nick and charlie: love is the strongest force

chapter eight

Tw: Smut kinda, anxiety

Nick groaned as he felt the first rays of sunlight creeping through the curtains, signalling the start of another day. It was the day of his first exam, and the subject was dreaded - maths.

He buried his head deeper into his pillow, hoping to prolong the inevitable confrontation with numbers and equations.

But his boyfriend, Charlie, was not going to let him stay in bed and wallow in exam anxiety.

With a gentle shake, Charlie whispered, "Come on, Nick, it's time to get up. You've got this exam today, remember?"

Nick groaned again, this time louder, and mumbled something unintelligible into his pillow.

Charlie chuckled softly and persisted, "I know you're nervous, but staying in bed won't make it any easier. You've studied hard, and I believe in you. Now, let's get ready for school."

Reluctantly, Nick dragged himself out of bed, his limbs feeling heavier than usual. He rubbed his eyes and gave Charlie a half-hearted smile, appreciating his boyfriend's support even when he felt like giving up.

As they walked to school, the cool morning air helped clear Nick's mind slightly. He listened as Charlie chattered about random topics, trying to distract him from his nerves. It worked to some extent, and Nick found himself smiling and laughing along with Charlie's anecdotes.

Approaching the school gates, Nick felt a surge of anxiety wash over him once again. The weight of the impending exam pressed down on his shoulders, threatening to crush his confidence.

But Charlie was there, his hand reaching out to squeeze Nick's reassuringly. "You've got this, Nick. I'll be waiting for you after the exam, no matter what happens."

Nick took a deep breath, drawing strength from Charlie's words and his unwavering support. With a determined nod, he squared his shoulders and walked into the school, ready to face his first exam head-on.

And as he sat down at his desk, pencil in hand, Nick knew that no matter the outcome, he had Charlie by his side, cheering him on every step of the way.

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The room was tense with anticipation as students furrowed their brows, grappling with the formidable mathematics paper spread out before them.

Nick's gaze flickered over the first question, and a sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. The numbers seemed to blur together, dancing mockingly on the page, taunting him with their complexity. He chewed on the end of his pen, trying to summon the courage to tackle the problem head-on.

But as he stared at the jumble of equations and variables, doubt gnawed at the edges of his mind. He felt a familiar sense of inadequacy creeping in, whispering that maybe he wasn't cut out for this after all. His confidence wavered, like a flickering flame struggling to stay alight in the face of a gust of wind.

Nick sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping with defeat. "I can't do this," he murmured under his breath, the words heavy with resignation.

His mind wandered, drifting away from the paper in front of him. He thought about all the hours he had spent studying, the countless practice problems he had worked through, and yet it still felt like he was no match for the relentless onslaught of numbers and equations.

A sense of hopelessness washed over him, like a tidal wave threatening to engulf him in its icy embrace.

Nick closed his eyes, trying to shut out the overwhelming pressure bearing down on him from all sides.