Guardians (working title)

Chapter 6
A new term

Nathan returned to university in a good mood. He had worked hard all summer and was returning to his student digs with a nice cushion of money sitting in his account. He was first back into the halls of residence as he liked to be there early so he could settle before classes started. His best friend Mark had text him to let him know that he would be arriving later in the week.
It was a different flat he was in but as they all looked the same he immediately felt at home. He was just lugging his last box from his car when it slipped from his grasp and someone caught it.
“Thanks.” Nathan breathed with relief.
“No problem.” The mystery voice said.
Nathan peaked round the box and found himself looking at a face that was undeniably middle eastern in origin though he couldn't quite place where.
“Do you need a hand inside.” The man asked. He had a slight accent but once again Nathan couldn't place where it was from. Nathan accepted the help and the two carried the box between them to the 6th floor flat.
“No way this is my flat too.” The middle eastern man said.
Nathan laughed. A new year and a new crop of students. Nathan and Mark had specified that they wanted to share a flat in halls in the new term but that left 4 spaces empty. One of which had obviously been filled.
“Oh well in that case welcome home.” Nathan smiled.
There was a week until the start of term, Nathan and the new student who's name was Max had the flat to themselves for the first few nights. After helping each other to move in they settled down for a few beers before beginning the arduous task of sorting out the kitchen. From the look of him Max seemed to be a bit of a goth. He was wearing black jeans and a t-shirt with a large print of a dragon and skull on it. His eyes were lined in black and his hair was very straight and very dark. Nathan silently thought that he preferred that to some one who would be sending thumping dance music through the walls at all hours. Nathan was a bit of a rocker with a penchant for ripped jeans and band t-shirts far too big for his skinny frame. It was also nice to not be the only long haired male in the house.
With no food in they decided to do a shop. The supermarket was a bit of a walk away on the waterfront which gave Nathan and Max even more time to talk about anything and everything. Max had been born in Pakistan to a Pakistani father and a Japanese mother, the whole family had moved to Japan when his maternal grandmother became ill and he had grown up there where he had studied English before heading to university in Scotland. At 25 he was a bit older than the usual second years but Nathan was only a year younger himself having went to college then taken his time deciding what exactly he wanted to do with his life. He had settled on artificial intelligence. Max's degree was history specifically ancient civilisations. He wouldn't have pinned that to Max, he looked more like an art student...or a philosopher.
Max seemed unfamiliar with many of the products in the supermarket but he was in a foreign country things were bound to be a little odd. He spent ages hunting for specific spices and herbs but he hardly glanced at the ready meals or other processed foods. Most of his shop consisted of vegetables and fruit with a few bits of meat and fish thrown in. Nathan almost felt ashamed of the contents of his basket but from the look of Max he obviously looked after himself and had done so all his life.
Back home they unpacked all their groceries and then decided to order food in. Max left the choice entirely up to Nathan who went with Chinese food in an attempt to make Max feel more at home. He knew it was not really like Japanese food but it was closer than other alternatives. Max ate deftly using chopsticks with the practised ease of someone who had done it their whole life. Nathan struggled a little as he had not used them much but the gesture was deeply appreciated by Max.
Nathan retired to bed not long after 3am leaving Max to watch the end of the programme on his own. He got into his shower and began to wash himself down feeling himself getting more tired in the process. He was glad that he was not on his own in the halls. Just the fact that he could hear another human being padding softly around the corridors made him feel better.
After he had thoroughly dried his long brown hair he got into bed and fell asleep .
Over the next few days Nathan and Max still talked but largely they did their own thing. Every night they would sit together and eat and watch television just happy in the company of someone else.
The Friday before university started Mark moved in to halls. Mark and Nathan had both grown up in the same Scottish town before Mark had moved to Edinburgh and by chance had both ended up at the same university in Dundee, living in the same halls. They had kept in touch for the years that Mark was away and had visited each other but for some reason they had never talked about their university places.
Mark had gained another tattoo over the summer to add to the ten he already had. He was proudly showing the new inking of bio-mechanical muscle and bones on his shoulder to Nathan when Max entered.
“Ah you must be Max.” Mark smiled and shook the other man's hand. Max smiled back then his eyes were drawn to the tattoo.
“Wow.” He said. Mark laughed. He rubbed some salve into the inked skin. “I've always wanted one of these. I love robotics.”
