Charlie
I walk into school. I see Ben. I try to turn and walk away to take the long way to form but Ben grabs my arm and turns me around. He asks, "Charlie, can I speak to you?" His voice is full of desperation but I don't care.
"No." I say and I turn to leave but he still holds my arm.
"Charlie, please. I have nobody to talk to about this."
I actually laugh and I look at him. "And whose fault is that?" I ask but it wasn't actually a question because we both obviously know whose fault it is. Ben looks at me with those stupid puppy dog eyes that used to work like a charm but I see right through them now. "I have no interest in talking to you or to be there for you or whatever, Ben, you hurt me, you tried to- I don't ever want to talk to you again. Can't you understand that? Go find somebody else to pity you because you won't find it from me." I snatch my arm away and I rush past him. I feel tears in my eyes and I don't entirely understand why. I mean, I feel sad but why don't I feel proud? Should I feel proud? This should feel good but it doesn't and that sorta makes me want to, I don't know, apologize? No. I have nothing to feel sorry about. God. Why am I like this?
Nick
I'm staring at Charlie's empty chair wondering where he is and basically overthinking everything like if he's okay and if I should be worried and if I have any reason to feel worried. I look up and I see Charlie and I feel relieved. He sits next to me but he doesn't say anything, he doesn't even look at me. I don't feel so relieved anymore. "Char." I say. He doesn't look at me or even seem to have heard me. "Charlie, are you okay?" I ask, placing a hand on his shoulder and this time, he meets my eyes.
"What?"
"Are you okay?" I repeat. He nods and looks back down. I'm not convinced, so I lean forward, getting a better look at his face and I ask, "What happened?" He doesn't look at me but I see tears in his eyes. I feel my heart drop as the overwhelming feeling of worry washes over me. "Did something happen?" I ask. He nods. "Harry?" He shakes his head. My heart begins to race as the thought of the possibility of it being about.. "Ben?" I ask. He nods. "Did he hurt you?" This comes out a bit harsh but I know Charlie knows I'm just worried.
"No..." He says.
"Did he say something to you?"My voice is eager and my heart only races more.
"No..." He says. "He.. I.." He can't seem to get the words out. There are tears running down his face now, he's staring at the table, not wanting anybody to see him cry, nobody but me. "He grabbed my arm and wouldn't let go.. It brought me back to year 10 when he.. when.. he almost.." His words are soft but shaky. There are tears in my eyes. I put a hand on his face and I make him look at me. He doesn't want to look me in the eye but he eventually does. I smile. He doesn't.
"I won't ever let him touch you again." I say. "I will do anything to protect you from him."
He lets out a soft laugh and says, "You're an idiot." I smile because I'm happy that I made him laugh even if it was small. He looks back down but he's smiling softly. "Thanks, Nick."
I nod. "I just don't want you to feel this way anymore.. I love you, Char..." I don't necessarily realize what I have just said until Charlie looks at me and says,
"What?"
I tense up, my hearts racing again as I stutter. My eyes unfocused. I don't know what to do or say. I meant what I said, I just didn't mean to say it right now, in this moment. Charlie and I have been together for two years, both of us still terrified to say those words, so as you can imagine, we're both very surprised either of us said it but sorta happy as well because, well, either of us said it. He's staring at me with a sort of shocked look but it soon turns soft. I say, "That sort of just slipped out." I rub the back of my neck, I tend to do that when I'm embarrassed, I hate it.
Charlie smiles and says, "I love you too..." I stare at him. I don't know how long I stare at him for but at some point I smile and I kiss him. He kisses me back and I laugh and press my forehead against his and say,
"After two years, it just slips out. I feel like I'm going to die."
Charlie laughs. "You were going to die? My heart almost burst when you said it." He says. "I can't believe it took us two years to say I love you to each other."
"Why are we like this?"
