Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Nick sighed deeply, his left eyelid twitching. He was so, so bored and just barely able to keep himself from acting like a toddler having a tantrum. The train he was on should have arrived in London four fucking hours ago, and yet, they were still in what felt the middle of nowhere. He checked his phone for the umpteenth time today and yep, instead of two-ish hours his journey already lasted almost 6 hours. Fuck British Rail!

His book was lying on the table in front of him, finished a long time ago. Same applied for the snacks which he had packed to last for 3 hours and not the newly estimated 8 causing him to feel the first telltale signs of being hangry. He’d answered every single message on every possible app that had needed even the slightest response from him and had checked his socials more than he wanted to admit. Surprisingly, there was only that much puppy content he could watch before even he, of all people, became bored of it. His ears hurt from leaving the earbuds in for so long and just generally, he was starting to become really annoyed.

He sighed again, squeezing his fingernails into the palm of his hands to divert his anger and regain control over it. He had been looking forward to seeing his mum and his dog and spending as much time with them as possible and now he was missing out on serious Nellie cuddle time; the delay was making his weekend-stay at home even shorter than it already was.

He looked out the window where he actually could have counted blades of grass if he had wanted to because the train was moving at the speed of a sloth. At least it's moving again, he told himself, his lips pressed into a thin smile as he watched two bunnies chase each other over the open field.

Eyeing his phone, an idea crossed his mind; one that had been stuck since he had read about it on Twitter ages ago. He briefly checked in on himself; was he really that bored?

On a whim he picked it up, opened the app and started to type out a message, willing his mind to not second guess his actions. He obviously was that bored.

Nick:
Hi! You’re my number neighbour! I just wanted to see if you exist.

Cringing and already wanting to backtrack, Nick quickly added:

Nick:
Don’t even know if people are still doing this, haha.

Nick put down his phone and squeezed his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his nose hard. Why was he like this? He almost groaned to himself as he felt his cheeks heat up and his heart rate slightly accelerate even though he didn’t even know if the number he had messaged was taken. After all, his attempt to distract himself could easily drown in the endless depths of the sea of communication and he forced himself to look out of the window to feign nonchalant indifference and not focus on his phone like it was a lifeline to an actual adventure. As after not even a minute his phone started to vibrate several times in a row Nick nervously reached out to pick it up again.

~ unknown:
hi? well, yeh, I exist, this number is taken

don’t know about the other part though

I mean, you’re doing it and I’m obviously answering and I guess we’re people

so here we are

Nick:
Oh! Hi! That was fast!

I guess you’re right.

Here we are.

~ unknown:
>>>Oh! Hi! That was fast!
well, I’m bored. train is delayed as fuck, so your message was weirdly welcome?

Nick smiled at the screen as he read the message and his fingers started to type out an answer before his mind could really catch up.

Nick:
You know how to make a guy feel special, thanks!

But same, re train delay.

I’m currently at four hours.

Main reason why I started this conversation tbh, I’m running out of things to do.

~ unknown:
so, you’re a guy? has your mum never told you about stranger danger?

Nick chuckled and shook his head lightly, already liking the stranger’s wittiness. 

Nick:
Oops.

Well yes, I’m male.

Don’t think you can go far with that information though.

~ unknown:
fair

and same! you only messaged me because you were bored out of your mind? what a way to make a guy feel special!

Nick:
HA! Gotcha.

You’re male. And bored and sitting on a train.

I feel like I know you already.

~ unknown:
dork

After that, there were no more new messages and strangely enough, Nick didn’t want it to end like that. He blamed it on his boredom and tried to come up with something to keep the conversation going.

Nick:
So.

Despite stranger danger and all that.

Would you tell me which country you’re coming from?

~ unknown:
seriously?

Nick:
Well, yeah?

You don’t have to of course!

Just wondering.

~ unknown:
I’m not sure how to respond to that because you messaged me first…

…about being number neighbours

so we’re obviously both from the UK?

Nick threw his phone to the seat next to him and let his head meet the table in a rather loud thump. He groaned, both from embarrassment and pain; maybe he should take it as a sign and stop texting. But after a moment of mild consideration he picked up his phone again.

Nick:
Can I blame it on my tiredness?

I’m not usually that dumb, I swear.

