14

The faint hum of amplifiers and the scent of old leather filled the air in the studio, a space that had seen countless jam sessions and late-night creative bursts. Nick stood near the control panel, leaning against the desk with an easygoing smile. Mickey, his manager and longtime confidant, sat in one of the swivel chairs, a cup of coffee in hand. Around them, Ricky, Tim, Dave, and John lounged in various spots, instruments set aside as they took a break from their recording session.

“So,” Nick began, his voice cutting through the chatter. He straightened up and crossed his arms. “Do you guys remember that story I told you a while back? About the girl I met at the orphan house charity gala?”

Ricky, perched on the armrest of the couch, snorted. “The one you couldn’t shut up about? Yeah, rings a bell.”

“Chas, right?” Dave chimed in. “You met her again at a café and drove her back to her dorm or something?”

“Exactly,” Nick replied, nodding.

Mickey leaned back in his chair, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You were weirdly detailed about her, man. What’s the update? Did you finally figure out why you couldn’t stop thinking about her?”

Nick chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “I wouldn’t go that far. But… there is something I need to tell you.”

Tim, who had been idly drumming his fingers on a snare, stopped and leaned forward. “Oh, this sounds juicy. Spill.”

Nick hesitated for just a moment before letting it out. “She’s my housemate now. It’s been two months.”

The studio erupted in disbelief.

“Wait, what?!” Ricky’s jaw dropped.

“You’re living together?” Tim asked, eyes wide.

Dave let out a low whistle. “Mate, you skipped a few chapters in this story.”

Mickey raised a hand, trying to calm the chaos. “Hold up. Start from the beginning. How the hell did this happen?”

Nick leaned against the desk again, arms crossed as he explained. “It wasn’t planned. We ran into each other again after the gala, kept in touch, and when she needed a place to stay… well, I had space.”

“And you just… offered?” Ricky asked, still trying to process the news.

“Pretty much,” Nick admitted. “She’s a good person, and I figured it wouldn’t hurt. Turns out, she’s a great housemate.”

Tim arched a brow. “No drama? No weirdness?”

Nick shook his head, a small smile on his face. “None. She’s witty, smart, and surprisingly easy to live with. Keeps me on my toes.”

“Sounds like more than just a housemate,” Dave teased.

“It’s not like that,” Nick insisted, though there was a flicker of something in his expression. “She’s just… different. She’s got this energy about her. Makes everything feel more alive.”

Mickey studied him for a moment, his brow raised. “You sure this is just about being housemates?”

Nick shrugged, playing it cool. “For now, yeah. But she’s important to me, and I’m not going to mess that up by overthinking it.”

Ricky smirked, nudging Tim. “Sounds like someone’s smitten.”

Nick rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the smile tugging at his lips. “You guys are impossible.”

As the conversation shifted back to their music, the teasing subsiding into laughter, Nick couldn’t help but feel a quiet warmth in his chest. Sharing even a small part of his connection with Chas felt good, and though his friends didn’t fully understand it yet, he knew they’d see what made her special in time. For now, he was content to let things unfold naturally.

-------------------------------------------------------

Nick adjusted the mugs on the coffee table, glancing toward the staircase. “She’ll be down in a minute,” he told Mickey and Jean, who were sitting comfortably on the couch.

Mickey, 43, with his usual sharp humor and relaxed presence, smirked at Nick. “You’ve been hyping her up so much, I half expect a movie star to walk down those stairs.”

Nick rolled his eyes. “Don’t start.”

Jean, 40, gave her husband a playful nudge. “Oh, stop teasing. You know we’re just curious.”

Before Nick could retort, footsteps sounded on the stairs. Chas appeared, looking slightly hesitant, her hands fiddling with the hem of her oversized hoodie. She paused at the bottom step, her eyes darting toward the older couple, and offered a small, nervous smile.

“Uh, hi,” she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of shyness.

Nick stepped forward, gesturing toward his friends. “Chas, this is Mickey—my manager and oldest friend—and his wife, Jean.”

Mickey stood, his towering frame making Chas feel momentarily small. He extended a hand, his grin friendly but teasing. “Well, if it isn’t the infamous Chas we’ve been hearing about. Nice to meet you.”

Chas hesitated before shaking his hand, feeling almost like a kid meeting a group of grown-ups at a family gathering. “Nice to meet you too,” she replied, her voice polite but a little quiet.

Jean stood up next, her warmth immediately putting Chas at ease. “Hi, Chas! I’m Jean. Don’t mind Mickey; he’s always like this. It’s lovely to finally meet you.”

