A Collection of Heartstopper Oneshots

Because You Were There - hereforhsfanfic

AN: this is a story that has just been published on AO3 but I thought I would share the first chapter anyway because I really liked it.

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Summary:

When Charlie texts what he thinks is Tao's new number, he mistakenly gets a random stranger instead. Charlie is in crisis and the stranger offers to listen. Charlie decides to take a chance and starts talking with them...

Or: just another wrong number AU where Nick and Charlie meet in the most unlikely of ways...
Notes:

For Whatteverr888yup.
Today, Sept. 28, 2023, is my one-year anniversary of joining AO3, so I wanted to do something special to celebrate. What could be better than posting the first chapter of my very first multi-chapter fic?

I originally joined AO3 because I started reading a wrong number AU that completely sucked me in. Before Heartstopper, I had never read any fanfiction at all and it was the first multi-chapter fic I'd read (and one of the very first fics I read, period). I got tired of constantly refreshing to see if there were updates, so I joined AO3. That fic remains unfinished 😩, but the idea popped into my head to do a wrong number AU along the same lines as that one to celebrate my AO3iversary. I kind of hate wrong number AUs because I find them really implausible, but the idea wouldn't leave me alone, so here we are.

A wrong number AU turned out to be the perfect vehicle for the story I wanted to tell, though, because this fic is a love letter to online friendships. I have met some of the most wonderful, lovely, supportive people because of the Heartstopper fandom, and so I wanted to celebrate these internet friendships that are not any less real or meaningful just because we've never met in real life (and in many cases don't know each other's real names, where we live, or what we look like).

This fic is dedicated to Lola (Whatteverr88yup) who has been the most amazing support and friend and cheerleader to me and countless other writers in this fandom. Lola, you are a treasure and we are SO lucky to know you and have you in our lives! Lola also reached out to make sure I was okay after S2 when I disappeared for a while, something I will be forever grateful for. Thank you for everything, my lovely! ❤️ I hope you enjoy this fluffy story with very little angst! 🥰

There will also be little nods to other people in the fandom I've gotten to know since I started writing back in June, so I hope people enjoy those cameos. Please give the writers and fics I link to all the love because it is SO deserved! They will appear randomly, in no particular order, in most (but not all) chapters - just wherever they fit best in the story.

Last but not least, a HUGE thank you to soph (CharliesJumperStash) and GalacticHare for betaing this fic and making sure I don't use any Americanisms, that the texting feels authentic, and that the story is believable! I appreciate your input on this so, so much!!

TW for this chapter: Discussion of Charlie's past mental health struggles, discussion of Ben and his treatment of Charlie

Okay, enough sentimental babbling. On to the story!
(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1

Chapter Text
"Get on the train before you miss it and I get in trouble with Elle," Charlie laughed, pushing Tao towards the doors that were about to close.

"Didn't realise you wanted to get rid of me so badly..." Tao grumbled.

"You know I love you, you big grump," Charlie said, rolling his eyes and pulling Tao into one last hug.

"Don't forget to text me so I have your number in my new phone," Tao called as he scrambled through the doors just as they closed.

"I won't! Bye!" Charlie waved.