a sigh , picking his head up slightly.
❛ yeah . . . long day. ❜ he mumbled.
❛ are you doing alright today ? ❜
almost immediately taking the subject off of himself and onto her — avoiding his problems like he usually does because he doesn’t want to be a burden.
tara drops her bag next to @springofdrums and flops dramatically onto the grass like it’s been the longest day of her life.
“so, how’s my favorite drummer doing today?”
that caused him to turn immediately around, a little startled from the tap but ushered a small smile.
“oh, hi ! how are things?”
grinned before nodding.
he shook his head as he spoke — that was all he could do without falling apart. charlie was never capable of lying, especially to his friends. the entire concept of a lie just filled him with guilt.
“i know, and i appreciate you but i’m fine.” he mumbled, looking at the floor.
“charlie.”, her tone is even, she’s hoping it’s calming and reassuring but tara knows that sometimes she can overthink.
“did something happen with nick? at home? i’m just worried, that’s all.”
cue the soft smile as he felt his stomach drop once she had mentioned what he was doing.
“was i doing that? sorry— sorry, i didn’t mean to… it’s nothing really, i’ll be fine.”
giving her have a reassuring squeeze, trying to keep the subject off of him.
reaching across the table with her free hand, tara spoke softly.
“charlie you do realize when you’re anxious about something, you refuse to look anyone in the eye?”, the clarinet player asked. “now what’s going on?”
he nods his head in response to her words, giving a gentle smile before he begins to explain what he’s got.
“oh — uh, it’s just some stuff for an assignment i’m working on.”
{Written Starter for @springofdrums}
The bassist held the door open for her friend who was carrying a pile of boxes. Sahaar chuckled softly. “What’s all this for, Charlie?”
[ starter for @goldcnretriever ]
“oh i can keep up with you, easy. i’ll beat you running any day — it’s the whole. . . ‘rolling about the grass’ thing that i struggle with.”
charlie sat himself up slowly, eventually ( finally ) reaching for nick’s hand to pull himself fully +
shaking his head, his curls shaking with the motion. tears almost threatening to spill as he reassured him.
“n-no it’s okay!” he exclaimed.
avoiding his problems and solving everybody else’s was his specialty. besides — he ( doesn’t ) even have a problem !
+
nick was glad that after the time they had spent together, he knew charlie so well as to tell when he was not being entirely truthful, or getting too in his thoughts.
nick’s eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the curly haired boy in front of him. He looked tired, incomplete +
+
the young brunette couldn’t help but be so embarrassed by himself and his sickness. especially since “recovery” hadn’t been going well for him lately.
— hoping that interacting with people other than family and doctors would help him cooperate more with treatment.
+
there's a quiet frown on simon's face, his index finger lightly tapping on the space beside him. maybe it's a little stupid to say he can recognize a bit of himself in this stranger, but ...
++
a genuine smile once he heard what she had to say — he thought it was honestly quite endearing.
❛ i – i’ll be alright, tara. i appreciate you checking in on me though, that was sweet . . . ❜ he admitted.
charlie looked practically even worse than before — he was absolutely ( exhausted ) and more than drained, physically and mentally. however that didn’t stop him from forming a smile on his features. +
nick had been worried about charlie, thoughts of him and his recovery plaguing almost every thought he had.
he had wished he could help him more, be there more. both charlie and his mom said that he was doing everything he could, but it still did not feel like enough . . . +
a soft sigh of relief as he exhaled. charlie always felt more than a bit anxiety when it came to talking about how his recovery was going.
❛ you — you didn’t have to come, but it was really nice of you to ! i just don’t want to be a burden. ❜ he exclaimed. +
a sigh as he rested his head onto his shoulder, giving the other a shy smile.
❛ okay . . . if you don’t mind. ❜ he mumbled.
❛ it’s — ❜ a pause. he could either tell the truth or say the answer he knew that he wanted to hear. +
his eyes widened and he struggled to think — especially since english wasn't his first language.
" no, no! you're not a burden to me, i don't have anything to do right now, " he reassures. " er — maybe sit with me? " he offers.