Off To Uni! (Written after Nick & Charlie by Alice Osmen)

Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Seven.

Nick:
After laying in bed with Charlie for a little longer, we go downstairs to have lunch with Mum. If I'm being honest, I would rather spend my day here with these two even though Charlie's friends have become my friends. But even still, the routine I have, or use to have anyway, at home is something I long for. I know it'll get easier when Charlie is up by me next year but even then, it won't be the same. I'm hoping the Rugby season will have me a little less homesick since I'll have something to focus on. Also kind of wondering how Adam is doing after this weekend with Jacob.

"Nick?" Mum says, breaking my thought.
"What? Sorry Mum, didn't hear you."
"Where's your mind at?" Charlie asks.
"Honestly, I was just wondering about how Adam is after having the weekend with Jacob."
"OH MY GOD I TOTALLY FORGOT," Charlie exclaimed.
"Adam is your roommate, right?" Mum asks.
"Yes and he confided in Nick and I about this boy he used to like and coincidently he goes to the same school as Elle and Tara. They ran into each other and ---"
"Could you be anymore excited right now?" I say while laughing.
"I know, I know, I'm sorry. I'm just so rooting for them."

Mum looks at the both of us, shakes her head and laughs.

"You boys are so silly," She says.
"Sarah, you don't understand. We manifested this SO HARD. He's so much happier now too," Charlie says.

I look at Mum and chuckle.

"Clearly Charlie is very much invested," I say.
"VERY MUCH SO," he confesses.

We finish eating and get ready to head to Elle's house. We begin walking and I intertwine our fingers. 

"This weekend really flew by," Charlie says, squeezing my hand a little tighter.
"I know, I wish I didn't have to go. Or, I wish we could fast forward until next year and then I can see you pretty much everyday."
"Nick, we still don't know if I'll get accepted --"
"Char, you're obviously getting accepted but I appreciate you being humble," I tease.

We get to Elle's house and everyone is already there. We say hi to everyone but mostly to Aled and Tao because I see Tara, Darcy and Elle more often than everyone else here. We all fall into conversation right away and it feels like no time has ever passed. It's like the little goodbye get together we had the day before we all went up to University. Even though I'll be taking half of this group back with me, I already feel a pit in my stomach leaving again. Charlie places his hand on my leg.

"You okay?"
"Yeah. Just wish school was closer to home,"  I say with a soft smile. 

We continue catching up; laughing about old times and discussing new things that have been going on in our lives. My alarm goes off in what feels like minutes after arriving, letting me know that it's time to get home for dinner before I have to head back up to school.

"Sorry guys, I got to go have dinner with Mum. Char, you're coming right?"
"Is that even a question?" Tao asks sarcastically with a smirk.

Charlie slaps Tao on the arm and smiles at me.

"I would love to."

Charlie:
We head back to Nick's house to join Sarah for dinner, and although I've been so good with saying goodbye to Nick every week, this weekend feels different. I don't want it to end. We both say goodbye to Sarah and Nellie and head to Nick's car. Instead of driving straight to my house, he drives over to the park and gets out of the car. I open the door and look at him.

"What are we doing here?"

He grabs my hand and walks over to a tree and I smile.

"Do you remember this day?" I ask.
"Of course I do," I say. "We were laying right here when you were questioning your sexuality."
"And then I backed away from our kiss because people were walking by," Nick says. 
"Yeah, but you definitely won't do that now," I tease as I lean in.

Nick kisses me and then playfully pushes me.

"Crazy how things have changed since then. It feels like so long ago," he says.
"You were a different person back then. Still amazing, just different. It must feel like another life to you."
"It was another life, before I met you anyway," he says.

I intertwine our fingers as we walk back to his car.  He drives me home and we sit in silence before I sigh.

"I better get inside. You still need to pick up the girls and drive back. I don't want to keep you here until midnight."
"I'd stay here forever if I could," he says.
"Don't make promises you can't keep," I say as I stick my tongue out at him. 

We both get out of the car as Nick pulls me into a hug.

"I love you so much, you know that right?"

I pull away just enough to look him in the eyes.

"Yeah, I kind of figured," I say smiling as I brush my nose against his. "I love you so much too."
"I'll call you when I get to the dorm, to let you know I got here and also because I'll be asking Adam about his weekend and I know you're on the edge of your seat."

I look at him and excitedly smile.

"Bye handsome," I say.
"Bye. Love you."
"Love you."

He starts to walk to his car but looks at me one more time, waves and slightly smiles. I'm not sure how he can still make me melt into a puddle after all this time but I'll never get tired of that feeling.