Hearstopper from the edit room floor

I love you baby.

The letter. 

“Oh my god, that's one of the most romantic chick flick films I've seen in so long. I loved it!” Elle gushed, hugging the pillow she was holding, “Are you joking? That's one hour and forty-five minutes I'll never get back." Tao groaned almost as though he was in pain. “Tao, your taste in movies has changed because that was a cinematic masterpiece of its time. Excellent choice, Sahar.” Imogen grinned, and she high-fived her friend. “Cheers, Immi, it's one of my favorites.” Tao tutted and groaned (loudly) again from the corner, “Have something to add, Mr. Xu?” Darcy asked as they concentrated on finishing off the leftovers that had been left on the table. 

Tao rolled his eyes. “You guys just have horrendous taste in movies, and I'm shocked and disappointed.” Tara tutted, turned to Isaac and said “You're such a party pooper, Tao. Isaac, what did you think?” She turned to face him to hear his reply but discovered he was fast asleep with his latest book open on his chest. 

Tara smirked and rolled her eyes “there's always one” she said gently and draped a blanket over Issac to keep him warm, removing the book carefully from his hands “anyway I loved it no toxic love triangles not too much unnatural stuff, pure and simple twenty tens theatre” Tara turned to face Charlie “what did you think Spring boy?” She asked inquisitively. Charlie wasn't paying attention. He was daydreaming out of the big bay window in tao's lounge “earth to dork” Nick quipped, nudging him and waving a hand in front of his face. 

Suddenly a black fluffy pillow flew across the room “earth to planet moron!” Tao shouted less gently than Nick had “w -what's going on?” Charlie was very confused, Tao slapped his hand to his forehead and groaned “we were debating how crap this movie was, please tell me you were on my side it was horrific right?” Tao explained deadpan which earned his arm to be whacked by Elle. 

Charlie signed, tucked his legs to his chest and pondered his next move, one that might’ve made Tao explode “well actually I didn't think it was all that crap, I thought it was really well done and incredibly romantic…. I kinda wish… someone would do something like that for me, I find that sort of thing really quite hot and it shows someone how much you love and care for them I guess and its really fucking hot to be that creative” Charlie said that last phrase of his sentence very absentmindedly, but a plan was already hatching in nicks brain. 

“What did you think, babe?” Charlie asked turning to his boyfriend “well I'm a sucker for a romance movie, I love the film I've seen it a fair few times” Nick bashfully admitted, Tao rolled his eyes again and groaned even more loudly than before “you lot make me feel sick” everyone howled with laughter at how dramatic Tao was being but there was nothing new there so it's how they all survived it. Teasing him for the rest of the evening of course. 

That weekend 

The weekend that followed the movie night went by in a blur to the point where Nick couldn't even tell you what exactly he did, Charlie's words spinning louder and louder in his head which only made Nick's scheming brain light up “is everything OK Nick you seem very… far away.” She asked Nick carefully as she watched her youngest son stir a mug of tea, that only had hot water in it the tea bag he was meant to use still sat on the worktop waiting to be picked up 

“Hmmm?” Nick asked quickly, broken out of his thoughts, dropping the teaspoon as it clicked against the mug “are you okay? You've been in a constant dream state lately” She asked again, this time putting her phone down to properly look him in the eye “yeah I'm just a bit caught up in something Charlie said the other day and it's been on my mind I suppose” Nick shrugged “oh is everything OK?” Sarah asked calmly but this made Nick flap and panic 

He frantically bobbed his head flapping his arms about a little his voice projecting slightly “oh god yeah no no everything's fine, great perfect even I'm just thinking about something he said” Nick admitted letting his brain wander again “can you indulge dear sweet mum a bit darling what do you mean I'm a bit out of the loop” she asked softly.