I Can Hear Your Silence (A Heartstopper FanFic -- BOOK 2)

13. Happiness

A distant noise cut almost painfully through Nick's uneasy sleep and dragged him back into consciousness.

He had no memory of the nightmare he'd been having, only that it had been one. His heart was still racing, his chest heaving as he sat up and rubbed at his bleary eyes. He squinted at the clock and saw it was gone three in the morning.

Nick groaned as the noise persisted -- then he realised it was his phone, ringing from beside the clock. He grabbed it, the brightness of the screen dazzling until Charlie's face became clear, smiling up at him from his contact picture. Nick jabbed at the answer button, brushing sleep out of his eyes.

"Nick?" Charlie's voice was barely audible, a mere whisper in the darkness.

"Charlie? Are you alright? It's really late."

"Nick -- I'm sorry... I didn't mean to. I'm sorry, I messed up -- I can't..."

Nick was already out of bed and searching for socks and a jumper. "What have you done, baby?"

A poorly stifled sob and Nick three the green jumper over his head, then yanked the door open.

"I'm sorry," Charlie's voice shook as Nick shot down the stairs. "You told me not to and I tried, Nick, I promise I did... I can't move..." Charlie dissolved into breathy tears which crackled over the line.

"I'm coming to you," Nick gasped, shoving his feet into his shoes. It was tricky in the dark. He hadn't wanted to turn any lights on in case he woke anyone else up. "I'm on my way, Charlie. Don't hang up, okay? Can you do that for me?"

A tiny trembling murmur and Nick was locking the front door behind him as quickly and quietly as possible. He strode down the road, following the familiar route he could have walked in his sleep.

"Keep talking to me, baby." For Charlie had gone eerily quiet. "Charlie? Are you still there?"

"Yeah -- 'm sorry..."

"Hey, hey, no. No s-words. I'm on my way, love. Have you --?" Nick swallowed a lungful of cold night air. "Have you got a blade?"

He could almost see Charlie's bottom lip tremble as he continued to sob. "I'm so sorry, Nick..."

"It's okay, it's okay." Nick picked up his stride. "Can you do something else for me, baby?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think you can throw it for me? As far away from you as you can manage."

Another sorrowful whimper that set Nick running. "You're going to have to be brave for me, Charlie, but I know you are. You can do it, baby. I'm almost there."

As Nick sprinted around the corner onto Britannia Road, he just about made out the tiny sound of metal clattering through the phone. "Did you do it?"

No answer. The tiny whimpers had turned into heavy breathing, like Charlie was the one running through the night.

"Well done," Nick gasped. The Springs' front door was in view. "Well done, baby. You're okay. I'm outside. I'm almost to you."

Nick scrambled under the mat for the spare key, thankful he even knew where it was kept. He let himself into the hallway and shut the door quickly behind him.

Up the stairs and down the hall. All was dark and quiet and still. The landing was in shadow. He had half expected to find blood pouring from under the bathroom door but found only light.

"Charlie?" he breathed, approaching the door. "Charlie, I'm here. It's Nick."

A small scuffling noise from the other side. Nick pocketed his phone and tried the handle.