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Page 1759 (Patreon)

Published:
2025-02-27 12:24:26
Imported:
2026-06
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That's not 'therapy speak', Nicholas, that's called 'expressing your emotions' 😐

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Comments

a

oh nick.

Gracie

I can’t with Charlie crying 😭

Chloe ♡

charlie’s face 💔

Emilia

noo😭😭

Carina

Oh no 😢

lucas

NOOOOOO

Jolien

😥

Lili

Okay damn Nick be like that ig 😟

Merel

Nooo 😭

EllieRLM

NICHOLAS GOD DAMMIT !

Synz

dang my guy.. what the flip

BEL

Oh dear, Nicky….

Charlie

Oh no you did NOT make Charlie cry. Nick Nelson, you make this right! Right now! (Yes I just used my mum tone)

val

nicholas.

Merel

Nick maybe a therapist should use some therapy speak on you xx

Leland

Oh Nick, poor Charlie too. He’s right you know, you can talk to him ❤️

Alison

Poor Charlie 😢

Christie

Nick 👀😢

Dani

Nick imma need you to NOT LET HIM LEAVE!

Siska

Oh Nick 😞

Ulises

Ooooo that one sting 😢

Cristian Camilo Zamudio

I know if part of the history and Nick is a teenager, but omg I’m hating him right now

K

My heart 😭😭😭

Adara Martinez

Wow, uhm, brb, I think I'm gonna cry when I wake up correctly

Susa Nodewald

DAMN IT (Yes, I just screamed at my phone).

Beth L-A

Aww bloody hell 🥺😩😭

Mikaila

Is Nick really this oblivious!! It’s clear Charlie knows something’s up. He is in denial big time

Moon

😭

Arah!☆

Nick it's called "talking about your emotions" ever heard of her?

sieunee

WTF NICHOLAS NELSON ?????????

Vicky Saumell

OMG! I didn’t expect this and it hurts! 🥹

Jess🍂

That hurts 🥲

Vee

Omg Charlie 💔

Dippity_Dip

Nick anxious avoidant my boyyyy, I knew I kinned you for a reason

soph

this is sooooooo not okay

Katrin

😨 I don't know what to write... beautiful page as always~

Barb

Charlie's frustration felt through my screen🥺😭

Kela87

Yesterday we were cheering, and now we are crying again... I want to go home as well!! 😭😭

T

I just went “oof” out loud and then started crying 🤦🏻 this page hurts

marek

NICK

Hannah

Nick needs to get his head out of his ass

Desi23

Oh my God Nicholas, just listen to Charlie please!

Liz

Good for you Charlie. Nick. Ouch. 😢😭

ana

well that was strike #1 nicholas

Adrian

Here we go. Uncomfortable yes, but we need to see how they manage, mitigate, resolve, and move on from conflict. 🍿

gaby

hey! so this hurts!

Jalen Bridges

Nick come on now, let Charlie help you like you’ve helped me him.❤️💙

Nyssa Rawther 🍉

When you say something you have never meant in your life and regret it the moment it left your mouth...😳😳😳 don't go, Charlie. Talk to him, Nick!!!

Lisa

WHAT?!!! Nick you utter numpty!! That was your chance and you just made it worse! Poor Charlie 🥺🥺

Brian Chittum

Nick.....exactly the wrong thing to say..

Xalek

Nick if you hurt my lovely Char like that again I will have to defend him. He does not deserve that, he's just trying to beat you over the head to open up you foolish fool!

a

being hit by a car would’ve hurt less.

James

Uh oh

Tera B.

Oh my god, you did not just brush him off, WTF Nick!

Kate ✨

out of all the scenarios i was imagining for this page this was NOT one of them and now i am in tears the way my jaw dropped 😭

San

My heart 🥺

Ann-Marie Still

Well done Nick. I never thought I'd see the day when I actually want to shout at him. Get your head out of your arse Nick Nelson and make it all better

Elena

Oh that hits hard

Evan Wexler

I never comment on these things because I know it’s all going to work out… BUT WHY CHARLIE CRYING 😭😭😭

Lexie 💤

I’m so afraid Nick is gonna be distracted by all this at the game and get hurt or something 😭

Mikey

Nicholas Luke Nelson!!

Mikey Sams-Barnes

I don’t comment too often, but wanted to say that this is a superb page, and it truly showcases one of the first true divides between Nick and Charlie since the story began — and one that we’ve now witnessed firsthand. The last image on the last panel really resonates strongly with the teary “I’m going home.” Emotionally powerful framing.

Sabrina

Ouch, that hurt… And that was also unusually hard and especially unfair coming from Nick. Poor Charlie doesn’t deserve Nick lashing out at him like that. He just wants to help and therefore expressed his concerns. Really hope, that Nick realizes sooner rather than later how wrong he is…

Brandy78

I can’t with you, Nick! Damn it!! I want to shake you by the shoulders sooo bad!!!!! 🤬🤬

Zoe S.

Omg 😭😭😭

Sweegie

Ooft. Ouch. That rugby match is going to be *rough*.

laura

NICHOLAS WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY?!?!?! 💀

Dionne Lakey

Trying to identify where any of that sounded like therapy speak 🤔 Yikes to insulting Charlie's way of expressing himself

Agosława

AAAH 😫😬🫣

Laura

Gladly I’m knowing that Alice only can emotional damage!

Brenda L

I literally flinched reading “therapy speak”

elisa

holy shit nick i’m actually mad at you now you have to get your shit together!!!!

Tayla Needham

the way my heart just twisted 😭 asdfghjkl alice you are so good at angst, thank you but also how dare you 🫠😭 (i’m am living for the angst asdfghjkl i’m obsessed ❤️)

Inga Sandberg

Nooo 😭😭 Charlie don’t go home!! Come on Nick…. You gotta open up and talk 😭😭

Tina

i can't lie, i'm loving this tension

Ciara B

NICHOLAS NELSON! How fucking dare you hurting Charlie like that! "Therapy speech" what an awful thing to say to him.

flynn tasker

OH MY GODDD, the tears!! nick that wasnt very ‘supportive boyfriend’ of you ❤️

Miles White

Therapy speak is ISNANE work

Agosława

I certainly did not expect Nick to react this way but I guess he is too defensive right now to react differently. He's clearly unwell and trying to cope as well as he can. I feel empathy for Charlie as well. So many emotions 😩

Harriet Echo

My heart is breaking 😪😪😪😪 I can’t wait for some sunshine in the story 🥹💜

Diana N

Ouch my heart 💔 Nicholas Nelson how could you make Charlie cry and not go after him?! Alice why on my Birthday 😭😭😭

Zoe S.

Can totally hear Kit and Joe doing this (🙏🙏🙏) and it HURTS

Maddy

The audible "WOAH"s that I just repeated probably woke my neighbor up.

Larisa

Nicholas. I'm going to need you to get your shit together, my boy. And soon. You just made Charlie cry. Please and thank you.

Maddy

NICHOLAS! GO TO YOUR ROOM!

Roks

I did not expect to be attacked today

Maddy

Yeah, so like... my heart just broke.

Merel

It kind of feels like, with those words, Nick is dismissing Charlie's experience and the tactics he learned in therapy. I get that Nick is lashing out because he's feeling vulnerable and put on the spot, but Charlie really didn't deserve that. His tears in the last two panels absolutely broke me. Charlie is just trying to get Nick to open up, to help him, and it must hurt so badly to be rejected AGAIN and to see the person you love continue denying that there's even anything wrong. I really feel for them both here, but at the same time I want to hit Nick over the head with one of his probably burned pancakes.

gunclevanya
>>166100553

Maybe Charlie leaving is just the jolt he needs. Just like Charlie had to hit bottom before real help came to him, maybe Nick needs to hit the bottom of this spiral before he has a breakthrough…

Mia Conner

This is the reality of relationships sometimes. You're gonna misunderstand each other. You're gonna argue. Nick unfortunately only knows how to help other people and not himself. I can relate. Charlie can't force Nick to change but he can set boundaries when he's being mistreated. Thank you Alice for showing this part of a relationship!

