isn’t supposed to see?
Nick sighs, curiosity battling against his upbringing while he grabs Charlie’s phone almost unconsciously. He enters Charlie’s code, mumbling to himself that he’s not trying to be intrusive, just trying to solve a problem. Because he doesn’t click on a message like before, he’s met with Charlie’s wallpaper this time – and what he sees makes his heart rate pick up.
[gay panic] on a light-peach background is staring back at him.
Another fellow queer, he notes, feeling excited. Faced with this new information, he lets his nosiness win and clicks on Charlie’s gallery, half squinting at the screen in case he sees stuff he probably shouldn’t.
Deeming the blurred pics innocent enough, he dares to open his eyes fully and goes to ‘most recent’. He’s greeted with animals and nature and friend groups and family and books and some more nature. Nick can’t help but smile softly, this little glimpse into Charlie’s life tugs on Nick’s heart strings. His eyes dart around the screen as he starts scrolling and finally, his slow brain connects some dots - blue eyes, curly hair, full lips.
Charlie’s phone hits Nick’s chest but he doesn’t even really register it. Bit by bit, his foggy memory clears and he starts remembering the night before more vividly. The queer themed party, all the phones in a box, Tara and Darcy. Darcy and their drink-creations, each one stronger than the last. Meeting Tara’s friend Elle, being introduced to Elle’s friend Charlie, blue eyes, curly hair, dimples, full lips, soothing deep voice. Talking to Charlie for the rest of the night and never wanting to stop. Laughing, more drinks, retrieving the phone at the same time as Charlie. Being severely distracted upon seeing him so close, unable to keep himself from leaning down while Charlie tilted his head up. A soft press of lips, tingles all over his body. Laughing, sprinting to the train station together, parting ways with dorky waves and blown kisses. Falling asleep on the train to thoughts of Charlie.
Warmth spreads in his chest as wide as the smile growing on his face. Charlie. The other man's image is now crystal clear in Nick’s mind - he remembers sharing shy smiles and soft laughs when teased by Elle and Darcy, remembers a warm hand in his, remembers a glimpse of a toned stomach below a cropped t-shirt. Never in his 20 years of life had he felt such an instant connection and attraction or so at ease when talking to someone new.
Nick's smile grows dopey, he can feel it, though he doesn't care in the confines of his own room. He can't wait to talk to -
Shit. Nick gasps in horror - he didn’t ask for Charlie's number!
He whacks his forehead again to clear it from the lingering slowness; he’s in possession of Charlie's phone for fuck's sake, about to see him again! And he really needs to pull himself together if he doesn't want to make an absolute fool of himself in front of Charlie later today.
Suddenly, a chill spreads through his veins: what if Charlie doesn't remember him? What if his impression on Charlie wasn't as memorable as his on Nick? Maybe he was even more drunk than Nick? Or...
Oh.
Oh!
Oh no.
Nick picks up the abandoned phone and searches back in his chat with Charlie so fast, he almost scrolls past the messages he's looking for.
<unknown>
nick?
oh wait!
OMG!!!!
What?
<unknown>
oh
um
nevermind
Oh no for real. Charlie probably remembered him but assumed - halfway correctly, sadly - that Nick didn’t. Nick’s mind’s reeling and he frantically tries to come up with something, anything, to message Charlie and explain it. He feels nauseous all over again as he sits up in an attempt to get his brain into gear. He hates misunderstandings with a passion and this sounds like a bad one, but is just a delay. How can he make Charlie believe him without sounding like an ignorant moron?
Food, aspirin, water, though maybe not in that order.
He gets up and runs to the bathroom as fast as his dizzy head and sore body allows him to relieve himself. He then gathers the much needed meds before he makes it to the kitchen of the flat he shares with two of his friends.
“You’re alive?” Nick hears from his left and instead of reaching for a glass, his hand clutches the fabric over his chest to keep his heart from leaping out of it in shock.
“Otis, what the fuck?”
A shit-eating grin is his only answer, but at least his friend nudges a half-full plate with scrambled eggs, bacon and toast towards him.
“Sit down and eat something, mate. Didn’t know you could squeal that high.”
“Shut up,” Nick mutters as he takes a seat opposite his friend and digs in. Otis gets up, fills a glass of water and puts it in front of Nick, his left eyebrow raised high, prompting.
Nick remembers the pill in his hand and swallows it down with the help of the offered beverage.
“Thanks,” he says around another mouth full of food, “I really owe you.”