Max nodded. “I've always wanted a tattoo but I haven't plucked up the courage to get one yet.” He flicked the chain that hung from the piercing in the top of his ear to one in the bottom. “I think I might stick to piercings.” He laughed and twiddled the ring in the bottom of his ear.
“We will have to change that before this year is out.” Nathan laughed.
“Do you have any tattoos or piercings?” Max asked Nathan.
Nathan smiled and pulled up the back of his shirt to reveal a pentangle star which sat on the small of his back. Next to it was a pale mark.
“What's that?” Max whispered catching himself before he reached out to touch the mark.
“Oh that? Its like a birthmark thing. Its an odd shape though isn't it.”
Max nodded. Nathan let his shirt drop feeling a little odd at the scrutiny Max had given his back. Mark pointed at a similar mark on his leg. “That's a birthmark.” He announced pointing at the port wine stain type mark. “Not your silly little squiggly line on your back.”
They all laughed. Max made his excuses and left leaving the two old friends to chat.
“He seems nice.” Mark smiled. Nathan nodded. “What's he like to live with?”
Nathan thought for a minute. “He's quiet, tidy, good company. Much better than some of the idiots we stayed with last year.” Nathan laughed.
Mark nodded approvingly as he wrapped his tattoo again to keep it clean. He stared at it lovingly before getting up and heading out to the room that would be his for the rest of the year. The rooms were in groups of two with Max's next to the front door. Nathan's was at the end of the corridor and Mark's was the room opposite Nathan's. Mark would never tell Nathan why he did this but it was for his best friends own good. Nathan was known to wander the corridors at night. He had sleepwalked since he was five after his mum and dad had had a messy break up. Mark had took it upon himself to make sure that Nathan was safe.
Nathan did tell the other flatmates just in case he wandered past them and ignored them or they left their rooms open at night and Nathan wandered in. Most of the flatmates last year had been rather good about it but some thought it was fun to lie in wait for Nathan.
Mark smiled to himself as he began to unpack the few boxes that contained his life into the familiar surroundings, he placed his DVD's and CD's on the shelf before setting up his laptop on the desk for some music while he worked. Soon he had Metallica banging through his speakers and was singing along at the top of his voice. He unpacked the bathroom things into his en suite that every room in the halls had and set about sorting out his clothes. He found it strange how much at home he felt in student halls. It wasn't that he disliked living at home but in the halls he had his best friend, no parental supervision but more importantly he liked the city of Dundee better than the corporate hustle and bustle of Edinburgh. The streets didn't seem so claustrophobic or dark but Dundee did not hold all the same history as Edinburgh. He swiped his dyed red hair behind his ears, letting it brush his neck and began to sort his bed out. The only bad thing about halls, he mused as he shoved his duvet inside its cover, was the single beds. The bed done he flopped down heavily kicked off his new rock boots and lay down.
He heard the door and glanced at his clock, two hours had passed. He must have fallen asleep. He got up and headed through to the kitchen/lounge where two more of their new flatmates had turned up.
Charlie and Duncan were their names. They were first year students unlike the other three and both were English. Charlie from Liverpool and Duncan from Cornwall. As they were all getting acquainted the last flatmate arrived. A Norwegian man called Peter.
All six decided to head out for something to eat and headed for the pizza restaurant in the centre of town. They conversed happily talking about their plans for the upcoming freshers week and what courses they would be doing. Max seemed a little quiet but he was still friendly and warm. Nathan found himself worrying a little about him. Maybe homesickness was kicking in. He had come a long way.
After dinner the six new friends headed to the union for a few drinks. Nathan took Max aside to talk to him.
“Are you OK you've been quiet all day.”
Max nodded and mumbled he was and took a swig of his cider. Nathan didn't believe him and carried on. “Its OK to miss home you know. I miss home and I only live half an hours drive away not in a completely different country.”
Max smiled sadly and mumbled something under his breath. “I do miss home.” He finally admitted. “I miss everything about it. Scotland is so...different. I love it here don't get me wrong but its not home.”
Nathan put his arm around the older man's shoulders. “It will go away you know. Soon enough.”
Max nodded and pulled himself out of Nathan's grasp. Charlie came over and sat with them. Nathan looked around the bar as the two chatted. Duncan and Peter were waiting to be served at the bar and Mark was catching up with his long term girlfriend who had been at home in America all summer. Even with one flatmate suffering from homesickness the night was going well. So different from how his first year had started.
