Uni Reunion (A Nick & Charlie Story)

Chapter 9 - Finale

6 MONTHS LATER.

The excitement that boils up inside my stomach is anything beyond compare. I've just thrown the last of my suitcases into the back of my car, I just graduated from university and received my diploma.

I made Mum keep Charlie away from my graduation ceremony as he wanted to come and cheer me on, but I made her tell him that it wasn't a full-fledged event, only a small gathering in the food hall, the headmaster, the professors and the students, one after another being called up to get a little piece of paper and the opportunity to switch the little tassel on our graduation caps from one side to the other to show we passed.

Over the past weeks, Mum & I have exchanged well over 100 texts, confirming, double confirming, suggesting, squabbling, and debating... we had a few minor issues over a couple of things. I think the worst one for me was when the payment I sent over for the ring didn't show up in my Mum's bank account- me being so worried about not getting it I hadn't realised that it was not long past midnight and the banks weren't processing payments at that moment. 6 hours later, Mum sent me a screenshot of the chosen ring, she had placed the order and was set to pick it up late that afternoon. I was riddled with anxiety so badly I hardly got any sleep.

She's had the ring stuffed in a hiding place in hers for nearly 3 months. I took a while to decide on the ring- but once I found it, I couldn't stop looking at it, I kept imagining it on Charlie's finger. I imagined proposing with it. I imagined kissing it on his finger. I imagined everything I possibly could when I found it. I knew it was the right ring as soon as I saw it.

I saw the name and it clicked 'Manchot', which in French was translated into Penguin, Charlie sees himself as a penguin, so he's, my penguin.

The drive back home was going to be the longest part of the day, the ceremony only lasted a short 30 minutes. The headmaster celebrated each student's victory on getting out uni pretty fast and any photos taken were being sent to the student via their email, they weren't being forced to stay and socialise. So, once my photo was taken, I had gotten my stuff and left in the car.

Charlie thinks I'm going to be home around half 6, closer to 7. Since it was getting closer to winter. The skies got darker quicker so anything he had planned, included sparkly lights to brighten the space, Mum let me in a couple of secrets of course.

I managed to convince my Mum to talk Charlie into making a semi-decent-sized circle in the middle of the back garden. You know, to make space for 'dancing' whereas, I had a sweet thought-out plan in my head (of which my Mum was aware of).

As I was driving, I was mentally planning what I was going to be saying- I didn't dare wing it. Charlie was much too special for that.

But I was so distracted in my own head, that I didn't realise I had driven the whole journey within hours.

It was almost 6:00 o'clock so I parked a fair bit away from my house in the opposite direction of Charlie's. I couldn't chance him seeing me.

I exited the car, not caring for my luggage inside, I had to get inside before anyone saw me. I texted Mum that I was a few minutes away and she alerted me that Charlie was coming over in 10 minutes, he knew Nick was close to being home and wanted to surprise him- let alone I was the one surprising Charlie after all.

I quickened my pace once I got to my door, I opened it quickly- I kept quiet until I heard a pitter patter and I was suddenly knocked back into the door with Nellie jumping onto my chest barking with excitement.

"Nicky, you there darling?" I chuckled hearing my mum's voice again.

"Yeah, it's me" She ran from the kitchen, she was dressed nicely for my 'coming home party' and I honestly couldn't be happier that she was so supportive of this whole ordeal.