You loved stargazing. There was nothing better, in your opinion. Often times you could be found at the park, leaned against a tree and wrapped in a blanket. Off in your own little world.
If someone were to walk around your college and ask your classmates about you, they would each say the same thing: “they’re off in their own world.” That is, if any of them noticed you. Silent in a corner, doodling in a journal until it was time to go. Of course, you noticed all of them. The students here were loud. One in particular stood out to you. Charlie Dalgleish. No matter who the person was, he seemed to get along with everyone. You found it admirable, the way he could befriend anyone with such ease. Even you, it seemed.
Halfway through the semester, the boy had started talking to you. Small at first, just ‘hellos’ in passing, then more, until somehow he’d convinced you to each lunch with him twice a week. The first time you joined him, you were shocked to see he ate alone. Plenty of his friends were around, at their own groups. Charlie seemed to not belong to any one.
Truth be told, you enjoyed eating with Charlie. He was funny, and quite kind. You’d found he was more intelligent then you’d expected. Those lunch ‘dates’ soon became your favorite part of the college, though you’d never admit it. On one such date, Charlie had asked you why you didn’t talk much. “I just prefer to think, I suppose,” you replied. “I don’t like many people, I prefer being by myself at a park.”
The response had prompted him to ask if you had a favorite place, and so you brought him to your stargazing tree at the park. You told him you came most nights just to look at the sky and breathe. “You can join sometime if you want,” you offered. “Are you sure?” He’d asked. “It’s not like I own this tree, Charlie. It’s a public park.”
Charlie did join you, sometimes. Not nightly, but two to three times a week. Sitting under the stars seemed to be magical for him. He went from his chatty self to a quieter, calmer version. Softer, somehow. As the school year came to a close, he was able to come less and less, and eventually had to stop. A week after summer began, he joined you. It was his first time back in weeks.
You greeted him with a smile and small wave. He sat down next to you and looked up. “Summer starting. Any plans?” You shook your head. “Nope. I’m staying here, just working. Y’know, my usual,” you said softly. Charlie nodded. “I’m gonna go out of state the whole time. Hanging out with old friends.” Oh. This shouldn’t have made you so sad, but he was your only friend. You were hoping you could hang out some. “Oh. Okay.”
“I’ll be back. I leave tomorrow night. I just wanted to come tell you, I guess.” The boy stood, so you did, too. “I’ve gotta get some good sleep, huh? See ya next semester, Y/N,” he said, then hugged you. The two of you held each other tightly, as if he weren’t going to return. “See ya, Charlie,” you said when he finally let go.
It was now mid-August, and classes were starting back up. You didn’t have Charlie in any classes this semester, unfortunately. You still had your tree and the stars, though. Nightly still you’d go, leaned against the tree and looking up. Tonight was no different, until you heard heavy footsteps and panting approaching.
Hurriedly you stood and turned to find the source, and you immediately found it. In the time it took you to stand, Charlie had run to you, panting but otherwise okay. “I just go back from the airport,” he huffed. “I came here as fast as I could.” You tilted your head. “You should be resting.”
“I really like you. Y/N.” Charlie looked at you. “I thought I just liked being your friend but then I was gone and I couldn’t sit with you and it was horrible and I missed you and I really like you,” he told you, speaking fast. You took a step back, thought better of it, then stepped closer to him. “I missed you too. It was awful by myself.”
Charlie pulled you into a tight hug and slumped onto you. Now that he had ahold of you, he could relax. “Every second of every day I was thinking of how much I missed you,” he whispered. Shyly, you nodded and pulled him closer. “I missed you too.”
Once the two of you had pulled away, you sat down, leaning against each other. Neither of you spoke for what felt like hours but was probably only thirty minutes. You only broke the silence after hearing a yawn for the fourth time. “You should head back to your place, you’re exhausted,” you said. Your companion nodded and stood, pulling you with him. “You should walk me there, to make sure I arrive,” he said.
So you did. You walked with him to his apartment, only a few blocks off campus. A ten minute walk away from your own apartment, you noticed. “Here we are,” Charlie said when you arrived. “Here we are,” you repeated quietly, outside his door. Charlie unlocked his door and took a step inside, then turned to you. “I-”
You stopped him with a quick kiss on the cheek. “Need to go to sleep. You can catch up with me tomorrow. Okay?” He touched his cheek and nodded. “Okay. Goodnight, Y/N. I- I’ll see you tomorrow.” Smiling, you turned to leave. “Goodnight, Charlie.”
The first thing he did the next day was kiss you.
(I’m in my Slimecicle appreciation phase.)
