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Olly rolls his eyes while listening in on the painfully slow conversation happening in the store room. So many words, so few suspicious noises. Like, seriously. What the fuck is wrong with Charlie? A hot Nelson is obsessed with him and he's all shy and hesitant? It's not even the repressed one, it's the earnest one. FUCK HIM ALREADY. At least blow him, jeez. It's a squeeze admittedly, but Olly's blown David in that storeroom several times. It's a great way to pass the time while cupcakes golden in the oven, and totally not a health hazard. He knows how to wash his hands. It's fine.
Thank God they have the brothers the way round that they do. Sure, Nick's physically attractive but he's far too soft and sensitive for him. Olly imagines Nick would have to multiply E-numbers out loud just to get through four minutes of cock-sucking. And the post-nut cuddling requirements would be exhausting. He's not opposed to a cuddle when the mood calls for it, but it can make him feel a bit hot and he imagines Nick wouldn't take too kindly to him clawing his way out after a minute or two. Not that he's thought about blowing his friend. Much. David on the other hand… That man can take a blow, and take it in a way that makes Olly thank him for the pleasure. He should really Snapchat him. Or tell him that he's in love with him. Because he is.
He frowns at the Skittles scattered over the floor. Why do Nick and Charlie have to be so weird and serious? This is honestly not even a difficult decision. It's obvious they'd be good together. They're stealing all his fun, talking in private. Prudes. Oh well. He should probably leave them to figure it out and do something about the mess before the class starts. He could make Nick clean it when they finally come out of the store room, but that could literally take a thousand years. People begin milling in for the class as he sweeps the rainbow into a dustpan. Inconvenient of them, but fair. At least it's a regular group that know what they're doing and can just get on with mixing the ingredients laid out in front of them.
“I want to believe you, but it’s just so hard after Ben…” He hears Charlie say, as he passes the storeroom to deposit the dustpan contents into the bin. Who’s Ben, and what did he do to make Charlie so reluctant to be with Nick? Is this something to do with that embarrassing lecture he caught Charlie giving their new fish about treating each other kindly? And why he was crying in front of Lego Masters a few weeks ago? He knew the ‘beauty in the eyes of the Lego fox’ excuse was suspicious. He just figured Charlie would talk to him if and when he wanted to. Plus, it was a banging build so it was a bit plausible. He stops by the door, hearing Nick agree, “I respect your decision.” Idiots.
Olly bangs on the door and tells Charlie he's wrong, taking a little pleasure in making them jump. Serves them right for being so blasted slow and annoying. Charlie has the audacity to sound affronted, like he wouldn't have listened in too. He so would have. Hypocrite. “Don’t you have a class to run, you nosy cunt?”
Rude. “They're here, too! We all agreed this was more fun than baking.” Olly brats back. Take that, big brother. He can't help wondering what else Charlie has taken recently though, his hesitancy to snog Nick's face off starting to feel like more a trauma response the more he pieces together. He can at least fix this for him. Lord knows Charlie's fixed things for him in life; paving the way for a relatively straightforward coming out both at home and at school, and supporting him to exit the family home by encouraging him to move in with him here. He can repay him now.
He thinks back to the bad years; the shouting, the tears, the untouched plates and remembers one thing. One saving grace, no matter how dire it got. The single thing that could be counted on, that never ever failed. If he says this it has to be the truth, though. He can't make this connection casually. He thinks over every interaction he's had with Nick. Every deep talk and bad pun and bear hug... Yeah, he can say it.
“Charlie, listen. I know Nick. He's my friend's. He's Bruschetta. He's so Bruschetta it's embarrassing.”