(Nick and Ben's texts)

Ben: Hi

Nick: Yes?

Ben: Everything alright?

Nick: It was.

Ben: I was wondering, when did you start playing rugby?

Nick: Uh, why were you wondering what age I started playing sports?

Ben: It's a hypothesis I'm trying to test, just answer the question

Nick: If I answer will you leave me alone

Ben: You're prolonging this social interaction with these questions you do realise that?

Nick: I started playing Rugby when I was seven

Ben: Explains a lot, okay did your mum always cheer you on?

Nick: I guess so, why?

Ben: It's just, when I watched earlier I cheered in the first half and your performance was way better than the second half

Nick: Hang on, you said you were going because you wanted to 'show support'?

Ben: I did?

Nick: But you only did it to test some theory? 

Ben: Sure, plus I am gay, the rugby players are aesthetically pleasing to look at?

Nick: I'm rapidly realising why you don't have friends.

Ben: Bit rude Nelson?

Nick: Do you like, try to make friends? 

Ben: Obviously, I always fuck it up though 

Nick: What do you mean?

Ben: It doesn't matter. I'll let you get back to texting Charlie.

Nick: k

Nick: Ben?

Ben: Yeah?

Nick: Are you okay?

Ben: I'm fine.

Nick: I don't believe you

Ben: Why do you care? 

Nick: I don't know to be honest, but Charlie told me what you said about your parents years ago, and... like I never forgave you for any of what you did to him, but I accept it's not as simple as you being a bad person I guess. 

Ben: Ah, I'd forgotten I told Charlie about mum and dad, truth be told I didn't ever want to go to Durham Uni, my parents forced me to apply there, I declined the offer and got in here through clearing, only just got a place. 

Nick: Why did they force you to apply there?

Ben: Because they were moving to Durham.

Nick: So you declined the offer to get away?

Ben: Yeah, I knew it was time to stop hiding. When I got all my stuff in my car and I was leaving I realised there would never be a better time to tell them, so I did, it was.. not pleasant, but I expected worse. 

Nick: What happened? 

Ben: I'd rather not talk about it, still too fresh tbh. I think about it every day you know, what I did to Charlie, even after he forgave me all that solitaire bullshit happened, that's when I started therapy. 

Nick: You had therapy?

Ben: Have therapy Nick, it's not something that magically fixes you, not for me anyway. I'm sorry I shouldn't be putting all this on you I know it's weird. 

Nick: It's not weird, Charlie still goes to his therapy I shouldn't have assumed.

Ben: Charlie does therapy? I didn't know that.

Nick: Oh, uh could you maybe pretend I didn't say that? Shit I'm late for our phone call I g2g

Ben: Bye Nelson

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(Nick and Charlie's morning phone call)

Charlie: You're late Mr

Nick: I know I know sorry

Charlie: Grr, you're lucky you're cute you know

Nick: Oh be quiet you 

Charlie: Make me

Nick: Hmph, I miss you *Blows kiss* 

Charlie: Nick don't start I will literally cry 

Nick: When can you come up here? I need my baby :'(

Charlie: Nick I swear to god if you carry on I'll get on a train rn

Nick: Fineeee, seriously, I gonna be getting the rugby uniform soon and it comes with a team hoodie sooooooo

Charlie: Uhhhhhh next weekend? I get paid on the Friday so. 

Nick: You realise the hoodie will stay here right? 

Charlie: Sure it will! Nick, don't you have class soon?

Nick: Shit! Alright gotta go, love you!

Charlie: Love you more!

Nick: No you don't!

A/N: Writing as Ben Hope is so difficult, especially when you're trying not to make him just the villain, if you're expecting to just have him be a typical baddie it's really not gonna be that simple. Does he have an agenda? Is he a liar? Did Nick go too far talking about Charlie's therapy? share your thoughts! Sorry I've just really enjoyed interacting with you ppl  :) - J