Char&Nicky

This liquid courage got me way too honest

Nick's POV:

Charlie and I leave the dance room, ears still buzzing from the bass of the speakers. His laugh, even though it's as loud as can be, sounds muffled under the ringing in my ears. My chest is full, laughter creating pulses over my whole body. With each one, we take a step further into the main room. Noise of other people doesn't help my already damaged ear drum, I barely discern what Charlie is trying to say.

"Say that again?"

"I am so drunk, man!"

"Really? I totally didn't notice."

"You're acting as if you're any more sober than I am"

"I am more sober than you, nerd"

"Who are YOU", Charlie's finger point falls on my chest, his eyes are half closed in drunken haze, "calling a nerd, Nicky?"

I hate to admit that the warmth of his touch stayed on me after he removed his hand. Before he could put it in his pocket, I take it into mine. One part of me pretending it's because I'm imbalanced.

"You heard my mum call me that ONCE and you refuse to let it go. How about I start calling you... hmmm... Char for example?"

"What? That doesn't even make sense! No one ever calls me Char!"

I steady myself by puting my other hand on his shoulder, slightly pulling us closer than we are used to:
"I'll be the first then"

His eyes are locked with mine. I don't know if it's the alcohol, but there is something burning behind that usually tender gaze. All the sounds quiet down, my breath heavies. I am completly bewitched by this drunk nerd standing infront of me. The way his dark locks fall on his face, how his eyes never leave mine, how his lips are slightly appart.
Just enough for me to...

"Uh, I- I'll go get us some punch", Charlie suddenly breaks the contact.

"Oh... okay, yeah..." I scratch the back of my neck.

Charlie smiles and soon dissappears into the crowd.

"Shit", I think to myself, "What was all that about? Get it together, Nelson".
I shake my head in order to make myself more aware of what's going on around me. People talking over one another, laughing and tripping over nothing from punch and beer. This doesn't seem as much fun as it does when I'm with Charlie. It never was as much fun as when I am with him. Doing anything with him makes doing things better. Maybe I'm just drunk talking.

Or maybe, just maybe it's not that I am drunk and talk gibberish. Maybe, wine holds the truth. But honestly, who could tell the difference anyway. I barely know how to stand properly right now.

A slap on my shoulder awakens me from my drunken trans:
"Hii, Nick!"

"Oh", I exhale, "Hi, Darcy! Where's Tara?"

"She went to the bathroom and left me here, all alone", she drags an index finger across her face mimicking a tear.

She then looks around us: "Are you here all by yourself?"

"No, actually, I'm here with Charlie".

Her smile hides a deep intrigue with what I said: "With Charlie, huh?"

I can feel my face getting warm: "Y- yeah"

"Is there something going on between you two?", her index finger spins in my direction, the same mischevious smile laying across her face.

"What do you mean?"

"You know, like, are you talking?"

"Is that not what friends do?"

"I mean, yeah, but I meant if you were... talking talking"

"I uh..." never actually thought about it like that. The thing is, I have such mixed feelings when it comes to Charlie. Only recently have I become aware of what I think about when I'm around him. Even when I'm on my own it's the same thing.

It's always him.

But then again, I think about a lot of people, and I only had cruhes on girls before. I don't even know what having a crush feels like anymore and if what I feel for Charlie is that. It's... different. Much different. Do I feel butterflies in my stomach when I'm near him, yes. But sometimes I don't even let myself feel them. UGH WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?!

"I mean... no, but I don't even...", I look around me to see no one's there. Darcy was gone while I was thinking of an answer. I lean on the table behind me and start playing on my phone with nothing better to do. That's when I heard something that made blood in my veins boil.

"ᶠᵁᶜᴷ ᴼᶠᶠ ᴮᴱᴺ"

All of my senses sharpen. I can hear my own breath and heartbeat over the people talking for how much I am alert.

I'm not going to just fucking stand here.

Without thinking I rush toward the hall where the sound came from. I know exactly who it's from and who I have to deal with. The question is if it will end bad. And even so, for who?