His first year at university had started well with him finding out that Mark was in his flat and some other friends from home were attending the university but it quickly changed when his girlfriend of two years split up with him. He spiralled into a cycle of going out and chatting up and kissing random women, taking a few of them home. He had seen some of them again but nothing lasted. By Christmas he had had four failed relationships and two one night stands he he finally listened to Mark and stopped rushing off with anyone. He decided that he needed a break to get over all that had happened unfortunately he had not managed to get out of that break now that he wanted to.
His first day of university also heralded the start of a recurring dream. He could remember first having the dream when was was about eighteen but once he was through the doors of the halls it began to come to him with startlingly regularity. Always the same thing, the running, the pain in his chest and the the stomach lurching view of the world as it fell away from him. Sometimes he could hear wing beats like some giant bird had a hold of him. Other times his vision went white before he woke up and saw spots for a few seconds. Recently though he had began to see other things in his dreams. Dark things. The only good thing about the dreams was on the nights he had them he did not sleep walk, still he did not sleep walk with any sort of regularity, not like he had when he was younger but it still caused him at least one interrupted night a fortnight.
When he received his first year results he was very surprised he had got on as well as he had.
This year would be different. He wouldn't go looking for a relationship he would just let things happen around him. He would have to put up with the dreams and sleepwalking the same as he had last year. He had already warned his new flatmates now he just had to wait to see how the new stress of second year affected him.
Frieya was also preparing to go back to university. Her dog lay at her feet and she occasionally reached down to pat him as she worked away on her laptop putting the finishing touches on creative works she probably wouldn't have time for when she returned. She quite liked having the house to herself. Her boyfriend Kurt was working as a baker and would be away for a few more hours. The dog, a big German shepherd called Logan sighed in his sleep his fur tickling her bare feet. Satisfied with her work for the day she got up to make some food and the dog padded after her. She liked living in their little flat on the outskirts on Dundee. They sat very close to the beach where they would walk Logan and they were far enough away from town that where they stayed was quiet but close enough to easily go out for the night. She felt a little bit far away from her friends as her good friend Rachel and her boyfriend stayed on the other side of town. Nathan stayed in halls still choosing that over his own flat. He couldn't seem to push himself to fix a permanent place in the city even if it was only for the next 3 years while he was studying. He seemed to be convinced that having a permanent abode would tie him to one place when all he really wanted to do was explore the world. Silly really but everyone took their own path through life and Nathan's obviously would not keep him in Dundee.
Frieya rubbed thoughtfully at the oddly shaped birthmark on her arm as she waited for the kettle to boil. She fed Logan another treat and then made herself a cup of tea. Returning to the computer she brought her attention to the programs she had been writing in preparation for restarting her computing degree.
The first day back soon arrived and Frieya hurried to class. Sitting down in the lecture theatre she immediately clocked a new face. A woman with bright red hair was sitting not far from her. Frieya smiled at her when she met her gaze, the girl smiled back. At the end of the lecture Frieya introduced herself to the new student. Morgan was from the Orkney, an island to the very North of Scotland and had a beautifully sing-song sounding accent. She had moved with her boyfriend so she could attend university. As she had already been to college she could immediately join in second year. Frieya, liking the new girl immediately, invited her to lunch with Rachel and herself. Rachel liked the new girl too. Rachel shared some classes with Frieya and Morgan as she studied psychology and computing so the three girls made an agreement to eat lunch together whenever they could.
Kurt felt as if he was being watched. He glanced up from the mix he was making and looked around him. No one apart from his workmates who were all busy doing their own thing. He had had the feeling for a little over a month and had been unable to find a reason for it. He tried to ignore it for the rest of the day but he was aware constantly of a tingling at the back of his neck. He got changed at the end of his shift and yanked the bobble from his curly black hair letting it fall and brush his shoulders. He pulled on his headphones and headed home. He still felt as if he was being watched but it didn't feel as intense. He got home and was glad to see his dog as it stopped him thinking about whoever was watching him. Frieya wasn't home yet so he decided to take Logan for a walk.
Logan did not seem to sense anyone even though Kurt still felt the presence so Kurt tried even harder to ignore the feeling. It was not until Frieya came home a few hours later that he could truly forget about the presence and lose himself in her.
