Heartstopper oneshots/ requests

The art classroom

You'd thought that you'd never manage to put the final touches on your painting you'd done for Mr Ajayi's art project.

"Create a piece based on something that inspires you" he'd said when explaining the brief.

After a lot of thought you'd come to the conclusion that the best thing you could do was paint a scene of people taking part in an LGBTQIA+ march. The small explanation you'd scribbled together at gone midnight last night was that this inspired you because it shows people coming together to fight for what they believe. To stand proud when everyone was saying you were a freak. You finished your few paragraphs saying that you wish you could be more like the people in your painting.

Now, as you approached Mr Ajayi's door, you thought your idea had been stupid. But there was no time to re-do it now; it needed to be handed in by the end of the day and lunchtime was the only time you could hand it in because you were still perfecting the hand of the front protester at break.

As you walked into the classroom, you were so in your own head that you hadn't even heard the voices from the classroom.

"Oh-" You froze in surprise at the scene in front of you. Charlie from your art class and Nick Nelson sat at the table at the back. Nick's hand on Charlie's. They looked just as surprised as you felt and withdrew their hands so quickly you wondered if you'd seen it at all.

"Sorry, I-" You physically shook your head in an effort to derail the train of thought speeding through your mind. "I just came to drop this off" You lifted your art folder a little so they could both see it.

Charlie shot you a small smile, but Nick was frozen. You continued into the room and placed your folder on Mr Ajai's desk to get your painting out.

Neither of the other two were talking and when you glanced at them you could see Nick was still frozen.

"You're cute together" You blurted out in an effort to show Nick that you approved of the two of them, but then immediately kicked yourself.
"Thanks" Charlie's small voice echoed in the empty classroom, "It's okay, they're bi too" You heard him add even more quietly to Nick and you smiled to yourself as you zipped your folder back up.

"What's the painting of?" Nick asked, starting a conversation as if he'd known you for years when you had in fact never spoken to each other.
"Oh" You looked up from the table and saw the two of them holding hands again and you couldn't help smiling, "It's an LGBT march" You said, putting the folder down by your side again, "Sir wanted us to create something based on what inspired us so" You trailed off
"Can I see?" Nick outstretched his free hand and you took the painting to him.

You watched as Nick's eyes moved across the painting; taking in every detail.

"This is amazing" Nick's smile reached his eyes as he looked back up at you, "How long did it take you?"
"About a night" You said, taking the painting from him, "I hadn't decided on what I was going to do until last night"
Nick raised his eyebrows, "Wow. I mean that's- quite something"
"I don't usually leave my art projects till the last minute" You laughed a little and so did Charlie, "You're usually the first to get them done!" He chimed in and Nick looked at him in complete awe with eyes so full of love.

You suddenly felt like you'd interrupted them enough and quickly put the painting back on Mr Ajayi's desk; on top of the poorly handwritten explanation and turned back to them.

"Anyway, I better get back outside-"
"Stay if you like" Nick cut you off, a small smile on his face
You beamed at the offer, "Really?"
"Yeah, I mean, we can't risk you escaping now and telling everyone about-"
"Oh, no I wouldn't!" You said quickly, "Your secret's safe with me, honestly"
But Nick just laughed, "I know! That was just my way of asking you to hang out with us"

And that is how you became the ultimate third wheel, but also the best friend of Charlie and Nick.