~ unknown:
you’re forgiven

can very much relate to being tired and doing stupid things

still cackling though 🤭

The string of messages made Nick bark out a rather loud laugh and he quickly glanced up at the other passengers around him. But no one seemed to care and his eyes snapped back to the stranger entertaining him from out of his phone.

Nick:
Fair and totally relatable.

~ unknown:
So, where are you heading to?

If you’re comfortable enough sharing that info with me of course

Nick:

Right now I am trying to get to London.

You?

~ unknown:
same! funny. what a strange coincidence

now I just have to ask

you’re not by any chance on the train from Bristol to London?

Nick:
No, I’m on the train from Leeds to London.

It’s just British Rail that sucks apparently.

Imagine though! 

Absentmindedly, his gaze drifted to the people sitting around him, suddenly unable to stop himself from imagining it. He even caught himself checking them out for any sign of being in the same situation as him; deeply engrossed in a conversation via fucking text with a person they didn’t even know the name of. But no one around him seemed to be holding a phone and also, the other man had just told him that he was sitting in a different train, so Nick just sighed deeply as he looked back at the screen in his hands.

This male stranger was intriguing to him, even though it was for reasons he couldn't fully grasp. He knew literally nothing of him and might end up realising that he was talking to a sixty year old trucker called Dave the whole time. Not exactly his dream guy.

~ unknown:
jury’s still out if it would be creepy as hell or a welcome distraction from the boredom this train ride has brought me so far 🤔

The typing bubble appeared and disappeared for a full minute and Nick wondered what would come next.

~ unknown:
how old are you if I may ask?

I’m kinda intrigued now, ngl

Nick smiled to himself, pondering if he should be honest or not. Considering he wasn’t underage anymore he decided to go for the truth. But before he had any chance to respond, another text came through.

~ unknown:
fuck that was intrusive, forget I asked!

sorry

Nick:
Hey! No s-word needed!

I’m intrigued too 😊 

I’m 22, you?

If you don’t mind answering of course.

Nick let out a breath he hadn’t even been aware he was holding in as the other’s answer came through mere seconds later.

~ unknown:
no, I don’t mind. I’m 21

Inwardly, Nick cheered. Why did he cheer? Because they were of the same age range and the other wasn’t sixty? He was just shaking his head at himself when another message indicated its arrival by tickling his hand with a short vibration. He lessened the grip on his phone to read it.

~ unknown:
so…

do you study in Leeds?

please tell me if I should stop asking about stuff! it’s just a nice distraction I guess

better than being annoyed at a train anyway

Nick silently cheered again - this time because the other man seemingly didn’t want to end the conversation either. We’re both just bored, he told himself. Get a fucking grip, you can’t possibly start to like someone based on so little. Or can you?

Nick:
I really don’t have a problem sharing it.

My mum has told me about stranger danger though, in case you were still wondering!

But for some reason I like talking to you, it’s a welcome distraction.

Oh no, was that too much too soon? Fuck. He quickly continued typing.

Nick:
Anyway.

I study in Leeds, I’m in my last year of teacher training.

You study in Bristol?

(same is true for you, you don’t have to answer any of my questions!)

Nick was relieved to see the dots appear only a second after he’d sent the last message. Maybe he hadn’t scared this guy away just yet.

~ unknown:
no, I was visiting friends because one of them had an exhibition I wanted to attend. she’s an artist and has made some amazing paintings! I’m so proud of her! 😍

Nick smiled at his phone, happy the stranger had shared a shred of personal information with him but before he could respond, he already received another text.

~ unknown:
sorry, tmi I guess.

but I do study 

in Oxford though

Nick felt his eyes go wide while reading the messages. Oxford, wow! He was impressed.

Nick:
Oxford? Wow. WOW! 🤯

So, you’re like, a nerd?

Also, re your friend: that truly sounds amazing! I would be proud of her too if I were you!

~ unknown:
haha, thanks, I really am!

proud of her I mean

>>>So, you’re like, a nerd?
well, I’ve been called that before 

actually

Another minute of dancing dots indicated lots of writing and deleting. Nick’s brows furrowed in slight confusion but when he received the next text, his breath hitched. Even though there shouldn't be a reason for it. Absolutely not. Sixty year old trucker Dave! Keep your imagination at bay.

