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Nick was supposed to be on a date. Technically, he was on a date with the very nice and pretty girl Tara had set him up with. She’d gone to Higgs with Tara and seemed vaguely familiar to Nick, probably someone he’d seen a lot but never spoke to.
Ideally, he’d be conversing with her, maybe flirting a bit. Getting himself acquainted with what dating out of university and in the big city was like.
Things had gone well at the beginning. She — Poppy — had already been at the pub when Nick showed up, but she assured him she hadn’t been there long. Poppy was cute, a good bit shorter than Nick with dark hair and green eyes. Nick could see why Tara thought she’d be his type.
Nick had gotten them both drinks, promising she could get the next round, and was about to initiate a conversation to try to get to know her better when the lights in the pub dimmed.
“Good evening, everyone!” The small stage in the corner of the pub now housed a band, a four piece who all looked to be around Nick’s age.
“Oh, sorry, I should have mentioned! These guys went to Higgs and Truham with us and are pretty cool. I figured it could be fun to catch them playing tonight.” Poppy took a sip of her drink and turned her attention to the stage. So much for getting to know each other.
“We’re Heartstopper and we’re going to play some songs for you, if that’s okay.” A small crowd had congregated around the stage and cheered excitedly as the lead singer — a tall girl with curly hair and wire-rimmed glasses — introduced the band.
The lead singer had a bass guitar slung over her shoulder. To her left was a shorter boy in a beanie with a keyboard in front of him, and to her right was someone with long shaggy blonde hair and a guitar. Nick couldn’t make out the drummer from his current angle, but he knew one must exist as he heard some drum beats in the background.
“So what do you—”
“Two, three, four!” The drummer cut Nick off, and the band launched into a song, just loud enough that conversation would be difficult.
Nick was ready to be so annoyed all night. He was ready to glare daggers at this band for their whole set and refuse to engage in any of their songs (even if they did sound pretty good) and passive aggressively pretend to care when Poppy asked. It wasn’t even that he was all that excited about a date with Poppy, it was more the principle of being interrupted so completely. And sure, Poppy had known and wanted to be here for this show, but Nick wanted to take his annoyance out on the people he wasn’t considering wooing.
But then, the singer walked over to the left side of the stage, allowing Nick to finally get a look at the drummer, and suddenly, Nick could not remember what he had been so annoyed about to begin with.
The drummer was fully immersed in the song, hands moving fast as he played along, eyes fixated on his movements. His dark, curly hair flopped about as he moved, making him look impossibly cool. And he was smiling. He was smiling so wide and free and he had the most incredible dimples that Nick couldn’t look away from.
Simply put, the drummer was the most captivating person Nick had ever seen. He was sure he was just sitting and looking at this man with wide eyes and a slack-jawed expression like some kind of lunatic, but he couldn’t make himself stop.
Nick had never had such an immediate attraction to someone in his life. As he was trying to figure out how he could possibly speak to this man, Poppy let out a cheer, bringing Nick back to reality and reminding him that he was in fact on a date with someone else.
The date itself did not end up going well. Nothing necessarily went wrong, but they barely spoke and spent most of it watching the band. And maybe Nick would have a better time if they had a follow-up date somewhere more conducive to conversation, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to see her again, at least not in the context of a date.
He wasn’t sure he wanted to date anyone else now that he’d seen this drummer. Which he knew was crazy and couldn’t make himself care.
After a few songs, (probably six or seven, Nick couldn’t fully concentrate) the lead singer spoke again, “Thank you all so much! We’re going to take a quick break, but we’ll be back in fifteen.”
The crowd cheered as the band walked off stage.
“I’m gonna go talk to Elle! She and I had mutual friends at Higgs.” Poppy stood and walked over to the singer, not even sparing a glance back at Nick.
Yeah, there probably wouldn’t be a second date.
“What are you doing here, Ben?”
Nick picked up a raised voice behind him at the bar. He sounded distressed, and Nick’s white knight complex made him turn to see what was happening.
There, leaning against the bar, long legs encased in black ripped jeans, was the drummer. He was glaring at a man next to him, face flushed red and hands shaking slightly.
Nick stood up and tried to casually make his way to the bar, allowing him a better vantage point to both see and hear the confrontation taking place.
“God, Charlie, you don’t own every pub in London. Not my fault you chose to play at the one near my flat. For all I know, you’re stalking me.” The man flicked back his artfully tousled hair, a bite in his voice that immediately raised red flags for Nick.
“Ha, that’s rich. You’re the one who hasn’t left me alone since I was fourteen.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, Charlie. You’re definitely not worth that level of effort.”
“How many times do I have to tell you to leave me alone?!”