“Thanks,” Chas said, her cheeks slightly flushed.

She sat carefully on the armrest of the couch, feeling a little out of place. The age gap between her and the couple loomed large in her mind—Mickey was 43, Jean was 40, and even Nick was 35. Meanwhile, here she was, barely out of university, feeling like the youngest one in a group of seasoned adults.

Nick noticed her unease and spoke up, his tone light. “Relax, Chas. They’re not here to interrogate you.”

Mickey chuckled, leaning back. “Well, maybe just a little. But hey, we’re not scary, right, Jean?”

“Absolutely not,” Jean agreed, her smile reassuring. “Although I will admit, I’m curious—what’s it like living with this guy?”

Chas blinked, unsure how to respond. She glanced at Nick, who was smirking, clearly amused by her discomfort. “Um… it’s been… interesting,” she said, a faint laugh escaping her lips.

“Interesting how?” Mickey pressed, his grin widening.

Jean rolled her eyes. “Oh, leave her alone, Mickey. Let her breathe.”

Chas couldn’t help but laugh a little at their dynamic. Slowly, her nerves began to ease. “It’s not as crazy as you’d think. He’s surprisingly normal. I mean, except for the music blasting at random hours.”

“Hey!” Nick protested.

Jean leaned in conspiratorially. “Oh, trust me, we know. He’s been like that since forever. You’re a saint for putting up with it.”

Chas giggled, feeling less like an outsider as the conversation continued.

“So, Chas,” Jean started with a kind smile, “Nick told us you’re studying psychology. How’s it going?”

Chas smiled nervously, feeling all three pairs of eyes on her. “It’s going well, I think. I’m in my fifth semester now, so still a little way to go before graduation, but I’m enjoying it so far.”

“Fifth semester?” Mickey whistled, leaning back in his chair. “Man, I don’t even remember what it’s like to be that young and ambitious.”

Jean shot him a teasing look. “Speak for yourself. Chas, what got you into psychology?”

“Well,” Chas began, setting her mug down and twirling it slightly, “at first i was having this invitation letter from UCL and scholarship studing in psychology major i don't know much about it at first. But I guess i'm intrested because I’ve always been fascinated by how people think, why they behave a certain way. And… I’ve seen how mental health issues can affect people close to me, so I just felt drawn to it. Like maybe I could make a difference.”

Jean nodded, her expression turning thoughtful. “That’s really admirable. It takes a lot of heart—and patience, I imagine.”

Chas chuckled. “Definitely patience. There’s so much to learn. Sometimes I feel like I’m just barely keeping up.”

“You seem like you’ve got your head on straight,” Mickey said, raising his mug in a mock toast. “Bet you’ll be a great psychologist one day.”

Chas smiled bashfully, brushing a stray curl from her face. “Thanks. I hope so.”

“Though,” Mickey added with a sly grin, “living with Nick might give you enough material for a whole thesis.”

Jean let out a laugh, and Chas couldn’t help but giggle. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m already building a case study.”

Nick, who had been quietly sipping his coffee, raised an eyebrow. “Very funny, you two.”

Jean leaned forward conspiratorially. “What’s it like living with him? Be honest—we won’t tell.”

Chas bit her lip, glancing at Nick, who gave her an almost daring look. “Well,” she began, feigning seriousness, “he’s… surprisingly neat. And quiet. Except for the guitar playing. And the occasional 2 a.m. snack attack.”

Mickey burst out laughing. “Oh, the infamous Nick snack raids! Those haven’t changed, huh?”

Jean shook her head, grinning. “What’s his weirdest combo so far?”

Chas smirked, finally relaxing. “Peanut butter and pickles. On toast. I’m still recovering.”

“Oh, come on!” Nick exclaimed, putting his mug down. “You guys make me sound like some sort of monster.”

“Hey, you’re the one eating like one,” Chas shot back, a teasing glint in her eye.

As the laughter from Chas’s peanut butter and pickles comment subsided, Jean leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “So, Chas, besides studying psychology, what do you do for fun? Any hobbies?”

Chas tilted her head, thinking. “Well, I like dancing—though I haven’t done it as much since busy fifth semester started. And lately, I’ve been trying to pick up Mandarin.”

“Mandarin?” Mickey asked, his eyebrows rising. “Why Mandarin?”

Chas chuckled. “It started as a joke with my friend Nichole’s family. They’re Singaporean, and they kept teasing me for not knowing any Mandarin even though I look like I should. So they started teaching me random phrases, and now I’m kind of hooked.”