~ unknown:
I’ve even been even called gay nerd on multiple occasions 🤭

Nick’s heart started beating noticeably faster. The guy in his phone was into men! He took a deep breath to calm himself down again, reminding himself that just because this stranger was into men didn’t mean he would be into Nick. And you don’t even know if you would be into him, for fuck’s sake! For whatever reason though, he quickly saved the stranger’s phone number, realising a tad too late that that wasn’t really necessary. After all, he did know his own phone number and adding a digit at the end of it was something he’d probably manage to do in any circumstance. Still. Better safe than sorry and all of that.

Before he could think about the consequences of sharing such intimate information about himself, he quickly started to type his answer.

Nick:
My friends call me bisexual disaster, so 🤷🏼

I know what it’s like to be the butt of my friend’s teasing.

gay nerd:
oh

good to know

that you know the feeling I mean

I'm gay and I *may* fulfil the typical nerd description in every dictionary, but still 😬

Nick:
What nerdy topic are you studying then, gay nerd?

gay nerd:
ha. ha.

but okay, I let that slip, that one was definitely on me

I study maths and English classics

and before you ask

I know it’s an unusual combination. but I love both topics, so, yeah

Nick:
I don’t think it’s strange though!

I find it rather intriguing.

And slightly intimidating, to be honest 😇

But mostly intriguing.

Do you already have a plan for what to do with that combination?

gay nerd:
I’m thinking about going into publishing

not sure yet though

you?

Nick:
Well, I obviously want to go into teaching.

I’d love to teach 7-11 year olds because you can have a laugh with them and they mostly get your humour. And they’re wonderfully unfiltered with their opinions.

But we’ll see, I have to graduate first.

Another option would’ve been going into professional rugby but I’m not that competitive.

gay nerd:
do you still play rugby? 👀

The eyes-emoji? Even though Nick was slightly surprised that this was what the stranger chose to focus on, he quickly typed out his answer.

Nick:
Yes, but mostly for fun.

Leeds has a great team that is really inclusive.

I’ve made a lot of friends there.

gay nerd:
does that mean you’re out?

Nick:
You mean out as bisexual?

If so, yes, from the moment I started studying here at least, I wanted to live my true self in University 💗💜💙

Are you out?

There was a long pause and Nick started to worry if he crossed a boundary. But the other man had asked first? Maybe he had to go to the toilet or a phone call had come through. Or maybe… Before Nick could spiral any further, he received a string of messages that caused his heart to immediately ache for the other man.

gay nerd:
I’m out at Uni, this time on my own conditions

don’t really know why I’m telling you this, but

I got outed in secondary and severely bullied

had a shitty ex who took advantage of me losing control over my life

developed an eating disorder that got me into an inpatient stay for a few months and my OCD peaked to new heights. still has me in therapy 

sorry, I seriously didn’t mean to drama dump that on you

I was a mess but I’m better now.

why am I telling you this? 🫣

ha

jeez, sorry!

please forget what I said

to answer your question: Yes, I’m out

openly gay 🌈

Nick stared at his phone, his mind racing with thoughts and his heart full of compassion. Indeed, why had this stranger decided to share all of this with Nick? And why was his first response to it a deeply-felt urge to hug and comfort this guy? What was it with this stranger that felt so oddly familiar without actually knowing him, causing him to want to share all of his secrets too? He inhaled deeply to calm himself before he started to answer.

Nick:
Remember, no s-word allowed! So, please don’t be sorry! 💙

Thank you for sharing your story with me.

I’m really happy to hear you’re in a better place now, despite having been through the worst.

You seem to be a very brave person and I really hope you’re proud of yourself, it’s well deserved!

I went to an all boys sports specialist school…

...wouldn’t have dared to come out there under any circumstances!

I’m so sorry that coming out on your terms was taken away from you.

And pure hate for your ex.

What an asshole 🤬

And, in the spur of a moment, Nick added:

Nick:
Hope you found someone who really loves you by now.

Loves you for who you are and not because he thinks you’re an easy target.