Dionne Lakey

Interesting that the shading is darker around Nick than it is around Charlie - speaks to the harsher headspace Nick is in. Charlie's is troubling but manageable- Nick's in dire straits

Shirley Hatton

Oh ouch! I actually gasped! Nick you got to put on your big boy pants and have a proper conversation with Charlie!

Kas

I hope he stops Charlie before he leaves and they talk!

HLMac88

Low blow Nicholas.

Maddy

My body just had a physical reaction to this.... Tears.

Elena

Alices warning was really needed! 🥲🙃

Maddy

Hey so Charlies face in the last panel just actually broke me. I'm unwell.

Maddy

THE KNIFE WAS TWISTED

emmy ౨ৎ

nick trying his best to keep up this “perfect boyfriend” image he’s perfected after all these years so he doesn’t have to be vulnerable so he lashes out and says something he doesn’t mean, but charlie is just so desperate to help his boyfriend and hearing him dismiss his attempts at helping with “therapy speak” would’ve hurt him so so much :((

Maddy

I WAS STABBED TODAYYYYYYY

Melanie

This is not the way Nicholas!!! Charlie is 100% in the right here. He SHOULD go home so that Nick can think about his behavior. I'm not mad at you Nick. Just very very disappointed.

ferah

notice how charlie never brought up therapy by saying “you know, in therapy i learned….”, but NICK brought up therapy, suggesting that he had been in denial about having a problem and needed help, and is seemingly paranoid that other people are noticing how “off” he has been. this rugby match is about to be ROUGH

Dionne Lakey

Ooh maybe therapy speak refers to making me talk about problems that aren't problems - the word 'anxious' being it maybe? Like in Nick's toxic masculine world, he doesn't get anxious?

Maddy

No no Charlie, allow ME to go home for you.

Bianca Kleinekoort

Nicholas Nelson, apologise to Charlie right now! All he wants is to help you feel safe and you're being so rude to him.

Holly D Allen

My heart is breaking into so many pieces. I feel like Nick has had to put a positive front for so long even before he met Charlie, he can't fathom talking through his own feelings

Elena

Can't wait for that fight to be over. 🫥

Jomaries Amezaga

I’m always impressed how you can draw their emotions. Oh Nick 🤦🏻‍♀️

Katy Barrett

Feeling backed into a corner by someone you really love while you’re trying to keep all the plates spinning and a smile on your face? It’s more likely than you think

Nikki

Don’t even know what to say about this page, think Charlie’s expression in the fourth panel is all of us looking at this page 🥺 I am proud of Charlie though for stepping away and going home for now if that’s what he needs to do, it makes it feel like he’s learned it’s ok to put boundaries in place when he needs to (like stepping away from a conversation that’s upsetting him).

Lauren

God this hurts :(

C 🐝

Ouch😢…Then there is the rugby match 😬.

ella

charlie😭😭😭

gunclevanya

I just hope Tori’s home when Charlie gets there, and/or that Jane & Julio are in the right headspace to be helpful. How is Olly going to react if he hears that Nick made Charlie cry? 🥺

Samantha

Well Nick managed to find a way to shatter Charlie by telling him he doesn't need his heart by telling him he doesn't need his help for the second time in 24 hours. Unfortunately this time I don't know if he is going to reach out and let Charlie in.

ale

Oh god the way I gasped

Maddy

My heart may be broken, but it's impossible to not give the praise that this page deserves. Every single word and emotion from them is outstanding. The fact that I can actually feel how they're feeling right now is so insanely talented of you Alice.

Esmay

Alice... my heart 😭

Sulagna Maitra

This is great! 👏 Let it all out, Nicholas!😭 💔 And Charlie! Well done for holding your own and expressing yourself!! 👏 Sometimes you need a sledgehammer 🔨to break up the defensive walls. Now Nick might be able to mull things over while he is running around the rugby 🏉 field.

Andruwu

Oh Nick, you big dumb idiot(affectionate).🫂

MaK

nick noo

MaK

im dying inside

Crow_pose24

Oh my, Charlie crying and leaving killed me. Every panel is so incredibly drawn that it's like being there with them.

Jodie KH

My heart can’t take this 😭

Beam Bugge
>>166100594

between "toxic deadbeat father" and "horrible bully of a brother" and "rugby lad culture" my guess is going to be a solid no

Jon Goerner

Gee, Nick - if you can possibly think of any other way to screw up, please keep it to yourself.

Beam Bugge
>>166100594

(he did have a great mother though, maybe it would be a good idea to listen to her)

Noemiette

What did I say ?! Hurt animal stuck in a corner, growling at, scratching or biting the person trying to help 😣 This makes me think of a line from Charlie in volume 4 about how a part of him didnt want to admit he had a problem, because putting in the effort to change was too hard. Except here, it's more not wanting to admit it because it's too scary ? That admitting it would open a massive can of worms that he is terrified of. So much anxieties and insecurites and past traumas that have accumulated, and digging into all of that would be too much. So let's continue to lock that door, to bottle things up even if it's starting to leak. Except he is entering a territory where he is starting to be hurtful to Charlie :/

Maddy

Oh... So this is what anger towards your comfort character feels like? Interesting.

Justin S.

Ahhhh! 😭😭😭😭

Emilie🌸

Oh Nick! Why can’t you just open out to your boyfriend, he is just trying to help you💕

hollie

nicholas you knob…

Katie H

As much as the page shatters my heart, they way each emotion on Nick and Charlie's faces and their eyes are captured is brilliantly done. I think Charlie is right to head home before the situation gets any worse and they say anything more that they'll regret 😢

Kim

Nicholas!! 😢 Stéphane, thanks for neglecting your kids, threatening abandonment when your son displayed emotions. Sarah Nelson did some heavy lifting but I need her to set Nicky up with Geoff. This boy needs therapy. These emotionally unavailable parents. 😡 Therapy for all!! Charlie's face makes my very soul ache. 😢

Maddy

IT'S 7 AM. HOW THE FUCK DO I CONTINUE WITH MY DAY?!

Katie H

I'm not sure this was the reaction from Nick I was hoping for, and now I can see why the rugby match won't be going well

ACxo

Even though they need to talk it out, space is probably the best thing for them at the moment so Nick can think things through in his head

John Deuel
>>166101867

I expect this rugby game is going to be an unmitigated disaster for Nick. The lads will blame it on a hangover maybe, but Nick will know the truth and will decide to face it.

milo !

nick... 😕

ACxo

You draw their emotions beautifully

Elena

I'm soo going to cry, when we'll get to see this scene in S4! 🥺

Molly

Oh Charlie! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 Nick, you better rethink what you just said!

Marisa

Shit

Chantel D

Oh Nick you better walk that shit back

Maddy

I miss yesterday when we were all cheering and happy 🧍‍♀️

Wildallie Diaz

Yes Charlie go home, he needs some cold shoulder right now!! … that was foul Nicholas!

