Evermore :||: Nick & Charlie

Chapter 7: I'm Convinced I'm Good

Nick's POV

Finally school has come to an end. I've been wanting that last bell to ring all day. I knew I was missing Charlie, but I didn't realize how bad I was until I saw him today.

I wait by Charlie's last class as it's only a few rooms away from my last class. As the students file out of the room, he's nowhere to be seen. I poke my head in the room and see that there's only a few straggler students, none of which are Charlie.

I quickly pull out my phone and pull his contact up. Normally I wouldn't call him, but right now, I can't help but worry, especially after seeing his...look...at lunch. It rings a few times before he finally picks up.

"Hey, Char, did you forget you were coming over?" I say with a small laugh, trying not to let him know that I'm worried sick.

"N-Nick? You're okay!" He says happily. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I ask.

"It's nothing." He quickly says.

"So, where are you? I'm outside your classroom and-"

"I'm in the computer lab. I had an assignment over the summer I forgot to do. I had a free period and I guess I just lost track of time. I'll meet you at the gate."

"Okay! I love you." I say with a smile.

"I love you too." I hang up the phone and make my way to the school gate. When I get there, I see Imogen talking with Tara and Darcy across the school. I wave at them and they wave back. Elle comes up to them and by the look on her face, she seems worried. She starts telling the girls something and they all shoot me a sympathetic look.

I wonder what that's all about.

Charlie's POV

I quickly collect my things and leave the computer lab. I didn't realize that I had been in there all day.

My mom is gonna be so pissed with me for skipping class.

It's not like I had a good reason too either.

And Tao hates me now.

Great.

I walk through the halls and out to the school gate where I see Nick leaning against one of the picnic tables that are outside. He's looking over at Tara, Darcy, Imogen, and Elle, all of whom look mildly surprised when I walk up.

"Hey!" I say happily to Nick. He turns around and smiles before sitting up and pulling me into a tight hug. "Oh, okay. What's this for?" I ask him.

"Just missed you." He says as he nuzzles his face into my shoulder. I wrap my arms around him, feeling ease wash over me.

They were just thoughts, he's okay.

"Ready to go?" I ask him as we pull apart. He nods his head and takes my hand. We start to walk to his house and when we get there, he kicks off his shoes and throws his book bag down, not caring where they go. I take my shoes off as well and set my bag next to his.

"Hungry?" He asks, walking to the kitchen, but freezes right after saying this. He turns around, his face full of concern. "S-sorry, I-"

"Nick, it's okay. Tao gave me a granola bar after lunch." I half-lie.

"Okay." He smiles before walking into the kitchen to make himself some food. I sit down on the couch and Nellie comes up to me. She sits down next to me as I start scratching her head. "Do you at least want some tea?" Nick asks from the kitchen.