Reading week was upon them all before they knew it. The prospect of two weeks off didn't really appeal to Nathan as it meant having to make an effort to see family without any excuses about how much work he had to do. Not that he disliked his family, he just preferred to spend time away from them as he still found it hard to deal with his 'new family' that consisted of his mum boyfriend and two sisters one of which was young enough to be his own daughter. He did love his sisters but they were so different from him and as he was 16 when the first one was born he had not had the same sibling interaction with them. Still he had to make the journey at some point, first to his mums and then to his dad's. All his holidays since the divorce had been split between the two but since moving out at eighteen he split his time between three places. He had given up his flat when he moved to university and mostly stayed with his dad due to their being no space at him mums.
Mark would not be coming with him this time. The prospect of spending a whole uninterrupted week with his girlfriend was too enticing. Nathan couldn't blame him really he was beginning to think he was going a bit mad due to the lack of sexual contact. He had considered asking one of his other flatmates but technically they had only known each other for six or seven weeks and Nathan deemed it would be a bit odd. He set off on the short drive back home all on his own and his heart felt a little heavy.
His little sisters had thrown themselves at him hugging him tightly and saying how much they had missed him even though he had only been gone for a short while. His mother gave him a warm hug too but her boyfriend simply shook his hand. They got on well enough but not well enough for hugs. He couldn't deny to himself that he had had an enjoyable day running around after his sisters and helping his mother cook. They asked him about his new flatmates and he told them finding it surprising how much warmth talking about them brought him. Soon it was time to head off again further south to where his dad lived and where he would be spending the night.
He had always been close to his father and if it hadn't been for his mum insisting that he stay to carry on at the same school he might have lived with his dad in the little cottage in the middle of the
Lothian countryside. He had thought about it when Mark had moved as he would have lived a little nearer to him but in truth he loved his mum just as much and didn't want to rock the boat by moving out.
His dad lived with his new wife but they had no children of their own. Instead they had a few horses , dogs and cats since they had acres of countryside to run around in. Nathan had loved running about as a young boy and ,as his dads wife ran a riding stables, had got to ride one of the smaller horses until on his 16th birthday he had been given a horse to call his very own. A strange gift to give a 16 year old boy but Nathan was truly touched that she had seen how much he loved riding. She also let the horse stay at the stables for free as long as Nathan did not mind looking after him when he was home and letting him be one of the riding horses at the school. Nathan had gladly agreed.
He felt more at home in his fathers home than he did at his mums. She had long since moved out the home they had when he was younger and Nathan no longer had a room to return to at his mums due to the there only been three bedrooms and his sisters being eight and four wanted their own rooms. He stayed with his grandparents for half the summer months so he was close to his mother. Nathan exited his car and breathed in. The house sat nestled between two hills of which there was an abundance of in east Lothian, the ground was relatively flat though making it ideal riding ground. His fathers wife ran from the house and threw her arms around his neck. She was older than his mother and that was maybe why she had been more suited to his father who was pushing sixty himself. They had been married for most of Nathan's life, a fact he had found hard to deal with when he was little as he had hoped that his mum and dad would get back together but by aged nine he was a page boy at their wedding he had got over his hurt, it was impossible not to like his dads wife.
“Hi Sandra.” He smiled hugging her warmly his dad was walking toward them. Nathan felt a grip go round his heart. He seemed so much older than when Nathan had last seen him. He hugged his father lightly not wanting to do his injured back any more damage. He had fallen from the roof at Christmas while putting up the lights. Nathan had kicked himself for not being there but it was the year he was supposed to spend at his mums.
His father led him inside leaning a bit more heavily on the walking stick than usual, he handed Nathan a small parcel.
“This is for doing so well in your first year.” He smiled.
“But you already got me something.” He laughed.
“I believe this will serve you better than a few course books.” His father grinned.
Inside the package was a silver cross on a chain, the same one Nathan had been admiring over the summer but had never thought to buy. He had not even mentioned his liking of the celtic cross to his father or Sandra. They must have just guessed.
“My birthday is in a few weeks dad you should have kept that until then.” Nathan smiled feeling guilty for receiving a gift for no reason. He slipped the delicate chain around his neck and let the cross lie on top of his t-shirt. He thanked his dad again.
