Heartstopper: Boy Meets ANOTHER Boy? (Fanfiction)

*1

It was a Tuesday evening, rugby had just finished. I was walking towards the car park where mum was waiting, it was raining. "Why can't this bloody rain just stop already?" I rolled my eyes, sighing as I sat down in the car.

"How are you, sweety? Did you have fun today?" mum glanced at me, putting her hand on the gear stick and pushing it into place. She then put her foot on the accelerator, beginning to drive away from school.

"It was a good day until it started raining." I rested my arm against the window, using it as a cushion for my head,

"Charlie wasn't at school again today, he hasn't been answering my messages either. Do you think he's alright?" Mum kind of sighed, glancing at me once more.

"Sweety, If he isn't at school tomorrow, why don't you try going to his house after school? Check-in on him maybe." She took her hand off of the gear and squeezed my shoulder. I nodded slightly, looking out of the window. We drove the rest of the way home in silence and when I got home I went straight to my bedroom. My dog, Nellie, came in after a while and lay beside me in bed. I opened Instagram, wanting to see if Charlie had texted me. Opened. He left me on opened. I placed my phone on the cabinet beside my bed, I turned over and hugged Nellie tightly.

After a while, I must have fallen asleep because when I woke up it was already 10 past 7. Nellie was still cuddled up beside me and I just smiled. I love Nellie, with all of my heart. I lay for a few more minutes, stroking her before finally sitting up. I rubbed my eyes, standing up and heading to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth before going for a shower. I usually have one before I go to sleep but I just couldn't be bothered last night. All I could think about was Charlie, Why hasn't he been going to school? Why is he ignoring me? Did I do something wrong? I just wanted to know how he was doing. I put my uniform on and went downstairs, making myself a cup of tea and a piece of toast. By now, It was half-past 7. I have to be at school for 8:25. Mum suddenly appeared from around the corner. "Goodmorning Nick, Do you need a lift to school today?" She sat down across from me at the dining table.

"No, it's alright. Thanks though, Mum. I think I might go check on Charlie before heading to school." I picked up my toast and bit into it.

"Alright, just don't be late for school okay?" Mum got up from the table and began to walk towards her bedroom.

I tapped my knuckles against the glass of Charlie's door. I quickly became aware of just how anxious I was. My palms were sweaty, my chest felt tight. I could barely think. Tori appeared, it was as if she were staring into my soul. "Nick. I suppose you're here for Charlie?" She said.Tori is Charlie's older sister. Her full name is Victoria Spring, but everyone just refers to her as 'Tori'.

"Ah, em, yes. Is he home? He hasn't been coming to school lately and he isn't responding to my texts." Rubbing the back of my head I let out an awkward laugh. Moving away from the door, she beckons me in.

"He hasn't been feeling very well lately, things are going... Bad for him again." If you didn't know, Charlie suffers from depression, he also has anorexia. Last year he went to a Psychiatric Hospital for a couple of months to help with his ED. I understood what Tori meant instantly, and I quickly glanced at the stairs. I think she knew what I was going to ask because all she said next was,

"Go on, go up and see him." I practically ran up the stairs, I stopped at the door of his bedroom and hesitated for a moment. I knocked 3 times. No answer. I waited a few more seconds before slowly opening the door, just enough so he would be able to hear my voice. "Charlie? Hello..?"

I felt as if my heart was in my throat.

"Nick..?" a quiet voice came from beneath his duvet.

"Charlie? Can I come inside?" I ask, my palms pressed against his door. I felt sweaty, anxious even. I was worried. Really worried. The only time I have seen Charlie like this was after the Paris trip, just before he went to the psychiatric hospital.

"Mhm.." He slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes. I noticed he was wearing a hoodie, one of mine to be exact.

"Why are you wearing a hoodie Charlie? It's so warm here already!" I went to sit on the edge of his bed.

"I was, em, I had a cold. I'm still recovering Ahah." He avoids eye contact with me. Lies. One thing I know about Charlie Spring is that when he lies or is uncomfortable, he will avoid eye contact as often as possible. I sighed lightly,

"Well, I hope you get better soon, okay?" Although I just said that I knew he was lying, he doesn't like it when I push things, so I left it. It probably wasn't the best idea but I wouldn't want to make him angry.

"You haven't been replying to my messages" I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. Charlie takes a while to respond, a lump forms in my throat, and I feel my mouth turn dry. He parts his lips as if to say something, but stops before his voice becomes audible.

"I'm ill" he eventually says. I lean my hand towards him and place it on his head.

"Char, You know that if something is ever bothering you, you can speak to me, right?" He just kind of looks at me, his face expressionless. I lift my hand off of his head and place it on my leg.

"Do you want me to go.?" I watch him carefully, scanning his face for just a little bit of emotion. He nods.

"Please." He continues to avoid eye contact. I sigh, trying to stop myself from tearing up. "Alright then. I hope you feel better soon... I love you so much. Please don't ever forget that Char." I stand up, slowly walking out of his bedroom, and closing the door behind me. I walk back down the stairs and speak to Tori for a bit. We end up walking to school together.

I sit by myself in our form class, usually, Charlie would sit beside me but I've sat alone this past week. Placing my forehead again on the table I closed my eyes, It was so boring without him here.

"Nick Nelson? Is he here today?" I heard my name being called on the registration, but I couldn't process that it was my name the teacher was calling.

"He's here." Someone who sits close to me spoke up. I lifted my head slightly, turning to look at them. A boy, with blonde hair and blue eyes, was sat watching me. I think his name is Lewis. He's quite quiet, and shy.

"Thank you," I say, a small smile piercing through my lips.

"Em, it's no problem!" He returns the smile, running a hand gently through his hair and then relaxing it against the table. We ended up speaking for the rest of the morning. I've never really noticed him before but we actually share quite a few classes together. He's nice, we enjoy quite a lot of the same things as well. Although he doesn't play, he enjoys watching rugby, we both like dogs, and he's just really fun to be around. I think him and Charlie would get along as well. I can't wait to introduce them.

At lunch I sit with the rest of the rugby guys, I open instagram and text Charlie. 'Hey Char! I hope you come back to school soon, I met someone and he's pretty chill. You two would get along great! x :)' He's active, but doesn't see my message. I sigh, putting my phone away.