True love doesn't just exist in fairy tales 💕

Tonight will be rough.

I'M SORRY THESE ARE SO SHORT!! I'VE GOT A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON AT HOME AND IT'S INTERFERING WITH THIS STORY!! SORRY X 

These few chapters will go into detail about characters anxiety, ADHD, OCD, etc. I think Nick's anxiety will be a big thing in this. It'll all be explained in the next few chapters.

Charlie's POV:

It's 7pm and we're binge-watching all the Shrek movies.

"Who wants pizza?" Brooke asks, climbing off the couch.

Everyone says yes and she calls the nearest pizza place.

My phone starts ringing in my pocket.

"Sorry." I apologise.

I take out my phone and the call stops ringing.

"Who was it?" Nick whispers.

I shrug my shoulders.

The phone rings again, startling me.

"We'll be back in a minute." Nick tells everyone before dragging me into his dorm room.

It's a fairly small room with a single bed, desk and chairs and toilet and sink.

It's Mum...

I put the call on louder speaker so Nick can hear and put my phone on Nick's desk.

"Hi, Mum." I say.
"Charles." She sounds angry.
"Yeah?"
"Is Nick there?"

I look at Nick.

"No." I lie.
"Where are you?"
"In Leeds."
"I'm not an idiot."
"I wouldn't say that."
"Excuse me!?"
"What do you want?"
"You're lying! You are with Nick!"

What?

"And how would you know that?" I ask.
"You're in a dorm room."

Ok, what the f-

"How do you know that!?"
"Because, Charles, I'm not stupid."
"Tell me how you know that I'm in a dorm room!"
"Because, there's a tracker on your phone."
"WHAT!"
"For safety reasons."

I turn around and look at Nick. His fists are white.

"I want to speak to Nick." She sounds so angry.
"No."
"Excuse me!?"

Nick grabs the phone out of my hand.

"Mrs. Spring?" He waits for an answer.
"Nick."
"Mhm."
"How dare you."
"What?"
"HOW DARE YOU!" She screams.

I think Nick's roommates can hear this.

"What have I done?" Nick's about to snap...
"You're mum didn't teach you well."

Uh oh.

"Sorry, but you don't get to phone your son, ask for me, and then accuse my mum of not teaching me well!" He snaps
"You're just as bad as Charlie."
"Say that again."
"I said, you're just as bad as Charlie!"
"Don't talk about him like that."

There's a knock at the door.

I open the door and Brooke's standing there with a worried face, behind her is a very concerned looking Connor.

"YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ABOUT YOUR SON AND NOT EXPECT ME TO DEFEND HIM!!" Nick yells.

Brooke mouths, "Everything ok?"

I nod.

"You sure?" Connor asks.

I hesitate, but nod again.

I tap Nick on the shoulder and gesture for me to go into the hall.

Me, Brooke and Connor go into the hall.

"Who's he arguing with?" Brooke asks.
"My mum."
"Your mum? Why?"
"She installed a tracker in my phone and then started insulting me."
"So Nick lost it?"
"Exactly."

Just as Connor starts to speak, Nick barges out the door, my phone in hand.

"I hate your mum." He hands me my phone before trying to go into the living room.

Connor grabs his arm and pushes him towards me.

I immediately understand what Connor's trying to do and grab Nick by the arms, stopping him from moving.

Over the past few months, Connor has texted me on Nick's phone every time Nick gets angry or upset, which I highly appreciate. But, a few weeks ago on a Saturday night at 3am, Connor phoned me in a panic because Nick had locked himself in his room, crying. I told him what to do and how to help. Eventually, Nick calmed down and I said goodnight to them both, still not knowing who Connor was. That night was hard on us 3. Me and Connor had never met and me and Nick were 4 and a half hours away from each other.

"Nick, calm down." I try.

He doesn't look at me.

"Nick!"

"Nicholas, look at me!" I grab his face.

Tears stream down his face.

Tonight will be rough.