The Baby Project - A Narlie Story

Assignment 1 - The Questionnaire

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the heartstopper characters. I only own the storyline itself.

Charlie's POV

It's only the first day back at school, and this year already sucks.

The government has decided that it is mandatory for all students in Year 11 to be matched up and bred like animals... (I'm not even over exaggerating here) There's a new class called 'the baby project', where all the students are paired up with someone else in their year group and then they have to have a baby together. They have to gradually build up to the baby making, which I guess is a positive, but still, we don't even get to choose who we want to do this with! We're only 16, and we're told we have to be with this person for the rest of our lives, and you can't even split up afterwards because it is frowned upon. It sucks. I just hope that I'm at least paired with a guy.

The baby project is my first lesson today after form. We have new form classes this year too, I already know that I'm not with any of my friends. I walk in to form, and Mr Lange signals for me to come over. "Ah, Charlie Spring, have a nice summer?"

"It was alright." I keep my answer short as I just want to sit down.

"Where have I put you on the seating plan?... Ah yes! You're over there, next to Nicholas Nelson, he's in your year, I'm sure you will get along swimmingly."

I start to walk over to my seat, trying to figure out if I've heard of Nicholas Nelson before, but I don't think I know him. A few steps from my seat, I stop dead in my tracks. This must be Nicholas Nelson, staring out the window. He has a strong build, strawberry blonde hair, which looks perfect, and some freckles across his nose and cheeks. I continue my walk over to him, realising that I probably look really strange just standing in the middle of the class. As I sit down, Nicholas turns around. "Hi" he says, glancing towards me.

"Hi, I'm Charlie," I say, realising he won't know my name.

"Nick," he replies with a smile that is contagious. He then looks down at the papers on the desk and starts to do some work.

After form, I make my way towards the baby project, which is being held in the hall, since it is a class taken by both Truham and Higgs students. It is so busy, almost every seat is taken. I see Tao wave at me from a table near the back, so I make my way over. I notice that Isaac is there too, as well as Elle and two other girls from Higgs who introduce themselves as Tara and Darcy. "Hi" I say as I take my seat.

Tao looks at me and huffs before saying, "I can't believe we have to do this class. Surely, they can see that it is unfair."

I was about to agree when Mr. Ajayi pipes up at the front of the hall with a megaphone so he can be heard over the ridiculous number of people in the hall. "Good morning, students. I know that many of you are not happy about this new class (murmers of agreement follow), but I must remind you that this is not the schools choice. We are merely obeying by the new rules created by the government, so please do not take out your frustrations on us. Today will be simple, you will have all received a questionnaire via email from the school this morning, and you will answer this honestly and responsibly during our first session. Once every students answers are submitted, we will pair you all up in time for our next lesson. You may take out your phones and begin. You have 20 minutes!"

Once Mr Ajayi has finished, the hall breaks out into lots of conversations as everyone opens up the questionnaire on their phones. I open up the questionnaire and immediately give a sigh of relief when the first question is: What gender would you like your partner to be? At least I get a say about that. That's then followed by more questions about what you like in a partner and your own interests, etc... After about 15 minutes, I've finished my questionnaire and submitted it. I realise I am the last one in my group to finish.

Around 5 minutes later Mr Ajayi shouts down his megaphone again "Alright students, your time is up, we have received all of your answers and will go through them between now and your next lesson which will be 2nd Lesson tomorrow, at 10 O'Clock, where we will announce your partners."

As we walk out of the hall, I can hear everyone having conversations about who they think their partner will be or who they want their partner to be. Tara and Darcy have told us that they're hoping they will get each other as they are dating, I really hope they do as well because if not, it will be really hard on them both. However, we won't find out until tomorrow. I split up from my friends as I have music practice, where as they have art class, and tell them that I will meet with them for lunch.

I spend most of my drumming practice over thinking about who my partner will be for the baby project. I don't know any other openly gay people at school. What if I end up alone...