Nick was pacing in his room. He had hoped that David would have properly thought about his actions after the dinner with Charlie's family the other day but David was showing no sign of remorse. He was only sulking over having been talked to the way he had. He was leaving for Glasgow today so Nick had been thinking about all that he felt he needed to say to David to send him away. He took a deep breath and took out his phone to text Charlie. He needed Charlie.
Heyy any chance you could come over like right now? David's leaving soon and I need you by my side when I give him a piece of my mind
He sat down on his bed, staring intensely at his phone, waiting for Charlie's response.
Pling
Charlie put his drumsticks and headphones down at once and picked up his phone. It was Nick, asking him to go over. He frowned, and let out air through his nose.
Of course, be right there x
He sent the response and ran downstairs.
"Mum, dad! I'm going to Nick's place, won't stay long", he said loudly whilst tying the laces of his trainers.
"Fine, that's a promise, then."
"Of course, thanks! See you!"
He ran out the door and all the way to Nick's house. He rang the doorbell and tried to catch his breath. The door opened. It was David.
"Oh, it's you", David mumbled and left the door open for Charlie.
"Hi to you too", Charlie responded coolly, watching David disappear from the entry.
He heard hasty steps coming down the stairs, and saw Nick.
"Hi!" Nick breathed and wrapped his arms around Charlie without hesitation when he reached him.
"Hi", Charlie said and hugged Nick back, stroking his back.
"What're you doing here, so late?" David asked rather coldly, bringing his suitcase and backpack to the entry.
"David, behave!" Sarah Nelson warned sternly as she followed David into the room.
"I invited him", Nick announced loudly to David and let go of Charlie.
"Hello, Charlie! It's good to see you", Sarah said warmly and smiled at Charlie.
"Thanks, you too", Charlie said and smiled back at Sarah briefly.
"Why? Is he gonna kiss me goodbye or something? No thanks", David mumbled.
"I can't believe how much of an arse you are", Nick said, his voice trembling. Sarah looked at Nick and Charlie. Charlie felt really uncomfortable. Sarah placed a comforting hand on Charlie's shoulder and glared at her elder son, shaking her head.
David huffed and grabbed his coat.
"What? What is this, an ambush on me?"
Everyone was quiet for a while. Nick, whose eyes could've burned whatever he was looking at, took Charlie's hand. That look in his eyes almost sent a chill down Charlie's spine. Nick took a deep breath before he felt ready to let out everything he'd been holding back out of kindness.
"I hope you're happy", he started dryly.
"What?"
"I don't know why but you really hate me, don't you?" he asked David calmly.
"What? I don't hate you."
"I think you do cause you think it's okay to keep invading my privacy, talk childish, homophobic rubbish about me and my boyfriend- you really are so thick that you don't see how much you've hurt me!"
Charlie looked at Nick. There were no tears in his eyes but Charlie could tell just how much pain he was going through.
"Are you still talking about that dinner? Oh, for fuck's sake, Nick..." David rolled his eyes and looked at their mother for support.
"Do not use that word in my house, David!", Sarah snapped.
"Yes, I'm talking about the dinner! And everything else you've done!" Nick yelled. "Are you really so damn thick that nothing, NOTHING can make you see that pressuring me into telling Dad about Charlie when I wasn't feeling comfortable was the worst thing you could have done to me?"
"Oh my god, you're joking..." David let out a laugh of disbelief, "I was trying to make it easier for you!"
"I DIDN'T ASK FOR YOUR HELP, ARSEHOLE! I DIDN'T NEED IT NOR WANT IT!" Nick bellowed at the top of his lungs. Charlie jumped slightly, and involuntarily tightened his grip on Nick's hand because he'd never heard Nick get this angry. "I was gonna ask Dad to join me outside or upstairs or something and tell him in private, but you just had to spoil EVERYTHING!"
Nick's voice seemed to echo in the silence for a moment. The only sound breaking the silence was Nick's heavy breaths. Charlie could feel his own heart racing from the sudden scare, and he loosened his grip on Nick's hand a tad. When Charlie finally dared to look up, Nick sniffed and Charlie could see tears glistening in his eyes.
