True love doesn't just exist in fairy tales 💕

I don't think I realised how bad it was...for you.

Short and sad one today ):

Nick's mental health is VERY underlooked, so this will kinda go into his mental health x

TW: Anxiety, mentions of Abandonment Issues, Self- harm

Nick's POV:

"Nick, are you ok, mate?" Oliver, my roommate, asks.

I don't respond.

"Nicholas, you scared us to death, so it'd be nice if you could answer us!" Connor yells.

No words come out of my mouth.

"Do you want Charlie to come in?" Connor asks.

I nod, but then shake my head.

~~

Charlie's POV:

I've been sitting beside Nick for the past 30 minutes and he hasn't spoke once.

I'm just about to ask if he's ok, when the nurse comes in.

"Sorry if I'm interrupting, but Dr. Susanna told me to tell you it's ok to go home." She smiles at us.

Nick doesn't speak, but just looks the opposite way.

"May we speak outside?" She tilts her head to the door.
"Yeah, ok."

I go to stand up, but my hand gets dragged back down.

"Nick, please." I whisper.

He doesn't let go.

"Nick, I'll be a minute."

He shakes his head, tears daring to escape his eyes. 

"I'll only be a minute, Nick. I promise."

Before he can protest, I slip out of the room.

"Is he alright with you out here?" The nurse asks.
"He'll be ok. What did you want to talk about?"
"Nick seems to suffer from some sort of anxiety, correct?"

I hesitate, but answer.

"Yeah. He got diagnosed when he was 17."
"It seems to have gotten worse."
"Yeah."
"Do you know how?"
"I'm still in my last year of school, so we haven't been able to see each other much."
"I see..." she looks away, "Have you ever thought about the possibility that Nick might have Abandonment Issues?"

My eyes go wide for a second.

"M-Maybe? His dad left when he was really young, so I guess that is a possibility."

She nods.

She might be right...

~~

Connor drops us all off and we make our way inside.

~~

We walk into the living area and everyone's eyes are immediately on us.

Brooke's the first one to run over to us.

"Nicholas..." she sighs, "You're lucky Oliver was there to call us."

Nick laughs, a sad laugh.

"Yeah..."

Brooke starts to tear up and I can't help but feel myself tearing up too.

Aria and Kara run over to us too, asking what happened and if he's ok.

I turn around and see Brooke and Connor embraced in a hug.

~~

To lighten the mood, Aria and Oliver decided to put on a Marvel movie, which I think is to make Nick feel a bit better.

"I don't know how you don't fancy Tom Holland! Even my granny fancies him and she's 68!" Aria squeals.
"He's good looking, but if this dude came to my door and asked me out, I'd shut the door on him." Brooke rolls her eyes.
"EXCUSE ME!?"

They continue bickering until Aria includes a very sleepy Nick into the conversation.

"NICHOLAS! WOULD YOU REJECT TOM HOLLAND!?" Aria screams, probably waking up the full building.
"Shut up!" Nick groans, hiding his face in my stomach.

Aria genuinely looks hurt.

I make sure Nick's asleep before whispering, "Aria, he never meant it like that. He's just had a rough day."
"Are you sure?" She looks so sad.
"I've known him since he was 16. I think I know when he's grumpy."

She chuckles.

"I agree with you. Tom Holland is hot." I sigh.

Brooke's jaw drops.

"Betrayal!" She throws her hand on her heart.

~~

"Night, lovebirds!" Brooke makes a heart with her fingers.
"Night!"

Me and Nick walk into his room in silence.

He sits on the floor, which usually means he wants to talk about something, so I sit with him. 

"You ok?" I ask, taking his hand in mine.
"Yep."
"No, you're not."

His eyes start to water and his bottom lip starts to tremble.

"Hey, it's ok..." I pull him close to me.

He sobs into my shoulder as I run my hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry!" He rolls up his sleeve.

I look down and see 5 plasters across his around his arm, each one covering a cut.

I used to self-harm, so I know how draining it can be afterwards.

"We promised to tell each others things, remember?" A tear trickles down my  cheek.

He nods and I kiss his head, calming him down a bit.

"I've ruined your week!" He mumbles.
"That's not true."
"I'm being dramatic!"
"You're not hiding your emotions."
"I lied to you!"
"I've done it to you many times."
"I let my thoughts win..."
"It happens."

He climbs into bed, so I follow him. He cuddles up to me and lies his head on my chest.

"Do you still love me?" He whispers.
"Why wouldn't I? You're the most caring, most funniest, most kindest, most protective, and most loyalist person in the world!"
"Oh."
"I would love you even if you lived on Mars, Nick."

I pull him in for a kiss. It doesn't last long, but it's still sweet.

"I love you, Nick."