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Nick had somehow managed to drag Charlie to one of Otis’ parties, but they had ended up splitting up; Charlie had gone to talk to Tao about something, and Nick was hanging out with Imogen.

He had always enjoyed hanging out with her, ever since they had met in primary school, but they had gotten closer ever since both of them came out of the closet as queer (bisexual in Nick’s case) - Nick shortly after falling for Charlie, and Imogen thanks to long night conversations with Nick (Sahar might have had something to do with that…).

It wasn’t the being queer that had made them become closer, but the realization that a boy and a girl could be together without having to become anything else; all of the external (and internal) pressure had dissapeared and they were free to be friends.

Anyways, Imogen honestly has no idea how she didn’t see it before. Nick was so obviously not straight. It took her five seconds of being in the same room as him and Charlie to notice that the way that her best friend looked at Charlie was most definitely… not platonic.

He always looked at the younger boy with that stupid smile that always caused Imogen’s chest to tighten. He looked so in love. Imogen was torn between feeling happy for them - her favourite boys deserved happiness and it made her heart flutter to see them finally getting it - and wanting someone to look at her the same way - as if she were the only thing that mattered in the world.

The thing is, Nick wasn’t looking at Charlie like that.

He was looking at his boyfriend with a confused stare. Tao seemed to have ditched Charlie to go make out with Elle in the bathroom, and Charlie was now talking to someone Imogen didn’t recognize.

She saw Nick’s stare become a glare as the girl Charlie was talking to put a hand on his arm and laughed loudly. Imogen couldn’t hear her laugh over the loud music, but she saw the girl throw her head back in laughter, apparently at something that Charlie had said.

“Nick… you okay?” - Imogen checked

“Hm” - Nick responded non committedly

“Nick. Nick!!” - Imogen tried to catch his attention

Nick turned his head to her and apologized under his breath for not paying attention to what she had been saying.

Charlie is still talking to that girl. She’s tall, but not taller than him, with long brown hair that kind of reminds Imogen of Sahar… No! No more thinking about Sahar! That’s starting to become an actual problem.

They both logically know that Charlie is gay. And they don’t even know if she really is hitting on him! But it is true that Nick has found himself in similar incidents regularly: girls tend to hit on him and more than a guy has tried to (Imogen doesn’t blame them, after all, she was in the same position a couple of months ago), but Nick doesn’t let himself get affected. He never does. Things are different when it’s his boyfriend getting hit on though.

Nick excuses himself to go talk to Charlie, who doesn’t seem bothered by the girl that might be possibly hitting on him.

Imogen takes a sip of her drink.

The girl seems to be slowly dragging her hand against Charlie’s chest in a way that looks kind of awkward to Imogen.

This is going to be interesting…

Nick approaches Charlie and a small smile appears on his face, the one that always appears whenever he’s near his boyfriend.

He softly puts his hand around his boyfriend’s and leans down to whisper “hi” against his neck.

The girl doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo. Or maybe she just doesn’t care. She stops moving her hand but she doesn’t remove it from Charlie’s chest.

Imogen’s all for the gossip and drama but she’s starting to feel like this girl might be making Charlie feel seriously uncomfortable.

Imogen would die for Charlie. It’s not even funny. Ever since Nick introduced them to each other they’ve become very close friends, bonding over their shared love of literature. Imogen guesses that most people don’t pin her for someone bookish, but she’s always been a hopeless romantic, and that extends to her taste in books.

She can’t make out what is happening over the loud music and dancing bodies but she guesses that her best friend got his way, since the girl that was talking to Charlie is backing away. Imogen can’t make out her expression either but she relaxes after seeing Nick place his other hand reassuringly on Charlie’s shoulder, bringing him into a hug.

They seem to be talking about something. Charlie smirks and says something and seconds later their lips collide, as they have so many other times.

So many other times. Imogen loves Nick and Charlie, but sometimes it’s like there’s a magnetic force bringing them together. She momentarily thinks about going to find Tao to lovingly complain about their best friends being so cute together, but then she remembers that Tao is … unavailable - and so is Elle.

Imogen would give anything to protect Nick and Charlie. Both of them have been through enough, and she just wishes for them to end up happy and together.

She knows that Nick and Charlie are perfect for each other.

They’re endgame.

At least she thinks so.

~

Imogen is hit by a breeze coming from outside. People have been coming and leaving from Otis’ party all night (His parents won’t be pleased at all), opening and closing the door. Imogen leans forward to see who has come in but she can’t see anyone over the crowd of people.

She turns back to her place, leaning against the wall, taking in the party and her friends: Nick and Charlie (who’s loving kiss has turned into a full-on teenage make out), Tara (who’s talking to some girls in their year), Darcy and Christian (who seem to be betting on Sai’s ability to chug alcohol), Otis (looking absolutely desperate at the condition his friends and classmates have left his house in), Tao and Elle (looking disheveled), and…