Austin Skylar

I feel so badly for them both. Nick is probably very hung over and isn’t thinking straight and poor Charlie is getting the brunt of it. His face in the last panel Breaks. My. Heart. Space is definitely needed right now. I feel like we are going to get a Sarah moment with Nick when she comes back with the pups.

melly2oo

I’m a therapist myself, and I don’t even think Charlie was necessarily super duper effective in his expressing of emotions anyway (not that I would expect anyone, let alone a child, to effectively expressive themselves at all times), but yes that was definitelyyyyy not therapy speak. Poor boys are walking on eggshells around each other

Beam Bugge

when your dad left because you expressed your feelings too much but you boyfriend left because you didn't express your feelings enough

Maddy

Maybe try therapy before you deem what Charlie said to be "therapy speak"

Audrina

OH 😭💔

Maddy

Hey Alice, where are we at on that free therapy?

alexis rae

Was so not ready for this one,but that space may help him realize some things!I just want to hug Charlie!

Rafaela Molero

NO MY CHARLIE, i feel so bad for him, the poor boy just wanted to help

Kai Blakeman

"Therapy speak" ITS CALLED BEING OPEN??

isa💌

Nooooo pleaseeee nooooo

Brandon Ford

Charlie said what needed to be said. While maybe he coulda postcard planned it better, you can only push someone so many times before they push back. Our usually rational Nick is being irrational and since none of us know why, Nick’s behavior is distressing. Poor Charlie.

isa💌

Nickkk please omg COMMUNICATE!!!

Bellflower

It’s very interesting to see the reactions to Nick’s actions in the comments for the past few updates. I feel like a lot of people fell in the same trap as Charlie’s friends and expect Nick to always be perfect and do the right thing, because they used to him being the perfect boyfriend. I think some people forget, that he’s only 18 and everyone will make mistakes in their lives. Do I like the way Nick reacted to Charlie’s words? No, but I can also recognize, that he’s just a struggling kid right now and probably doesn’t even know what’s wrong himself. Let’s give them both some grace 💜

Doménica Dolly

Not the gaslighting with the ‘therapy talk’, Nick…you really think you are above therapy and implying that treatment is for obvious physical and mental symptoms like what Charlie experienced…Nick revealed more of himself and his beliefs taught through environment with only that ‘therapy talking’ sentence than he has last night with all the nervous and anxious fawning and the jealousy outrage. He literally proved to Charlie in that instance that he lowkey sees him as fragile and in constant need of care, using Charlie’s own mechanisms taught to get better to diminish what he is saying, practically telling him he is exaggerating, that therapy talk is for severe cases like his. Both need to do a whole lot of self reflection, but specially Nick, with all the deconstruction of beliefs and behavior. On a positive note, glad they are so young experiencing this and communicating, not in the right ways but at least they are on the path to learn…most grown adults I know don’t even communicate emotionally like this and ended up dragging their own unattended issues to relationships. Anyway, Nick when I catch you 🩴

Brandon Ford

“Don’t use your therapy speak on me”… from the guy currently planning to major in Psychology…🙄

Megan

That “therapy speak” comment felt very un-Nick. I thought maybe he’d snap or something in the heat of the moment but I was not expecting those words. Seemed very out of character from the nick we know him to be. But then I suppose he’s not his normal self at the moment so this isn’t a true reflection of his real character. I knew this page was going to hurt but damn if Nick doesn’t go after him in the next one and apologise I’m going to be so depressed. 💔 I have a feeling Nick’s going to get hurt during the rugby match because he’s not going to be able to concentrate properly. 💔 (I know they get past this and come out stronger but it’s so so tough to read.)

Erica Nordenson

Nick is being very defensive because he's TERRIFIED to open up, he's been conditioned to believe that opening up equals losing people... but he will let Charlie in, he'll apologize with tears and a great big Nicholas hug and they'll talk and be ok and be closer than ever, it'll be ok y'all ♥️

Fernanda Torres

Omg I can’t do this, it breaks my heart, they’re equally suffering with this whole situation. Anxiety is kicking in!

Koko

I really just wanna shake nick at this point. Like. Ma dude.

Loveislove

I know the arm around the neck betrays the real Nick but at this moment - fuck off Nick - you made Charlie cry and that is a low, low blow.

ella

so interesting seeing the parallel between nick and david and how they deal with their emotions! both of them were taught to show no emotion and keep it deep down which means they don’t know how to handle emotional moments and push people away when confronted with it (jess and charlie). normally nick reverts to people pleasing and david reverts to anger as a way of distracting from what they are feeling but nick getting angry in this scene reminds us that they do have some similarities and have been through the same thing… I think a talk between them would really benefit them both

Jordan
>>166101277

“That’s love, darling” … I love how in this story we get to see sooo much beyond just the build up of falling in love. Which so so rare! This is a precious page and storyline.

Luke

I was not expecting him to say that! I know he’ll apologize but I don’t know how he’ll come back from that therapy speak comment that was so hurtful

Sara

this is sickening

Shin__

Oh wow, Nicholas

Phil Mercer

That wasn't very "I'm an ally" of you, Nick

Katie H

I feel that Nick will regret what he's just said to Charlie and apologise straightaway. But it was so in the moment and he could feel he was being backed into a corner to open up about his feelings, so instead, in the heat of the moment Nick said something that he knew would hurt Charlie to deflect and avoid talking about how he has been feeling and to push Charlie away.

JRob
>>166100553

Oh, Charlie needs to leave alright. Ain't nothing Nick should be able to say to convince him right now. They need a bit of space.

Lolli98

Charlie: 🫂 Nick: Is there an emoji that can kick someone's ass?!😠 Just so you know: I still dearly love Nick.💙 Just right now he's behaving like a helpless little puppy idiot. I'm sure on the next page he will look even more devastated than Charlie.😕 Again, I love your caption, Alice! Like you talk to them, as if you had nothing to do with their behaviour.😁

JRob
>>166100603

Yeah, this was worse than anything I imagined him saying.

Jesjolilo

Oh Nick, I feel your pain and I see all your defense mechanisms, but this was the most painful thing you could say to Charlie (ouch, his tears). By saying this, you're implicitly stating two things: "I don't need your help" and "I don't need therapy." This defense is understandable given your history, but it achieves the opposite effect. Charlie feels rejected, which is the last thing you want. Be vulnerable and open. This will not be a free fall, you'll realize that you are safe with Charlie.

kfm

Oh noo not the Charlie tears 🥺 I also need a lot of people to remember that Nick is a stressed out teenage boy without a fully developed pre-frontal cortex. He’s going to say/do dumb shit like any real person which is why I’m actually loving these past few pages despite wanting to march him into therapy myself (also because I know it’ll all end up ok)

Katha

Both of their pain is so palpable 😔

ucfnurse

Someone needs some therapy speak🫢😯🤞💞🙏❤️🌿🌹🫖🥞✌️🕊️☮️

Loveislove

Self recrimination 101 coming up!

JRob
>>166101822

I've not yet cried over a page, but today, I'm sitting on the subway trying to hold my shit together.

Loveislove

Just checking - was that Nick or Stephane/David talking?

Beth Yoshida

Ooof... Yeah, wrong thing to say Nicholas

Juliana Barhorst

Interesting to see this from Nick. Don’t get me wrong like I hate it! And he needs to apologize to poor Charlie! Interesting to see him get past this perfect boyfriend tropes. He may need to a think what he said through and where that came from. He may need space after that. Start to really unpack even though it’s hard. Good luck with the rugby match Nick.

Karol

I did not expect that… Nicks state is worse than I assumed and even that is a poor excuse for THIS behavior.

Ai Bui

Nick: come on, come talk to me Charlie: *curtsies* after you Nick: what the Fuck did you just say? projected daddy + anger issues aren’t cute, Nicholas. Lashing out is understandable; leave the being pointedly cruel to protect your walls to your brother.

Steph

It really seems out of character for Nick to act like this. But I understand why Alice is having him be like this. Nick has always been the perfect person with no flaws. He’s a complete green flag, is always there for his friends, always there for his boyfriend is an amazing son and never thinks about himself. No one can go through life like that. No one is perfect. Seeing Nick snap at Charlie is hurtful but shows that Nick can and does have flaws.

