Nick & Charlie: Summer Road Trip

Chapter 1: The Proposal

The evening sun cast a golden glow across Nick's backyard, filling everything with a gentle warmth that hinted at summer's arrival. The sky was painted in soft pinks and oranges, with wisps of clouds drifting by, and the air was filled with the quiet hum of crickets. Nick and Charlie sat on the grass, leaning against the fence, legs stretched out in front of them, sharing a bag of crisps. Charlie absentmindedly picked at the packet, his eyes fixed on the garden as the last of the light began to fade.

Nick, however, wasn't as relaxed. He was fidgeting, tapping his fingers on the grass, his gaze nervously shifting between the horizon and Charlie. He wanted to say something, but the words were stuck in his throat. It was ridiculous, he thought, because this was Charlie. He shouldn't feel this nervous around him. But this idea—a *road trip*—felt like a big deal, and he wanted it to be perfect.

Taking a deep breath, Nick finally cleared his throat, breaking the comfortable silence.

"So, um, I had an idea," he began, trying to sound casual but not quite managing to hide the slight quiver in his voice. Charlie turned to Nick, a curious smile on his lips, his dark curls glowing in the fading light.

"Oh yeah? What's that?" he asked, his tone light and encouraging.

Nick looked down at his hands, trying to gather his thoughts.

"I was thinking... since it's our last summer before uni and everything, we could... I don't know, do something special? Like... maybe a road trip? Just you and me. No plans, no stress—just driving around, exploring, making memories." He looked up at Charlie, his heart pounding as he tried to read his boyfriend's expression.

Charlie's face lit up instantly, his smile growing wide, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

"A road trip? Are you serious? Nick, that sounds amazing!" He shuffled closer, nudging Nick playfully, his excitement clear. "I've always wanted to do something like that—just hit the road and see where it takes us!" Charlie's reaction made Nick's heart swell with relief, a grin spreading across his face.

"Yeah? You think so?" Nick asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice. He'd spent days worrying about whether Charlie would want to do it, but seeing him this excited made every bit of hesitation disappear.

"I just thought, you know, before everything changes... I wanted to do something we'd always remember." His voice softened at the end, his gaze meeting Charlie's, who looked at him with so much warmth that Nick felt his cheeks flush.

Charlie reached for Nick's hand, intertwining their fingers.

"I love it, Nick. And I love that you want to do this with me." He gave Nick's hand a gentle squeeze. "We're going to make this the best summer ever." For a moment, they just sat there, hands linked between them, both of them staring out at the garden, feeling the promise of adventure in the air around them.

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The next few days were a blur of excitement. Nick and Charlie spent every spare moment planning—texting each other lists of places to visit and sharing links to cute towns, quiet beaches, and nature trails. It became almost like a game between them—each trying to find the quirkiest, most interesting spots. Charlie was relentless, sending Nick messages at all hours with new ideas: a random sunflower farm he found on Instagram, an old bookshop in a tiny village, a waterfall hidden in the hills.

Nick loved it—loved how Charlie's excitement grew with every new suggestion. There was something about the way Charlie embraced the idea so completely that made Nick feel like he'd made the right decision. And it wasn't just about the places they'd visit. It was about the small things too—the playlists they'd create, the snacks they'd pack, the thrill of just being alone together without any responsibilities for a while.

One evening, they were sprawled across Charlie's bed, phones out, making notes about possible routes.

"Okay, but what if we take a detour here—" Charlie pointed at a spot on the map, his voice rising with excitement. "There's supposed to be a really cool cave, and we could camp nearby!" Nick smiled, nodding, loving the way Charlie's eyes sparkled as he spoke.

"You know, I don't even care where we end up," Nick said, leaning back against the headboard, watching Charlie's expression. "As long as I'm with you, it's going to be perfect." Charlie paused for a moment, his cheeks flushing as he looked over at Nick, his heart swelling at the sincerity in his boyfriend's voice.

"You're such a sap," Charlie teased, nudging Nick's foot with his own, but there was no hiding the fondness in his voice. He reached over, giving Nick a quick kiss on the cheek before turning his attention back to the map.

"But yeah, I kind of feel the same way. I just want us to have this—something that's ours."

The rest of the week flew by in a blur of planning and daydreaming, each new idea bringing them closer to the adventure they were about to start. And as the days turned into nights, and the excitement continued to build, Nick knew that this road trip wasn't just about seeing new places—it was about celebrating everything they'd been through together and everything they still had ahead of them. It was their chance to take a breath, to be themselves, and to make memories that would last a lifetime.

And maybe, just maybe, it was the start of something even more beautiful than either of them could imagine.