Work Text:
🍰NICK🍰
I’ve been sitting next to Charlie in Form for long enough that I have some quite significant questions. Questions that stem from the fact that I’ve known him for such a short time and am literally fabricating reasons to be around him. Is it just because we’re becoming friends or is there more to it? I talked Coach Singh into having him join the rugby team when, barring his unparalleled speed, he isn’t necessarily the person the team would have picked just so I could spend time with him. There’s always too much going on in Form, we get a few minutes to talk before Mr. Lange takes the register and then the time flies and we’re off to lessons. I wasn’t sure we’d have much to talk about, at first, but he’s funny and smart and I want to be around him all the time. I wish I had a pet, I could invite him round to meet a dog!
Little did I know the perfect excuse would come just because I was baking my feelings over the weekend and brought in homemade flapjacks. I take them out to eat during Form, even though we’re not supposed to eat in lessons. Mr. Lange hasn’t started the register yet, so I’m calling this my time and therefore outside the rules. Charlie eyes the flapjack and the fact that it’s wrapped in cling film and not from a shop.
“Did your mum make you a cereal bar to bring to school, Nick?” Charlie asks and I smirk at the assumption.
“No,” I say, gently, allowing a little indignation into my tone. “I made flapjacks this weekend and I couldn’t resist bringing some in. I decided I was prepared to call it ‘second breakfast’ since its main ingredient is oats.”
“You bake?” Charlie asks, a little too incredulously for my ego.
“I enjoy it! There’s something comforting about measuring out ingredients, following a recipe, and knowing that there’s something sweet waiting at the end of it all.”
“That’s so cool!” Charlie says to me, and I melt a little inside. “I have absolutely no culinary ability.”
“You should come round mine,” I say, a little impulsively, “we could bake something together! Are you free on Saturday?”
“Yeah, I think so.” I give him a nod, trying to school my face. Inside I am jumping up and down and throwing my fists around. Charlie is coming over. I cannot let him see how excited I am or he’ll think I am the world's biggest weirdo and change his mind. A minute later the plan is set and I breathe slowly to calm down, offering him a bite of the flapjack.
🥰CHARLIE🥰
As I’m walking out of Form I seriously don’t know what I just agreed to, what was I thinking saying that I’d go round to Nick’s of all people, and to bake?! Who am I kidding? My skills in the kitchen run to pouring milk over cornflakes! Still, I couldn’t resist the idea of spending more time with him. I know that he’s straight and out of my league even if he wasn’t, but he’s just so not who I thought he was going to be when I got forced to sit next to him at the beginning of term. He’s thoughtful and inquisitive, and really self-deprecating for a guy as popular as he is. Top that with the fact that he’s excruciatingly beautiful and what exactly am I meant to do?
Saturday rolls around and I worry my newly trimmed curls and agonise over my outfit and Tori is her usual supportive self as I leave the house. I hesitate ringing the bell, reminding myself that he invited me. He looks so happy to see me when he opens the door, commenting on my hair cut and pulling on one or two of my curls. Do boys over the age of six play with each other’s hair when they’re just friends? I suppose they must. Tao never would, that’s a definite. I expect it to be weird, hanging out outside of school, but we go into his homey warm kitchen and he immediately puts the kettle on and, of course the tosser makes a perfect cuppa. How am I supposed to self protect?
“Ready to bake?” he asks, and I drag my mind back from the daydreams of an impossible future where Saturday mornings start with tea in bed and a shared newspaper.
“What are we making?” I ask, unsure what his plan is.
“I thought we’d make a Victoria Sponge. It’s the fundamentals of baking.” He’s adorable as he continues to talk about baking, showing me how he lays out rows of small bowls and meticulously measures out all of the ingredients. “It’s so that when you start adding things up you’re not weighing out in the middle, which saves you from overmixing or letting things sit.”
He’s such a nerd, who knew! Our eyes meet repeatedly throughout the process, and our pinkies touch over a bowl or two before we’re done and I don’t know about him but sparks crackle through me each time it happens. We play Mario Kart while it’s baking and I trounce him, perks of having a baby brother. He’s frustrated but what does he want me to do, let him win? Not bloody likely. The cake is delicious and I genuinely feel like I accomplished something remarkable, pushed myself past a self-imposed barrier, plus, it was fun! Just as we’re finishing up it starts snowing and we’re out in it like a flash. He’s leant me a hoodie and I really hope he doesn’t think he’s ever getting it back! We throw snowballs and make snow angels and take goofy photos. It’s heaven, an absolutely perfect Saturday. And with Nick, of all people!
I thought he was straight, but I’ve kinda been feeling like maybe he isn’t, like he might like me back. There’ve been all these little moments and I just wonder … Wouldn’t that be something? Bisexuality exists.