Giving Into Temptation

Temporary Fix

Tao
Are you still coming tonight?

Charlie
Will Ben be there?

Tao
No, Otis said he isn't going

Charlie
If he turns up I'm leaving

Tao
It'll be fine!

Charlie locked his phone and flopped back on his bed. Fresh out of his break up with Ben, a party did seem like a good way to let off some steam.

When Tao had told him he'd been invited to a party in the woods by someone he only sort of knows from doing the school play, Charlie had been very against the idea. Tao had talked him into it and assured him it will be fine.

He dressed in light denim jeans and a green and yellow jumper. It was September so it was still warm but had started getting a little chilly in the evenings, Charlie always felt the cold anyway.

He looked at himself in the mirror, adjusted a few curls and went downstairs to put his white Converse on.
"Where are you off to?" Tori asked, appearing from no where.
"Jesus Tori!" Charlie giggled.
"Are you going out?" She asked and slurped on her diet lemonade.
"I'm going to a party in the woods." Charlie told her as he tied up his shoe lace.
"That doesn't sound very safe." She said suspiciously.
"I'll be fine, I'll be with Tao."
"Have fun." She said and disappeared again.

He walked the short distance to Tao's house, he met him outside and they started walking to the woods together.
"So who's going to this?" Charlie asked.
"Loads of people apparently." Tao replied.
"Urgh, really?" Charlie groaned.
"It'll be fine, we can stick with Otis and his mates."
"His mates from school?"
"Some of them, and some friends he knows from Primary school."
"Great." Charlie said sarcastically.
"It'll be fine!" Tao laughed.

When they arrived at the woods, Charlie watched Tao scanning the crowd for Otis.
"Over there." He said, pointing to a group of four teenagers.

Charlie looked in the direction Tao was pointing in. His eyes landed on a tall, very muscular boy in dark blue jeans and a white t-shirt. He had auburn hair with a fringe that flopped slightly over one side of his face. Even from a distance, Charlie could see how gorgeous he was.

"Oh my god." Charlie breathe.
"What?"
"He's so hot..." Charlie said quietly.
"Charlie, you've literally just broken up with Ben. He's also probably straight." Tao said, rolling his eyes.
"Doesn't hurt to look though." Charlie said, staring at him.
"Come on, and please don't make things weird." Tao said as he grabbed Charlie's arm and dragged him over to the group.

"Oh, hey." Otis said smiling as they walked over.
"Hey." Tao said, a little awkwardly.
"This is Christian, Sai and Nick." Otis said, gesturing to each in turn.

When he gestured to Nick, Charlie glanced at him and quickly looked away when he saw he was already looking at him.

"This is Charlie." Tao said and Charlie smiled at them awkwardly.
"Yeah, I recognise you from school." Otis said, smiling at him.
"Would you like a drink Charlie?" Nick asked, passing him a beer.

Charlie was a little taken aback by this direct interaction and by Nick saying his name so casually. He looked at him and his eyes were instantly drawn to the sprinkling of freckles on his face and his beautiful honey brown eyes.

"My parents never let me have alcohol." Charlie said, giggling nervously as he took the beer from Nick.
"Well, your parents aren't here now." Nick said in a tone that Charlie could have sworn was flirtatious.

Charlie gave him a half smile and Nick smirked, holding eye contact with him for a couple of seconds before offering Tao a drink.

"How did you get these?" Tao asked, taking the drink from him.
"I turned eighteen a couple of weeks ago." Nick chuckled.
"You're eighteen?!" Charlie blurted out and Tao nudged him with his elbow.
"Yeah." Nick laughed.
"Oh, cool." Charlie said awkwardly, going a little pink.