Chapter Text
It happens on one of those brisk winter afternoons where short days have started melting into long nights. Every student in Truham has started counting down the days to the winter holidays. The sky is already turning shades of magenta and violet when the rugby team begins filtering out of the locker room—damp and slightly muted—after an afternoon practice. Tucked in the shadow of the sports building, Charlie feels safe from their leers and laughter. Not that they’re who he’s hiding from. They don’t even know he’s there. Why would they?
Usually, he’s home by now, nose tucked between the pages of one of his favorite books or playing Mario Kart with his siblings. Not today. Today his drumming lesson ran late and he’d seen his ex-(fling? secret makeout acquaintance? not-boyfriend?) whatever … lurking in the halls trying to corner him. Again. It had been pure luck the last time that a teacher had walked by, spooking Ben into backing off and giving Charlie an opening to get to the bus without further trouble. This time, Ben is hovering between the picnic tables and the front gates, like a shark hot on the scent of blood. Some of the rugby lads nod or wave, but they don’t linger. Charlie almost wishes they would. Almost.
The silence settling over the now empty rugby pitch is only punctuated infrequently by the click-swish and bang of the sports building door. His phone in one hand, Charlie debates texting Tao or Elle to see if someone can come back to school and save him. But that would require explaining… and Charlie doesn’t want to out Ben, no matter how terrible of a not-boyfriend he had been. Click-swish , followed by a bang and footsteps. It’s a too slow drumbeat that marks an inconsistent passage of time.
The silhouettes of snow-sprinkled trees become strange twisted limbs stretching across the open spaces between mostly empty buildings. Ben is still there, scanning the school grounds as the shadows grow longer. How long is he going to stay like that? It’s getting colder and Charlie really just wants to go home. He can feel the chill settling into his skin through his uniform jacket as he sighs, slumping deeper into the shadow of the sports building. Listening to another Click-swish and bang , he lets the sound of straggling rugby players clattering towards the gates act like background noise to his anxious thoughts. Between click-swish and another bang someone calls a muffled goodbye to someone else.
Leaning his head back onto the brick wall behind him, he looks out at the stars appearing in the darkening canvas above. For an instant, Charlie could swear he sees a flash of a shooting star flickering into the inky horizon as the colors of the night sky continue to deepen. He recalls his conversation with Tori this morning, thinks what the hell then whispers his wish to the universe, not that he believes the universe is listening. (When has it ever listened to him?) “I wish I had a boyfriend… one that actually likes me and doesn’t mind being seen with me…” It comes out as a sigh.
In his lap, his phone jumps and lights up before he can cover it. A text, probably from his parents, but he isn’t looking at it. A soft bang has frozen him in place.
He feels rather than sees Ben catch sight of the sudden flare of light, because he can’t bring himself to look at Ben either. How can he? No, he’s looking at Nick Nelson, wet hair shimmering like polished copper in the lamplight, who is looking at him.
Nick Nelson stands there, a seemingly oblivious barrier between Charlie and Ben. His mouth quirks into this fascinating lopsided smile that Charlie can’t fully tear his eyes away from. He speaks—Charlie is certain they’ve never spoken before (have never had any reason to speak before)—so casually—oh god (why is Nick Nelson the Rugby King speaking to him ?)—like they talk all the time. “Charlie?” Nick Nelson knows his name . “There you are, I’ve been looking for you!”
“What??” Charlie’s eloquence is—as usual—groundbreaking.
Undeterred, Nick Nelson keeps smiling. “What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t give you a ride home? Come on, it’s cold out here.”
As if on cue, Charlie shivers. But he can’t believe his ears. “ What ?” His voice pitches higher with his disbelief.
“Right, come on. You’re shivering.” Without missing a beat, Nick Nelson is tugging a hoodie—that had been previously slung over his large sports kit bag—over Charlie’s head while also gently pulling the younger boy to his feet. “My mum’s probably already waiting. Let’s go.”
Charlie is suddenly overwhelmed by the warm smells of citrus and sandalwood and boy as he finds himself obediently sliding his arms into the hoodie sleeves. God, it’s so warm compared to the night air. He tries again, “but-...” Clearly, his capabilities of speech have abandoned him.
Nick Nelson easily kidnaps Charlie’s schoolbag, slinging it over his shoulder on top of his own and takes Charlie’s hand—the one not clutching his phone for dear life—and starts leading him toward the front gates. “Your hands are freezing! How long were you waiting out there? You could have waited for me inside, you know.” His tone is so casual, like this is a conversation they’ve had before. Like this isn’t the first time he has ever talked to Charlie… like they talk all the time. Like they’re boyfriends …
“Well, but-” Charlie starts. What is actually happening right now?