Mickey nodded approvingly. “Impressive. Can you say something?”

Chas hesitated, her cheeks flushing. “Um, okay, but don’t judge. I’m still learning.” She cleared her throat and said slowly, “Wǒ xǐhuān hē kāfēi.”

Jean’s eyes widened. “What does that mean?”

“It means, ‘I like drinking coffee,’” Chas explained.

Mickey clapped his hands together. “That’s perfect for this moment! You’re already fitting in.”

Chas laughed, the compliment boosting her confidence. “Thanks, but I’m still terrible with tones. Last week, I accidentally said ‘I like fried cat’ instead of ‘I like fried rice.’”

Jean burst into laughter, nearly spilling her coffee. “Oh no!”

Nick, who had been watching the conversation with a faint smile, finally chimed in. “That explains why you were so embarrassed when I walked into the kitchen that day.”

Chas groaned, covering her face. “Don’t remind me.”

Mickey smirked. “Nick didn’t try to correct you, did he?”

“Oh, no. He just stood there and let me embarrass myself, he also know nothing about mandarin either ” Chas replied, throwing Nick a mock glare.

Nick shrugged innocently. “It was too funny to ruin the moment.”

Jean shook her head, still laughing. “You poor thing. But hey, at least you’re trying to learn. That’s more than I can say for most people.”

Chas smiled, her earlier shyness melting further. “Yeah, it’s been fun so far. Plus, it’s nice to feel like I’m connecting with my heritage in a way, you know?”

Jean nodded, her expression warm. “That’s beautiful. Honestly, I think it’s so great that you’re putting in the effort.”

Mickey grinned. “Nick, you better start learning Mandarin too. If Chas becomes fluent, she might start roasting you in a language you can’t understand.”

Nick rolled his eyes. “She doesn’t need Mandarin for that. She’s already an expert in roasting me.”

Chas smirked, leaning back in her chair. “And don’t you forget it.”

The room erupted in laughter again, and Chas felt a new wave of comfort wash over her.

After a brief pause, Jean gestured to Chas’s mug. “So, you mentioned you like dancing earlier. Did you take lessons or anything?”

“Oh, yeah. I used to do contemporary and hip-hop in high school,” Chas said. “We even did a performance once to Beyoncé’s Crazy in Love.”

Mickey’s jaw dropped dramatically. “No way. Beyoncé? With the dance moves and everything?”

Chas nodded, grinning. “Oh yeah, the whole routine. And my friend Cole rapped Jay-Z’s part. It was so chaotic but so much fun.”

Jean gasped. “You’re officially my favorite person. Do you still dance now?”

“Not as much,” Chas admitted. “But sometimes, I’ll blast music and dance around the house when no one’s watching.”

Nick raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing. “When no one’s watching? Pretty sure I caught you doing that last week in the living room.”

Chas froze, her cheeks burning. “You were not supposed to see that!”

Jean laughed so hard she had to set her mug down. “Oh, this is gold. I need to hang out here more often.”

“Same,” Mickey added, still chuckling. “Chas, you’re officially the entertainment at these meetings now.”

Chas groaned playfully. “Great. I’m the accidental comedian now.”

Nick gave her a rare, soft smile. “Hey, you’re doing great. These two are tough critics, and they already love you.”

Chas glanced at Jean and Mickey, who both nodded emphatically. “He’s not wrong,” Jean said warmly. “You’re a breath of fresh air, Chas.”

“Absolutely,” Mickey agreed. “Nick’s been more fun to be around lately. I think it’s your influence.”

Chas looked at Nick, surprised, but he simply shrugged and took another sip of his coffee.

And just like that, the walls Chas had built up earlier in the day crumbled completely. She wasn’t just a housemate in the background—she was part of their little circle now.

The room erupted in laughter, and Chas felt the awkwardness slowly melt away. By the time the coffee was halfway gone, she found herself fully engaged. Mickey cracked jokes about Nick’s quirks, Jean asked thoughtful questions about her classes and interests, and Nick subtly made sure she was included in every part of the conversation.

“So, do you have plans after graduation?” Jean asked, her tone warm and encouraging.

“I’m still figuring that out,” Chas admitted. “I know I want to go into clinical psychology eventually, but it’s a long road. For now, I’m just focusing on doing well in my classes.”

“You’ve got time,” Mickey said. “And it sounds like you’re on the right track.”

Chas smiled, her confidence growing with every word of encouragement. She even found herself teasing Nick a few more times, drawing laughter from everyone at the table.

