Charlie Spring is a year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys and he couldn't hate being there more than he already does. He was constantly getting bullied by students, Harry Greene and Ben Hope. His friends Tao, Issac, and Elle were over at his house that evening to comfort him. "Harry and his friends are such idiots." Elle claimed, shaking her head. "Charlie, you have to stick up for yourself." Tao told him, his hand resting on his friend's shoulder. Charlie looked up at him as he held an ice pack to his eye. "I can't. Everyone from the rugby team only see me as a weak gay boy that'll let them walk all over. It's true what they say about me..." Elle furrowed her eyebrows lightly. "No it's not." She claimed in a soft tone. Charlie stared at her for a moment before shaking his head and he tossed the ice pack aimlessly on the ground before pressing his legs up against his chest and he pushed himself back until his back hit the wall and he stared down at his feet. "I just want to be alone..." He mumbled. Issac glanced up from his book and looked at the two. "Charlie-" He interrupted Elle. "Just piss off!" The three exchanged looks before standing up. "Okay, just text us if you need anything." Charlie didn't respond and the three left. He huffed, regretting flipping out on his friends but it was too late, he knew they would already be gone. He laid down in his bed and shut his eyes, drifting off to sleep.
The next day, Charlie walked into form and glanced up at his seat to see someone sitting in the seat next to his. They glanced at him and smiled slightly. Charlie gulped and took his seat and glanced over at him. "Hi." He spoke, running his fingers through his ginger hair. Charlie was confused on why he was speaking to him, usually no one did even new kids. "H-Hi..." He replied. They stared at each other for a moment before Charlie looked down. His heart was racing but for some reason it was different than all the other times. It wasn't fear. He was nervous around this person, a good kind of nervous. He hasn't felt this way about anyone in a long time. It frustrated him how he fell so easily for people. "Nicholas Nelson!" Charlie glanced over at him as he raised his hand, telling the teacher he was here. Nick. Charlie couldn't help but stare but looked away when Nick glanced over at him. "Charles Spring!" Charlie quickly looked up at the teacher. "Uhh.. h-here!" A few kids laughed at him but he ignored them.
Charlie sat with Issac and Tao at lunch outside. Tao was talking to Charlie as Issac read but Charlie wasn't listening. He was staring out at the field, watching Nick talk to coach Singh. Tao soon realized he wasn't listening and glanced over where he was looking. "Who are you staring at?" Charlie smiled. "Nick Nelson." Tao furrowed his eyebrows and glanced back at Charlie. "Who?" Charlie opened his mouth to speak but Issac spoke instead. "Nick Nelson is a year 11. He's new." He stated. Tao looked over at Charlie from Issac. "Are you an idiot? What are you doing getting involved with another year 11?" Charlie scoffed. "Piss off, will ya? Nick's different from Ben." He claimed. "Have you even talked to him?" Tao asked in annoyance. Charlie shrugged slightly, a soft smile on his face. "We said hi to each other a couple of times." Issac laughed at his friend. Tao groaned and rolled his eyes. "You're hopeless..." Charlie ignored them and glanced back at Nick. After a while, he stood up abruptly. "I'm gonna talk to him." Tao and Issac quickly looked up at him, their eyes widened. "Are you mad?! Harry and his mates are over there!" Charlie paced over to the entrance of the field, ignoring his friends pleas. Charlie stopped when Nick looked over at him. "H-Hi..." Nick smiled and stepped closer to him. "Hi." Charlie smiled. "So, you joined the rugby team?" He asked in amusement. Nick nodded. "I did." He answered, crossing his arms. "You're a rugby lad now." Charlie said in a joking manner. Nick scoffed, an amused look on his face. "Wow..." Charlie laughed. Nick laughed with him. After a moment of comfortable silence, Nick spoke. "Hey, I was thinking, maybe, you would want to-" "Hey, Nick!" The two boys looked over at Harry, a grin on his face. "What are you doing talking to the gay nerd?!" He yelled at him from afar. Their friends laughed. Nick glanced over at Charlie as he stared down at the ground. "Charlie-" He turned and paced off the field. "Charlie!" "Let him go! Let's start practice!" Nick glanced back at the direction Charlie disappeared off to then back at Harry. "Come on, Nelson!" Coach Singh yelled. Nick huffed and jogged over to the team.
Charlie was sitting on the art room floor, staring down at his food in disinterest. "Charlie," He looked up at Mr. Ajayi. "There's a boy here asking for you." Charlie looked back down at his food. "I want to be left alone." "Charlie..." Charlie perked up at the sound of Nick's voice. He stood up, tossing his tray beside him and he looked over at Nick as he walked more into the room. "Nick..." "I'll leave you two alone." Mr. Ajayi said before leaving the room. Nick slowly walked over to Charlie, seeing tears in Charlie's eyes as he got closer. "I.." He paused and glanced down and let out a soft breath. He looked back up at him. "I never got to ask you my question from before..." Charlie sniffled and nodded. "O-Okay..." Nick smiled softly. "I was wondering if you would like to go to a movie.. with me?" Nick asked. Charlie furrowed his eyebrows. "Alone?" Nick nodded and stepped closer to the younger boy. "Yeah..." Nick answered in a soft tone. Charlie grinned. "Like a date?" Nick's smile grew slightly. "Yeah, a date." Charlie scoffed and nodded excitedly. "Yes!" He yelled, wrapping his arms around his neck. Nick was caught off guard but hugged him back, his head sinking into the crook of his neck, a soft smile on his face.
