Hearstopper from the edit room floor

The breakup 1

Context: It's Nicks 21st birthday, things have been great for our dream team pair the squad have finished uni and the day after would be graduation for Nick and co (Charlie's in his final year at this point) Elle and Charlie are planning nicks birthday party everyone's excited until an old friend and familiar face to Nick from university turns up in the form of Johnny Stevens and the night turns sour...
Based on the Kurt and Blaine cheating saga in Glee

PS I am dreadfully sorry this first part of this new side project is so sad it was an idea I had and I just ran with it
Don't worry OTOTW is still being updated we're not anywhere close to being done yet this is just for when I need a quick moment to write

PPS I adore HS and nick and Charlie I would never want them to break up listening to that chapter in their novella broke me

Charlie's POV:

"Soo are you excited?" Elle asked as we walked into town to meet with Nick and Tao from the flat Nick and I shared less than a five minute walk from the town centre and where I was studying in Canterbury Kent - our home town it made sense for me to stay local for uni but I wasn't going to do the whole studying at home thing I needed my own space especially after the last few years

I closed my eyes and sighed breathing in the fresh costal air running my hand through my hair as Elle and I walked "months of preparation has boiled down to this evening we're somehow squishing everyone we love into our tiny flat no chaos no worries no nothing of course I'm excited" I smiled arms outstretched Elle clapped her hands gleefully "it's going to be amazing I can't wait" she squealed.

We walked a few more minutes before reaching the place we were due to to meet Tao and Nick we'd agreed upon just outside Tesco so we could help the boys carry the shopping back to the flat

they'd gone food shopping while we'd stayed behind and worked on party preparations and decorations the flat was small enough for Nick and I made ever smaller by Elle and Tao they made themselves scarce because of the lack of space and I trusted both the boys with food options- Nick and Tao knew me well the day they didn't I'd worry "ah here come the lowly travellers and the party planners of the year !" Nick grinned as we approached them attempting and failing to hug me as he was laden with bags of food and drink "says the birthday boy!" I smile back taking some of the bags off him "ta" he replied - that was strange of Nick he never said things like "ta" but I brushed it off as something and nothing

There was no themes, no drama, just friends family, food, a few drinks and celebrating the birthday of a loved one who'd just accomplished some incredible things at university it was the perfect "nick and Charlie and friends throw a birthday party starter pack" some of Nicks uni friends and a few of the boys from the Leeds rugby team were also coming for the party including Nick's most recent co captain a guy called Johnny who I hadn't really met before only a few times in passing over the year and one five minute conversation over video chat didn't count but I think I was looking forward to talking to them - nick said he was a "cool guy"

People started arriving around 6:30pm Nicks mum came by herself David and Nick had spent some strained time together early this week as a celebration, my mum and dad and Tori and Michael and Oliver arrived at the same time as, Tara, Darcy, Issac and his boyfriend Aled and Sahar and multiple people from school followed soon after including Harry and the old school rugby squad by 7:30 everyone we'd invited had arrived and I started sorting out drinks and snacks "char?" Nick called grabbing my hand softly as I weaved my way through the crowds I turned to him smiling "you okay?" I asked Nick nodded "having a great time could you grab some more red cups please? I'm gonna start some drinking games" He asked grinning gleefully kissing my forehead I nodded