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Charlie.
The little piece of paper sat heavy in his jumper pocket. Of course that was the name he pulled. Seven other names could have come up, but somehow, the universe always drew him to Charlie Spring.
It all started when they were sat next to each other in form, Charlie was in year 10, Nick year 11. It took no time at all for them to become close friends. Nick didn’t like the way his rugby friends treated Charlie, so he dropped them almost immediately, choosing to focus on just Charlie. Eventually, he was introduced to his wider friend group, along with a few students from Higgs that Elle met after transferring there. His friendship with Charlie had always been different, though. None of his other friends made his heart race. None of them knew him as well as Charlie did. None of them knew the secrets they shared late at night, texting each other while the rest of their little town slept.
How Nick hadn’t realized he was in love with Charlie was beyond him. Maybe it was because he hadn’t even realized he was bisexual back then. By the time he saw his feelings for what they truly were, it was too late. They were studying at different universities, and Charlie, well.. he had a boyfriend. The last thing Nick wanted was to ruin that after everything he’d been through with Ben Hope.
Being away from Charlie was.. good. Okay, no, that wasn’t true. He hated being away from Charlie. It was just easier to keep his feelings at bay when he wasn’t around him every second of every day, which was why he was absolutely not looking forward to picking out a stupid present for him for their annual secret santa. Yes, he knew Charlie better than almost anyone, but he had no idea what an appropriate gift for the person he’d secretly been in love with for the past five years was.
Nothing seemed good enough.
“Nick? Earth to Nick!” Tara laughed, waving a hand in front of his face.
“Sorry, what?”
“I asked if you wanted help with your secret santa present, since you helped me with mine.” Her mouth twitched at the corners, he knew that look all too well. “Who did you have again?”
He groaned, tilting his head back. Tara knew exactly who he had. He’d only complained about it a million times since the ceremonial picking of names two weeks earlier at the Spring residence, and she had been teasing him about it ever since.
“You know him better than anyone, Nick. Just think of something that reminds you of him, or something he’s mentioned wanting recently. You need to stop overthinking this. It’s Charlie we’re talking about.”
And that was the problem. It was Charlie. His best friend, the person he had a crush on. The person he’d been in love with for years. It had to be perfect.
They spent the next few hours shopping. Tara wanted to get something for her mum and Darcy, while Nick picked up a few things for his own mum, his dogs, and his cousins who always came over on christmas day. While they shopped, Nick’s mind kept wandering to thoughts of what he could get for Charlie.
Drumsticks?
Charlie already had a pair he loved, any he got would sit in a drawer untouched.
Snacks?
He didn’t want Charlie to feel pressured to try them, or guilty if he couldn’t.
Cookbook?
Though they joked that Charlie was a terrible cook, he didn’t want his present to be food related. It was hard enough for him this time of year without Nick adding to it.
A mug?
Charlie had a specific one he liked to use. Even at Nick’s house, he drank only from that mug, like an old man. It was officially Charlie’s mug.
Scented candle?
Boring.
Socks?
Nick grimaced at the thought. If that was one of the best ideas he could come up with, he might as well give up now.
It was only three days later, his mum sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by pictures, when inspiration struck. Nick was making them both a cup of tea, stirring his own as he glanced over her shoulder at the snapshots of their family over the years. Pictures of him with his mum, his aunt and cousins, even David before he decided he hated Nick and acted like a dick.
What caught his eye was sat at the top of the pile, making Nick’s heart skip a beat. He remembered that day like it was yesterday. Shaking his head with a fond smile, he picked up the photo and turned it toward his mum who immediately brightened at the image.
“Can I have this?” he asked, fingers holding it gently, like it was fragile.
“Of course, baby.”
That was all he needed to hear. He rushed upstairs with nothing but the photo in hand and an idea rattling through his brain, ready to gather the supplies to create the perfect present for Charlie.
🍃 🍂 🍃
Nick
The paper mocked Charlie from his bedside table. He wasn’t sure how he ended up in this position— having to pick out a gift for Nick Nelson. Actually, yes, he did. His stupid crush on the rugby king, and being sat next to him in form, was the reason. If he hadn’t been so obsessed back then, they wouldn’t have become friends. If they hadn’t become friends, Charlie would have no idea how amazing Nick was. And if Charlie had no idea how amazing Nick was, he wouldn’t be sat there, staring at the paper, wondering what to buy someone he had loved since the first moment sunlight had streamed in through their form window, making his freckles stand out from his fair skin, flashing that cute lopsided smile at him.
Charlie was sat on his bedroom floor, leaning against his bed, with Tao, Isaac, and Elle surrounding him as they played a game of Monopoly, discussing what they were going to buy their secret santas.
All of his friends had known about his crush on Nick— at least when they were in school. Tao insisted he had a crush on a straight boy, Elle agreeing that Nick was “the straightest person she’d ever seen”. That was a long time ago, though. Nick had since come out as bisexual, and no one had dared mention his awkward school crush in years. Charlie assumed they thought he was over it. That’s why he didn’t hesitate to ask for advice, even if it meant revealing whose name he’d drawn.
Tao had suggested Marvel memorabilia. A good idea, but not personal enough. Charlie didn’t want to risk Nick being disappointed if he picked the wrong thing. Not that Nick would ever say he didn’t like a gift, but Charlie knew every expression and would know.
“What about a book?” Isaac suggested, moving his piece around the board.
“That’s what I’d get you if it was your name, not Nick.”
“Exactly, he’s not the book reading type.” Tao added unhelpfully.
Charlie ignored him, Isaac rolling his eyes before returning to his book. See, a book would be the perfect gift for Isaac, but not personal enough for Nick.