Nick tensed. He wanted to step in, but he wasn’t sure how to do so without being obvious that he was spying.
And then he looked closer at the men and realised he knew one of them — Ben — from Truham. He’d always seemed smarmy and gave Nick the wrong vibes, but he could never put his finger on exactly why. Apparently, he liked to harass unsuspecting people and not listen to their express wishes.
“You don’t really mean that,” Ben scoffed.
“I’m not going to go back to making out with you in secret while you ignore me in public. Maybe I was insecure enough as a newly outed teen, but I’ve grown since then. I know my worth.” Charlie’s words were confident, but his voice still shook lightly, obviously taking a lot of bravery to say such things to Ben.
“What makes you think I’d even want you? Who would even want you?”
Nick couldn’t take it anymore. Ben’s words made Charlie shrink in on himself, his eyes falling to look at the bar and shoulders dropping in defeat. He couldn’t let Charlie think anything Ben was saying was true.
“Excuse me? Sorry to interrupt.” Charlie looked over at Nick, eyes wide and glassy. And so blue. So so beautifully blue. Maybe Ben was looking at him too, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Charlie. “You’re in the band, right? The drummer?”
“I— yeah. I’m— yeah.”
“You’re incredible to watch. Like, truly so amazing.” Charlie’s face softened. He didn’t smile, but some of the tension in his jaw was released. “I’m Nick.”
“Charlie. I’m Charlie.”
Nick took a deep breath, deciding he needed to take the leap while he could. “I’m sorry if this is weird and too forward of me but could I buy you a drink?”
“A— a drink?” Charlie didn’t seem to believe what Nick was saying.
“Yeah, a drink.” Nick rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. “I was supposed to be here on a blind date, but she and I are definitely not clicking. And it probably doesn’t help that I can’t seem to take my eyes off of you.”
Ben made a noise behind them, something like a disgusted chuckle, but Nick ignored him, too focused on the pretty blush spreading over Charlie’s cheeks.
“So you’re on a date but hitting on me?” Charlie smiled, small and teasing, and Nick felt his heart skip a few beats. He thought he understood the band name now. “Am I the other man?”
“I guess technically, yes, but I can’t imagine giving anyone else my attention when you’re around.”
“You’re smooth.”
“I’m normally not. I think I’m just taking whatever chance I may get with you.”
Charlie tilted his head, considering Nick. “How about this: you stay for the rest of our set. Make it clear where you stand with your date. Meet me here after we’re done and maybe I’ll take you up on the offer.”
“Deal.”
“That was a very quick agreement.”
“I told you, I’m taking whatever I can get.”
Charlie stepped close to Nick and leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Once you’re definitely single, you have a very good chance.”
He leaned back and gave Nick one last smile before making his way back to the stage, looking back at Nick right before he climbed up.
“Nick Nelson.” Ben was now glaring at him.
“Hi, long time no see.” Nick glared back, happy to step up to the challenge.
“Ya know, Charlie’s pretty, but he’s kind of annoying. All clingy and needy. Not so sure he’s your type.” Ben looked smug, as if his words would definitely turn Nick off of Charlie.
“It seems like you’re not his type.” Nick shrugged and left the bar, returning to his table before Ben could respond.
The band was still gathering back on stage, and Nick took the opportunity to lay things out to Poppy. “Hey, Poppy? This is probably really shitty of me, but I—”
“You’re into the drummer?” She smiled knowingly.
“I— what?”
“Nick, you’ve been staring at him all night and you were literally just flirting with him at the bar.”
“You’re not mad?”
“You’re really hot, but I’m not sure I’ve felt any sort of connection with you. But I figure we just stay until the end of the show, and then you can woo him.” Poppy shrugged, as if it were the obvious solution. “Plus, I’m always chuffed to make new friends.”
Of course Tara would have the coolest friends. Nick had never been good at turning people down, often finding himself dating someone for much longer than he wanted simply because he couldn’t bring himself to let them down. But Poppy was not only making it easy, she was ensuring he could have a chance with Charlie.
The band played for another hour or so, and Nick kept his eyes on Charlie for a majority of the set. He often caught Charlie’s eye as he surveyed the room and reveled in the blush each instance of eye contact elicited.
“Geez, you’ve really flustered that boy!”
Nick turned to Poppy, not taking his eyes off Charlie until he absolutely had to. “Is this not weird for you? Like, are you sure this is okay?”
“Nick, this was a first date. And a blind date at that. It’s not your fault you caught feelings for someone else.” She took a sip of her drink. “Plus, I’m super hot. I’ll land on my feet.”
He chuckled, ducking his head in embarrassment. “I am sorry, you know?”
