nick and charlie: love is the strongest force

chapter seven

Tw: Anxiety

Nick anxiously glanced at the calendar pinned to his bedroom wall. His A-level exams were just around the corner, and the weight of impending responsibility sat heavily on his shoulders.

As he studied the dense textbooks scattered across his desk, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the back of his mind.

"Hey, Nick," Charlie called from the doorway, breaking his concentration. "Let's take Nellie out for a walk. It's a beautiful day, and a little fresh air might do us all some good."

Nick nodded, grateful for the distraction. Nellie bounded up to them, her tail wagging eagerly. They leashed her up and set off down the quiet suburban street, the warmth of the afternoon sun enveloping them.

But something was different about Nellie today. Normally, she'd be pulling at the leash, eager to explore every nook and cranny of the neighbourhood. Today, however, she seemed sluggish, her usually sprightly gait reduced to a slow amble.

Concern gnawed at Nick's insides as they made their way back home. "Do you think she's okay?" he asked Charlie, his brow furrowing with worry.

"She's probably just tired from the heat," Charlie reassured him, though his own furrowed brow betrayed a hint of concern.

They continued their slow walk and made their way into the park, Nellie immediately laid down on the grass, panting as if she had run for ages

Back inside, Nick tried to focus on his revision, but his mind kept drifting back to Nellie. She curled up on her bed, her breathing slow and steady as she drifted off into a deep sleep. Nick couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

"Hey, Nick," Charlie said, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Let's take a break from studying for a bit. I'll help you go over some of the material."

Grateful for the support, Nick nodded, and they delved into their revision together. Charlie's patient explanations and encouraging words helped alleviate some of Nick's anxiety, but his mind still lingered on Nellie.

As the evening wore on, Nellie showed no signs of improvement. She slept more than usual, barely stirring even when they called her name. Nick's worry grew with each passing hour, overshadowing his preparations for the looming exams.

By the time they retired to bed that night, Nick's mind was consumed with thoughts of Nellie and the exams. Sleep eluded him as he tossed and turned, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him from all sides.

As dawn broke on the morning of his exams, Nick's nerves were frayed to the breaking point. With a heavy heart, he left Nellie in Charlie's care and set off for the exam hall, the weight of uncertainty hanging heavy in the air.

Little did he know that this weekend would be a turning point in more ways than one.

A/N
I'm sorry that these chapters so far have been quite short, I just haven't had the energy to write long chapters at the moment, and idk why but this chapter I have been stuck on for ages for this is the best your gonna get