“No problem, you’ve done the same for me often enough. So, how’s Charlie?”
Nick almost chokes on a piece of toast.
“What?”
Otis smirks. “You wouldn’t shut up about him when you came home last night. Blue eyes this, the lushest curls that, oh and Otis, he has dimples! And his lips, I want to taste his lips again so badly!” Otis' pretty accurate Nick-voice impresses him, his flailing hands and fluttering eyelids not so much. “Then your tale turned slightly R-rated. Figured you got his number and already fixed a date to bang.”
“Otis!” Nick blushes, scowls and groans as he shoves away his plate and lets his head drop down onto the vacated plastic of their cheap table.
“You didn’t?” The surprise in his friend’s voice causes Nick to tilt his head so he can look at him again.
“Worse. Or better? I don’t know, I’m so fucked.”
“O-kay. That didn’t make any sense, like, at all. Wanna try again?”
Nick straightens in his seat and fiddles with his hands in his lap. “We didn’t exchange numbers but apparently accidentally swapped phones at this party last night.”
“...the fuck?” Otis cackles and shakes his head. “Such a Nick thing to do. So, you get a redo? You already talked to him?”
Nick pouts, then sucks in his lower lip and averts his gaze to the one scratch on the table’s surface that always catches his eye.
“What?” Otis asks.
“We did message but… I didn’t remember him. Not right away anyway. I only did when he had already left to meet his sister.”
“Nick, ohmygod! You were obsessed with him last night, how could you forget him?? What happened?”
“Hangover? Super slow brain-day? Stupidity? I mean, I remember now, but it’s too late and now Charlie probably thinks I’m an ignorant idiot.”
“Well-”
“I know. Can’t blame him.” Nick gives in and lets his forehead meet the table again as dramatically as possible. The pain is almost soothing.
“How long did it take you to remember? I’m sure there’s still time to save things, you just-”
“I only really remembered after I snooped around in his gallery.”
Otis starts laughing, a full belly laugh, and Nick’s sits back up to glare at him once again. But it doesn’t last long. Instead he joins Otis, unable to hold in his own laughter any longer. It is a ridiculous story, if he allows himself to really think about it.
“Oh Nicky-boy. I can’t wait to tell Darcy! They’ll lose their shit!”
“Ha. Ha. Please do, can’t wait.” Nick reaches for his plate and fork again and picks at pieces of egg.
Otis raises his hands in a ‘I’m sorry’ gesture while his smile remains anything but.
“I’m sure you’ll find a way to explain it to him and still keep your dignity intact. I can always testify how smitten you were with him last night, no problem. Or, even better, I can reenact the whole scene!” Otis stops to think, tapping his fingers against his stubbly chin. Then he winks at Nick, obnoxiously exaggerated. “Forget the part about your dignity if it comes to that. I should’ve filmed you, shit was gold!”
Nick rolls his eyes but the effect is slightly lessened by the grin twisting his lips. Otis just wiggles his eyebrows in response.
“So, what will you message him?”
Nick’s smile drops along with his fork.
“I don’t know! I tried to come up with something that wouldn’t sound like the lamest excuse known to mankind but then I figured I need food and meds to get my brain to properly function, so… I still don’t know. I don’t want to fuck this up, I really want to see where this could go. I liked spending time with Charlie so much! I like him so much.”
“Yeah, so I’ve heard,” Otis snickers. “Believe me, I’ve never seen you like this in all the years knowing you!”
Warmth spreads in Nick’s chest and his heart grows ten times its size as he thinks of Charlie. Charlie, gorgeous, witty, interesting, funny Charlie.
The telltale sound of a phone taking a picture pulls Nick out of his daydreaming. He sees eyebrows high on a forehead and lips pulled into a wide grin, the rest of his friend’s face hidden behind the device. He flips Otis off.
“Christ, your smile,” Otis laughs, still staring at his phone. “Can’t wait to meet the guy who turned you into this.” Otis looks back up and waves in the general direction of Nick’s face with a wildly flailing hand. Nick wants to scowl but can’t with his own smile still in place. He really wants to meet Charlie too.
“Then help me please!”
“Well, what about being honest? I guess he saw how much you drank last night, so he knows you’re not lying. And I’m sure he snooped around on your phone, too. That’s like, completely normal human behaviour, everyone would do that. Hands off his search history I’d say, but everything else is fair game.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
Still not fully convinced, Nick starts eating again and slowly but surely starts to feel better.
