🍂- Heartstopper - Nick and Charlie -🍂

9.1 - Rumors

TW: Sexual content, self harm, mention suicide attempt

*Charlie's POV*

It was a normal, average day, sunny but still a little cold. I had "borrowed" a hoodie from Nick and it smelled so good. I missed him so much these days and I didn't know why because we've still been seeing each other a lot lately. Since the night we had sex, I've felt like I fell in love with him all over again. Also, we've been doing it almost everyday now; I think that's what they call the "honeymoon phase". We haven't gone further than just touching for now, but it's definitely been amazing. I've just been feeling like we got closer in terms of relationship. It was like we grew together as a couple. And I've been better too. I hadn't self harmed in 3 weeks now and I was so proud of myself, so was Nick. Some days were still more difficult than others but my wonderful boyfriend has been there for me every single day. Everything was better in my life. Everything was perfect until...

I was walking to form and heard my name in someone's conversation. I stopped and got behind a wall to try to hear what they were talking about.

Random guy - Yo guys. I heard someone say that Charlie missed 2 weeks of school because he was in the hospital. What do you think happened?

Random girl - I heard someone say that he tried to kill himself.

My heart skipped a beat and I quickly started feeling lightheaded. The only people that knew about that were Nick, Tao, Elle, and Isaac so that meant that one of them... said... something... I felt my legs give up on me as I was falling to the ground. 

N - Woah, Charlie!

Nick had caught me before I hit the ground.

N - Char, hey, are you okay? What's going on? Here, let me get you up and bring you to the nurse.

C - No, please, not the nurse. 

N - Okay. 

He held my arm with one of his hands while the other held me around my waist. He brought me to the cafeteria where he sat me down on a bench. He bent down and held my hands.

N - Love? I'm really starting to worry now.

C - Did you?.. Tell anyone? 

N - What are you talking about Charlie?

C - About my... suicide attempt.

He looked at me confused as tears starting going down his cheeks. I knew it was still hard for him to hear those words. 

N - Of course not, Charlie. Why would I tell anyone?

C - I don't know but... I heard someone talk about it in the hallway. 

N - Oh, Charlie...

He held me in his arms as I was also crying now. 

N - I promise I didn't tell anyone, okay? Never would I put your trust in me at risk. Forget about what these people said. It's none of their business anyway. You're doing amazing now and I am so proud of you. Don't give up on yourself Char. You've worked so hard to be as good as you are right now, okay? I love you.

C - I love you too.

I was definitely a little better after those words. Nick always knew exactly what to tell me. But I was still very concerned about people knowing. He picked me up slowly. 

N - Feeling better?

I took some time to stand up, but I was still a little dizzy. 

C - A little.

N - Here, take my arm. We're going to be late to form. 

We slowly walked to form, but as soon as we reached that same hallway, everyone was looking at me and started whispering stuff to other people around. That was it. Everyone knew now.

Nick took my hand and started walking in the opposite direction.

N - I'm gonna call my mom and tell her to pick us up. 

C - Thank you. 

I couldn't stay in here. I needed some fresh air. I followed Nick outside the school. 

N - I'm so sorry.

He grabbed me in a tight hug.

C - It's okay, it's not your fault. Are you sure your mom is gonna let us skip school?

N - She's coming right now. I'll talk to her. Are you okay?

Tears fell down my face. 

C - How does everyone know?

I sobbed uncontrollably as Nick held me tighter.

N - It's going to be okay Char. I'm here. And look who's also here?

I turned around and saw Nick's mom in her car. 

C - Thank you.