And as Nick watched her blend seamlessly into his world, a small, proud smile crept across his face. She wasn’t just fitting in—she was thriving.

At one point, Mickey shook his head, his voice filled with humor. “I gotta say, Nick, I didn’t think anyone could put up with you this long. Chas, you’ve got patience.”

“Or she’s just as stubborn as he is,” Jean added, winking at Chas.

Chas smirked, shrugging. “Maybe both.”

When the visit ended, Jean gave her a warm hug at the door. “It was so nice meeting you, Chas. I hope we didn’t scare you too much.”

“Not at all,” Chas replied with a genuine smile. “It was great meeting you too.”

After they left, Chas turned to Nick, her expression amused. “Well, that was… something. At first, I felt like a little kid in a grown-up circle, but they’re actually really nice.”

Nick grinned, crossing his arms. “Told you they’d love you. And don’t worry—they’re like family. You’ll get used to them.”

Chas chuckled, shaking her head. “You make it sound like I’m sticking around forever.”

Nick smirked, his voice light. “You never know.”

-------------------------------------------------------

The house was quiet now, the warmth from earlier still lingering in the air. Chas and Nick sat on the couch in their usual spots, the faint glow of the table lamp casting a soft light over the living room. Nick had a mug of tea in his hand, while Chas was curled up under a blanket, holding her phone but not really paying attention to it.

“That went better than I expected,” Chas said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence.

Nick glanced at her, one brow raised. “What? You thought Jean and Mickey were going to be mean or something?”

Chas shrugged, fiddling with the edge of the blanket. “I don’t know! They’re older, and I’m just this random student living in your house. I felt like… I don’t know, a kid crashing an adult party.”

Nick chuckled, setting his mug down on the coffee table. “You didn’t crash anything. They loved you. Jean already asked if we could invite you to dinner the next time we all hang out.”

Chas tilted her head. “She did?”

“Yeah,” Nick said, smirking. “Apparently, you’re her new favorite person. She even told me I’m boring compared to you.”

Chas laughed, pulling the blanket up to her chin. “That’s because I’m the funny one.”

Nick rolled his eyes, leaning back into the couch. “Sure you are.”

“Hey, don’t be jealous,” Chas teased, poking his arm with her toe.

Nick grabbed her foot before she could pull it back, holding it hostage. “Jealous? Of what? Your ability to embarrass yourself in two languages now?”

“Hey!” Chas exclaimed, trying to wiggle free, but Nick held firm.

He grinned, clearly enjoying her flustered reaction. “Don’t forget, I’ve seen you practicing those Mandarin phrases in the mirror. Wǒ hěn bèn, isn’t that what you said?”

Chas’s jaw dropped. “That means ‘I’m stupid!’ I didn’t say that about myself!”

Nick burst out laughing. “Relax, I’m kidding.”

“Ugh, you’re the worst,” Chas said, finally freeing her foot and shoving him lightly with it.

Nick smirked, grabbing his mug again. “You’ll miss me when I’m gone.”

Chas scoffed, pulling her blanket tighter around her. “Gone where? The kitchen? Because I won’t miss you for that long.”

“Harsh,” Nick said, shaking his head in mock offense.

They fell into a companionable silence again, the sound of the clock ticking faintly in the background.

“Thanks, by the way,” Chas said softly.

Nick looked at her, surprised. “For what?”

“For… making sure I didn’t feel left out today,” she said, meeting his gaze. “You didn’t have to, but you did. I appreciated it.”

Nick’s expression softened, and he shrugged. “You’re part of this weird little world of mine now. It’s my job to make sure you’re okay.”

Chas smiled, her cheeks warming. “Still, it was nice. So… thanks.”

Nick gave her a small smile, then leaned back, sipping his tea. “Don’t mention it.”

They sat there for a moment longer before Chas shifted, her grin returning. “So, when Jean called me a breath of fresh air, did that mean she thinks you’re stale?”

Nick groaned, setting his mug down. “You’re really not going to let me live that down, are you?”

“Absolutely not,” Chas said, laughing.

“Fine,” Nick said, grabbing a cushion and tossing it at her. “Take this, you ‘breath of fresh air.’”

Chas yelped, catching the cushion and immediately throwing it back at him. “You started it!”

The playful banter turned into a full-on pillow fight, their laughter echoing through the living room. By the time they both collapsed back onto the couch, out of breath and grinning like idiots, the tension from earlier had completely melted away.

“You’re impossible,” Nick muttered, shaking his head.