He held his breath as he saw the dots reappear, partly because he sincerely hoped for the other man to be happy, but also - and he absolutely knew how mental this was - because he wanted to find out if this stranger was single. What the hell was going on? His mum really had given him a lecture about stranger danger, so why on earth was he so invested now? He still had absolutely no clue what the other man looked or actually was like.

gay nerd:
thanks for making me tear up in a train full of strangers! 🥹

Seriously though, thank you for your kind words 💛

well. I’ve found people who were nice enough but not the movie-like romance

still waiting for my dream man to find his way into my life, ha

lol that sounded desperate

I’m not! I swear! I’m living a happy life on my own! 

just haven’t met the love of my life yet

Nick inwardly cheered again. Cheered. About the other guy being single. Why the fuck was Nick so relieved about that information he could barely stop himself from rising his fist in the air in a true victory pose? He rolled his eyes at himself and shook his head. Was he really that desperate? Hoping to connect with a stranger he had met in a way that stretched the meaning of ‘meeting’ to the point it almost tore the word apart? Before he could dwell further on his true bi-disaster-existence, new messages came through.

gay nerd:
bet you’ve already found your dream person

given you’re a rugby player that is into teaching kids because they’re wonderfully unfiltered with their opinions.

Which I really think is lovely, by the way! 💛

Nick:
Well, no?

I mean, I’ve been in love I think, but it was never that serious.

On either side.

God, that makes me sound like a fuck around!

I swear that wasn’t the case!

I think I was in love twice in my life.

One was when I was 13 and she's now my best friend and a lesbian.

Nick quickly pondered if he should add what he normally did when retelling this story.

Nick:
Obviously completely unrelated to my kissing abilities 😆

Nick cringed. That was definitely something that worked better spoken out loud and not written down. To divert from it, he typed out the next text at high speed.

Nick:
The other person was my bisexual awakening in secondary

Which didn’t turn out that well

Nick looked out of the window, pondering how much he actually wanted to share about his past with this stranger he somehow trusted as if they were friends. Odd. He was glad his mum couldn’t see him right now, completely and deliberately ignoring the purpose of her lecturing him about stranger danger. Just as Nick decided that stranger danger did not exist in their little bubble, the other guy’s reply came through.

gay nerd:
I’m sorry to hear

not about you being single of course!

um shit

forget about the ‘of course’

I meant the other part

and I’m sure you’re good at kissing. a lesbian is a lesbian, no matter how hot or good at kissing you are

dkfjhsahakdah

please ignore *again* what I just wrote 

I’m just casually digging my own grave here

Let me start over again

I’m sorry to hear the ‘didn’t turn out well' part

Nick couldn't help but laugh at the chaotic string of messages that were just sent to him. Maybe he wasn’t alone in this after all?

Nick:
Thanks for your kind words and trust in my kissing skills! 🤭

Self-confidence fully restored.

Re the other thing though…

I told him on a school trip to Paris and he turned me down rather not-so-nice?

Which would be totally fine of course, love can’t be forced.

But there were some slurs.

Thankfully he didn’t tell other people, I guess mainly because he was afraid to be considered being gay if he did so.

So, yeah.

I’m a bit more careful now, to be honest, even though I’m fully out in Uni.

gay nerd:
totally relatable!

I’m the same, I’m usually very careful

well

apparently not when it comes to strangers in my phone 🙃

oh my

why are we sharing our deepest secrets?

why the fuck are we like this?

is boredom making us reckless?

Nick:
Seems like.

We’re so adventurous! 😂

Is it strange that I don’t really care though?

gay nerd:
to be honest, I really think it is

but I don’t care either

um…

can i ask you another question?

Nick:
Yes?

gay nerd:
what is your dream person then?

in terms of looks and personality?

Nick:
Oh.

I have to think about it for a moment.

Hang on.

Don’t go anywhere!

gay nerd:
Ha, I wish I could!

and I have you on my phone

so

you’re like literally with me anytime?

sorry, that sounds kinda creepy written down 🤭

I shut up now and let you think

Chuckling at the guy’s texts, Nick started to really think about the question and why it sounded like there was suddenly so much at stake. Why did he care what this stranger could think of him and his answer? And whyyyy did he hope for him to be the spitting image of his dream person? I’m pathetic. Darcy would have a field day! He took a deep breath and started typing. 

Nick:
Ok, let's see.

I think for me it’s very important that the person is also my best friend.

Because I want to laugh and cry with them and everything there is in between.

