Lifesaver | Nick & Charlie

A lot just happened

Charlie Spring 

It was yet another day.

The sun was shining brightly, the birds were chirping beautifully, and I was boredly sitting on the bus to school with my sister – Tori – on the way to the hell hole considered school.

My headphones were, and I easily became lost in the music, bobbing my head as I removed every thought from my head.

The bus wasn't overly crowded, but it was still full. Majority of the teenagers were making loud noises that was impressive for how early in the morning it was, or occasionally annoying the bus driver as if it was some sort of twisted enjoyment for them.

When the bus finally arrived outside of school, the students piled off of it like it was some sort of race, crowding the aisle. Not particularly fond of getting shoved and thrown around, I waited in my seat silently alongside Tori until everyone had cleared out.

After briefly thanking the driver, I waited outside of the boy's school, sending Tori a singular smile as a goodbye before walking in the opposite direction of her.

As I walked through the gates, somebody grabbed onto my arm. The unexpected contact made my heart rate spike and my breath to catch in my throat. Panicked, my eyes frantically sought out the assailant, only to find out it was just Tao – my best friend since seventh grade.

Tao must have noticed my blatant panic because he whispered a quick apology that I found rather unnecessary. It was my fault for having an over dramatic reaction, after all.

"So, there's this movie night happening at my house tonight," Tao announced, walking in stride with me over to the table our trio normally sat at. "Elle and Issac have already agreed. Therefore, you're coming too. No arguments."

I nodded with my agreement, knowing that negotiations were out of the question – not like I was busy with other plans or anything – and I also really missed hanging out with them, doing our usual movie nights.

Recently, one of us was always too busy to attend. Getting all four of us in the same place at the same time was basically a miracle. It was both relieving and comforting to know it was due to happen again.

A quiet notification from my phone interrupted my thoughts right before we reached the designated table. A quick glance at the contact name made a weird feeling swell through my stomach.

It was Ben.

My... boyfriend?

Ben was confusing. More than confusing, actually. He didn't want our 'relationship' to be public, which was completely understandable since Ben was still navigating through his sexuality, but... Sometimes I questioned whether it was even a relationship at all.

Realistically, all it consisted of was secret kissing in hidden places at times most convenient to him.

And yet I hadn't ended it, because it was the closest thing to a relationship I'd ever experienced. Merely knowing somebody I was attracted to would want to kiss me was enough to keep me hooked.

Pushing the negative thoughts to the back of my head, I opened Instagram to check the full message.

Ben.Hope: Let's meet in the library.

The excuse I needed to use the bathroom was all it took for me to leave Tao, needing to avoid the relentless questions from my best friend. With a weird mix of anxiety and excitement, I ventured to the abandoned library.

We hadn't seen each other since before the holidays. It was just the occasional exchange of half-hearted texts.

In the quiet, empty library, I called out his name, only to be disappointed with the deafening silence in response. After waiting a few more hopeful minutes – foolishly believing that Ben was just running late – the phone in my hand dinged again.