Evergreen

We’ve seen Nick break down and express his painful, teary emotions before (to Charlie, to his mom, to show!Tao). We’ve seen him express anger before (to Harry, his friends, his Dad, David). So it’s not that he just can’t/won’t express his emotions in general. He is a very openly emotional person quite often. What’s terrifying him is expressing emotions that might put him in CONFLICT with Charlie. And in his fear of conflict with someone he loves and wants to keep around, he just accidentally started a conflict. He let himself get defensive to protect himself from the thing he fears, and now he knows that there’s no avoiding conflict when you’re in a close relationship. If you’re not both on the same page (totally normal for two individual humans), conflict is going to find you. Now, to learn how to deal with it and set up the healthy relationship that is going to nourish and challenge you for the rest of your life. 💚

J

Oh nick... no... I think Charlie is right to leave, that energy Nick is giving off is not healthy Also the kinda nervous neck scratch from Nick... oh sweetheart you aren't helping anyone

emily

oh this page hurts :(

Jo S

Ok! The people pleaser has left the building! 🥺🥺🥺😭 Nick! You need to apologise and hug Charlie, if he’ll let you?! 😭❤️

shelfie69

I expected Nick to respond badly but not this hurtful, in my work trying not to cry ugly tears

Lyndris

Yeah…great, Nicholas 🙄

JRob
>>166103514

That one's going to take a while for Charlie to get over completely. One can forgive, but it doesn't undo the damage.

RO

Yeah, Charlie’s right to leave after that one. That was awful

Ky

ouch

Noemiette
>>166103039

This !! I keep reading "It's out of character of him to act like that, to say that", but it's not. When you think of all the things he keeps bottling up + the way he behaves about not wanting to open up, it is not surprising. Also, yeah, even the nicest people ever will sometimes say hurtful things

Ai Bui

nicholas have you thought about saying literally anything else

Astrophel's Apothecary

NICHOLAS LUKE NELSON!!! We did NOT RAISE you to be this way! You better eat that shit back up and meet him at the door with a hug! The trick is to meet Charlie at the door. If he leaves thinking what you said, it's in the aether!

Maddy

How's that pancake doing? Are we burining the house down yet?

Maddy

ISTG IF NICK PULLS SOME BULLSHIT LIKE "Sorry, how about you just stay and eat first" I'M GOING TO START THROWING THINGS.

Astrid H.

This page is hurting me way more than the previous ones 😭😭😭

Maddy

Honestly, Nicks eyes in the first panel break my heart just as mumch as Charlies tears do. They're both hurting sm.

Miah🎀

I think the pancake is burning

Kassie K Wilson

Nick… it’s not therapy speak, it’s healthy acknowledgement of disregulated emotions that you are denying left and right… I stick to my theory that Nick thinks himself too fragile to let these things out… 🙇🏻‍♀️😓🥺

Miah🎀

stop fighting!

aniatka

I can't be mad at Nick. He had to learn a lot, in very painful way for him and Charlie. As Charlie did. I would like to hug them both. I'm so extremely sad at the moment....

K
>>166106551

Let's not forget about the most important meal of the day 👏👏

Julie NP

God this was hard. Very proud of Charlie. Time to face up to your feelings Nick and apologise to your lovely supportive man

Irene.a.f

Oh, Nicky, honey... and Charlie, dear, just stay right there and give him another second or two. You know he regretted that, an instant before his lips parted for the words to come out

Flor López
>>166100996

Same, now I can't wait for the trainwreck about to happen at the rugby match.

Beth Yoshida

I think Nick's response, this lashing out that he did, shows just how much damage both Stephane and David did to Nick. I know that Nick doesn't really mean and I know he's only 18 and is in a bad place mentally so I'm not blaming him, just like none of us blamed Charlie when he snapped out at Nick during his harsh moments, but it's crystal clear by this statement just how much damage those two men did to Nick.

Sara

nick please go get your man and fix this

cecil elliot

nick babe that’s not therapy speak that’s just feelings

Anne Marie
>>166107514

💯💯👆 “toxic masculinity ruins the party again.” Suck it up. Don’t cry. Etc.

Kiki

Ughhh I feel like this is going to be the new version of the N and C breakup… Even tho I know they will get thru it,I can barely stand to watch 😞😞😞

Katrina

Oh no I’m crying this hurts so bad

alex graham

I love the drama tbh maybe I’m the problem

Molly Goat

Nick, TORI IS GOING TO END YOU

Zointrikca Wyatt

It's been over an hour since I read this page and I can't stop thinking about it. Poor Charlie.

Beth Yoshida
>>166107514

EXACTLY! My bestie and I are are both subscribers to the full tier and were talking about this privately (because we'd never betray Alice) and that was literally the phrase we said.

Maia

I’m very interested to see how this is resolved

brie

NICK! time out now

Samantha Loser

I must be a masochist or something because I hate this so much and yet every day I click on the page. I pay for this, for fucks sake!

Elfi

The way Nick is trying so hard to protect himself. 😭 His comment about 'therapy speak'. 😭 Charlie's tears and the look on his face and the wobbly speech bubble because he's crying. 😭 This page hurts so much!

Brandon Ford

To paraphrase another queer icon… Nick, “I have never heard someone say so many wrong things, one after the other, consecutively, in a row.”

Julie

I’ve kind of lost track, but does Nick even really know what’s bothering him? I get the sense that he’s not deliberately withholding something from Charlie so much as trying to process a lot of complex emotions and sort it out himself, maybe without even being fully aware of how much it’s been impacting him. This is maybe a wake up call, not him pushing Charlie away, necessarily.

Arah!☆
>>166100594

Yea his mom is supportive in the books and he talks to her all the time about charlie so?

Brandon Ford
>>166106040

When you think about, Nick historically talks before he thinks… starting to think it’s a feature and not a bug.

Halo

The way that sarah and the dogs are gonna come back to burnt pancakes and a dramatically different vibe

Steph

My chest literally hurts after this page….. I just want to reach through my phone and give them both a big hug!

Mareike

For self protection I hope Charlie really leaves this scene

Steph
>>166110043

I really don’t think Nick has even worked out what is going on with him. That may be why he is so reluctant to let Charlie in, because he doesn’t have have a full understanding of what is actually bothering him.

Theaterboi27

Oh wow, Nick is pushing back hard on this. Interesting that he throws Charlie's therapy back in his face basically confirming Nick does think Char is fragile. Does Nick also think he will be week and fragile if he admits he is suffering and just possibly he could use some therapy as well? I have not noticed but does Nick always rub the back of his neck when he is in his denial phase? Char has no idea where to go from here, except home it seems. The last three frames are gut wrenching. Poor Char standing alone, dumbfounded and in shock. Then unsuccessfully fighting the tears back. Nicks mental health journey is taking a serious detour here.

Lissie

Damn Nick! Charlie is reaching out and you just slapped his hand away 😮‍💨 *sighs*

RO

The small font of Charlie’s words is actually giving me chest pain

Rebel Hart’s The Invisibles Podcast

This hit me hard. I've been Charlie in this situation. It's never fun being the partner who's been to loads of therapy, doing the hard work to have it thrown back in your face like it's a weakness. Addressing your mental illness in therapy is a sign of strength. It's really hard work. Charlie, after weeks of being gentle was finally direct & to the point. Nick could've said literally anything else & it would have been better than calling it "therapy speak". Not cool Nick Nelson.

