Nick and Charlie

2: Long distance

Sarah parked the car hours later in the university parking lot and turned to Nick. "Make friends, okay baby? Don't isolate yourself." she smiled.

Nick hugged his mum. "I won't, I'll make friends, i promise." he got out and took his luggage. He waved his mom goodbye but she didn't leave. She got out too and gave Nick the car keys.

"You're old enough to drive." 

"But... what about you?"

"Oh don't worry darling, I'll take the bus." she waved at Nick and walked towards to nearest bus stop. Nick turned around and looked at the university. It was bigger than he'd expected. He walked inside and saw a girl, about the same age as him at the reception, occupying herself with the new students.

"Hello."

The girl at the reception looked up from her phone and saw Nick stand there. "Yes?"

Nick stood there awkwardly and looked at his luggage, and then back to her. "Oh! You're one of the new students? What's your name." she chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sorry, but it's been crazy this morning here. Ah found you, Nicholas Nelson, is it?"

Nick nodded and the girl got up from her chair. "This is your itinerary and schedule. And this is your key." she handed him a key and showed him the way to his dorm.

"Well, I hope you're gonna like it." she smiled and went back to the reception. Nick opened the door and saw two beds. One person's bed. Great. He put his luggage next to the bed and threw his coat on the bed and turned around and saw a guy approximately his age. His hair was gelled back and the shirt he had on looked 2 sizes too small for him. He has baggy pants on and new white sneakers and a rugby bag next to his bed. 

"Ah, you must be my roommate. My name's Noah Hunt. Nice to meet you mate." he held out his hand and shakes Nick's hand.

"I'm Nicholas Nelson but you can call me Nick." he looked at Noah's side of the room and saw a rugby ball. "You're in the rugby team?"

"Yeah mate. Are you the one that wanted to get in the rugby team?"

Nick nodded. Noah chuckled. "Well mate. Try-outs are tomorrow. See you then." and Noah left the room.

Nick decided to call Charlie, to see what he's up to.

_______

"No, I'm not watching Iron Man with you."

"Charlie-"

"No. Nick tried to make me watch it and I just fell asleep."

Tao chuckled. "You always fall asleep when watching movies. Also, your phone has been ringing for the past 2 minutes, how didn't you hear that?"

Charlie sighed. "It's my mum calling me to come back home. She thinks I eat too less, so she's been mad at me."

"And do you?"

Charlie sat on Tao's bed and grabbed his phone. "Well yeah, but I'm trying to eat. It's not my fault. I just find it difficult now. But I've been self harm free for a year so that something."

"Is it because of Nick?"

Charlie made finger guns. "Youuu guessed it. Now she won't stop blowing up my phone." his phone rang again and to Charlie's annoyance he picked up. "What the fuck do you want."

"Charlie? You okay?"

Charlie became pale and Tao started getting worried. "Charlie, what happened?" he whispered.

"It's Nick." Charlie mouthed. Tao started laughing, rolling on his bed. "H- hi Nick. I thought you were my mum."

Charlie heard Nick chuckle at the other side. "And what did your mum do to deserve that?"

"Promise you won't get mad?"

"Has it something to do with your eating?"

Charlie sighed and chuckled. "Yeah. But I'm trying. But mum doesn't think that's enough though. So now she's blowing up my phone to go home."

"Where are you now?"

"At Tao's. I miss you."

Charlie hears Nick chuckle. "I miss you too. Oh, I've gotta go unpack. I'm gonna call you later!" Charlie wants to say something but the line breaks and he just sits there with the phone in his hand.

"Are you okay?" Tao asks.

"He- he hanged up. He didn't even say 'I love you' back" Tao sighed. He hated seeing Charlie in this state. They needed to do a movie night fast, before Charlie's mental health goes to shit.