In every one of us. || Nick + Charlie

5- Meet

What was that! You almost fucked it up, he wasn't even your Charlie..but he looked so much like him, shit. I don't think I can do this anymore, it's too much, it's too real. But I have to, or I can't see my Charlie again, I couldn't tell him I lo-

Honk

"GET OUTTA THE STREET KID!" Oh, was he in the next universe already?
"Shi- sorry!" He quickly ran back onto the pavement.

Where was he supposed to be headed anyways?- right! School. He hoped he'd hardly have to make an effort in this one.

~

He spotted Charlie fairly easily, he was one of the few people who chose not to wear a uniform, he dressed differently from his Charlie, or any Charlie he'd seen so far..aside from the eyepatch one that is. He was bolder, he had his nails painted, an eyebrow piercing, and a baby tee under his coat, he wasn't sure how he'd approach him, he had a different kind of feel to him, like you shouldn't speak to him unless spoken to.

He'd made the mistake of staring, getting caught and glared at, he quickly turned away..so this was going to be harder than he had hoped.

~

"What the hell are you wearing Spring? Fucking poof," a boy laughed, but he wasn't just any other boy, Nick recognized him, but he wasn't the way he knew him to be.
"Eat shit Xu, look at your fucking outfit, you're out of uniform yet somehow your uniform has more character than your regular clothes, Jesus Christ, you have zero taste"
"Whatever," Tao scoffed, walking away.

"What ya looking at mate?" Harry appeared out of nowhere, scaring the crap out of him.
"Nothing," Nick tried to play it off, folding his arms.
"Nah you're looking at Charlie again, just go talk to him, worst he can do is make fun of your haircut," he nudged him.

Okay what the actual fuck. What was this? Harry wasn't a homophobic prick..Tao was??

"I can't, I think he hates me"
"Hates you? He's never even spoken to you, why do you think he hates you?"
"He glared at me," Harry laughed.
"Well you were probably staring at him like some weirdo like you always do, am I right or am I right?"

Nick sighed, nodding.

"See! So he probably doesn't hate you, I'm sure it was a 'why the fuck are you staring at me ya fucking loser' glare, not a 'I want my glare alone to make your head explode' glare," he pat him on the back.
"Alright, sure, but you didn't have to call me a loser"
"You kind of are mate"
"Yeah, I mean I can't even muster up the courage to talk to him, but it's so difficult because he's got such a strong personality, how do I let him know that I'm genuine?" He ran a hand over his face in frustration.
"You just be genuine, but don't go over the top with it, I doubt he likes cheesy shit"
"I won't, I don't like that kind of stuff either..how should I approach him?"
"Go for it and say whatever comes to mind- wait, you're doing this right now?"
"Well yeah, I mean-"

The bell rung, and suddenly Nick didn't have a clear view as to where Charlie was, it'd have to be another time.

~

Nick being the genius that he is decided to speed walk over to his next class, but he made the mistake of not paying attention to his surroundings. He didn't have time to process what was happening, soon colliding with another person, knocking them both to the ground.

"Shi- I'm so sorry, I really didn't mean to, are you injured? I can take you to the nurse if y-"
"I'm fine, watch where you're going next time," he rubbed his shoulder, it was Charlie. He'd bumped into Charlie.
"Charlie.." Nick froze, Charlie's stuff nearly falling from his hands.
"Oh it's you, the starer," Charlie stood back up, dusting himself off.
"Sorry- what? Is that what you call me?"
"Could I have my stuff back?"
"Do you know my name?"
"No I don't know your name, and honestly I don't really care, how do you even know mine?" Nick just shrugged.
"Right, whatever, give me back my stuff," he held out his hands.
"I'm Nick," he handed him back his things.
"Okay. You should probably get off the floor..unless you're the injured one, you aren't injured, are you?" Charlie examined him.
"No, I'm..I'm okay"