Joni

Oh, Nick 🥺 He’s not ready to talk, probably because he has no idea what he’s feeling and why, but this wasn’t the right thing to say. And I sort of get the vibe that Nick knows this by the way he’s rubbing his neck in the third panel (instant regret and not knowing how to apologize for it…been there). Charlie said what he needed to say and he should go home. Nick needs to reflect now and figure some stuff out…which I’m guessing is going to cause a lot of distraction during his rugby match later. Such is life. I love these two idiots, they’re gonna come through this beautifully but yeah, this page sliced my heart 💔

Mira
>>166110822

i don’t think nick views charlie as fragile. it’s more so that he got defensive and said something that he will regret in like 2 seconds. we all say stuff we don’t mean when we feel like we are backed into a corner.

CinD

Oh wow ouch ❤️‍🩹 we knew the toxic masculinity was bound to leap out at some point (growing up with his brother and father) but that still hurt 😞 Sometimes you got hit whole new rock bottoms to dig your way out to a new you I suppose… 🥺

Mira

can i please give both of them a hug :((( i relate so much to nick here. when i get defensive, upset, and feel backed into a corner i often lash out like this and it always makes me feel terrible after. i feel like both of them need some space and time to let their emotions calm down and reflect (especially nick 🥲) before they can communicate properly because right now all it’s going to lead to is probably a fight

CinD

Also I’m glad Charlie DIDN’T hold his tears in, in front of Nick! Express your feelings and let him see there is something wrong 😭

JRob

Staring at this page on my computer as opposed to my phone gives a slightly modified opinion of Nick's statement. I thought he was speaking in anger. The placement of his hand on his neck, the fact that his eyebrows are turned up, and although his eyes are closed, they aren't clenched, definitely gives me "if I can't see you, neither of us can see that I'm lying to protect myself" vibes. Still a low blow Mr. Nelson, but I'll give you a slightly reduced sentence in Time Out. You turn to anger like you did last night though, and I'll double it.

Jay

Oh Charlie’s face 😥

Kristyn

No Nick 😭

Merel

Nick genuinely doesn't think that Charlie is fragile, and hopefully seeing him cry in front of him will make him realise that you can show your emotions without being weak. It will probably take more than that for Nick to crack, though. He's always been great at sensing other people's feelings and helping them, but when it comes to himself he's lost. Toxic masculinity is one hell of a drug, especially when it's been imprinted on you from such a young age that showing any emotion makes you 'less' 🥲

Frances

Omg 🥺🫣 it really is unbearable 😢

Merel
>>166112699

I was thinking the same thing! He just brushes it off, which almost feels worse than anger. If he gets angry, at least he's showing some emotion and making it clear that this affects him. As it stands, he still denies that there's even anything wrong 🙃

Yvonne Jones

Oh my heart. Charlie's face! Come on Nick. Open up and reach out to him. 'Therapy speak' was such a punch in the gut.

Belle

So is the rugby match going to be hard because 1. Nick is not feeling good 2….charlie not being there??

Kristen

Ohhhh no! Hug it out boys and take your own advice Nicholas…talk to him! Bless…🥺❤️🍂

Jessica Richards
>>166103514

I mean, in the show, Tori says something very similar ("Don't use your Geoff crap on me") and they're still close. I don't think that's what Charlie is upset by, here. I think it's Nick still not being able to open up.

MLN

Nick when I catch you. When I catch you, Nick!!!

Brittney

Oh Char... Nicholas what the fuck.. like yes Alice 👏👏 express your feelings Nick, I'm sure he does later on but right now, ooh Nick.. what are you doing?

Luke
>>166103514

I think that situation wasn’t as serious as this one though

Janie Owens
>>166103140

Unfortunately, this is pretty accurate to most of the psych majors I met in college lol

TT
>>166105534

This is actually EXACTLY how it works when someone is a people pleaser, with childhood parental trauma and abandonment issues. When Nick opened up to Charlie before, none of it had anything to do with the fear of losing Charlie or their uncertain future. It was about finding himself and accepting who he was, while acknowledging he felt most comfortable/most like himself when he was with Charlie. He wasn’t triggered until the reality hit him that he’s going to be truly separated from Charlie/possibly losing him completely when he goes to uni. And THOSE feelings ran deeper than he realized, which is why we have seen the flashbacks of his dad leaving (because of his emotional display), as well as his parents fighting. These traumas are HARD to deal with, and Nick’s not used to having to think about his own stuff, so he’s doing EVERYTHING he can to avoid talking about it. And he more than likely doesn’t understand a lot of what he is feeling, but he knows he’s scared he’ll lose Charlie if he lets any of it out. 💔

Loveislove

Maybe we will get a parallel of Nick leaving a rugby game to go find Charlie and tell him his life is way better because he met him - apologize and begin to open up 🤞🏼

Téa Decker

Is this the first time we have seen Nick make Charlie cry? Like Nick being the sole reason for it bc I can't!

Jennifer Paddock

Oooh wrong answer, Nick. 😣 I feel like the "lad" who was OK hanging out with Harry all that time has really has been in the driver's seat lately.

Brandon Ford
>>166117157

I think Charlie cried when Nick ran away after the first kiss… but I don’t think since then…

Blair

using the term therapy speak to dismiss charlie when all he did was address nick's obvious anxiety nick nelson you haven't pissed me off this bad since book one

Luke

Fuckin ouch Nick

Loveislove
>>166105554

You're so right - his comment to Tao and Elle betrays the thinking that love conquers all - although his parents divorce and his father's rejection shows he knows different. He needs to process those significant traumas and learn how to express all emotions with Charlie. It's a very positive thing that they are doing this at such a young age.

Brandon Ford

Charlie gives a full monologue yesterday. Everyone cheers. Alice sips some tea… “Now to dismiss, disrespect, decimate, and destroy Charlie… and I’ll only need 2 words to do it.” Everyone is ready to smack Nick. If “Charlie, I think you have an eating disorder” was a slap in the face, “therapy speak” is a knife in the heart. Damn, Alice is good.

The Sarah E

not charlie tears on my birthday!!! damn it nick!

Loveislove
>>166110043

He has got to have some kind of idea by now. We have seen him flash back to his parents fighting and his dad leaving him. He knows he is dragging out completing his uni application and is worried about Charlie relapsing. That is enough to be starting with.

art

I cant wait for the epilogue. We know N and C are happy together in later life and adopt a puppy. So they do have personal and relationship growth. Right now it seems like they are at a stage of a romantic relationships where the "buzz" of being in love is evaporating or the rose tinted glasses are taken off. How Nick has learned to be from his childhood, that is helpful, people pleasing, and never vulnerable can be difficult mix to shake off and it seems to be getting in the way of his relationship. I think Charlie is asking Nick to open up and be vulnerable, and to be really with Charlie. Maybe for Nick this is just too scary.

Steven

Damn… and we thought what Tao said to Isaac was mean, this was worse.

Loveislove
>>166110822

I think he rubs his neck when he is self conscious, feeling vulnerable or when the spotlight is unexpectedly on him.

lia

nick what the fuck :((((

Adriana

Nick bro…..😒

lia

charlie’s little sad face :(

Steven

Nick is channeling his inner Stephane right now, and poor Charlie is his Sarah. Sins of the father repeating with the son. 😢 Very David-esq of you, Nicholas!

Steven
>>166111272

Same! I went to therapy for anger issues, amongst other things, and it helped tremendously! Unfortunately, anytime I did get angry over anything no matter how legit it was, the first question my ex-wife would ask me is if I took my meds. Apparently, I shouldn’t get angry ever since I had meds, in her opinion.

moon

charlie’s little face. i CAN’T.

Vanna

Ouch 🥺

Theaterboi27
>>166110822

I think Nick may say that he does not think Char is fragile and he probably believes it to some extent. But his actions and words here suggest a bit different. He may refuse to talk about his self struggles because he feels it makes him seem week and fragile which is why he accuses Char of using the therapy tactic. Speaking from personal experience here fighting the inevitable therapy which changed my life.