Nathan had decided to take his horse out. The horse was only fifteen and had a lot of energy still but Nathan could manage him. The horse whinnied softly at him recognising him even though they had not seen each other for a number of weeks. He patted the horses nose affectionately and gave it the carrot it had been searching his person for. He saddled the horse up as it munched away then slipped the bit and bridle on and lead him out into the yard. The dappled grey stallion had been named Loki as a joke by Sandra knowing that Nathan loved Norse mythology. The name suited the horses temperament perfectly, he was a mischievous soul.
The sky was greying when they set out and the air a little cool but since it was the start of October Nathan couldn't really complain. He did not like the summer heat much anyway preferring the autumn and spring months. Loki clopped slowly down the path that led to the main road from the stables and he seemed to have a spring in his step. He may have been ridden by children in the school but he knew that if Nathan was upon him then he would get to run and jump fences as they races heedless across the fields. Driving didn't compare to being on a horse.
And so they rode on walking slowly until they entered the wooded area off to the side of the road then Nathan gave a bit of slack on the reins letting the horse run to his hearts content. The wind whipped at Nathan's face and made his long ponytail blow out from under his riding hat. He whooped for joy as they cantered through a stream sending up a shower of spray. He didn't spur the horse on Loki just ran as he always had done with Nathan. Two free spirits together.
After mucking out Loki's stall and settling the horse in for the night Nathan helped Sandra sort out the saddles and bridles in their racks.
“I swear that horse pines for you when you are not here. If he was a dog he would howl after you.” She laughed.
Nathan smiled. “If I could take him with me I would. But I think I may look slightly out of place cantering down the streets of Dundee.”
They both laughed at the image.
“Its a very special thing having a bond like that with an animal.” Sandra said her voice becoming serious. “So many people out there seem to want to mistreat animals but what have they ever done to them apart from show loyalty and love.”
Nathan nodded thoughtfully. Loki seemed to be more reliable than most humans he had known had been.
Dinner was a quiet one compared to lunch at his mothers with two young children. It was already late by the time they had finished eating and Nathan decided to head to bed early after a long day of driving and riding his horse. He tucked himself up tight in bed fell into a relaxed sleep.
He knew immediately that he was dreaming because someone was kissing him and that hadn't happened in a long time, the persons hands were roaming his body and he there's. He could see both him and the mystery person entangled lying in a grassy clearing. The persons hair fell over their face obscuring them from view but Nathan could see that both of them were naked and that was when he started to notice something was odd. The persons back was far too muscular and the long dark hair look a bit too familiar. The feelings the person was stirring inside him made him want to carry on though another part of his brain tried in vain to point out the lack of breasts and the obvious hard length that belonged to the other person. The person was stroking him now and although Nathan knew it was a man he didn't care, it was just another random sex dream about a random person. He was too lost in the feelings the person was bringing forth from him, like nothing he had felt before. The persons mouth was on him and Nathan held on tight to their hair. Suddenly he reach his climax moaning loudly. The mystery person looked at him and when he saw his face with clarity Nathan hurriedly tried to push the image away. He was awake now and painfully aware that he had made a mess of the spare bed in his dads house while dreaming about, of all people, Max. He cleaned up the bed as best he could and then set about cleaning himself up. Where had the dream come from he wondered as he sat in the stark light of the bathroom, he had admired Max's good looks but he could say that about any good looking person of either sex. He had had sex dreams about men before but something about the dream bothered him. It had been more realistic than most dreams he had apart from the recurring one and maybe, just maybe, he was harbouring a little crush over Max. He shook his head. No no no. He had never been attracted to a man well not to the extent that he had wanted anything other than a kiss and even then the only kisses he had shared with a man had been with Mark when he was visiting him. They had both been seventeen, confused, hormones racing. They had kissed each other and it had been good and they had slept in the same bed that night. If anything was going to happen it would have happened that night. Even though they had been kissing in bed and cuddled close their hands had never ventured south although both had been in a state of arousal. Part of Nathan always wondered what would have happened if they had touched each other. Would they have gone all the way together before either of them had touched a woman.
Nathan shook the thoughts from his head. That was a long time ago. He had had a few girlfriends and a few one night stands since then and every time he had picked someone up in a bar they had been female. He was not even going to think about the dream until he was back at halls and saw Max. Only if he felt attracted to Max, which he doubted, would he give the dream any more thought. He returned to bed happy that his mind was made up.