Someone who intrigues me and I can talk with for hours.

Or be perfectly and contently quiet with.

Someone who loves me for who I am.

And someone who lets me love them with all my heart.

I’m an all-in person and I need all strings attached, I can’t do situationships.

Oh, they must love animals!

I have a dog that lives with my mum because of me living in Leeds.

I want to have her with me again as soon as possible.

The dog I mean, not my mum 🤭

Even though I really love my mum, she’s the best!

Sorry. Too much information I guess.

I like curls?

And blue eyes?

I like them being tall and maybe a bit athletic, too?

Ha, I think I phrased it like a question because what I just wrote about looks doesn’t match with the appearance of my two attempts at love.

They fit my crushes though, for what it's worth.

Now it’s your turn.

Only if you want to, of course!

gay nerd:
there isn’t much to add for me. 

aside from the looks, you literally just described my dream guy, too!

scary 😳

it’s like a 100% match

and well, I like them tall too!

with kind eyes and hair long enough to bury my hands in it?

sorry, that’s oddly specific

muscular? not the bodybuilder type, though

and, 

at the risk of sounding like a total catfish: you literally described me

I’m tall, have dark curls and blue eyes

weird

Nick’s mouth went dry without even having an actual picture of the other man. But, sue him for tentatively getting his hopes up; they’d just exchanged their dream partner that appeared to be the spitting image of one another. 

Nick:
Same can be said about me, actually.

I feel watched, ha!

I’m tall. And muscular, thanks to rugby.

And my hair is long enough for hands to bury themselves in it.

It’s some kind of reddish-blonde and my eyes are the colour of amber.

Why, oh whyyy did he have to add this? Slightly cringing again, he hurried to add:

Nick:
I wrote that because you told me those facts about yourself.

No further intentions, I swear!

You just sound… interesting? Intriguing?

If I’m honest, you totally sound like a crush I once had on a rugby player.

I was never able to get him out of my mind, even though we played against each other one time and that was ages ago!

Why was he telling him this? What a way to scare the other guy off by talking about another man, talking about a fucking crush?

gay nerd:
funny enough, I once had a crush on a rugby player, too!

your description of yourself sounds just like him

Oh. OH?

gay nerd:
again, kinda uncanny

it was back when I joined the school’s rugby team because they needed someone who can run fast

and well, I can be fast if I want to

nevertheless, my career was short, I soon lost interest

but apparently I haven’t forgotten that rugby player

Nick:
This is definitely all sorts of strange.

Both of us crushing on rugby players.

Who look exactly like how we described ourselves.

🤯

gay nerd:
I know!

what are the odds

so

about the no intentions part..

Another set of dancing dots playing hide and seek appeared on Nick’s screen and he almost held his breath in anticipation. But…

gay nerd:
no, nevermind, I’m no creep 😬

What? Nick desperately wanted to know.

Nick:
No! Come on, haha!

Now I *need* to know!

gay nerd:
um..

good lord, I’m gonna sound so desperate! 

stranger danger still applies to you, I have to remind myself about that fact

and I don’t even know your name!

and after all, you could be a sixty-year-old trucker named Dave!

Nick had just read what now? He felt his eyes widen in shock and his fingers flew over his keyboard as fast as they could because…

Nick:
Wait what?

The fuck 😱

Can you read my mind?

I thought the fucking exact same thing about you!

That you're possibly a sixty-year-old trucker named Dave.

Sorry, I’m having a moment.

This is just a bit too much of a coincidence for my poor tired brain to handle.

I mean, what are the odds?

Who are you? 🤨 Ha.

Nick looked around, trying to find out if he was being watched. But then again, he had thought the part about Dave. In his head. Not written it down. Still trying to wrap his mind about what had just happened, he almost missed the stranger’s next message.

gay nerd:
Charlie

I mean, my name’s Charlie

and yeah, that’s a pretty odd coincidence!

Charlie. Why did this sound so familiar? Why did it sound so nice? What the fuck was wrong with him?

gay nerd:
you don’t have to tell me yours of course! 

Chuckling, Nick typed in his answer.

Nick:

Dave! My name is Dave.

gay nerd:
🖕🏼 🖕🏼 🖕🏼

no it’s not!

oh.

unless it is

then I’m sorry! 

shit, I’m so sorry!