“Did you really miss me that much?” The Rugby King teases softly, still smiling, eyes completely devoid of any possible hint of malice or mockery beyond a gentle amusement that makes Charlie’s already tangled insides do flips. Maybe he should be more alarmed, maybe this is a set up for some kind of prank… hot straight rugby lad pretends to date the pitiful gay nerd for laughs. But he’s just so disarming and somehow Charlie finds himself letting himself be led by the warm calloused hand curled around his.
His face must be beet red at this point, between the hoodie, the attractive boy holding his hand , that lopsided smile, and the full force of Nick Nelson’s attention. Still, he tries to speak, “What? I- Er...”
Nick Nelson laughs, like this is normal and he thinks it's cute. “Don’t worry. I missed you, too.” He leans in as he says this, pressing a quick but careful kiss to Charlie’s cheek right as they pass Ben. Ben looks about as confused as Charlie feels right now. The ginger boy keeps walking and talking, treating this wild turn of events like it’s routine. “Did you have a good day today?”
Somehow, despite the heart palpitations and flames he is sure are consuming his face, Charlie finds his voice. Maybe because Ben’s expression makes him feel a little less afraid—just the tiniest bit smug even—he says, “yeah. It was alright. I turned in my history project today… so I’m feeling pretty relieved about that.”
“Yeah? What was it on again?” Nick Nelson looks at him again, between glances in the direction of the carpark, looks like he’s actually interested. Strangely, feeling like he’s in some kind of parallel universe or the Twilight Zone, Charlie ends up telling the taller boy about his project. If only because he needs something to talk about to keep those sparkling brown eyes from melting his brain entirely.
“I’m just saying it seems important that Anne Lister used Lord Byron’s works as a kind of uh- litmus test for potential friends!” He says, gesturing his free hand enthusiastically. Nick seems amused—even interested —by his passionate explanation of reading through the decoded diary and the importance of queer literary works as tools to find other queer people.
Then, Nick is telling him about his maths class and rugby practice—not that Charlie knows anything about rugby. Before he can wonder about when the other shoe will drop and this bizarre dream will be over, he’s being packed into the back seat of a van with Nick introducing him to his mother—she is so nice —and finds himself giving directions to his house while Sarah makes small talk and Nick sneaks smiles at him over his shoulder from the passenger’s seat.
Just as abruptly, he’s being dropped at his front door, Nick calling, “see you tomorrow, Charlie!” out his window before the Nelsons drive away. He’s left standing on his doorstep, still wearing Nick Nelson’s hoodie, clutching his school bag, a new follow request staring up at him from Instagram on his phone, wondering what the hell just happened.
@Nicholas_nzzz has requested to follow you.
@Nicholas_nzzz sent a message: “Goodnight <3”
DMs @Nicholas_nzzz , @cfspring
@Nicholas_nzzz: Good morning <3
@Nicholas_nzzz: I hope you slept well
@Nicholas_nzzz: Can’t wait to see you later today! Do you want to have lunch together? <3
Charlie keeps refreshing his Instagram inbox like he expects the messages will disappear if he stares long enough. He had almost convinced himself it was all a dream, some wild fantasy he had made up to deal with how shitty things with Ben had ended up being. But, here was proof, glaring at him from his phone screen. There was also the hoodie, carefully folded on his desk, waiting to be returned to its proper owner. He wasn’t sure how he’d do that without drawing a ton of attention. The only out gay kid in school returning a hoodie to one of the single most popular boys? It would practically start a riot.
He finally messages back while shoveling cereal into his mouth. Leaving Nick Nelson on Read feels rude, but answering him feels like intentionally sticking his hand into a baited bear trap. In the harsh morning light, he’s convinced himself this must be an elaborate set up… even though Nick is one of the last rugby lads he’d expect to pull something this cruel on someone. Nick Nelson has a reputation for being kind. But, there has to be a catch here. And he is not going to sit with the rugby lads at lunch, that sounds like a recipe for disaster.
@cfspring: good morning
@cfspring: slept ok. you?
@cfspring: you can join my table for lunch, if you want?
@Nicholas_nzzz: I slept well.
@Nicholas_nzzz: If that’s more comfortable for you. I was thinking just you and me. But I’d love to meet my boyfriend’s friends! <3
What. Is. Happening???
Charlie stares helplessly at his phone until Tori’s voice draws him back to reality. He has a bus to catch. Figuring out Nick Nelson’s strange behavior can wait for later.
… or so he thinks.
It is only when the bus is pulling up outside the school gates that Charlie remembers one glaring problem with saving his Nick Nelson-shaped problems for later… the aforementioned boy is sitting on a table outside the gates of Truham, like he does every day. There is no way for Charlie to walk into school without passing right in front of him and his Year 11 friends. Briefly, Charlie wonders if this is when the other shoe will drop and he’ll be humiliated by the popular, rugby-playing lad currently perched on the edge of a picnic table surrounded by his usual friend group.
