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8. “I can’t keep anything down.”
It was Friday night and Charlie hadn’t heard from Nick at all. Since he’d gone to university, Nick had always FaceTimed Charlie on Friday night if they weren’t together.
Nick? Everything okay? Charlie texted.
No response.
If you don’t answer I’m going to call your mom!
Nothing.
Nick! Please tell me you’re alright!
Finally Charlie got an update.
Sorry Char, I’m okay. A bit sick to my stomach is all.
Charlie immediately called his boyfriend.
“Hi, Char,” Nick said, his voice wrecked from throwing up all day.
“Nick! You look awful. Are you okay?” Charlie wished more than anything that he’d decided to go to Leeds this weekend.
“I’ve been better.” Nick didn’t seem to have much energy for talking.
“Want me to hop on the train?” Charlie asked, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth. “Or maybe I can borrow Mum’s car, though I doubt she’ll let that fly.”
“No. No, I’ll be alright. I just can’t keep anything down at the moment.” Nick paused, swallowing thickly. “Hold on.”
Charlie watched as Nick left his phone on his bed and stared at the ceiling of Nick’s dorm while he heard Nick throwing up in his bathroom. The noises died down after a few minutes, but Nick didn’t come back to the phone.
“Nick?”
No answer.
Without overthinking it, Charlie hung up and called Sarah, hoping she wasn’t at work.
“Charlie, love, is everything alright?” Sarah answered on the fourth ring.
“Not exactly. Nick’s been throwing up all day and I was just on the phone with him and he disappeared. I think he needs help.”
“Oh, dear.” Sarah paused for a moment, thinking. “Let me make some calls and I’ll call you right back, okay?”
Charlie nodded, glad that an adult was involved now. “Alright.”
Sarah hung up and Charlie waited with bated breath for her to call back. It took seven minutes before his phone rang.
“Sarah?” Charlie answered immediately.
“Hi, love. Nick’s okay, but he’s on his way to A+E. I called his dormitory and an RA went to check on him, found him unconscious in his bathroom. The paramedics think it’s appendicitis.”
“Oh, my gosh.” Charlie felt faint.
“I’m leaving to go be with him in the hospital. Would you like to join me?”
“Yes. Yes please. Let me go find my dad,” Charlie said, scrambling out of bed. “Dad, Sarah is on the phone.” Charle held out his cell phone and waited, bouncing on the balls of his feet for his dad to finish up the conversation.
“Okay, kiddo. Sarah will be here in a few minutes. She’s going to stay with Nick until he’s totally well again, but you’re expected home by Sunday night. Got it?”
“Yes, Dad. Thank you.” Charlie grabbed his phone and raced up the stairs to pack a bag.
“Oh, Nicky,” Sarah whispered as she swept into Nick’s hospital room, Charlie following close behind her.
“Hi, Mum. Hi, Char.” Nick was as pale as the sheets he was lying on, but he had a smile on his face.
“How are you, darling?” Sarah sat on the edge of his bed and Charlie held his non-IVed hand.
“I’m okay. Much better now, thanks to Charlie.” Nick smiled dopily up at Charlie.
“You’re on painkillers, aren’t you?” Charlie asked.
Nick nodded and brought Charlie’s hand up to his mouth to kiss.
The doctor came in then. “Ah, Mrs. Nelson. Glad you could get here. Nicholas had an inflamed appendix when he was brought in. We did a quick laparoscopic surgery to remove it, and he should be on the mend and back at school tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” Sarah ran a hand over Nick’s hair.
“I’ll leave you two to visit, but Nicholas will be just fine.” The doctor left the room with a smile.
Charlie let out a sigh of relief and tried to still his shaking hands.
Nick smiled dopily up at Charlie. “I’m alright, Char. Relax.”
Charlie managed a small smile. “I’m trying.”
Sarah and Charlie stayed until visiting hours ended, and then Sarah dropped Charlie off at Nick’s dorm.
“I’ll stay with him tonight and keep you updated,” she said as she pulled up outside Nick’s building. “You did the right thing, Charlie. I’m proud of you.” She pulled Charlie into a hug and Charlie melted into it, not aware how much he needed one.
“Make sure to send me videos if he does anything silly,” Charlie said, pulling back from Sarah.
“Cross my heart,” she promised. “Now, off you go. Get some sleep, alright? Nicky is just fine.”
Charlie nodded and climbed out of the car, using Nick’s student ID to get into the building. “He’s alright. He’ll be home tomorrow,” Charlie kept repeating to himself. It was going around and around in his head as he showered and brushed his teeth and crawled into Nick’s empty bed. “He’s going to be just fine,” he whispered to himself as he fell asleep, holding onto Nick’s pillow like it was really him.