🍂- Heartstopper - Nick and Charlie -🍂

3.1 - Talk

TW - abusive relationship, violence

*Charlie's POV*

C - Nick?... Nick.

N - Huh?

C - I think you spaced out. But what did you mean by "the first time"?

I was shaking and in pain. My whole face was hurting and I was still feeling awfully dizzy, but I tried to keep it together and not breakdown in front of Nick. 

N - Charlie, I can explain. Please just come to my house, I'll take care of you and we can talk about it.

I hesitantly nodded and slowly followed Nick to his house. My head was pounding and filled with questions. What did he mean by that? The first time? Did someone see us the first time Ben slapped me at school? Did someone start a rumour? Or did Nick see what happened the first time? I didn't know what to think or how to feel about that. Was I supposed to be angry at Nick? Or disappointed? I didn't know.

Once we got to his house, we went straight up to his room. No one was home except us so I felt more comfortable. He sat me down on his bed, gently to not make me feel lightheaded again. He made me lean my back on the wall and ran downstairs to bring me back me a cup of water as well as a humid towel for my face.

C - You didn't have to do that...

N - Oh but I did though. After what you've been through...

C - I'm fine, sorry about all of that.

N - You don't have to be sorry about anything Charlie.

C - ...

N - Listen, I'm gonna be honest with you because I really care about you for some reason. The other day after practice, I followed you to the music room because I felt like something was off. I saw everything Charlie and- I- I didn't know what to do. 

I could see tears filling his eyes and could hear his voice get lower and shaky. 

N - I saw Ben slap you. I saw it and I couldn't do anything. I couldn't move, my body just froze up and I couldn't say a word either even if I wanted to I couldn't do anything and-

C - Nick. I understand. Just breathe. 

He was breathing heavily and the tears were now falling down his freckled cheeks. He was also shaking and shivering, so much that I instinctively held his hands. I wiped down his tears and made him look up at me.

C - I understand that what you saw probably traumatized you and honestly I think that I probably would've also froze up if I witnessed something like that. 

N - I'm so sorry for not stopping him. I don't even know why I'm crying, I shouldn't even be the one crying. I really wanted to help you but I didn't know how.

C - It's okay. I'm okay.

I stood up and felt a huge wave of heat and suddenly felt like I was gonna pass out again. 

N - You're not okay Charlie...

I couldn't hold it anymore. I exploded and let out every single tear I had in my body. I felt so stupid and weak and vulnerable. I couldn't stop it and just kept crying for like 15 min. Nick held me in his arm and squeezed me so tight I couldn't breathe. His strong arms wrapped my whole body and it just felt so good that I briefly felt like I couldn't be any safer. We stayed there in silence for what felt like hours. I then looked up at him, tears still falling down my face. I took a breath and said. 

C - Okay, I'm ready to talk about it now.