CW: ED symptoms.

Mr Silence 🕵️‍♂️: Isn't today the day?

Charlie bear: It most certainly is 🫣🧡🧡🧡

Curtain hair 💆: Ayyy first visit, very nice very nice 😎

Literal Jock 🏈: AHHHHHHHH IM SO EXCITED MY CHARLIE IS GONNA BE IN MY UNI ROOM ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Mr Silence 🕵️‍♂️: That's the reaction I was waiting for 😏😂😂

Our Queen 👑: Oi Tao, when can I expect a dramatic trip of romantic proportions?

Curtain hair 💆: You gays really set the romance bar too high y'know.

Charlie bear: I make no apologies for loving Nick the way I do 🙄😏

Literal Jock 🏈: Agreed 😏🫡

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Charles: Taoooo

Tao: Oh god, what?

Charles: I'm already on the train

Tao: Hmm? I thought you were going in the evening?

Charles: Where's the romance in that?

Tao: Urgh, you lot make it impossible to compete with you 😑

Charles: Then stop trying to compete and just do your best.

Tao: Grrr

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Imogen: NICKKKKKKK

Nick: Imogen, how are you?

Imogen: I'm alright, I'm hanging out with Benny boy this afternoon and wondered if you wanted to join?

Nick: Depends on the time, Charlie's coming here tonight so I want to make sure I'm around for him getting here.

Imogen: CHARLIE?! ahhhhhh, how long is he staying? Can we do something together?

Nick: Imogen I haven't seen Charlie for like two whole weeks, with respect, when he gets here he's sitting with me in my bed and nobody is allowed to disturb us.

Imogen: Eww NICKKKKKKK

Nick: No I didn't mean that! I just wanna cuddle my boyfriend that's not much to ask 😂

Imogen: Very well, next time tho. Plus if he's arriving tonight you can meet us this afternoon, Starbucks at Central courtyard 1:30 see you there!

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(Charlie's POV)

The plan was for Nick to pick me up from the train station later, but there was no way I was going to spend all day wasting away on a train, so I got up at 5AM and caught the first train, sure I was exhausted and I had very little awareness of what was happening but once I saw Nick I knew everything would be okay.

(Nick's POV)

So 1:30 rolled around and I was walking in the central courtyard, "Nicholassssss" I heard in a voice that could only ever be Imogen, it was a sunny day, which made the presence of Ben Hope in a hoodie rather confusing "Don't mind him, he's being all mysterious and cryptic, as per usual, what'll you have?" she asked, "Tea please, one sweetener dash of milk" Imogen walked away, Ben smiled at that, "Of all the exotic Starbucks orders you could have, Nick Nelson goes for a builders tea?" I can't help but recognise he is right "I guess so, what's up with you anyway happy?" Ben smiled again "My father called me this morning, I've been formally disinherited from everything" and he seemed to take a deep breath at that, on the verge of tears seemingly. I couldn't help but reach out and take his hand "I can't imagine what that must be like, but things will get better I promise" He laughed cynically "You don't know that, I have no friends except Immy, I can't sustain relationships because I self-sabotage what's the point Nick honestly" this was real, this was the actual Ben Hope, behind the arrogant, manipulative asshole persona is just a guy terrified of loosing the little he actually has, and fuck I think I'm done hating him for it.

I get up from my side of the table and sit on his seat, I put an arm around him, "You don't 'just' have Imogen, you have me too, I'll help you deal with this if I can, I promise" Ben just sat there, seemingly processing what I was saying before just letting all his emotions out all seemingly all his tears into my shoulder.

(Charlie's POV)

I'd seen Leeds uni online but when I go places for the first time I always get nervous, I always think 'worst case scenario' but not even in my worst dreams could I have imagined the scene unfolding before me, first Imogen had left presumably to let Nick and Ben talk in private, then Nick had sat next to Ben and now they were CUDDLING?! So much for 'making long distance work' I guess, I immediately tear the card I brought nick into pieces and throw the dairy milk oreo bar into the bin. I feel my stomach lurch, great I'm going to be sick. Luckily there's a toilet right next to me, I rush into a stall and throw up, I'm not sure how long I'm in there, when I come out oh fuck "Charlie Spring?" Ben says.