You Are The Music In Me (Heartstopper AU)

Chapter 9- Something Good

Over the next few weeks Nick and Charlie continued to spend all their free time together. Charlie knew on some level that it wasn't normal to get so attached so fast, yet it felt right. He couldn't stand to be away from Nick, even for a few days. He felt like a hole in his life had been filled, a hole he didn't even know was there. 

They watched movies and cooked meals together, they talked and argued and laughed. Charlie never felt bored though, he wanted to listen to Nick's stories for hours, learn his favourite things, tease him about embarrassing moments.

It felt easier to be themselves when they weren't working together, they didn't have to hide their relationship or act professional (not that they had done a very good job of that anyway).

A month ago Charlie would not have believed he would be dating the dreamy soloist, he felt incredibly lucky to get to learn who Nick was outside of that.

Of course Tosca was coming up in a few months and Charlie hoped Nick would get the part he wanted, but it was nice to start building their relationship away from work.

One sunny day they were strolling in the park near Nick's house, the weather had been so terrible lately that they were dying to get outside.

"Favourite... pizza topping?" Nick said. They were playing a game where they tried to guess the other's favourite things.

"Hmm... I'm gonna go with sausage" Charlie guessed.

"Nope! It's black olives."

"Disgusting Nicholas! We'll be getting separate pizzas" Charlie laughed, "ok guess mine."

"Mushrooms?" Nick said.

"Ew no! What's with all the vegetables? It's ham."

"That better not be in the company of pineapple," Nick teased.

"Why are olives ok but not pineapple?" Charlie retorted.

"This might be a deal breaker for me," Nick warned.

"Yeah right" Charlie shoved him playfully, "You're just mad that you're terrible at guessing things about me."

"I'm starting to think you're lying about your answers just so I lose every time" Nick grabbed him and tousled his hair.

Charlie giggled and squirmed but Nick held him tightly. "I'M starting to think you're obsessed with how small I am and how easily you can overpower me" Charlie said saucily.

"You're not wrong," Nick said, kissing him.

The kiss, with Nick's strong arms around him, took Charlie's breath away. As much as Nick could overpower him, he knew and trusted that Nick would never actually hurt him, or do anything he wasn't comfortable with. Nick's size and strength made him feel very safe, and was also very sexy.

But Charlie heard people approaching them and pushed Nick suddenly away. They waited awkwardly until a man with a dog had passed them.

Nick turned to his boyfriend "is everything ok?"

"Sorry... I just... am sort of uncomfortable with PDA," Charlie said.

"Don't be sorry, we don't have to do anything you don't want," Nick said gently.

"I do want to though," Charlie said, frustrated with himself. He sighed and went to sit on a nearby bench. Nick joined him.

"It's just that... well I'm sometimes nervous about openly being in a same-sex relationship in public. Back in school I used to get mean comments all the time for being gay, and I worry about that happening again. I especially wouldn't want it to happen to you. Because of me."