Off To Uni! (Written after Nick & Charlie by Alice Osmen)

Chapter Three

CHAPTER 3:
[THE NEXT DAY]

Nick:
I feel the sun on my face and open my eyes. Usually, I welcome each morning; but today, I decided to pull the blanket over my head and just lay in bed for a little bit. Time seems to be slipping through my hands before I can even grasp the moments that are continuously fleeting. I hear a light knock on my door as my mum opens the door slightly. I lift my head out of the blanket just enough so my eyes are showing.

"You okay, Nick? We usually wake up around the same time," she says.

I pull the blanket back over me.

"Ugh Mum, I know I'm supposed to be so excited to leave. Don't get me wrong, I am excited for certain things about Uni... I'm just not excited to leave," I admit.

She walks over and sits down on the bed and places a cup of tea she made for me on my nightstand. She puts her hand on my shoulder as I sit up.

"I know; I'm sorry. But you will have such an amazing experience up there. And personally, I think you and Charlie will become stronger because of this," she says.
"Distance makes the heart grow fonder, or something like that, right?" I say with a slight chuckle.
"No, because it's you and Charlie. You both love each other and want to make it work; you're willing to put in the work to do that. You both will be fine. Now, please drink your tea and get yourself in a better mood so I can give you your present."
"Present?" I ask. "Mum, you've really done so much for me already, I don't need a present," I say.
"Well, you deserve it. You have worked so hard in school while being a star on the rugby team. More importantly, you are a good person and I am just so proud of the man you've become," she says smiling, with tears in her eyes.

I pull her into a hug. All this time I've been stressing about how much I'll miss Charlie that I seemed to have forgotten that I am leaving my first best friend behind, along with Nellie. This .... sucks. Mum pulls out of the hug and hands me an envelope. I open it and see a card inside. Once I open the card and read it, I notice that there is something handwritten at the bottom that is instructing me to go downstairs to see what my TWO presents are. She really didn't have to do this, I think to myself. I grab my cup of tea and walk downstairs with Mum and Nellie close behind. I look around but still do not see any presents. I walk through the living room and notice that there's a car parked in the driveway.

"I know you did not buy me a car," I say, flabbergasted; still looking out the window.
She laughs. "Now, it's not a new car. In fact, it's a pretty old car but," I cut her off when I run to her and give her a hug.
"Thank you!" I say as I run outside.

She follows me as I look at the car.

"I know starting at a new place can feel scary. I wanted you to have a way to always come home, if needed. I figured it would make things easier for you and Charlie while you're up there too," she says.

I often wonder how I got so lucky with so many things in my life; not things, people. My mum and Charlie; along with Nellie, are my home. I have the greatest support system in the world.

"Well, look inside!" Mum exclaims.

I open the door curiously and then remembered that the card said two presents.

"You really didn't have to get me anything else. This is more than enough," I say.
"Hush Nicky. My baby is leaving and I won't have as many opportunities to spoil him. Plus, the car is also a gift to me so I can see you more."
"So is the second present a present for you too?" I ask jokingly as I look around in the car.
"No, this one is just for you, well sort of. And I think you'll like this one more."

What could I like more than a new car? I see an envelope on the passenger seat and open it. Inside, there are two train tickets to Paris, leaving later this afternoon for four days.