Work Text:
***
Charlie was obsessed with Nick. Ever since Nick saved him from Ben in the music block a week ago, Charlie couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Tao and Aled warned him Nick was straight, and Charlie already knew that, but he just couldn’t get over him.
His perfect dark blonde hair, his rich, brown eyes. The way he gave off golden retriever vibes. He was so energetic and playful. He was kind and caring. Anything Charlie could want in a boy, Nick had it.
It was a Friday, and Charlie was sitting in form, waiting for Nick. After what seemed like forever, Nick walked in.
Heartstopper.
Nick sat down next to him.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
Charlie stared at him. He heard Nick say something, but he was so mesmerized by his beautiful eyes, he couldn’t make out any words
“Hello, Charlie?”
Charlie blinked.
“Oh, sorry, what did you say?”
“First of all, your not allowed to say the ‘s word’ remember?”
“Sor-“ He stopped himself.
Nick chuckled.
“And, also, do you like Mario Kart?”
The question caught him off guard.
“Do I like Mario Kart?” He repeated.
“Yeah, do you?”
“Of course I like Mario Kart! I have a six year old brother!”
“Alright then! Do you want to come to my house tomorrow? I just got the Mario Kart Deluxe!”
Charlie couldn’t believe it! Nick Nelson, like rugby star Nick Nelson, invited him to his house to play Mario Kart?! How could he refuse?
“Yeah! What time?”
“Any time works, really!”
“How about 2:00?”
“Perfect!”
“I’ll be there!”
For the rest of the day and all of Saturday morning, that was all Charlie could think about.
***
Nick couldn’t believe Charlie was coming to his house in a few minutes. Even though he appeared tough, he was actually kind of shy on the inside.
Especially when he’s talking to people he likes.
But wait. He doesn’t like Charlie. He’s straight. He always has been. Maybe Charlie had gotten into his head. Yeah, that was it.
But that doesn’t explain the butterflies he gets when he talks to Charlie, or how he just feels like he’s melting when he’s staring into his piercing blue eyes.
He had just finished getting the Mario Kart hooked up to the TV when he heard a knock on the door. He quickly ran down the stairs to open it.
Charlie stood at the entrance.
Heartstopper.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
Nellie ran over, tail wagging. Nick held her collar so she wouldn’t run outside. Charlie took a step into the house to pet Nellie.
“Who’s this?”
“This is Nellie! She’s 11 years old!”
“She’s so cute!” Charlie’s adorable wide smile made Nicks heart flutter.
“Yeah, she is! You better get inside though, or she’ll think we’re going for a walk.”
Charlie stepped completely into the house and shut the door behind him. Nick realized he wasn’t wearing a coat.
“Aren’t you cold?”
“I don’t really get cold.”
“It’s like 3 degrees Celsius!”
“Don’t worry about me. So- Mario Kart?”
“Oh, yeah!”
Nick led the way upstairs, Charlie following.
***
Charlie couldn’t believe it! He was in Nick Nelson’s house! And he had a cute dog?! Obviously not as cute as him, but she came close.
Nick sat down on his bed and grabbed a controller. Charlie sat down beside him and took the other controller.
They played a few rounds. Charlie won all of them.
“Why are you actually so good at this?” Asked Nick.
“You get to be good at real sports, I get to be good at fake ones.”
Nick laughed at this. Charlie’s heart skipped a beat. They were about to go back to playing Mario Kart when Nicks eyes locked on the window that was behind Charlie.
“Holy shit.”
Charlie’s eyes widened.
“What?” He asked, starting to get a bit freaked out.
He turned around and looked out the window. It was snowing.
“Holy shit indeed.”
“Do you want to go outside?”
“Hell yeah!”
Nick gave Charlie a coat and they walked into the snow with Nellie.
They threw snowballs at each other and made snow angels. They played catch with Nellie and took selfies. Nick looked so handsome playing in the snow, Charlie couldn’t believe it!
They were having so much fun until Charlie’s mum texted him that he had to go home.
Reluctantly, he walked out of the house, but quickly turned around, remembering that he was wearing Nicks coat. He took it off and handed it to Nick. Nick didn’t take it.
