Distanced

Char: Hi, babe! Still, doing our call tonight? 😘❤️

Charlie stared at his laptop, tapping his foot anxiously. Nick was over an hour late to their FaceTime call that they did every Sunday at 8 pm.

It was now 9 pm, and he was trying hard not to overthink as he did for everything else. Maybe Nick went to bed early or was doing homework due on Monday?

Charlie waited an hour to ask about the call, so he didn't seem obsessive. It was the only thing keeping him going during the week. It was something to look forward to when Charlie missed Nick to the point he felt like breaking down.

Is he being too dramatic? Did Nick not miss him as much?

Once his phone dinged, he excitedly grabbed it. His face fell as if it wasn't the reply he was expecting.

Nicky❤️: I'm at the bar w/ the rugby gang can't call! x

Charlie took a deep breath, trying to remind himself that it was okay for Nick to have plans. Of course, Nick wasn't waiting on his phone for him to call like he was. University was a time to go out and have fun with friends, not to stay in a dorm on the phone. It's okay. It's really fine. Charlie was fine. It's okay. It's just one FaceTime call. They can do it later instead.

Char: can we do the call after? I miss you!

Nicky❤️: I can't do this right now. Talk later

What does Nick mean he can't do this right now? Did Nick not want to talk to him?

Tears whelmed in Charlie's eyes. He set his phone down, so he didn't look at the text upsetting him any longer.

Maybe the young teenager overreacted to this text, but he had a bad week. He couldn't help it. On Monday, his mom decided to get on his case about what college he would attend and got upset as he brought up applying to Leeds, where Nick was. Tuesday, he forgot his drum music for the band and messed up the rehearsal for everyone.

His depression has gotten to the point where if one little thing goes wrong, it throws off his whole week. And now Nick didn't want to call.

Charlie rubbed his face roughly and looked up at the poster his therapist Geoff had given him hanging over his desk. It read off a list of coping mechanisms he can do if he's feeling urges or a breakdown coming. He read over the list, and one of the options stuck out to him, exercise.

Charlie left his phone on his desk as he dressed in his running clothes before walking downstairs.

It was summer, so he didn't have to worry about it being cold. It was dark, but the street lamps lit up the path.

"Charlie, where are you going this late?" Jane asked. She sat next to Julio with Oliver on her lap, watching one of Oliver's favorite cartoons. Tori was upstairs in her room, on her laptop as usual.

"I'm going to go for a run." Charlie tried to walk out the door but sighed as Jane began to disagree.

"Why on earth would you want to go on a run at 9:15 pm? It's too late." Jane scolded.

Julio looked at his son and noticed how off he seemed. He remembered how one of Geoff's recommendations for coping mechanisms was exercise. That's why Charlie wanted to go running this late. He wished his wife would think this through instead of beginning to yell right away.

"How about he goes out for only 20 minutes, no longer?" Julio suggested. Charlie sent his dad a grateful look.

"Fine. Any minute later, and we'll talk." Jane said.

Charlie put on his earbuds as he walked out of the house and started his run. Charlie didn't go on a leisurely jog be began to sprint. It was the only way for his mind to quiet down these days. The way his legs burned with every step as he ran felt good.

Charlie began to get lost in the music that was blasting through his earbuds and the way his legs burned as he ran.

Charlie didn't realize that he had got tangled with..what seemed to be a lease? He let out a yelp as he tripped over the lease, landing on the pavement. Well, ouch.

"Charlie!? Are you okay, hun?" A voice he recognized got closer. He took off his earbuds and looked up. Sarah Nelson stood there with worried eyes.

Charlie sat up and took off his earbuds, trying to catch his breath. "I'm okay!" He gave the best thumbs-up he could.  He giggled as Nellie jumped onto his lap and licked his face.

"Why are you on the run this late? Are you okay?" Sarah asked in worry. She knelt to Charlie's level and winced at the gash that was now on the boy's knee.

"I'll be fine." Charlie nodded, not wanting to bother her with his problems. Sarah wasn't going to let that slide, though. She helped Charlie up and checked him over.

