Moment in the Sun

14. Rugby

Charlie POV (TW Injury, mentions of blood)

I wake up before Nick and quietly disentangle myself from his arms. He stirs a little but doesn't wake so I go into the bathroom to start getting ready for today. I'm going to watch Nick play rugby today. It's the first time I've watched one of his games since he's been in the Uni team so I'm very excited.

I have been secretly planning my outfit for today, sneaking one of his spare jerseys and hiding it in a bag so that I can wear it in support of him. It's way too big on me but I don't care. I like wearing Nick's clothes, especially when they're too big. They make me feel safe and loved.

I took a quick shower and then got dressed in the rugby jersey and some jeans before rummaging through the cabinet under the sink for the coloured face paint I'd bought the other day. Nick's team colours were green and white so I carefully painted some stripes of those colours across my face. Once satisfied with how I looked, I tidied up and went out to the kitchen to make us both a cup of tea before carefully taking them into our bedroom.

Nick was still asleep so I set the mugs on his nightstand and crawled onto the bed, situating myself on top of him as I began to gently pepper kisses across his face. It took a moment for him to come back into consciousness, a smile forming on his lips when he did and his eyes opened.

"Good morning." I chirped, sitting up.

"Oh my god, Charlie." He laughed as he took in my appearance, hands resting on my hips. "You're so fucking cute."

"I'm showing my support for my man."

"I can see that." His thumbs slipped under the shirt, making contact with the skin of my waist and gently massaging. "You can just wear normal clothes, you know."

"I know. But it's the first game I'm coming to see." I leaned down to kiss him, my hands resting on his chest.

"God, if I didn't have to get up for the game, I would fuck you right here, right now." He whispered, gripping tightly to my hips.

"If you play well, I might just let you after the game." I promised, sitting back up. I moved my hips in a single circle, right over his dick, making him groan in frustration and then climbing off him.

"You're such a tease." I smirked and handed him his tea.

"Yep. Drink up. You're going to need it."

Two hours later, we left the house together, climbing into Nick's car and heading towards the rugby field.

"Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?" He asked when he parked the car. There was a pretty big crowd gathering already.

"I'll be fine. I just want to watch you play." I promised, leaning over to give him a gentle kiss.

"Okay. I've got to go and join the team in the locker rooms. I'll see you after, yeah?"

"Yep. I'll be cheering the loudest from the sidelines."

"My cheerleader." He pecked my lips again before we both got out of the car. I took his keys, phone and wallet to look after and watched as he made his way into the nearby locker rooms. Once he was no longer in sight, I headed over to the field, joining the crowd of people by the sidelines.

Luckily it was a sunny day so there was no sea of umbrellas to fight as I pushed my way towards the front.

"Hey!" I turned when I realised the voice was directed at me.

"Hi?"

"You're Charlie, right?" The girl in front of me asked. I frowned. She's not someone I recognised.

"Yeah."

"I'm Rebecca. I'm Derek's girlfriend. He told me you'd be coming today and to look out for you."

"I'm sorry, Derek?"

"Derek is on the team. He's friends with Nick. You're Nick's boyfriend, right?" Now I was remembering Nick occasionally mentioning someone called Derek.

"Uh, fiancée, but yeah. It's nice to meet you." I felt myself relax a little. It would be nice to not be on my own for the game.

"Oh, congratulations. I guess Derek forgot to mention that you guys are engaged. Do you want to sit over there?" She gestured to an open space where we'd be able to sit and have an unobstructed view of the game.

"Sure." I followed behind her through the crowd. "Thanks, by the way. I'm hoping to come and watch a few games so it will be nice to know at least one person here."

"Of course. I spent most of last year by myself so I know how scary it can be." We settled down on a patch of grass jut as players from both teams came running out. "Derek is number 13."

"Thanks." I spotted Nick easily, his tall frame standing out even among all the other big rugby guys. He was looking around a little as he ran clearly trying to spot me so I waved, catching his attention. A smile appeared when he saw me and he waved back.

"You guys are cute." Rebecca spoke up and I looked at her.

"I'm sure you and Derek are too." But I noticed that she wasn't waving to him. And he was stood with his back to us.

"He's very focused on rugby. It's like he has a whole other personality on the field." I nodded and turned back to the field where the players were setting to start the game. The whistle blew and they were off.

This was much more intense than any of the games I had played or watched back at Truham. The guys took no mercy in tackling each other and it wasn't long before a player from the other team was limping off the field with a sprained ankle and bloody nose. Even Nick had already taken the few hits that would eventually become nasty bruises.

Rebecca and I chatted intermittently through the game and I learned that she was a student at Leeds Uni too, studying a bachelor of arts and she had met Derek last winter so their relationship was still fairly new but she enjoyed coming to his games. I cheered loudly whenever Nick scored points and he would glance over at me, a brief smile on his face each time. At half time, Rebecca and I went to get drinks from a nearby food truck and met up with a few other people who were there to support Nick and Derek's team. They joined us on our patch of grass for the second half where Nick seemed to have gotten a whole new burst of energy, running this way and that, scoring so many points. I'm sure I will have no voice left tomorrow from how much I'm cheering. But I don't care.

It's nearly the end of the game and I'm turned away from the field, talking to a girl named Felicity when the whistle blows and the whole crowd gasps. I turn back around to see players from both teams huddled around a fallen player.

Nick.

My heart drops as I watch, willing him to get up and shake it off but he lays there, hands grasping at his leg and in a sudden silence, I hear his screams of agony.