Lifesaver | Nick & Charlie

An Unexpected Phone Call

Charlie Spring

It was 6:30 p.m. when movie night officially began. All of them had eaten dinner, but I couldn't bring myself to eat more than a couple of bites. Thankfully, no one had questioned me about it, even though it must've been obvious by now.

I didn't understand why it was so easy for everyone to eat and not me. Why couldn't I just eat? It was a necessary, daily thing to do, but it felt impossible for me sometimes.

By default, I was placed beside Nick as Nick's grandparents riffled through a box of DVDs. The offer of choice had been handed over to Nick and I, but neither of us were in the mood to join that fray.

It was a couple more moments of silence until Nick turned to face me better, clearing running bored of watching the small arguments between the adults. "So, are you excited to go home?"

Was I? No. My parents hadn't even noticed that I was gone. Whether or not it was because Tori had relayed my lie about staying at a friend's house or because they truly hadn't noticed my absence.

"Why would I be excited?" I deferred. "It's not so bad here."

"No?" Nick asked, eyebrows raised. "No, definitely not. I love watching arguments every five seconds," he sarcastically agreed, nodding his head to where Frank and Louise were still bickering. I laughed softly at the sight, surprisingly not bothered by it since their 'arguments' were never genuine. "But for real, I think I am going to miss being out here."

"I just don't want to go back to school," I confessed, pulling an agreeing laugh out of Nick. Only, I was being truthful. Going back to school would be throwing me into the deep end. It would be a reminder that my friends hated me. It would be feeding me to the shark that is Ben.

The movie decided on was Grown Ups, a movie that I last watched with Elle, Isaac, and Tao, which wasn't a great reminder.

Throughout the movie, everyone was quiet and relaxed, and I found myself in the same position. Something I very rarely felt - just content. There was something about this family that prevented me from feeling so out of place and unwanted.

When the movie ended, it was half past eight, and the adults went to bed for the night. Naturally, Nick and I did the same, migrating to the shared room to do our nighttime routine.

Laying in bed, it completely struck me that I was going home tomorrow. Despite my attempt to run away, I was going back. Back to my parents who don't care about me. Back to my friends who hated me. Back to Ben, who had something waiting for me. Back to being stuck and helpless. Back to feeling depressed all the time.

At least here, I'd been distracted and a lot more carefree. There wasn't any drama here, there wasn't judgement, and I'd had fun.

But thinking about how much I enjoyed this get away with Nick and his family, it had me wondering what would happen at school between us. If Nick truly liked me like he said, it wouldn't hold up back home. He'd ignore me in the hallways, he wouldn't want me speaking to him in public, he would make fun of me with his friends to fit in.

So, not only was I being cursed with my old life by leaving here, but I was also losing Nick entirely. Not like I ever had him, though.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, and I uncontrollably flinched at the glint of Ben's name. I could just not check it, right? Ben couldn't possibly become more angry at me... could he?

I was glad the lights were switched off, because I was visibly shaking as I reached for my phone. The light burnt my eyes for a moment, and I squinted through it to read the message.