Unfortunately his subconscious was not listening when he made the decision to no longer think about the dream as he had two more during the course of the night, each one more erotic than the rest. Nathan felt extremely embarrassed now as even with underwear on he had made a mess of the bed, he checked downstairs before bringing down the soiled bedlinen and putting it in the washing machine. He switched the machine on and leaned on the work surface above it. He really needed to find himself a woman. Once he had contact with a real woman, had sex again with a real woman he would no longer have the dreams. Or so he hoped.
He returned upstairs and began making the bed. He heard a soft knock at the door.
“Everything OK?” His dad enquired.
Nathan nodded then glanced at the new bedlinen. “Oh I um I had a nose bleed this morning. I must have caught my nose in my sleep.”
He silently praised himself for his fast thinking as his dad nodded. “Are you alright now, no light head or anything?”
“No dad I'm fine.” He smiled. Apart from having homosexual wet dreams, he groaned inwardly.
He was able to distract himself for most of the day by helping out in the riding school then riding Loki until the light began to drain from the landscape. He found his mind wandering over dinner, back to the scenes of his dreams. He was so distracted that he jumped out of his skin when Sandra touched his arm.
“You've been quiet today Nathan.” She said with a worried look in her eyes. “Your father told me about your nose bleed this morning, are you still feeling dizzy or ill.”
He shook his head as he felt the colour slip from his face. He had always managed to talk to his dad and Sandra about anything but he couldn't tell them about these dreams, it just wasn't something to be discussed with parents.
“Are you sure. You look so pale.”
“I'm fine I just didn't sleep so well.” Nathan groaned, he forcibly shoved some more of his dinner into his mouth.
Sandra gave up. “Alright if you are sure, you know you can talk to us if you need to.”
Nathan smiled. He did know that. Good old dad and Sandra, how would they react if he did end up with a man. In his minds eye he could see the four of them sitting round the big oak table, Sandra fussing around them both, his father laughing and joking. He shook his head to empty out the thoughts. What on earth was his mind doing to him.
By the time he went to bed that night he felt so confused that he had his phone in his hand ready to call his best friend. Nothing had bothered him so much before. He had no idea why it was. Dreams were just dreams weren't they. Maybe he did like Max. He thought back over the time he had spent with Max and how he felt around him, comfortable, warm, not horny. But then he remembered the first day Mark had met Max, the way Max had stared at his back and the tingle it sent through him.
No it was just fantasies he finally decided. And what were fantasies for but serving a sexual need. If his mind was filled with thoughts of Max right now then he would use it to his advantage.
That night as he showered he decided to relieve the tension in an attempt to stave off the erotic nature of the dreams. He thought about his last girlfriend and all the wonderfully sexy things she had done to him but the nearer he came to orgasm the more he saw of Max until he finally let his thoughts go and imagined all sorts of things that the man would do to him. Even when the haze of orgasm cleared he still found himself thinking of Max.
That night he sleepwalked. He woke up at the door of the room not sure if he was leaving or coming back. However when Sandra found the newspaper in the freezer that confirmed that Nathan had been wandering.
He took Loki out one last time. As they trotted along the path he talked to the horse about the dreams he had been having. It felt good to air it.
“What am I going to do if I see him and I want to be with him.” He said to the horse as he patted its neck. The horse neighed as if in response to what he was saying. “I can't believe I'm assuming he is gay. He's probably straight.” Nathan mused.
The same thoughts tripped across his mind as he travelled back up to Dundee. He stopped in at Tescos, bought a few beers for himself and his flatmates then headed off to the halls. He paused at the door. This was it. He would know if he truly had feelings for a man for the first time or if Max had found a way under his skin for some other reason. He swept the door open. The house was quiet the corridor lights flickering on as he walked in indicating that no one had walked through it for a while. He made his way into the kitchen shouting hello down the empty corridor as he went. He walked through the kitchen door and was just about to switch the light on before he saw two forms writhing together on the couch.
“Oh sorry but dude you have a room use it.” He laughed.
The forms jumped up “Nathan...we, we didn't know you were coming back.”
Nathan flicked on the light and the sight made him feel a deep jealousy like he had never thought he would feel. Standing together with obvious signs of having just disengaged from kissing was Charlie and the one person Nathan had fantasised about in a long time.