Nick's POV
Saturday
Charlie didn't come to school for the rest of the week. The last time I saw him was when he came over to my house, but luckily, he's been texting me. Not very often, but something is better than silence. He hasn't said anything about why he's skipping school, but I have a pretty strong feeling that it has something to do with his mental health.
Today is the day that we were supposed to meet up with the Paris Squad, but I know that Charlie most likely isn't feeling up to going, even though he was the one to make the plans. A lot can change in a matter of days.
I scroll through my phone and debate texting Charlie to ask him if he still wants to go or not. These past few days, I've been scared of pushing too far as the last thing I want is to push something too far and make him stop talking to me again. That was torture for the both of us.
I open my messages with him and type out a few things. None of them seem to fit. I groan in frustration. The last time I had a hard time coming up with something to say to Charlie was before him and I even got together, before I knew I was bi. Words come easy when I'm talking with him, usually, but these last few days, I've been finding it hard knowing what I can and can't say without upsetting him. Finally, I find words that I hope won't upset him.
Nick: Are you still feeling up to hanging out with the Paris Squad today?
After I send that, I get some anxiety, fearing that those weren't the right words after all.
Nick: You don't have to
Nick: I just wanted to check in and see if you were still coming
Charlie opens the messages and starts typing soon after.
Charlie: yeah i'm still going
Charlie: if i can get out of the house without my mom yelling at me
I read that last text a few times over. I know that Charlie's mom's been upset with him for missing so much school, but I worry that her putting that much pressure and added stress on to him is making him worse.
Nick: I could maybe come over
Nick: She's usually a lot more calm when I'm there
Charlie: would you?
Nick: Of course!
Charlie: please come
Nick: On my way!
I get dressed as fast as I can and put my shoes on. I pack what I think we'll need for the day in my backpack before heading down stairs and out the door to Charlie's house. When I get there, he's waiting outside for me. He quickly pulls me into a tight hug.
"I missed you." He says, face nuzzled into my shoulder.
"I missed you too." I wrap my arms tightly around him, wanting to savor every minute of this hug. When we finally pull apart, we go inside. His mom is sitting on the couch reading while his dad and Tori are nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, Nick, Charlie didn't tell me you were coming 'round." She says, shutting her book and sitting up, placing it on the coffee table.
"Yeah, um... we're actually meeting up with our friends later, if that's okay." Charlie's voice sounds nervous. She glances between us before standing up.
"We'll talk about this later." She leaves the living room and heads into the kitchen. Charlie takes my hand and we go upstairs into his room. When I walk in, I notice that it's noticeably cleaner than it usually is. Not to say that Charlie's messy in any way, but this is unlike him. Everything on his desk is neatly organized, his books are in a different order than they've been the last few hundred times I've been to his house, and his drum sticks are laying neatly by the stool, not usually where he puts them.
YOU ARE READING
Evermore :||: Nick & Charlie
RomanceCharlie likes to pretend everything is fine, happy, perfect, but now that his struggles are revealed to Nick, it's going to just get harder and harder to hide how he's feeling. He doesn't want to worry Nick, so it might be best to keep it to himself...