"Let me drive you home. It's getting late." Sarah suggested.

Charlie nodded and petted Nellie softly as he followed them to their car, which wasn't far away. He cursed to himself as Jane called him, meaning he had gone over 20 minutes. He gave a quick call motion to Sarah before answering the phone as he got into her car.

"It's been longer than 20 minutes. Where are you?" Jane demanded.

"I tripped over a lease that ended up being Nellie's. I ran into Sarah, so I lost track of time." Charlie rambled and fiddled with his seatbelt.

Sarah noticed how mad Jane sounded on the phone and took it from Charlie gently. "Hey, this is Sarah. I'm the reason Charlie's late it's not his fault. He was on the way back and tripped, so I offered to drive him home." She explained.

Charlie rolled his eyes as Jane put on a fake, kind tone when she realized it was Sarah speaking. He looked down at his lap, which now had Nellie's chin on it.

Sarah hung up and looked at Charlie in worry. "What's going on, hun?" She asked. The way Sarah repeated hun melted Charlie's heart, and it's as if she thought of him as one of her kids.

"I was looking forward to my call with Nick tonight, but he was busy," Charlie explained and fiddled with Nellie's ears.

"I miss Nick too. It's okay to feel off sometimes. Would you want to stay in Nick's room tonight? Nellie will love the company-" Sarah was about to suggest, and Charlie hugged her.

"Yes, I'd love to, but my mom wouldn't be so happy," Charlie rambled and hid in Sarah's shoulder.

"Let me talk to your mom. Let's go to my house." Sarah smiled and turned the car around.

Charlie followed Sarah into the house, Nellie at his feet like a shadow. He hugged her again before walking upstairs to Nick's room. He missed being in here, in nick's arms.

Charlie got under the covers and smiled softly as Nellie jumped up, laying on his chest. He pets her softly and answers his phone as Nick calls him.

"Hi..." Charlie answered and fiddled with Nellie's ears once again. He wished he had a dog.

"I'm so so sorry for being harsh earlier. I don't know what came over me. I wanted some time with the guys, but when I was hanging out with them, all I could think about was you. I feel like such a shitty boyfriend for snapping like that. I shouldn't have." Nick rambled out.

Charlie smiled in relief, and Nick wasn't tired of him. "It's okay, I understand." He assured. "you are NOT a bad boyfriend." He said sternly.

Nick lay in his bed at his dorm and sighed at the sound of Charlie's voice. He hated long distances.

"Was that Nellie?" Nick asked in confusion as he heard the pants of his dog.

Charlie giggled and sat up. "I ran into your mom on the run just now, and she offered for me to stay the night in your room. I hope that's not too weird," he explained.

"You were on the run this late? Are you feeling okay?" Nick asked in worry that he made his boyfriend feel bad.

"I'm okay," Charlie assured. "I, I miss you a lot, and I'm trying so hard not to be a clingy boyfriend. I look forward to our calls. I understand if you don't want to. "

"I want to." Nick interrupted. "Tonight, I got caught up trying to fit in with my rugby teammates. I know that's no excuse."

"It's okay," Charlie assured and snuggled into Nellie, laying his head on her back gently. "You're allowed to have plans, babe."

Nick smiled as he heard the word, babe. He missed Charlie to the point he could drop everything and come home. "I'm going to come home this weekend." He decided.

"I thought you weren't coming till spring break," Charlie asked. He tried to hide his squeal of excitement.

Nick chuckled. "I can't wait any longer." He mumbled.

"I can't wait to see you." Charlie lay on nick's bed pillows, feeling himself begin to fall asleep.

Nick heard Charlie's tiredness and knew he should end the call to let him sleep. "Me either, luv, sleep well. I'll see you in just a couple of days." He hummed.

"Mkay." Charlie yawned and fell asleep, the sound of nick's voice putting his mind at ease.

"Okay." Nick chuckled softly and hung up. He couldn't wait to see Charlie.