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All the rest of the afternoon, Nick couldn't get the talk with Tao out of his mind. He couldn't begin to imagine how isolated and alone Charlie must have felt—must still feel—when he wouldn't, or couldn't, talk to even his best friend or his boyfriend about what things had been like for him. Well, that was one thing Nick could do. In word and action, he could make it clear to Charlie that he never had to be alone again. That Nick was on his side, at his side, from now on. He didn't expect that to change anything overnight, but it had to help.
He and Charlie were walking back home from school together, Nick lost in thought, when Charlie said suddenly, "How do you want to do this? Tonight?"
"What?"
"We could just meet at school, if you want."
He did not want. "No! No, I want us to go together, like a proper couple."
Charlie smiled, looking relieved. "But—I don't want the whole you coming to the door and my parents taking pictures thing."
"Then we don't have to do it that way." Nick reached for his hand. "How about this—how about I get my stuff and bring it over, and we get ready for prom together, and then we leave from your house?"
"Yeah. Only—will your mum mind?"
Nick was glad they'd already talked about it. "She'll be okay. And we'll send her a selfie."
"Okay. If you're sure."
Nick nodded. "I'm sure. So, no parent pictures, just you and me. How does that sound?"
"Perfect."
"Good. Let me go home and get my stuff, and I'll be there soon. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Charlie." Nick caught him by the hand and kissed him. "I can't wait."
"Neither can I."
He showered quickly and grabbed his suit bag, hurrying back to Charlie's. He got there just as Charlie had finished drying his hair, still in t-shirt and shorts. "So, I—I'll change in the bathroom?"
"No, I will. My suit's in there. Steam getting the wrinkles out."
"Oh. Right." Apparently that was a thing? Nick had a lot to learn about clothes, it seemed. He changed in Charlie's room, feeling surprisingly nervous. But the suit fit well, and it was pretty comfortable, and that was all that mattered.
A knock came lightly on the door, and Nick turned, waiting, excited to see what Charlie looked like.
"Can you close your eyes?"
"Why?"
"Because I'm nervous you'll think I look weird."
Nick obediently put his hand over his eyes, although he couldn't imagine a situation in which he'd think Charlie looked weird. "Okay. I'm not looking, but for the record, I think you always look cute."
He heard the door close, and then Charlie's small laugh. "Nick, I can't believe you're my boyfriend."
"Can I please open my eyes now?"
"Okay."
He took his hand down, looking at Charlie, and couldn't help smiling. He looked amazing. So elegant and cool. As always, it kind of amazed Nick that everyone wasn't in love with Charlie.
"D-does it look bad?" Charlie asked, and Nick realised he hadn't said anything.
"No. You look—so good. You look so good!" He crossed the space between them, wrapping Charlie up in his arms, lifting him off the ground.
"Shut up!" Charlie said, hugging him back.
Nick closed his eyes, breathing in Charlie's scent, perfectly content just to be here with his boyfriend. "How about we don't go to prom? We just stay here instead."
Charlie leaned back, smiling at him. "No, we have to go. Everyone's expecting us to go together now."
He could imagine it, everyone staring and whispering, Charlie feeling uncomfortable with all the eyes on him, constantly waiting to hear something bad. "Ah. Yeah. And … a big public appearance as a couple, that's—that's definitely what we want?"
"Yeah." Charlie looked so excited about it, and he'd waited so long to be shown off as someone's boyfriend, and Nick was genuinely so proud to be with him, that if this was what Charlie wanted, he'd gladly do it.
"Okay. Charlie …" It was on the tip of Nick's tongue to tell him he loved him, but … what if it was too soon for that?
"What?"
"You really do look so good."
"You don't think the bow tie is too much? I bet I'll be the only one there with one."
"No, you won't. And even if you are, it's a classic look. Someone had to to do it."
Charlie smiled. "You look great, too, for the record."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Nick kissed him, stopping reluctantly only when Charlie reminded him of the time.
Tara was in the courtyard when Nick and Charlie arrived at school, hand-in-hand. She looked gorgeous—her dress was beautiful on her, and she'd done something cool to her hair. "You look insane," Nick told her.
She smiled at them both, but before she could say anything Tao and Elle were there. Tao was dressed up in a shirt and jacket that were completely unique—no one but him could have pulled it off. Isaac and Sahar were right behind them, and Nick pointed out to Charlie that Isaac was also wearing a bow tie. Sahar had a guitar with her—she was apparently playing with the band. Which was extremely cool. Nick liked being the kind of person who had friends who dressed like no one else, and friends who were in bands, and a boyfriend who looked so good in a suit.
"Where's Darcy?" Elle asked.
"Oh, she's running late. Let's just go inside."
That felt wrong to Nick. Tara didn't look right. "Are you sure? We can wait for her."
"No! She'll show up in a bit. Let's just go."
"To the prom!" Tao said.
Elle and Nick exchanged a concerned look, but going inside was what Tara wanted, so in they went.