Nick:
Charlie, stop it!

I was just kidding 😇

My name’s Nick.

Ngl, it feels kinda nice to finally have a name for the stranger in my phone.

Guess I can change the name I saved you under in my contacts now.

gay nerd:
do I wanna know under what name you saved me?

I saved you as bisexual disaster…

Nick:
…gay nerd.

It seems like we’re both very imaginative people 🤭

Charlie:
apparently so

Nick:
So,

You were about to say something about the no intentions part?

Charlie:
yes?

maybe? but also no?

I don’t know how to phrase it without sounding mental

oh, saved by the bell I guess

my train's arriving in London, need to catch my connecting train

ttyl? 💛

Slightly distracted by yet another heart, Nick looked up, taking in his surroundings for the first time in what felt like ages. People were shuffling around, gathering their things. He looked out of the window and recognised the suburbs of London. How did he miss the announcement of their impending arrival? How did he not see where he was when he had looked out of the window mere minutes ago? 

Nick:
Oh shit!

Thanks for telling me I guess!

There's a chance that I would have totally missed my own arrival.

Charlie:
after waiting for it to happen for so long?

dork 😆

Nick:
Can I use the “I’m tired card” again to get me out of slow-brain-jail? 😬

Even though I’m also wondering how I could miss it.

Guess there’s something about playing number neighbours after all… 💙

Just as he nervously pressed send, his train came to a screeching halt, almost causing him to topple over his backpack he’d placed on the floor next to his feet. He clutched his phone tight, his most important possession right now, his connection to the most exciting thing that had happened to him in the last few hours. No, screw that, in the last few days! Or even weeks. His gaze fixated on the screen to not miss a possible answer, he followed the rest of his fellow travellers on autopilot out of the train through the hall of King’s Cross and down to the tube to make his way to St. Pancras and catch whatever train was waiting there to bring him home to his mum and Nellie.

To his big surprise he didn’t have to wait that long for the next train to depart and to his even bigger surprise, he found a four-seat compartment for him alone and he dropped his tired body into the plush seat, sighing heavily.

Still cradling his phone like the proper lunatic he was, he closed his eyes and let his head fall back on the headrest, his tiredness now crashing over him like a big fat wave every surfer would have loved to ride. Maybe he even fell asleep for a minute or two, because the next thing he noticed was the rumble of the train leaving the station and the vibration of his phone in his hand.

His eyes snapped open almost comically fast, eager to see who’d messaged him while putting all his hopes on one person.

Charlie:
hi!

and yeah, there truly is something about playing number neighbours 💛

is it strange to say I missed talking to you for the last half an hour?

guess it is. shut it Charlie

anyway, I’m soooo happy to finally have found a seat

have you found a connecting train as well?

Nick:
HI!

I missed talking to you too!

So at least we can be weird together I guess.

Yeah, seated, safe and sound.

Tired as hell.

Charlie:
you’re allowed to be

it’s almost dark outside

time for old men like you to go to bed!

Nick looked out of the window, the sun barely starting its way down the horizon to lighten up the other half of the world.

Nick:
🖕🏼🖕🏼🖕🏼

But also yes, bed sounds like heaven.

Wouldn’t be opposed to it.

A soft giggle pulled him out of his Charlie-bubble and directed him to a man around his age sitting across from him. When did he get there? How deep had Nick been asleep? And why was that sound causing a tentative flutter in his stomach? He rolled his eyes at himself, slightly irritated about being so desperate and reacting to everything male-related today.

The other man had a vice-like grip of his phone and typed furiously, a big smile on his face. He was gorgeous with his dark curls and long eyelashes which were clearly visible from his downcast eyes; his angular face with an accentuated jawline and his soft-looking lips drawn widely into a beautiful smile. Why did he look so familiar? Probably because that’s how Charlie had described his looks, Nick smiled to himself. He felt his phone vibrate the moment the man stopped typing, pulling him out of his musings.

Charlie:
Agreed, bed really sounds nice! Look, I’m suddenly old too.