“You could make him a snack box. He’s always complaining about being hungry at uni.”
That was true. Their group chat was often bombarded with texts from Nick about stolen snacks, though Charlie suspected he ate them himself and blamed his irritating roommate to annoy him. The snack box was a good idea, but it didn’t feel right. It was something he’d do for a casual friend, not for one of his favourite people in the world.
After the game ended, because someone (Isaac) had kicked the board over— and his friends went home, Charlie sat on his bed in his childhood room, knitting needles in hand. He’d taken up knitting at the suggestion of Geoff, his therapist. Headphones on, he tried to escape the stress of secret santa. It was supposed to be a fun thing they all did as friends, it wasn’t supposed to be serious, but this year, getting Nick. It felt different.
He hadn’t heard the sound of his door creaking open, or the footsteps, but he did feel the shoe that was lobbed at his head. Turning in the direction it came from, he found Tori smirking at him.
“I heard you talking to your friends earlier. You’re making this harder than it needs to be.”
Charlie tilted his head, unsurprised by her lurking, yet surprised by her commentary.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s Nick Nelson. He’s obsessed with you. He’s not going to care what you get him as long as it comes from you, because you’re Nick and Charlie.” She sipped her diet lemonade, letting the words sit in the silence.
Before he could respond, and ask her what the hell she was talking about, she was gone. Charlie sat there, needles in hand, replaying he’s obsessed with you, like a bad christmas song over and over again in his head. Nick had always been there, offering unwavering support through all the good times and the bad. He had to give Nick something personal, something he put real time and effort into, to show how much his steady presence had meant to him over the years.
An idea was brewing as he tapped his knitting needles against the bed like drumsticks. He would make his present. Something that whenever Nick saw it, he would be reminded of Charlie and the bond they’d shared over the last five years, and would continue to share for the rest of their lives (he hoped).
The idea just screamed Nick.
🍃 🍂 🍃
The lights were low, the room festive with presents waiting under the poorly decorated tree. The party was in full swing, but Nick couldn’t relax. His gift to Charlie was still in his bag. He had to find a moment where he could get him alone to give it to him.
When he finally spotted Charlie without anyone else around, he approached, wiping his sweaty palms on his trousers.
He could do this.
“Hi.”
Charlie lips twitched at that one word, letting out his own soft ‘hi’ in return.
Clearing his throat, Nick awkwardly asked Charlie to follow him outside into the back garden, which he did without hesitation. Once the door shut behind them, Nick shoved his hands into his pockets, looking into those beautiful blue eyes. Now that he was stood in front of him, Nick wasn’t sure he could do it.
To his surprise, Charlie pulled out a gift from his own bag— a neatly wrapped box which gave Nick enough courage to pull out his own, trying to ignore the fact his hand was shaking. His heart was pounding in his chest as they tried to hand the presents to each other at the same time.
They laughed awkwardly, Nick rubbing the back of his neck.
“Do you want to go first?” He asked. Charlie immediately shaking his head, motioning for Nick to open his.
Carefully, Nick unwrapped the box to find.. a scarf. Not just any scarf, it was a handmade scarf and when he looked closer, he saw the tiny, shaky N+C stitched in golden yellow near the end. His heart skipped a beat, the small detail made him want to cry.
“I know it’s not perfect, but I remember you saying you lost your scarf at uni and the first one I made.. you said you thought it was good. I suppose you could have just said that to be supportive but—”
“Charlie,” Nick cut him off, wrapping the scarf around his neck with a lopsided smile. “I love it. It’s amazing. I already know it’s going to be my favorite present of the year.”
Charlie relaxed, shyly smiling as Nick admired the craftsmanship, the love he’d clearly put into every stitch.
“Okay, your turn. Though I feel a bit silly now I’ve had your present.” Nick whispered, nodding toward the badly wrapped item in Charlie’s hand.
Charlie tore the paper away, revealing a photo frame and when he turned it over, his breath caught in his throat. Only snapping out of it when he heard Nick start to ramble.
“I know it’s a bit handmade. I just.. couldn’t think of anything good enough. I was considering socks, Char, socks.Then I saw mum looking through old pictures, and I found this one. It was one of my favourite days. You taught me a lot about myself that year, and playing in the snow with you and Nellie.. that’s when I knew there was something more, even if I was too scared to admit it at the time.”
Charlie’s eyes widened, repeating that last sentence over in his head as his eyes flickered from the photo version of Nick, with his baby face and pink cheeks, to the real one standing in front of him. The same smile. The same rosy cheeks. It was like time had stood still and they were transported back there.
“I don’t.. Nick, are you saying that you— you liked me?”
Nick scoffed softly. “Of course I did. I still do, Char. I’ve liked you since I was sixteen. Don’t you like me?”
“Yes!” Charlie exclaimed, a little too quickly and loudly, shocking them both.
The world seemed to go quiet after that. Snowflakes falling around them. Hazel eyes staring into piercing blue.
“I really want to kiss you.”
“Okay.” Nick replied, not missing a beat.
Inside, seven faces pressed against the window, watching Nick and Charlie kiss for the very first time. Snow fell around them, like it was a present, just for them. Slowly, they pulled out their wallets and purses, exchanging money between themselves— some betting the plan would work, others (Tao), so sure it wouldn’t.
“How did you know this was going to work?”
Tara and Elle shared a look, shrugging their shoulders. They remembered the day they’d suggested that Nick and Charlie get each other’s names for secret santa. They wanted their friends to be happy, and maybe, a little bit, to stop watching them pine after each other. It was getting boring (and a little pathetic) after five years.
Looking at the pair now though, the scarf Charlie made wrapped around the both of them as they held each other tightly, the group couldn’t help but smile. It really was a christmas miracle.