Nick and Charlie

“Saturday is a nothing day.”

Every day we wonder when we're going to stop feeling like this and get over our teenage relationship. But it never happens. We just keep on going.

“What, and get rid of Henry? Do you finally love me more than your dog?” “Mmm, that’s going a bit far…” I roll over, shoving him off me and flipping us so I’m lying on top of him. “Rude.” Nick laughs and wraps his arms around me. “Okay, fine, I love you more than my dog.” “Good.” “I love you more than anyone, actually.” He says this a little quieter. I move my head out from the crook of his neck so I can meet his eyes. “Is that weird?” he continues, and then huffs out a small laugh. “I’m only eighteen.” “I don’t know,” I say. “Maybe.” It is weird. We both know it’s weird.

“Why are you saying these things, Charlie? If you’re trying to break up with me, just fucking spit it out.” But I don’t want him to. I feel like I’m about to be sick. Charlie just shakes his head and stares blankly at the space next to me. “Is that why you’ve been acting like this?” I say. “You want to break up with me, but you’re not even fucking brave enough to say it? You want to force me to break up with you instead?” He’s crying again now, his head shaking from side to side and his knees bobbing up and down. But he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t deny it. “Well fuck you then,” I say, and that’s when I realise that I’m crying too. God, how long’s it been since that happened?

Tao’s been going out with Elle Argent, a girl from Nick’s year, for almost the same amount of time Nick and I have been going out. They do seem to argue a lot but this is only because they’re practically the same person.

“When I visit you at uni, I’m expecting that one framed,” I say. “Only if you buy me a frame. I’ll have rent to pay.” “God, get a job.” “What? You mean you’re not going to buy me things now that you have a job? I can’t believe this. Why am I even in this relationship?” “I don’t even know, Nick. Why are you still here? It’s been over two years.” Nick just laughs and kisses me quickly on the cheek, then starts to walk backwards away towards the drinks table. “You’re nice to look at.” I give him the middle finger.

I have been going out with Nick Nelson since I was fourteen. He likes rugby and Formula 1, animals (especially dogs), the Marvel universe, the sound felt-tips make on paper, rain, drawing on shoes, Disneyland and minimalism. He also likes me. His hair is dark blond and his eyes are brown and he is two inches taller than me, if you care about that sort of thing. I think he’s pretty hot, but that might just be my opinion.

Mr Shannon has come to trust me completely over the several months I have been Head Boy. This is hilarious because I rarely do anything he tells me to do. Keep the teachers on your side and the students on your side. Don’t make enemies or too many friends. That’s my advice for getting through school.

This year, the Year 13’s final day of school is High School Musical themed. They hung a giant ‘East High School’ sign over the Truham sign at the school gate. They’ve been playing the soundtrack on classroom computers, so wherever you are in the school you can hear a High School Musical song playing from somewhere, but you’re never quite sure where. They participated in a ‘What Time Is It’ flash mob on the football field at breaktime. And they have all turned up to school either in red basketball outfits or cheerleader outfits. Disappointingly, Nick went for basketballer.

As Head Boy of Truham Grammar School, I’ve done many things. I got drunk on the parents’ wine at parents’ evening. I’ve been photographed with the mayor three times. I once accidentally made a Year 7 cry.