2A/N: Written for Hogwarts assignment 7 - English Language Studies task 2: Write about your character meeting up with another.
Word count: 777
Charlie's heart raced as he stepped into the empty computer room. Over the past few months, they had noticed that this particular one was always empty at this time of day, and it wasn't the first time they'd used it as a meeting place. Nick was already there when he entered, and Charlie's smile widened at the sight of him. It had only been a couple hours since form, but Charlie never got tired of seeing his boyfriend.
"Hi."
"Hi."
They came together like two magnets. Nick's hands found Charlie's waist, pulling him in for a kiss. It was risky kissing at school even now that both of them were out, but that did little to stop them. Charlie had never felt particularly rebellious, but the allure of kissing Nick was too powerful to resist sometimes.
It was strange really. He'd secretly met up with Ben in a similar way for months, and it had usually made him feel terrible afterward. Meeting up with Nick in secret was different. For one, he treated getting caught like it would be a passing amusement, not something horrific, even when he'd been in the closet. Charlie didn't know how to express what that meant to him.
Kissing Ben behind the shelves in the library had felt thrilling at the time, but now Charlie could tell that there had always been an undercurrent of terror there. If they were caught, he'd always understood, even if it was subconsciously, that Ben would blame him for the situation. The thrill he felt with Nick was something completely different.
The bell rang outside, and Charlie reluctantly pulled away, laughing at Nick's frown. He couldn't resist leaning back in and kissing him briefly.
"We have to get to class," he said. "You can't be late to Maths again."
Nick sighed but nodded. His grip on Charlie's waist tightened for a split second before he let him go and took his hand instead, tugging him towards the door.
This part of their secret meetings was different too. Ben had always been insistent that they leave separately, and he had always gone first, often leaving Charlie behind feeling whiplash over the quick change in his demeanour. Nick always insisted that they leave together, even when it made what they'd just been doing obvious to anyone who spotted them. No matter how many times it happened, Charlie's cheeks flushed when they emerged back into the corridor.
None of the passing students paid them any attention. Charlie thought they'd got away with it like they usually did until Mr Ayaji was in front of them, staring at them with one eyebrow raised. Nick and Charlie came to a stop. Charlie's blush deepened.
"How are you boys?" Mr Ajayi asked, keeping his expression carefully neutral.
Nick hesitated only slightly before answering. "Fine."
"Uh huh." Mr Ajayji nodded slowly, his eyes flickering towards the doorway to the empty computer room.
There was no pretending anyone else had been in there with them considering the room was dark. Charlie gripped Nick's hand. He wasn't sure what he was scared of exactly. It wasn't punishment. He knew that Mr Ajayi wouldn't do anything harsh, and getting caught hadn't filled him with any shame like it might have in the past. But he was embarrassed enough that he wanted to escape, and Mr Ajayji seemed to feel similarly.
He cleared his throat. "Well, I think both of you need to be getting to your lessons." He stepped aside and motioned down the corridor.
Nick and Charlie looked at each other in surprise. It was Charlie who snapped out of his surprise first and tugged Nick down the corridor. They walked fast, only slowing down once they had made it to the end of the corridor. Charlie looked over his shoulder to see that Mr Ajayi had disappeared. Inexplicably, he burst into laughter. It only took a second before Nick was laughing too. A few other students gave them funny looks as they passed, but they were oblivious.
"I can't believe that happened," Charlie said.
"Could have been worse," Nick said with a shrug. "He could have found us actually kissing like Coach Singh did that one time."
Charlie shook his head. Sometimes it was still surreal to him that that had happened.
Another bell rang, and Nick swore, making Charlie giggle. He gave Nick a light-hearted push in the direction of his class.
"Go on then."
With one last smile, Nick disappeared down the corridor. Charlie quickly followed in the opposite direction. It was only then that his lateness to class really settled in. He swore under his breath and picked up his pace.