"We're supposed to be brothers! We're supposed to support each other, be there for each other, love and respect each other!" Nick exclaimed, his voice trembling slightly. Charlie looked at him again and rubbed the back of his hand with his own thumb. "But you've chosen to hate me. And you've chosen to deny me as I really am cause it's impossible for you to accept that bisexuality exists. Well, I only hope you know that I honestly did love you cause you were my brother. Now I couldn't care less if I never see you again cause you're the worst brother anyone could have. I hope you think on it and realise the damage you've done. And actually grow up."
Nick shook his head in disbelief and disgust, still looking at David before he started leading Charlie toward the stairs.
"Have a nice life", he said coldly over his shoulder and suddenly stopped, "forgive me, Mum. I had to."
"I know, baby", Sarah whispered loud enough for Nick and Charlie to hear. Nick and Charlie continued their way upstairs toward Nick's room.
"So you're just gonna say nothing about that?" they heard David say to Sarah.
"That's right, David. How about you really actually think about what your brother said, really take time to think! Oh, and you're not welcome here until you grow up. You can spend your holidays in Glasgow or go to your Dad's or whatever but you're not coming over here again until you finally realise what you've done to your own brother. Safe travels."
Charlie closed the door of Nick's room behind them. They could hear Sarah and David shouting before the front door was slammed shut. Charlie gulped, and looked at Nick's back, worrying. He did not know what to say. Nick was standing still in the middle of the room, breathing heavily. Then he let out an audible sob and collapsed on his knees.
"Nick!" Charlie breathed and hurried to Nick. He sat down in front of Nick and wrapped him in a hug he hoped would shield him from any more grief. Nick grabbed the back of Charlie's shirt tightly and sobbed uncontrollably against his shoulder. Charlie stroked Nick's hair and back, fighting tears himself. He hated seeing Nick like this, wished he could remove all of Nick's pain or just take all of it to himself so Nick would not have to deal with it.
"I'm here", he whispered, "I'm right here."
They heard a quiet knock on the door before the door creaked open. Charlie glanced at Nick's mother but Nick kept sobbing.
"Oh, Nicky, love", Sarah sighed and walked to sit down on the edge of Nick's bed.
"Why did David never love me back? Why does neither he nor Dad care?" Nick choked, his voice muffled.
"I have no idea", she responded quietly, "honestly, I have no idea. The only thing I know is that not having you in their life is their loss."
After a moment, Charlie could feel Nick's sobs calm down. Charlie let go, leaned back a bit and looked at Nick, who wiped his eyes with the sleeves of his shirt. Nick groaned lowly and sniffed.
"Thank you, Mum", he said with a slightly trembling voice, "if only it was easy to stop caring."
Sarah reached out to stroke her son's cheek briefly.
"You have so many others who do care... who love you", Charlie said quietly. Nick turned to look at him, and gave him a weak smile.
"I know. Thanks, to you, too", Nick whispered and hugged Charlie again. Sarah smiled at the boys, ruffled Nick's hair and stood up.
"Would you two like some tea before Charlie has to go?"
"Sure, thanks", Charlie responded and turned to give Sarah a smile. Sarah returned the smile before disappearing out the door. Charlie let go of Nick again and held him gently by the cheeks to have Nick look at him.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
Nick sniffed, before smiling at Charlie.
"I will be", he assured Charlie, before groaning again. "I'm just such an idiot to care."
"No, you're not. It just means you just have a huge heart. Your brother and dad hardly deserve you in their lives", Charlie said, "I just hope that your dad at least will come around and start caring cause judging by what you told me it sounds like he actually has remorse, and that he wants to be a better dad to you."
"I hope so, too", Nick sighed and looked down at the floor. Charlie grabbed his hand.
"You wanna go have that tea now? So I get to have some, too, before I have to go?" Charlie asked him, raising his eyebrows slightly.
"Yeah", Nick breathed, before letting Charlie help him up and lead him out of his room and downstairs to the kitchen.