“Take it. It’s chilly and I don’t want you to get a cold.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, of course!”
“Um, alright then.. bye!”
He turned around and walked home.
***
For the rest of the week, Nick felt weird. Why did he feel that way when he was around Charlie? He didn’t feel like that when he was around his other friends.
At school, he had seen Charlie wearing his coat. He didn’t mention this to Charlie though. He knew he would get self conscious and give it back. Nick didn’t want it back; he liked how it looked on Charlie.
He had fun on Saturday, and wanted to ask Charlie if he wanted to come over again, but for some reason, he was nervous to.
He finally got the courage on Friday. He sat down next to Charlie in form.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Umm, Charlie, I was wondering if you wanted to come to my house again this weekend?”
“Yeah, sure! Does tomorrow work for you? I have to go see my gran on Sunday.”
“Yeah! Yeah, that’s perfect!”
Saturday morning, Nick started thinking about Charlie. About the way he gave him butterflies when he laughed, the way his heart fluttered when Charlie talked to him.
But he overthought. Charlie was gay right? Could- he be gay too? No. He was pretty sure he would know by now if he was gay.
But just to be sure…
He opened his computer and clicked on the Google search bar. He started to type:
Am I-
He stopped. A tear ran down his cheek. This could change his life. He finished the search.
Am I gay?
He clicked Enter. A bunch of links for quizzes and websites popped up. A few more tears trailed down his face. Just as he was about to click on a link he heard the doorbell.
He quickly shut his computer and ran downstairs, wiping the tears off of his face.
He opened the door. Charlie was standing there, Nicks coat in his hand.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Are you okay?”
Charlie must have noticed Nicks slightly red and puffy eyes.
“Yeah. Yeah I’m fine. Come in!”
He handed Nick his coat and stepped inside.
“Do you, erm, want to go to my room?”
“Sure!”
They went upstairs and into Nicks room.
After a few rounds of Mario Kart, Charlie said, gesturing to Nicks coat, “You know, that’s a really nice coat!”
“Erm, yeah! You can keep it if you want.”
“No! No, of course not! Just, what brand is it?”
“I think it’s like, Wilfred Smith or something.”
Charlie saw Nicks computer.
“Erm, do you mind if I search it? To see the coats?”
“Sure!” Nick said, before remembering his search from earlier.
He was about to stop Charlie, but he already had to computer in his lap, the screen open.
Charlie saw the search.
Am I gay?
“Nick.. What is this?”
“Oh, erm, it’s not important.”
“Nick. You can talk to me. I promise I won’t judge anything you say.”
“No, really, it’s nothing!”
Charlie raised his eyebrows.
“Nick.”
“Fine. It’s- I, erm,” He took a deep breath. Shit. He was actually going to do this. “I think I like you. And I know you don’t like me back, and I get it if you never want to speak to me again, but I was just so confused and,” he put his head in his hands, “I don’t know- I’m just having a proper full-on gay crisis.”
Charlie scooted over to him so they were shoulder to shoulder.
Nick looked up at him.
“You hate me now, don’t you.”
“Nick.. I could never hate you.”
“Your just saying that to make me feel better. But I get it, it’s fine, I’ve made it awkward, you can leave if you want.”
“No, Nick, you haven’t-“
“Charlie, really. It’s fine. I don’t even know why I told you all this! It’s like-“
He was interrupted by Charlie’s lips on his own.
Charlie pulled away quickly, his face bright red, but Nick kissed him back.
After a few seconds, they both pulled away.
Nick breathed a sigh of relief. “I really thought you hated me for a moment there.”
Charlie chuckled. Then he checked his watch.
9:28
“Yeah, erm, it’s getting late, I should go or my mum will get mad.”
“Yeah! Of course.”
Nick walked him to the door. Charlie gave him a hug and walked away.
***
Charlie had walked about a block from Nicks house when he heard footsteps coming towards him quickly. He turned around and saw Nick in his slippers, running after him.
“Did I forget something?” Charlie asked.
Nick thought for a moment.
“Erm, yeah!”
He leaned in and gave Charlie a quick kiss.
“Alright bye!”
Nick started jogging back to his house.
Charlie turned around and kept walking to his house too, a huge smile on his face.