Hearstopper from the edit room floor

Meet the parents

A retelling and reimagining of what might've happened had the Nelson and Spring families met individually, and the boys had done it "traditionally" or the way it's done in the books or the show

Nick

Friday morning

I rested my head lazily on the desk, catching a cat nap before the start of school. It was Friday morning, but this had been the most exhausting week. For no particular reason, as I dozed, I heard the form room door creak open.

Over the muffled buzz, I hear my wonderful, amazing boyfriend Charlie Spring say good morning to several other students and our form tutor as he makes his way over to our desk, and from my scrunched-up position, I beam at him, "Hi." He smiles, lowering his head to the same position. "Hi," I repeat, "tired?" He asks, and I shuffle up slowly to a seated position. "Mmm, kinda. Rugby was brutal after school yesterday. How are you?" I ask, "shattered Oliver was up half the night with some bugs, so he's off school today, but on the other hand, I'm all the better for seeing you." Charlie smiles, taking my hand in his underneath the desk, and he says, "Can I ask you something?" This makes me pay attention. "What's up?" I say simply

Charlie sighs, not worried but more excited and nervous. "Would you like to come over for dinner tomorrow night? So long as Olly feels better," he asks. I chuckle, not really registering what he's saying. "Char, are we not past the nervousness of asking each other over?" I simply Charlie sighs, running a hand through his hair. "They want to meet you... as my boyfriend," Charlie says. It takes me a few moments to register what he was saying. "A meet the parents?" I asked just for clarification. Charlie nods, smiling brightly. I lean forward, giving him a quick but lingering kiss. "I would absolutely love that!" I say brightly, and Charlie flings himself at me with a bear hug, and I just laugh."Great! I'll get mum to give me details," he says. I was already nervous just thinking about it, but I knew it would all be okay.

Saturday evening

"Christ," I sighed, nervously scanning my wardrobe, praying something suitable would reach out and smack me in the face. It had been six beautiful and wonderful months since Charlie and I had gotten together, and I had finally agreed to meet Charlie's family: his mum, Jane his dad, Julio his older sister, Tori, and his younger brother Oliver, but this time we'd be meeting them as a couple, even though I'd met them loads before while Charlie and I were 'just friends'

"Is everything okay in here, Nick? I can hear you banging and crashing from the kitchen," Mum asks. I sigh in defeat, flopping backwards on my bed. My eye caught the photos of Charlie and me that were taped to my ceiling, and my stomach flipped with happiness. "I'm supposed to be meeting Jane and Julio, Olly and Tori tonight," I say, running a nervous hand through my hair. "And? You don't want to go? I'm sorry, darling, I'm not following you. You've met the Springs a lot before," Mum asks, confusion in her voice.

The question makes me shoot bolt upright, and I spin to face mum again. "No, of course I do! And I know I have, but this is my first time meeting the Springs's as Charlie's boyfriend, and to be perfectly honest, I have nothing to wear, and I'm terrified!" I say the words I'm speaking, making my stomach churn in delight. The fact I was able to be so open about it now was wonderful and magical to me, but it didn't calm my anxiety and nerves about the evening ahead. Mum shuffles over to me and hugs me tightly. "My baby boy, my sweet whipped boy, would you like some help?" She asks, and I nod silently, ignoring her whipped comment. I was not whipped. "Okay, so Charlie distinctly said don't overthink it. Says the King of Overthinking." We both giggled at this comment. My own mother knew my boyfriend as well as I did. "So what strikes you as something you would feel good in and actually want to wear?" she asks

I scan my wardrobe. "Um, this," I say, pulling an outfit-a blue and green jumper and dark jeans-almost the same outfit I'd worn when we'd first gone to the cinema with our friends and Ben and Harry. Apart from that chaotic day, it was the first time Charlie and I held hands. Mum smiled as I pulled on the outfit. "I think that's a great choice!" Mum smiled. We'd always been a family that bought gifts when someone else was hosting. "You'll look fab! Get changed and get going. Jane's flowers are on the table!" she says, placing a reassuring pat on my shoulder. "Thanks, mum!" I say gratefully as she leaves my room.