Evergreen
>>166110043

In my reading of this chapter, the thing Nick is most uncomfortable about is the feeling that Charlie is going to grow apart from him with all of his newfound confidence and leadership roles. He’s afraid to go away to university because he thinks Charlie will drift further away and forget about him amidst everything else going on. Nick knows it’s unfair to put all of that on Charlie, to basically say “Now that you’ve done so much healing and are living your best life, I feel like you might eventually cast me aside because I’m not good enough for you,” so he’s holding it in. I think he’s afraid it will make Charlie mad or hurt him to hear that, because it almost makes him sound resentful of Charlie’s healing. I think fear of conflict is what’s holding Nick back and coloring so many of his other emotions and experiences. I think Nick does intuitively know this is what he’s feeling at this point, but he doesn’t think he SHOULD be feeling it, so he tries to push it down even so he himself can’t see it.

Nils

That doesn't get a heart from me. It is amazing and I like it, but this scene is giving me a broken heart, so sorry Alice, I can't give it a heart. FFS Nick what do you think you are doing?

Steven
>>166107514

I disagree. Not everything has to be attributed to toxic masculinity. Sometimes people just have a bad moment. Doesn’t matter what gender you are.

Steven

I’ve seen multiple comments saying this is toxic masculinity, but I couldn’t disagree more. Not everything has to be attributed to toxic masculinity! Sometimes people just have a bad moment like this. It doesn’t matter what gender you are! Wanting to automatically assign toxic masculinity to this is no different than Nick‘s ‘ therapy speak’ comment.

Rebel Hart’s The Invisibles Podcast
>>166111272

Taking meds is only part of treatment too. It's not a cure all. I have panic attacks amongst other things. Meds help but they don't prevent panic attacks altogether. In my experience it's always the people who have never been to therapy that have the most to say about your mental health treatment journey.

TT

Yes, Charlie. Go! Nick needs to sit in his mess for a bit. I still don’t think he fully understands his own issues yet. And Mama Sarah NEEDS to notice her son is falling apart!! I hope Charlie skips the game, but I hope Sarah goes. She needs to physically see how much Nicky is struggling. Just like Charlie couldn’t heal without the involvement of his parents, neither can Nick. And Nick and Sarah are MUCH closer than Charlie was with his parents when he was falling apart. This isn’t like Sarah to not be in tune to Nick’s emotional state. I’m sure being a parent of an adult-aged son means backing off and giving him more freedom, but her lack of awareness hurts my soul! He needs someone other than Charlie to point out he’s not okay and that he needs to talk about what’s going on. And Charlie does NOT need to carry the burden of supporting Nick alone. I am SO glad Alice has written this storyline for Nick. It’s so important, and a LOT of adolescents today struggle with these issues, and they need to see it’s okay to acknowledge their pain, fears, and anxieties, and it’s OKAY to need & receive help to heal from those traumas. A LOT of unhealed adults are walking around with these traumas/wounds too, and their inner child/adolescent is screaming to be heard and helped. That’s why I love Alice’s storytelling so much. Alice’s work reaches across generational boundaries and gives a voice to mental health issues which are often “swept under the rug” or ignored. We find ourselves in their pages and feel seen, heard, and loved. Seen and loved by friends, family, and significant others. Just as we are. And that is a remarkable thing. Thank you, Alice, for all you do through your storytelling—across all forms of media. We get impatient, and this season of growth for Nick & Charlie is hard, but we KNOW where it ends, and we are SO lucky to be here with you through this process. Thank you for telling Nick’s story too, and for taking the time to do it well. You are truly a phenomenal writer and artist. You paint the WHOLE picture, warts and all, and it’s beautiful! ❤️‍🩹

hayley

this is parallels charlie snapping at nick multiple times... and the last thing nick ever wants to do is make charlie cry... (also quit getting angry at nick he's been shown basically if he shows emotions people will leave him)

Elfi

Oh, I just had another look at the page and noticed Nick has his eyes closed while he says the 'therapy speak' thing. It's like he can't even look Charlie in the eyes, because deep down he knows that this is a really shitty thing to say and how much this comment will hurt Charlie.

Beth Yoshida
>>166122097

Nick is the opposite of Toxic masculinity, we know that, but the truth is that what Stephane and David did to him, how they damaged him, was because of Toxic masculinity. So their not really wrong that Nick's repression comes from that.

rickettyuncles
>>166113537

Well…Nick has cried in front of Charlie before—I think him being closed off here is more because of the internal struggle between needing Charlie so much (“ I don’t know who I am without him”) and knowing he also needs to go away… and letting that out could be volcanic

Merel
>>166122097

It's not JUST toxic masculinity but it definitely factors into his issues with showing his feelings. Nick's dad used to scold him for crying as a kid, and at school he hung around boys who weren't exactly the pinnacle of emotional maturity. That's at least part of the reason why Nick struggles to open up.

artxsta

wow that was a low blow, esp for nick. i’m actually genuinely surprised he said that, but i guess it shows how deeply entrenched these traumas are, and because he hasn’t even addressed what’s going on with him with HIMSELF, he couldn’t possibly imagine doing that with charlie . but im glad the story is keeping us on our toes, i think it’s rly important when characters do something unpredictable. i also really thought charlie did a good job of expressing his emotions, so reducing it to “therapy speak” makes me genuinely sad, bc i hope that comment, from the person charlie loves the most, doesn’t detract from any of his progress, or push him into not expressing himself fully. and nick’s reply sounds like something david would say. seeing the reflections of these toxic male figures in nick as he’s growing up, regardless of charlie’s positive influence, proves that it would take the job of a professional or outside of the situation to help nick. i was secretly hoping sarah would come back while they were having their argument but i guess we’ll find out what happens…

Olav Gehle

😕😢 Nick! You need to open up to Charlie!! He just want to help you!

hayley

"how's charlie supposed to forgive him" because he is struggling mentally and his words are not his own but those were taught him. and charlie snapped similarly at nick and everyone who tried to help him.

The Sarah E
>>166118705

aww thanks! i already know when this scene plays out on netflix all I’ll think about is starting my 42nd bday with charlie tears haha

Shanie_MC

Oh, oh no 😭😭😭 I know Nick thinks he's protecting Charlie from his issues, but he's breaking his heart.

hayley

sarah hasn't noticed btw cause a majority of her concerns are for david.. who has locked her out completely.

Doménica Dolly
>>166103058

I’m Latina!!!!! La chancleta es simbolo universal de latino culture 😔🫂 y Nick se super merece una por todo lo que esta saliendo de su Boca 😤 desahuebate, Nick!!!!!!

Emma G

“Therapy speak” aka “talking”

Lare González

Oh, I don't know why I feel like a fight like something out of a Nick and Charlie book is coming on. Hey Nick! I know what it feels like to talk about your emotions and not want to worry others, but sometimes it's necessary and better than keeping things to yourself.

Loveislove

Interesting range of emotions from Nick. Lashing out anger in the first panel - defensive. He really doesn't think Charlie is fragile - he knows he is the fragile one, feels he is unworthy. In the second panel, his arm goes up, eyes close and head goes down. He is still defensive but for a different reason - not because of an untrue accusation but because of a true one. There is something wrong, he does need help. But, damn, he still feels unworthy but so vulnerable and Nick is not allowed to feel that. The third panel shows them at a standoff. Charlie breaks first being the one able to show his emotions. I think he is right to bail if Nick is stuck right now. I hope Nick says something but it seems the rugby match looms. I think Nick is about to see boatloads of toxic masculinity, may participate and hopefully self examine. Will be interested to see what part David and Sarah play next.

