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"Yes, he's still pretty loopy. He doesn't really remember anything. But the doctor said it's probably just— Yeah, just the meds wearing off. He should be okay tomorrow. But I'll keep you updated, Sarah."
Keys jingle in the lock as Charlie pushes the door open.
"Talk soon. Yes, I'll call you in the morning. No problem. Good night, Sarah."
Charlie hangs up the phone and pulls a dazed Nick through the doorway.
"And this is our place," He says, leading Nick to the couch and gently pushing him onto the cushions. "Let me get you some water."
Nick lets go of Charlie's wrist reluctantly, looking around the living room as if it's the first time he's seen it. His eyes land on a rainbow flag stuck in a jar of pencils.
"And I'm gay," He says, nodding. "That makes sense."
"What?" Charlie sticks his head out of the kitchen, startled. He tracks Nick's gaze and laughs. "That's my flag. I'm gay."
"Okay, we're gay," Nick says, rolling his eyes, like Charlie is being pedantic.
Charlie stares for a moment before walking back to Nick and pushing a glass of water into his hands. Nick obediently takes a sip.
"You..." He stops and sits beside Nick, before continuing with the tone of explaining something to a toddler. "Nick, you date women."
Nick pauses, as if searching his own mind. "Oh... that's true. I do like women."
Charlie looks relieved for a moment, before Nick adds, "So I'm bi." He interlaces his fingers with Charlie's and leans against the back of the couch, smiling contentedly.
A strangled noise emerges from Charlie's throat before he clears it and tries again. "Why... why do you say that?"
Nick narrows his eyes. "Because we're together? But I also like women?" He tilts his head at Charlie, like this is very simple math.
Charlie looks down at their linked hands. "Nick, we're not... together. We're roommates. And best friends. You're my supportive straight friend."
He pats Nick's arm, mentally drafting how he's going to embarrass Nick about this in the group chat. (Even if Charlie will receive some pitying texts after. It's his own fault for falling for his straight best friend. He might as well be able to laugh about it.)
"Oh."
Loopy Nick looks disappointed, and Charlie wonders if he should start filming this ridiculousness for posterity, but he doesn't want to make that puppy dog pout worse.
"Then why do I want to kiss you?"
Charlie's brain short circuits.
"We don't do that?" Nick asks, when he doesn't get a response.
"Okay, off to bed with you!" Charlie says, high-pitched, dragging a bewildered Nick to his room by their linked hands. Charlie pushes him to sit on his bed before yanking his hand back. "Are you—? Are you going to be—? Are you okay to—?" He stammers.
Nick nods wordlessly, laying down on top of the covers.
"Okay, good. Great. Let me know if you need anything. I'll be— I'll be right across the hall," Charlie says, retreating to his own room.
When he lays in his own bed and checks the time, it's only 8:30 PM. But he still doesn't get much sleep that night.
🍂
The next morning, Charlie is drinking a cup of tea when Nick walks into the living room. "Hey," He says, cautiously. "How are you feeling?"
"Good," Nick says. "Normal."
"Great. Do you... remember much of yesterday?" Charlie asks, lips quirking into a smile.
"I do, actually." Nick leans against the doorway. "And now I remember we don't usually..."
"Kiss?" Charlie's eyes twinkle as he prepares for his favourite hobby: making fun of Nick.
"Yeah." He walks towards Charlie, linking their hands together again and staring into his eyes. "Do you think we could start?"
🍂
It turns out, there are many ways of passing the time that are even better than teasing Nick.