“And yet, you’re still stuck with me,” Chas shot back, her tone teasing but warm.

Nick chuckled, leaning his head back against the couch. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

And as they sat there, the room quieting once more, both of them felt that familiar sense of ease—the kind that only came from being around someone who truly felt like home.

As the pillow fight slowed down and their laughter faded into breaths of exhaustion, Nick shook his head with a lopsided grin. He reached over, pinching Chas’s cheek playfully. “You’re such a brat, you know that?”

Chas swatted his hand away, but he only pinched her other cheek in retaliation. “Nick! Stop!” she protested, laughing through her words.

“Aw, but you look so cute when you’re annoyed,” Nick teased, tugging gently at her cheek before finally letting go.

Chas huffed, narrowing her eyes at him. “Oh, you think this is funny?”

“I think it’s hilarious,” he said smugly, leaning back with an air of victory.

Without warning, Chas grabbed his arm, and before Nick could react, she leaned forward and playfully bit down on it—not hard, but enough to make him yelp in surprise.

“Hey!” he exclaimed, pulling his arm away and staring at her in disbelief. “Did you just bite me?”

Chas smirked, leaning back into the couch and crossing her arms. “You deserved it. That’s what you get for pinching my cheeks.”

Nick rubbed his arm, pretending to look wounded. “What are you, a cat?”

“Maybe,” she shot back, sticking out her tongue. “Don’t mess with me, or I’ll do it again.”

He gave her a deadpan look. “You realize you’re officially the weirdest housemate I’ve ever had, right?”

Chas grinned proudly. “Good. Keeps things interesting.”

Nick shook his head, muttering under his breath, “Remind me why I let you live here again?”

“Because I’m adorable, and you secretly love having me around,” she said confidently, flashing him a cheeky smile.

Nick sighed dramatically, leaning his head back against the couch. “Yeah, yeah. Adorable and dangerous. What a combo.”

Chas laughed, pulling the blanket tighter around her. “Admit it, though. You’d be bored without me.”

Nick glanced at her, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile. “Maybe.”

The room fell into a peaceful quiet again, their playful energy fading into a comfortable stillness. Nick shook his head one last time, chuckling softly to himself.

“You’re impossible,” he muttered, more to himself than to her.

“And yet,” Chas replied, a playful glint in her eye, “you’re still stuck with me.”

Nick glanced over at her, unable to hide his grin. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

As the playful banter subsided, Nick grabbed the remote and leaned back into the couch. “Alright, enough chaos for one night. Let’s watch something that doesn’t involve biting or cheek-pinching.”

Chas raised an eyebrow, still wrapped snugly in the blanket. “Fine by me. But no boring stuff, okay? Let’s watch something funny.”

Nick scrolled through the streaming options until his eyes landed on a well-known sitcom. “How about this? Classic comedy, guaranteed laughs.”

Chas shrugged. “Sure, as long as it’s not some old-man humor.”

“Hey,” Nick shot her a mock-offended look. “This is gold. Just watch.”

As the episode started, Chas quickly found herself invested. The characters on screen fell into a series of ridiculous, over-the-top antics, and before long, she let out a loud, witch-like cackle that filled the room.

Nick froze mid-sip of his tea, staring at her with wide eyes. “What was that?”

Chas glanced at him, completely unfazed. “What was what?”

“That laugh!” Nick said, setting down his mug and pointing at her. “You sounded like… like a cartoon witch plotting world domination!”

Chas burst out laughing again, clutching her stomach. “I can’t help it! This show is hilarious!”

Nick shook his head, but her contagious laughter made it impossible to hold back his own. Soon, he was laughing along with her, the kind of laughter that made his sides ache. “You’re ridiculous,” he managed to say between breaths.

“You’re the one who wanted to watch this,” Chas shot back, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

As the episode went on, Chas’s cackles only got louder, and Nick found himself laughing more at her reaction than the show itself. By the time the credits rolled, they were both slumped on the couch, completely worn out from laughing.

Nick shook his head, still chuckling as he glanced over at her. “You’re dangerous, you know that? Your laugh alone could probably cure someone’s bad day.”

Chas grinned, her cheeks flushed from all the laughter. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Good, because it was,” Nick replied, tossing a pillow onto her lap. “Now, what’s next? Another episode?”

“Obviously,” Chas said, grabbing the remote with a smirk.

And so they stayed on the couch late into the night, watching one episode after another, their shared laughter filling the cozy space of the living room. Without them realizing, their playful banter made their bond stronger and a small spark in their hearts that they couldn't name yet, started to appear more often.

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