Loveislove
>>166122817

I know Olivia Coleman wasn't able to be in season 3 but I look forward to a strong presence of Sarah Nelson in Vol 6 😜

Nicky Van den Bosch

Ohh nooo! The way charlie looks in the last two panels! Breaks my heart

Angie Michaelis

Almost choked on my coffee at that caption, Alice! 😆 Oh, Nicholas! Not the eyes closed avoidance again. Those last two panels broke me. Poor, sweet Charlie is trying so hard to get through to Nick. 🥺 I suspect when Nick sees how his lashing out hurt Charlie, he’ll break too. These pages have all been top notch amazing, Alice. 👌💙

Noemiette
>>166122097

Of course everyone has bad moments. But we literally had a flashback of Stéphane telling Nick off for crying. We know he had laddish group of friends, with which he said he never really opened up to. He grew up with a brother who is on an all other level with all that shit. He has internalized what Stéphane said to him as a kid, and what he grew up surrounded with. The "boy dont cry" or "boys arent emotionnal" is a big component of toxic masculinity. And the possessive jealousy he exhibited the night before is also a part of toxic masculinity. It doesnt mean Nick is bad, or a toxic person. But he has stuff to unlearn and it is important to point it out and give a name to it and not just "Oh well he is having a bad day, it happens to all people"

Maddy

I'm going home with Charlie. *sighs and leaves*

DogBefriender22

Wow. This is a tough page but it’s SO REAL. So well written and drawn and thought out, and an incredible skill to make us feel these feelings like this ❤️ Yeah I’m disappointed and pissed off with Nick for blurting out crap he doesn’t mean and making Charlie cry (he is going to HATE himself for that INSTANTLY, and I’m struggling myself to empathise with Nick (which is unheard of!) so I’m avoiding looking at the last two panels for now because seeing Charlie’s tears and knowing the feelings behind them is PAINFUL to watch…) BUT this is what happens in reality when you’re on the defensive and petrified of facing the confusing mess and trauma you’ve been burying all this time… No idea how to deal with it, what to say, to understand let alone articulate what you’re feeling, and struggling, really struggling to understand your own reactions and behaviour towards others when you know it’s the opposite of how you want to treat them. It’s makes zero sense but it’s so realistic! I can totally relate! Alice is a master at this stuff. Yes we all want a happy perfect all smiles and no tears forever and ever ultra comforting scenario, but showing REAL LIFE reactions and dialogue like this is brilliant and just so expertly crafted. Nick is petrified of unpacking everything and facing the consequences - I hear you Nicholas - what will Charlie think of me, will he still like me, will it mess things up for us, will it be the last straw for Charlie before I go to uni and add more fuel to the ‘long distance isn’t gonna work’ fire…??? Oh Nick 💔

Cliff

Nick will apologize! At least he better!

Angie Michaelis
>>166122097

I think what people mean is that he is a victim of toxic masculinity, and because of that, he felt like he had to repress his emotions.

DogBefriender22

ENORMOUS GRATITUDE TO ALICE FOR THE VERY SPECIAL PRIVILEGE OF HAVING THIS PERSONAL INSIGHT INTO THE CREATION OF THIS STORY AND CHARACTERS. I’M LOOKING FOR A WORD THAT MEANS ‘SPECIAL x 100’ BUT I’M FEELING ALL NICK NELSON AND STRUGGLING TO ARTICULATE 😂 I’ll settle on fucking amazing!!

boombroadcast
>>166122097

The concept of toxic masculinity =/= “This person is behaving badly because they are a man.” It is a term used to describe the way that many men (and others!) are socialized to believe that men and boys should behave in certain ways that are harmful to themselves and others. That there is one way to be “masculine,” and that is to be invulnerable, stoic, aggressive, dominant, in control, etc. In this story, Nick grew up with a dad, older brother, and friend group that instilled in him a belief that, as a young man, he shouldn’t be so affected by sadness or anxiety, that he shouldn’t cry in front of others, that he should be tougher, that his worth lies in his rugby prowess (and before coming out, his ability to woo girls), and that seeking help is a sign of weakness or femininity. We have been shown clear signs that these formative experiences are contributing to Nick’s emotional repression in this volume, and in this moment, these deep-seated beliefs are really rearing their head in a way that is hurtful to Charlie. I don’t think Nick truly believes that therapy is for the weak (or that Charlie is fragile), but these are for sure ideas that David/Stephane have/would have expressed to him, and that is what’s rising to the surface here, and part of what is preventing him from opening up himself. We don’t see other male characters like Charlie or Tao struggle with this particular flavor of emotional repression/toxicity, not because Nick is more of a man than they are, but because they weren’t brought up and socialized in the same way. (I think back to that vol 2 flashback panel of little Charlie and Tao holding each other and crying, to the way Julio comforted Charlie as he cried after Harry’s party in the TV show… Nick did not really have vulnerable relationships like that with his friends or male family members before meeting Charlie and his friends.)

TT
>>166122817

I’m hoping for that too! And I truly hope Olivia Coleman moves heaven an earth to make her schedule fit for season four!!

Ai Bui
>>166123404

i think a big difference that perhaps a lot of people are taken aback by is the targeted cruelty: charlie snapping is usually just “oh fuck off then,” which is not great, but nick here went straight for the jugular as his first retort. It’d be much more of a parallel if nick were to snap and say, “I already told you I’m fine can you just fucking leave it?,” for example. Or if charlie’s ever snapped and implied that nick’s lesser than/abnormal bc idk his dad left or something.

Steven
>>166122097

OK, but what about all the females who do literally the same thing? My ex-wife is a prime example. Ironically, her mother is the same way where her father., may he rest in peace, was the easy-going one. Reminds me a lot of Charlie’s parents, now that I think of it. As another counterpoint, it’s clear that Ben is a victim of toxic masculinity in his home, but we’re not as quick to defend his behavior.

Steven
>>166122097

To be fair, they’re fictional characters. Also, please remember that Tao was absolutely terrible to Nick in the beginning without justification, other than the fact he played rugby.

Ai Bui

very 0 to 100 on the meanness scale for nick nelson tbh,,, she’s an enigma.

Mira
>>166124734

fr people are being extremely harsh to nick here. nick is clearly struggling mentally and unfortunately when some people feel defensive they can sometimes say the wrong thing even when they know it’s wrong. it’s not an unforgivable action

hayley

like i said the last thing nick wants to do is hurt charlie or have him leave.... so seeing him tear up will have nick going this has to stop and alice has liked comments about charlie being there and melting nick's walls so theories that they will go weeks without talking just don't make sense

Angie Michaelis
>>166105554

Yes, this! Before this volume I thought he was pretty good at expressing his emotions, especially to Charlie. I think you’re right that he’s afraid of conflict, which is so relatable as a child who grew up in conflict. I still struggle with this as an adult.

Brandon Ford
>>166133148

It’s not a theory. In the Nick and Charlie Novella they quasi breakup and don’t talk for two weeks. Most of us still have PTSD from that two weeks….

David C Witkin
>>166122817

I'd love to see a private conversation between Aunt Diane and Momma Sarah about "what to do to help Nick" or something like that in the TV adaptation of Volume 6.

