Converse and Vans

Moving In

Nick

Mum: did Charlie get back from uni okay? I've text him but no reply xx

Nick: yeah he did, sorry we've been busy xx

Mum: oh? xx

Nick: oh my god mum! Not like that! We're packing up his room because he's moving in with me. I was going to ask if you could help get the rest of his stuff tomorrow? xx

Mum: of course, but Nicky darling are you sure that's a good idea? xx

Nick: it'll be fine and I desperately need someone to split rent with and he doesn't want to live with his mum xx

Mum: I just don't want you getting your hopes up sweetheart xx

Nick: I won't. I know Charlie doesn't feel the same. I'll be fine xx

Mum: okay, what time tomorrow? xx

Nick: about 11? xx

Mum: 👍🏻 xx

Nick wasn't sure it was a good idea at all but how could he have said no? Charlie needed him and as always, he'd have to put his own feelings aside to be there for him.

Charlie always had a strained relationship with Jane and while it had improved over the years, he still struggled to live under the same roof as her.

He lifted the last of the heavy boxes into place on the stack against Charlie's bedroom wall. As he tensed his arms he could have sworn he saw Charlie looking out the corner of his eye but he ignored it.

Over the years he had learnt Charlie enjoyed a bit of flirty banter, which he also enjoyed, maybe too much.

Charlie had gotten a little too drunk on his eighteenth birthday and he couldn't keep his hands off Nick's arms and chest. He told him repeatedly how much he liked his 'strong rugby arms' and then had squealed with delight when Nick grabbed him and picked him up.

Knowing Charlie was physically attracted to him made it hard for Nick to control his urges sometimes but he knew if he did fool around with Charlie, even drunk, he would just end up getting hurt.

"Ready?" Nick asked as he picked up Charlie's overnight bag.
"Ready." Charlie said, beaming at him.

Nick watched as Charlie looked around his bedroom that was now almost completely bare apart from the cardboard boxes and a few books and niknacks Charlie had said he didn't need to bring.
"Feels weird." He giggled.
"Don't tell me you've changed your mind because I'm not helping you unpack." Nick teased.
"Definitely not." Charlie laughed.
"Right, let's go home then." Nick said softly, smiling affectionately at Charlie.

Charlie grinned at Nick, his eyes sparkling and they headed downstairs. Nick felt a warm, tingly feeling when he said 'let's go home' to Charlie. Despite only living together in a platonic way, this was as close as he was going to get to what he had wanted for so long.

The time they spent apart while they both completed university was incredibly painful for Nick. He had felt like a piece of him was missing and was never able to form a relationship past anything more than casual because no one came close to Charlie.

Now their years of missing each other were finally over and Nick couldn't think of anyone he would rather live with. He was just going to have to try and get over him.

He'd been trying to do that for six years but it felt even more important to do so now, he didn't want Charlie feeling uncomfortable or awkward. He wanted him to feel at home.

🍂🍂🍂

Charlie

Charlie placed his white Converse on the shoe rack next to Nick's multiple pairs of Vans. Something he had done many times when he visited but this felt different. It felt significant. This was now his shoe rack too. Where his Converse lived, next to Nick's Vans, because he and Nick now lived together.