Nick chuckled, his eyes snapping up to his neighbour for the briefest of moments and that’s when the penny dropped and he realised why this beautiful stranger looked so familiar. He was his crush from all those rugby matches ago! Maybe a little less baby-faced and his body now more athletic than lanky, but his curls still looked so soft and his smile was still as beautiful as Nick so vividly remembered. Funny how life plays out sometimes, he thought to himself: he hadn’t talked about his crush for such a long time and suddenly, he was sat across from him? Would Nick maybe finally be able to find out more than “Spring!”, something that had been shouted at the curly-haired boy and what could literally mean anything from a name to a movement or even a season. Nick inhaled sharply at the overwhelming realisation. Fuck my life! Suddenly all at once? After a drought of what felt like aeons, he now had an intriguing stranger in his phone and the beautiful stranger from his past sitting in front of him? He needed to tell someone and decided on a whim that it should be Charlie. Talking about a former crush with the current one? Seemed sane enough, especially the part of calling Charlie a crush without ever actually having met him or even really knowing something about him.

Nick:
You'll never believe who I’ve just seen!

My rugby crush I told you about!

From all these years ago!

Can you believe this?

Because I can’t.

Today’s such a weird day! 🫣

While typing his texts, Nick overheard his crush’s phone buzz from over the table; in the same rhythm as he would send his messages to Charlie. Strange. His eyes snapped up again and he saw confusion, maybe even sadness flash over the other man’s face; his eyebrows furrowed deeply, his beautiful smile gone and his lips shaping an expressive ‘oh’. 

Charlie:
oh

Why did it suddenly feel like there’s a connection between what was happening in his phone and his real life? Weird.

Slowly, his brain started to catch on. Oh. OH? FUCKING OH! No. That couldn't be the same person, could they?

Charlie:
well

go for it, I guess?

good luck!

keep me posted please

The beautiful stranger visibly deflated once he stopped typing, his eyes fluttering shut. Nick’s phone buzzed in his hands but he couldn’t take his eyes off of the beautiful man sitting opposite of him just yet. Nick knew he was staring. Was this real? Or did he in fact not wake up after falling asleep? Was it all just a very lifelike dream? He pinched himself just to be sure, wincing at the sudden pain. He inhaled deeply but as inconspicuous as possible, not wanting to alert Charlie? just now. He needed to test his quite frankly fucking mental realisation, but how? Hastily, Nick tried to come up with something that would elicit a visible response from the man sitting across from him.

Nick:
Haha, I will!

I need all the luck in the world, my friends don’t call me a bisexual disaster for nothing.

I’m really bad at talking to beautiful strangers.

He looks like how you described yourself earlier, by the way 👀

Nick held his breath to see how the other man would react to this, the aligning rhythm of sent and received messages now making him even more sure of his theory. He watched as a small smile took over the other man’s face again, the deep furrow slowly starting to smooth out as he typed his answer.

Charlie:
at this point I’m not even surprised anymore

this day is just super strange

With his eyes still fixated on most-likely-Charlie, Nick saw a faint blush take over his gorgeous features.

Charlie:
thanks for the compliment I guess

now go!

talk to him!

Nick smiled at his phone, taking in one big breath to calm his nerves. Okay, here goes nothing. Giddily, he started typing and hoped for the best.

Nick:
Fine, I’ll try!

But I have to try something else first.

Charlie, would you look up for a moment? 💙

Nick had to almost blindly type this on his phone to not miss Charlie’s reaction, his gaze glued on the gorgeous man sitting across the table who may or may not be the fusion of his two crushes.

He saw his impressive eyebrows pull together in confusion before he looked up and met Nick’s eyes. Nick’s breath caught in his throat as those piercing blue eyes stared at him like they did all those years ago, making him weak at the knees and almost forgetting his own name.

“Charlie?” Nick croaked, his voice hoarse from hours of disuse. He cleared his throat but never broke eye contact, enjoying his front row seat to Charlie’s emotions playing out so clearly on his face, now showing utter surprise.

The other man now took him in properly, his gaze flickering over his face and upper body and Nick saw the exact moment recognition dawned on his beautiful face. His eyes widened and a tentative smile formed on his lips.

“How do you know my name?” Charlie asked, his eyes sparkling but his voice so low Nick almost missed it.

“Lucky guess?” Nick chuckled, unable to stop a smile so bright it fought the actual sun taking over his facial features, “Hi, I’m trucker Dave.”