Healing Broken Hearts

I Believe You

TW: homophobic language

Me and Nick stare at each other in a stunned silence. He's just accidentally outed himself and I can see the panic in his eyes as realises there's no way to pass this off as just a drunk, friendly kiss. He had made out with me for a few seconds before he stopped and pulled away and by the look on everyone's faces, there's no hiding the nature of our relationship anymore.

"Nick?" Otis says, breaking the silence.
"Erm..." Nick says, looking at Otis and then back at me.
"Oh my god are you two dating?!" Harry shouts, laughing.
"Um... Yeah." Nick says quietly and everyone gasps.
"I didn't know you were gay Nick!" Harry laughs, moving closer to him.
"He's bi." I say quietly.
"Are scrawny nerds your type then?" Harry asks him.
"What did you say?" Nick says, turning to him and his panic suddenly turns to rage.
"Aww, look at you getting all angry." He laughs, shoving Nick and I step back.
"Don't talk about him like that!" Nick shouts, shoving him back and I start to panic.
"You can't help wanting to protect him, can you? Because he's a pathetic, little fag!" Harry spits and Nick punches him in the face.

Harry staggers back and then goes for Nick and a full blown fight breaks out between them as Harry shoves Nick against the wall and punches him in the stomach and Nick grabs Harry round the neck with his arm and pushes him into the wall. Harry punches him in the face and people start trying to pull them apart. I can't watch anymore so I leave the kitchen and run upstairs locking myself in the bathroom and slump onto the floor, covering my ears to try and block out all the shouting.

I'm shaking and crying but keep telling myself that Nick's strong and he can handle himself and there's enough people there to stop the fight.

After a few minutes the shouting stops and I take my hands off my ears. The music stops and I hear Nick calling for me from downstairs. I open the bathroom door and stand at the top of the stairs, still shaking and crying. I lock eyes with Nick as he walks into the hallway. His nose is bleeding a little and his hair is all dishevelled.
"Come on." He says, standing at the bottom of the stairs and holding his hand out to me.

I walk down the stairs and take his hand, he pulls me quickly towards the front door, grabbing our coats as we leave.
"I'm so sorry you had to see that." He says, walking with purpose and passing me my coat.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" I ask, taking my coat and pulling it on as I try to keep up with him.
"I'm fine. I wasn't going to let him talk about you like that." He says, his voice flat and deep, he's shaking slightly from the adrenaline as he zips up his coat.

I can't pretend I don't like how protective he is over me but I don't want him getting in fights to defend me. This is the third time he's punched someone because of me and I'm starting to worry I'm making his life difficult.

🍂🍂🍂

Nick sits down at the kitchen table and I insist on cleaning him up so he tells me where his mum's first aid kit is. I take out some cotton wool balls and fill a bowl with warm water.

I go over to him and start gently wiping the blood off his nose and he holds me around my waist, looking up at me with sadness in his eyes.
"I'm so sorry Char." He whispers.
"I think you're going to have a black eye." I say softly, stroking my thumb under his eye where a faint bruise is starting to form.
"I shouldn't have punched him, I just lost it when he called you a..." He says quietly.
"I know." I whisper, kissing his forehead and then sitting down next to him.

"Nick, I really don't want you getting into fights every time someone says stuff like that about me." I say gently, taking his hand in mine.
"I'm sorry." He whispers.
"I'm just worried I'm making your life... Difficult... Do you think you'd be better off if we just..." I say slowly, my voice shaking and tears threatening.
"Charlie." He says, cutting me off. "Please don't think like that..." He leans forward and threads his fingers through my hair. "I don't care about getting into fights, or pissing off my mates or anything like that. It's all worth it to be with you."
"Nick..." I whisper.
"You are the kindest, most amazing person in the whole world."
"You don't have to say that."
"I do, and I'll keep on saying it until you believe me."
"Nick..."
"I love you so much Char, you're my favourite person. I need you to believe me." He says with desperation in his voice.
"I believe you." I whisper, moving closer and cupping his face in my hands. "I believe you." I say again before kissing him softly.

He pulls me in close, deepening the kiss and sliding his hands onto my back. I start to cry softly as we kiss, his words going through my mind over and over and I feel myself truly believing how much he loves me.

We break away from our kiss and he glaces up at the clock on the wall and then back at me.
"You got your midnight kiss." He giggles.
"Oh yeah." I laugh, turning to look at the clock and then back at him.
"Happy new year Charlie." He whispers, kissing my nose.
"Happy new year." I whisper back and then he pulls me in and kisses me again.