🍂🍂
So. I guess you’re still with sunshine but I need to tell you something. I’m sorry I didn’t remember you straight away 💙 It rang a bell when you said your name’s Charlie and mentioned Manchester, but I was still too hung-over to make sense of it. The whole wrong phone accident took up way too much space in my brain I guess. When we said goodbye earlier I was curious to know what you look like so I checked your gallery... I’m really sorry!!! I hope you’re not mad at me for doing that. I swear I didn’t see anything inappropriate! You can do that with my phone too even though it’s mostly dogs and rugby so not that interesting. Anyway, it took me very little time to recognise you and suddenly I remembered the whole evening and, well, YOU, as in Charlie-you. Actually no, it’s not entirely true. I did remember you before I saw your picture!!! I woke up with you on my mind but I didn’t know it was *you* you. And my roommate just told me I didn’t shut up about you in general but especially your blue eyes and curly hair and dimples when I came home last night, so there’s that too.
Nick reads back what he just sent.
WTH sorry that was confusing af 💀
I’m just sorry you thought I didn’t remember you
I do
A bit hazy earlier, now very clear
I liked talking to you so much!
Nick pauses. Should he? Fuck it.
I like *you* so much
I’m so glad we met last night
And I’m actually glad we mixed up phones because I didn’t ask for your number!
It’s like another chance
Fate or whatever
Fate? What the fuck, way to go over the top! He inhales deeply, reaches for his laptop and opens the British Railway website.
ANYWAY
I just checked connections (not on your phone I swear!) I could be in Manchester at 2.52pm
Would that work for you?
Okay I’ll stop blowing up your phone now 😬
Looking forward to meeting you again Charlie!
Nick stares at not-his phone, willing Charlie to see the messages but it remains quiet and his messages unread. After many moments, he puts it down and gets up from where he was sitting on his bed. Standing in front of his dresser, he freezes, suddenly nervous about meeting Charlie again. If Charlie remembers him the way he now remembers Charlie, will it be more than a short re-swap of phones? Could Nick maybe turn this into a date, get to know Charlie better without any alcohol clouding his brain? Maybe even get to kiss him again? And what should he wear?
He ends up calling Tara from Otis’ phone. His best friend always knows.
🍂🍂
Stumbling out of the shower quicker than probably advised in his still somewhat fragile state, Nick almost falls over his feet in his hurry to reach for the incessantly beeping phone. It’s new messages from Charlie, many of them, and Nick’s heart almost leaps out of his chest in anticipation.
He inhales, squeezes his eyes shut while he holds his breath, opens his eyes, lifts the phone and exhales so forcefully, it fogs up the screen.
Charlie-for-now-but-Nick-soon
oh wow
💛
thank you for telling me all of this!
confession:
i checked your pics too. my sister wanted to see why i wouldn’t shut up about you
believe me I saw your rugby pics….
… SO not boring!
👀🥵
ANYWAY
ngl i was a bit crushed that you didn’t remember me immediately
figured/hoped you would when we meet again
but this is better 😊
i don’t actually remember every detail we talked about either
it’s all a bit blurry
we probably already knew where the other lives
what i do remember is not asking for your phone number and regretting it so much!
messaging elle and asking for your number via your friend Tara was the first thing i wanted to do when i had my phone back...
little did i know when i woke up!
so
YES to fate!!
i really liked talking to you too
The dots are doing their dancing stop-and-go and Nick's heart beats as irregularly as he breathes.
Charlie-for-now-but-Nick-soon
I like *you* too
He likes me too. Nick does a little happy dance, his still-soaked hair splashing water all over the bathroom tiles. YES to fate!
It beeps again.
Charlie-for-now-but-Nick-soon
umm so
i can see you’re online btw 🤭😉
Oh. Oops. But before he can react, Charlie messages again.
Charlie-for-now-but-Nick-soon
anyway, 2.52pm works i’ll be there!
looking forward to meeting you again Nick!
maybe we could go for a non-alcoholic drink?
if you want to of course
I’d love that!
Hoped for it actually
Charlie-for-now-but-Nick-soon
yeah?
The fact that Nick now actually knows what Charlie looks like saying this has his smile turning soft.
Yeah
I’d love to go on a date with you
See you soon!
Charlie-for-now-but-Nick-soon
yes please
can’t wait 💛
Same 💙
Nick smiles at himself in the bathroom mirror. Two peas in a pod two idiots one braincell soulmates you get the gist.
Maybe sunshine was truly onto something.