When I Look Into Your Eyes (An AU Heartstopper Story)

25 - have fun x

The scenery rushed by as the train clattered against the tracks. Nick gazed out of the window, watching the landscape shift and blur as they passed. His fingers tracing patterns on the armrest.

Every stop they made was a step closer to his future. It terrified him. But at the same time he got more and more excited and curious to see what that future had in stock for him.

When he finally arrived at the university, it felt both familiar and foreign. The campus was nearly empty, Nick had only seen 7 other students on his way from the station towards his dorm room. There were two guys getting coffee, a girl facetiming a friend, someone going for a run, and there was a group of friends who were 'studying' in the library. Most of the other students were probably still enjoying their time off by visiting family, going back home or travelling.

Nick unpacked his bags methodically, each item finding its place in the space that had become a second home to him. And his camera found a spot on the desk, ready to capture the moments that awaited.

The days that followed were a blur of interviews, library hours, and late-night contemplations. Nick delved into his thesis, immersing himself in the research and the solace it provided. It was a place where he could lose himself in the pursuit of knowledge, if only temporarily.

Cause in the quiet moments, when the world outside seemed to hold its breath, Nick would find himself gazing out of his window, confronting the uncertainty that loomed on the horizon.

As the days turned into weeks, Nick found comfort in this routine. He pushed himself to explore new avenues, to seek out mentors who could guide him through the maze of post-graduation possibilities. Slowly, the fog of uncertainty began to lift, replaced by a glimmer of hope.

One evening, as the sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of yellow and pink, Nick sat by his open window, a gentle breeze ruffling the pages of his notes. He picked up his camera and framed the scene before him. It was a moment of quiet beauty, a snapshot of a world in constant motion. Nick took a deep breath, allowing the cold evening air to fill his lungs.

He was enjoying the scenery and the quiet sounds of the evening, until his phone buzzed and snapped him out of this state of peace. He took his phone out of his pocket and read the notification.

charlie_spr1 posted a story

Nick tapped on the notification and saw three familiar figures dancing, it were Elle, Tara and Tao. They seemed to be in a club in Charlie's university town. Elle and Tara must be visiting Charlie and Tao over the weekend, Nick thought.

He refreshed his feed and saw that Elle had also posted something on her story. He opened it. It was a picture of the four of them in Charlie's local club, just like Nick thought. He looked at it cautiously, carefully taking in every detail.

Charlie had his arms wrapped around Elle and was smiling. It was a genuine smile, Nick could tell.

It had been a couple of weeks since him and Charlie last spoke. But Charlie didn't really seem to mind, he genuinely seemed happy without Nick being there.

Nick went back to Charlie's profile and watched his story again, now with his volume turned all the way on. He could hear the beats of Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO and he could hear Charlie and Tara singing along.

He could hear Charlie. He could hear HIS voice. A sound he hadn't heard for a couple of weeks and that he'd missed so deeply.

Nick let the video play on repeat. He closed his eyes and took in every word and sound.

He opened his eyes again, grabbed his phone of his leg, started typing, and hit send.

nick_nzzzz [21:34]: have fun x