A Collection of Heartstopper Oneshots

Panic! at the drum set - HerneBayBeach

Summary:

What are the thoughts running through Nick's head the first time he goes to Charlie's house...
Work Text:
He licked his lips as he raised his finger up towards the door bell. Hesitating, he took a deep breath. Why was he nervous about this? He was just going to a friend's house. On a Saturday. This was a totally normal thing to do. Why was he so nervous? Huffing his breath out, he straightened his shoulders, and pressed the doorbell with determination.

There was a clatter of feet, presumably on stairs, and then the door opened, and there was Charlie's beaming face. Nick instantly felt relieved.

"Hi", the younger boy said, a huge smile on his face. He took a step backwards and gestured towards Nick to come inside.

"Hi", Nick replied, digging his hand into his jacket pocket. "Should I take my shoes off?" he asked.

"Yeah, if that's OK? My mum's a bit..." Charlie made a gesture with his hand that Nick couldn't quite interpret.

As he knelt down to unlace his Vans, he quickly cast his eyes over Charlie's outfit. He was wearing jeans and a jumper that seemed slightly too big for him. Nick just wanted to reach out and hug him. What was that about? He focused on his shoelace instead..

"Charlie? Who's this?" An older voice interrupted Nick's confused thoughts.

"Mum, this is Nick. I said he was coming round. Remember?" Nick stood up, and noticed Charlie pulling the sleeve of his jumper over his hand.

"Hello Mrs Spring", Nick said, smiling. He wondered about adding a wave, but he was suddenly feeling awkward.

Charlie's mum's eyebrows furrowed. It wasn't as cute as when Charlie did it. He supposed that, really, nothing was as cute as Charlie. He tried to focus on Mrs Spring. She was looking him up and down, with an odd expression on her face.

"And how do you two know each other?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"We're in the same form at school mum."

Nick could hear the unspoken 'I've told you this'. He could also see Charlie starting to blush slightly. Odd.

"And what Year are you in, Nick?"

"Year 11, Mrs Spring." Nick aimed for 'polite but enthusiastic'. He was usually good at this: Sai, and Otis, and Chris' mums all loved him.

Mrs Spring raised an eyebrow.

"Nick's the Captain of the rugby team." Charlie offered.

Nick noticed that Charlie was now actively fiddling with his sweater paws.

"Oh", said Mrs Spring. "Should I take it that it was you who persuaded him to join the rugby team too?"

Nick couldn't help but notice that Charlie was finding the hall floor to be fascinating.

"Yes Mrs Spring. Charlie's a really fast runner. He's going to be a brilliant wing." Nick smiled, broadly. He thought it was possible that Mrs Spring hated him. Possibly for the sole reason of having introduced Charlie to mud. Not that Charlie got particularly muddy at rugby yet. Nick tried not to think about why a corner of his brain was mentally picturing a muddy Charlie. He didn't understand some of the images that had popped into his mind in the last few weeks. Somehow, it had got worse since the Saturday he was now also mentally referring to as 'Snow Day'.

"Mum, you and Dad are going to be late."

Nick tried not to jump in shock at a voice emerging from the shadows further down the hall. A girl about his age who must, now he thought about it, be Charlie's sister, appeared to glide out of the darkness. She was wearing a dressing gown over what Nick presumed were her pyjamas, and was sipping a drink from a glass with a straw.