To let you know, these events are based of the timeline in Solitare.
"I sleep so I can see you cause I hate to wait so long"
TW: Self-harm, relapsing, and gore
Start of Solitare timeline
CHARLIE'S POV
Nick left for university at the start of summer next year. School was weird without him. There was no more hanging out at lunch, no more hanging out at his house at the end of the day and things were going slowly. Lunch was with Tao, Aled and Sahar. I stayed quiet most of the days without Nick, and my friends could see that I was breaking inside.
Relapses were more frequent every night, and one night when my parents were out with Oliver, and it was just me and Tori, I sat in the kitchen, the door blocked by a cabinet with a knife and a series of tissues. My breath came in short sharp breaths. I didn't eat again, I was relapsing all the bullying happening again without Nick being here even though Harry, my main bully had left. A knock on the door sends the knife clattering on the floor.
TORI'S POV
"Charlie..?" Tori asked. I sit there, the tissues lapping up my blood.
"Go away.." I wince.
"Charles open the fucking door right now, or I will fucking break it" Tori said, banging her fist against the door. I sit there and clean up the blood, when the crash of the door opening scares me. Tori walks in, her face paper-white, with shock.
"Charlie.. Why? You stayed clean for so long" she said, covering her face, wiping her tears and steadying her voice.
CHARLIE'S POV
"I thought all the bullying would resume, because Nick left. I know that my biggest bully left but I have that everlasting fear" I cried.
Tori walks into the kitchen opening cabinets and grabs a red metal aid kit, and brings it down to where I was sitting. She crouches and looks at the scars on my arms, and opens the kit getting alcohol pads, cotton patches, and cream. She rips open the packaging of the alcohol pads and rubs it over the scars making me hiss with the sting of the alcohol. She moves on to using the cotton wool and cleaning the ridges and then finally fixing a cotton patch onto both arms and where the scars were.
"Go rest Charlie, I'll clean up the blood" she said.
I stand up grabbing my phone and stumble upstairs, dialing Nick's number.
End of Solitare Timeline
NICK'S POV
My phone rings and the name on the screen is Charlie 🐈⬛, and a photo of him on the screen. It was currently 10:00 PM, and why would he call me unless - unless it was an emergency. I pick up the phone, and hear Charlie cry into the phone.
"Char, what's the matter?" I asked, coaxing him into answering.
"I relapsed Nick, I relapsed about the bullying happening all over again and it turned really badly. I- I cut myself again" he sobbed.
"Charlie. Hang in there, I'll be there by 2AM. Do not do anything stupid. I'm on my way" I answer back. I grab my overnight bag, stuff it with clothes, and some other items, pull on my shoes and run through the Leeds dormitory and to the carpark. I open the door of my car and sit in, turning on the engine and putting Charlie on the speaker.
"I have that fear, Nick. I have the fear of being bullied all over again for being myself, and the fact that you're not here" he sobbed. I step on the gas, and tumble down the highway. Each minute mattered for me, and it mattered more for Charlie. By 1AM, I was stopping at the gas station two kilometers from Charlie's house, getting coffee and I continued the journey.
Two kilometers later I stop in front of Charlie's house, hearing commotion inside the house, specifically yelling. I look into the window and see Charlie yelling at his mum, clutching his shoulder. I ring the doorbell and wait. Charlie's mum answers the door and she looks at me. I mean she would cause it's literally 2AM, I drove all the way from Leeds to Truham in four hours. She lets me in and Charlie walks into the hallway into my arms and I wrap them around his back and he cries.
I walk upstairs into his bedroom with him, holding my duffle bag.
"Please don't go anywhere tonight or the next few days Nick, I beg you" he sniffled rubbing his eyes.
"I won't. I'll be here with you for a long time" I answered, rubbing his back.
We walk into his room and I place my duffle bag at the end of his bed, on the end table and change. He changes as well, and I see two plasters on both his shoulders indicating, he did cut again where he usually cut. I walk towards him, as he pulls his shirt on and kissed his shoulders and then his head. Tonight and tomorrow, I plan on staying with him until he feels better.