In front of the picnic table, a Black girl with neatly fluffed hair is talking to Nick, occasionally casting amused looks at the cluster of students around the picnic table. Several rugby lads, including the one Charlie thinks is called Otis—Tao knows him from the school play… or something?—are in varying positions around the table either watching or participating in what Charlie can only assume is a game based on a glimpse of playing cards in the hands of a bleached blond-haired girl. She’s hard to miss, with a brightly colored tie-dyed hoodie over her Higgs uniform, when she laughs triumphantly as her table of friends express their defeat through groans loud enough to carry as Charlie steps off the bus behind Tori. (He thinks the blond may be called Darla? Daisy? Something that starts with a “D”. She’s in the orchestra but he’s never paid her close attention before.) Another girl stands in the shade of a tree, showing a couple students something on her phone. (This girl Charlie knows is Imogen Heaney, because she is popular enough to be known by most everyone.) A girl with long dark hair is practically resting her chin on Imogen’s shoulder watching whatever is on her phone, while a boy with warm bronze skin and glasses leans in—less closely—keeping his hands tucked in his pockets.
With Nick in the middle of a conversation, Charlie dares to hope that he can slip by if he just tucks himself into a clump of other students walking through the gates. This hope is quickly dashed by the sound of Nick Nelson’s excited voice when he calls: “Charlie!” His voice is followed by the sight of the freckle-faced boy loping towards him with one of his lopsided grins. For a moment, Charlie thinks the older student is going to run him right over in his apparent enthusiasm. Luckily, death by golden retriever in human form is not in the cards for him today… yet.
Nick comes to a stop in front of Charlie, placing his hands on the smaller boy’s shoulders, and he beams down at him. “Hi!”
“Hi?”
“Can I walk you to your form?” is not the question Charlie is expecting to be asked. But, somehow, he hears himself saying yes and feels like he’s staring into the sun as Nick’s smile manages to grow even wider. This boundless excitement doesn’t make him any less gentle in taking one of Charlie’s hands in his and walking through the gates to school. With ease, Nick matches Charlie’s pace, letting him take the lead.
Charlie dares to sneak a glance at Nick’s friends as they pass by the table and sees a mix of confusion, surprise, and mild amusement on the faces there… but most of Nick’s friends aren’t even looking. Either they’re too caught up in their card game or Nick Nelson holding another boy’s hand is not something worth looking up from their phones for. This is definitely the Twilight Zone. Ben looks like he swallowed a bee though, so Charlie can’t fully bring himself to question things at this exact moment.
Maybe he can just… let it happen for a bit. If it is a prank, it’s getting pretty drawn out for a prank. Why not just drop the punch-line now before the entire student bodies of boy Truham and Higgs start thinking Nick is gay, after all? And the only other explanation he can think of is… well… he’s not sure he believes shooting stars can really grant wishes like this . But it’s not like Nick Nelson actually would like a boy like Charlie, much less date him . And how would they be dating without Charlie even knowing they’re dating until last night? So… maybe shooting stars really are magic? How long does a shooting star’s wish magic last though? Did the shooting star fully change Nick Nelson’s sexuality and feelings and memories permanently? Wait… how long did Nick think they’d been boyfriends for? Christ … this was just really confusing. Charlie is pretty sure that if he thinks about this much longer he’s going to give himself a headache.
He’s grateful that Nick isn’t making any small talk. They walk together in mostly comfortable silence. Though Charlie can’t help but feel a bit relieved when they reach his form room. “This is me.”
There’s a beat of hesitation before Nick releases his hand. “Right. I’ll see you at lunch?”
“Er… yeah.”
“The picnic tables by the fields, yeah?” How Nick knows where Charlie and his friends normally eat lunch, Charlie doesn’t know, but he’s entirely incapable of asking right now.
He nods. “Yep.”
Nick smiles at him one more time, lifts one hand like he wants to… Charlie isn’t sure what… but aborts the movement and drops his hand back to his side. “Okay. Bye!”
“Bye.” Charlie lifts one hand in an awkward wave. This makes Nick’s smile widen and he waves back before turning to jog down the hallway before the bell rings.
In a daze, Charlie wanders into form and slips into his chair. He can feel eyes on him. His hand still burns with the sense memory of Nick’s hand, the gentle canyons between rough calluses, and the way Nick smiled when he saw him.
Two things shatter this moment, the first is the realization that Nick Nelson’s hoodie is still tucked somewhere inside his school bag… and the second is the sound of Tao’s voice uncomfortably close to his ear.
“Um, Charlie, what the fuck was that???”