She waved him off. “Yeah, yeah, I’m already over it. What’s your game plan for wooing drummer boy?”
“Oh. I… I’m not sure I have a plan…”
Poppy rolled her eyes. “What’s it like to just be hot and endearing and charismatic all the time?” She leaned forward, mischievous smile on her face. “The worst part is that that’s going to work so well for you. You don’t even have to try.”
“Didn’t work on you.” Nick tipped his glass towards her with a smirk.
She shrugged and sat back. “It would have. You got distracted.”
Nick laughed, finding it much easier to get along with her now that anything romantic or sexual was off the table. He felt far less pressure to impress or pretend he felt some kind of connection.
He turned his attention back to Charlie just as the music died down. The lead singer spoke into the mic: “You’ve been a wonderful audience tonight! We have one more song, hope you like it.”
Charlie banged out a beat, the rest of the band joining in. Nick bobbed his head and watched Charlie intently, mesmerised by his stage presence and skill. He seemed to be resolutely avoiding Nick’s eyes, but maybe that was just Nick being paranoid.
Once the song came to a close, the pub applauded, Nick possibly the most enthusiastic of the lot. The band took modest bows and shuffled off-stage, all bee-lining for the bar. Nick followed Charlie with his eyes.
Poppy let out an exasperated sigh next to him. “You’re exhausting. Go!”
Nick closed his eyes and took a deep breath before standing and making his way over to Charlie. The closer he got, the more his nerves fluttered through him, but he let his excitement overpower them. This was his chance, and he wasn’t going to let it slip away just because he was nervous.
Sidling up next to Charlie, just a bit closer than strictly necessary, he cleared his throat. Charlie turned to him, face blank with a tiny glint in his eye.
“I believe I owe you a drink.”
“Hm.” Charlie tilted his head, considering Nick. “Blind date didn’t go well?”
“I couldn’t take my eyes off of someone else. It went downhill from there.”
“Funny.” Charlie shifted his gaze to the bar top, fiddling with a napkin in front of him. “Last I saw, you two looked pretty chummy.” He looked back up, face set in some sort of determination.
Nick was taken aback at Charlie’s implication. “What?”
“I looked over at you a few times during the set.”
“I saw.”
“You seemed— it looked like you were having a good time with your date.”
“Charlie,” Nick implored, his eyes boring into Charlie’s own, “she was making fun of me for being smitten with you. She wanted to help me with you.”
Charlie’s face softened slightly, his jaw unclenching and brows unfurrowing. “What?”
“I was apparently very obvious about how I felt about you. She brought it up to me as soon as I came back from talking to you.” Charlie widened his eyes in surprise. “She was really cool with it! It was a blind date, and we hadn’t really talked at all tonight, so it’s not like we had developed any kind of connection at that point. What you saw was us joking about how nervous I was to talk to you.”
“Oh.” Charlie blushed beautifully, a deep pink colouring his cheeks. “Um. Oh.” He ducked his head and laughed self-deprecatingly. “You probably think I’m so weird.”
“I think you’re beautiful.” It slipped out before Nick could stop it, but the awed look on Charlie’s face made him glad he said it. “I’d be jealous if I saw you making eyes at some other person during your set, so I get it.”
Charlie’s blush deepened, face fully softening into a delicate smile. He cleared his throat and fixed Nick with a serious look. “I kind of lied before.”
Nick raised his eyebrows. “Oh?”
“Yeah. I, uh, already knew who you were. From Truham? You’re Nick Nelson.”
“I am Nick Nelson.” He smiled encouragingly, hoping to show Charlie that he was not at all deterred by hearing Charlie’s secret.
“The Rugby King himself.” Charlie smirked teasingly.
“Oh god,” Nick groaned out. “I haven’t heard that nickname in years.”
“I had a crush on you back then,” Charlie whispered, low and secret.
Nick leaned closer, fully in Charlie’s space now, holding his gaze. “You should have said something.”
Charlie leaned even closer, their heads now ducked together, almost nose to nose. “Oh yeah, that would have gone over well. ‘Hi Nick Nelson, most popular boy in school, I’m Charlie Spring, gay nerd, and I have a crush on you.’”
Nick shrugged. “Maybe the delivery could use some work, but I’d definitely have been receptive to it.”
“There’s probably some other universe where that would have happened. But maybe we were meant to actually meet now. I’m a lot cooler than I was back then.” Charlie gestured down to his show outfit as proof.
Nick sighed exaggeratedly. “Fine, I guess we can’t go back in time.” They shared a smile, both dopey and starry-eyed. “About that drink?”
“In a minute.”
And then Charlie leaned forward just a bit more, over those last few inches separating them, and kissed him.