Hands To Fall Into (manxboy)

#4 - So Close Yet So Far

Over the past few weeks Charlie hadn't gotten a single text from Edmund, he wasn't all too worried about it. Charlie perceived it as Edmund's shyness. He would've gladly been the first to text, but unfortunately he didn't have Edmund's number. Perhaps he doesn't have a phone, Charlie thought, though he soon regretted that thought. Of course he has a phone, he's a Millennial! Get with the times, Charles! Charlie sighed, he hadn't had anything from Edmund except for the weekly videos. The boy filled his mind, and the videos only made his need worse. It was as if Charlie was addicted, perhaps he was. He wouldn't have put the thought past him. At least Edmund had made a video about him, or Summer kept suggesting so. It was Edmund's third video and it was all about his struggle with emotions. Edmund talked about how he could only fully understand the very basic feelings: happiness, sadness, and anger. The rest just happened, and he never knew why or how. He went on to explain that he was prone to only experiencing rather extreme emotions, instead of sadness he'd fall into depression and happiness would turn into mania. Or sometimes he'd go completely numb, Charlie felt terrible at the thought of that. But after that Edmund started going on about how there's this new feeling he can't name. He said it was all warm and fuzzy and he wasn't sure if it was good or bad. Edmund also mentioned that he only got this feeling when he thought of a certain person. Summer kept saying that the certain person had to be Charles, after all he's the only new person Edmund has met; or at least she thought so. Charlie had to admit that Edmund didn't have a big social circle, William had told Charlie how he always worried if Edmund not being able to fit in was a sign of a bigger problem. But, Charlie would reason with Summer, it could be for someone he already knew. Summer would roll her eyes and the conversation would end there.
Later that day, Charlie had a court case that was exhausting. The jury and the accusatory were so dim. "That's what you get, for being a defense attorney," Charlie's older brother, who was in politics, would tell him at family dinners. Charlie got home as fast as he could and fell into his couch with a groan. Why was law so tiring? He rolled off the couch and changed from his suit to a shirt and shorts then started to make dinner for himself.
Charlie had just sat down his plate on the table, when his phone gave a small buzz. With an eye roll, thinking it was from work, Charlie opened his phone. He was surprised to see an unknown number, but when he read the message he smiled.

'Hi, it's Edmund.'

Charlie smiled at the screen, he finally had Edmund's number. Charlie quickly added the number to his contacts list. 

'Hey' 

Charlie hit send without really thinking about it. He was too caught up with finally talking to Edmund again, to think through what he had to say. 

'It's Charles, right?' 

Charlie and Edmund talked for a long time. The only reason Charlie even ended the conversation was because he didn't want Edmund staying up too late. Charlie barely noticed the time pass while he was conversing with Edmund. Their conversation flowed freely and Charlie was truly enjoying himself. Charlie was also immensely happy because Edmund proposed the idea of a meet up. He said that he'd like to talk to Charlie about something, Charlie was a tad bit apprehensive over that; but it was still great to know that he'd be soon talking to Edmund. Of course, Charlie was sure that it was only his minor anxiety acting up. Charlie did have a tendency for overthinking and catastrophising things. He had the nagging feeling that maybe Edmund wanted to cut ties. Charlie reassured himself that that was highly unlikely. After all, why would Edmund text him? 
Charlie texted Summer to make sure that tomorrow he'd be free from 3. Edmund and Charlie arranged their meetup at a small cafe near Charlie's office. Edmund explained that he'd be free from a presentation he was giving at around 3, conveniently he was giving his presentation at a nearby university. Charlie was buzzing with excitement, he just couldn't wait to talk to Edmund in person again.