Noemiette
>>166122097

You are mixing a lot of different thing. For your real life example: We are talking about of societal problem here. Of course some women repress their emotions. But there is a maaaaassive different of this occuring in women vs men. It is ingrained in men that they shouldnt be emotional, that it is weak to be like that, that only gay men are emotional (yay homophobia), while women are tagged as the emotional ones. And it is causing major issues in society ! Because a lot of men end up repressing so much they do not know how to handle their emotions (and often, only let out anger, because that's the only emotion viewed as masculine) For Tao. He had justification for being very wary of Nick. Wanting to protect your friend who has been bullied, from someone who is part of a group with a bully in it is a whole other subject and has nothing to do with toxic masculinity (not saying that everything he did was justified but that's another discussion) As for Ben. He probably had lots of toxic masculinity issue, but his main issue was internalised homophobia (internalised homophobia, that can be a result of toxic masculinity). And of fucking course I will show empathy for someone that became fucked up by that, for the core emotions of fear, for a kid that doesnt feel safe at home. You can do that AND call out the behavior that comes out of those core emotions. Because yes, his actions were on an all other level of fucked up. But the brain gymnastic is the same with Nick (even if on a lower level). I can call out his behavior (snapping at Charlie, the possessive jealousy), and at the same time empathize with what he is going through, and went through

Ana Alicia Aranda De Contreras

It's serious, Nicholas, it's serious, you just made Charlie feel so bad about your words, you seriously went too far you made him cry and that's the worst of all 🥺😭😔💔

Megan Chen

Charlie crying! 😵‍💫

shelfie69
>>166102078

Usually when cornered and scared you hurt the one you love the most 💔

boombroadcast
>>166122097

“Toxic masculinity” is not a catch-all for every unhealthy behavior or belief in the world. Identifying a specific social problem and untangling how it is harming Nick in this moment =/= giving every other instance of bad behavior or poor parenting a free pass. Tao has behaved immaturely at times. Jane and Julio have messed up. I said that we have not seen Charlie and Tao struggle with this SPECIFIC kind of emotional repression that is rooted in an adherence to rigid gender norms/notions of masculinity. I did not say that they have never struggled, repressed their feelings, or behaved badly. Don’t really understand your Ben “counterpoint” either. People don’t defend his behavior because it rises to the level of emotional abuse and sexual assault, which are indefensible. Not because his offscreen/page struggles (which to be fair, we truly know very little about) are unworthy of empathy.

Merel
>>166122097

@Steven we're not defending Ben because he literally assaulted Charlie and mentally abused him. There's a huge difference between that and Nick's behaviour here. Nick and Ben both grew up surrounded by toxic masculinity, but the way they dealt with that shows how different they are. That's actually a big theme towards the start of Heartstopper.

Ai Bui
>>166122097

others already brought up wonderful points and explanations about the notion of “toxic masculinity,” so I just want to chip in and point out that it seems like nick’s behavior right now isn’t being defended by the majority (and rightfully not) lol

Merel
>>166122097

@boombroadcast thank you for explaining this all so clearly!!

Steven
>>166122097

That’s a pretty wide scope you’re passing there for all men. That’s like me saying all women who get upset are just being hysterical. Not everything has to do with toxic masculinity nor are all women being hysterical! I will admit, it’s very possible this is an example … but I also noticed everything seems to be attributed to toxic masculinity now… even just basic masculinity, whatever someone’s definition of that is.

tara😽

oh charlie my angel boy☹️☹️☹️

Merel
>>166122097

Steven, I sense from your comments that you have some personal issues related to your own masculinity and your ex-wife. However, the comment section of Alice's Patreon is not the right place to process all of that.

Angelala

Nick Nelson, you made Charlie cry! I can see the instant regret though...

Steven
>>166122097

Agreed. I just think everyone is too quick to want to assign blame to toxic masculinity when he simply could’ve just had a bad moment. We all have them. There is not a single person on this earth that hasn’t said something we regret. That’s just being human. Nick is not someone who portrays toxic masculinity nor should this moment be automatically assigned to it either. Repressing your own feelings is not necessarily anything to do with toxic masculinity. Women do it just as much as men do. It’s just being human.

Steven
>>166122097

I apologize for simply doing what everyone else has done and stated my opinion on today’s page. People are telling me I’m wrong, I’m defending my stance. Just like you’re doing. That being said, this is the last post I’ll make on it. I can’t win against mob mentality.

shelfie69
>>166103411

I don't feel Nick was angry but very defensive and in denial about how he is feeling.

shelfie69
>>166107514

It's not always men who cause mental & emotional damage to children! Mothers can do so much more unfortunately 😔

shelfie69
>>166111873

It's definitely toxic but it's not confined to males, anyone who went through that kind of upbringing can react this way.

Noemiette
>>166122097

Steven, we are not trying to fight you. We are trying to explain a societal issue. Men are told to not show emotion, it is a fact. Maybe a little less so today but it's still present everywhere, not just in our lives but in medias. We talk about these issues because one of the problem is causes is that men do not take care of their mental health, are less likely to seek therapy ! It's not the hurtful thing Nick says that we call toxic masculinity ! It's his inability to talk about his emotions and traumas. No not every bad behavior from men comes from toxic masculinity, but in this case yes (cause again, we literally have a flashback on Stéphane threatning a 6yo ish Nick of leaving if he doesnt stop crying) And saying that pointing that out is the same as calling upset women as hysterical ? Hysteria was used to control and silence women ! Putting them in asylums, drugging them and worse because they went against patriarcal society, liked women etc. Talking about toxic masculinity is poiting out issues that needs to be worked on that all society will benefit from

Loveislove
>>166133148

Ah shit - I wasn't even thinking this would stretch into the infamous 2 weeks. Does this mean it will be a page a day 2 week time 😞?

CinD
>>166111873

Yeah definitely but in this case it was the males in Nicks lives that were toxic and who he grew up with

Brandon Ford
>>166133148

My guess is she treats it like This Winter. When you read volume 4, the first 256 pages happen before THIS WINTER. Then page 257-264 give you a cliffs notes version of the events of THIS WINTER, then 265-351 happens after THIS WINTER. My assumption is we will back this right into Nick and Charlie and then pick up after.

hayley
>>166133148

well considering alice said it's uphill from this scene... nick opens up to charlie.... ik everyone's got ptsd but this is not really a fight. it's them just having a intense moment

Lolli98

I just like to comment that we have 432 comments now! Is this a new record? Now somebody tell me we're not here for the drama.😉

Maia

Anyone else miss when they were young and their main problem was Nick coming out?

hayley
>>166124734

exactly! you get it! why are we saying charlie needs to hold what nick said when he was struggling mentally against him when nick didn't???? also don't get me started on people saying charlie needs to leave him in the dark for weeks/and or break up with him...

hayley

"charlie needs to leave nick in the dark for weeks" well that's not gonna happen so come up with a new theory please. like did everyone forget, that alice literally said it's uphill after this??? it's clear nick opens up to charlie.... and goes to his mom to seek therapy

Elfi
>>166142726

I'm trying to read them all, but it feels a bit impossible today. 😅

David C Witkin

Nick is going to have to unlearn literally everything he thinks he knows about himself, his emotions, his family, his history, his place in the world, and his boyfriend if he is going to salvage his relationship with Charlie after a comment like that. It's not impossible. He's done this type of seismic shift and reassessment before, like when he decided to pursue Charlie and when he decided to come out. He knows how to reevaluate things when the stakes are high. As does Charlie. But will he give Charlie the communication level he needs to feel safe and included? Not at first. Nick will have to get good at the talking about himself thing, and that won't come without practice! "Loads and loads of practice!"

hayley

everyone acting like nick just destroyed their relationship good lord.

Lusi

Oh Nick 😭💔 I love you and know you're not ready to admit to anyone you're not feeling good. But that's no excuse to be THAT mean to your boyfriend! 😭😭😭😭 That really hurts! Seeing Charlie crying makes all of us cry, too! And I'm pretty sure you, too. You're lucky to have Charlie, because I think after a while of grieving he will see what this was really about. And be able to forgive. But for now it just hurts. All of us, you and Charlie 😭💔😭💔 I want to hug both of you!

Neenie

Charlie: But I guess I don’t get a say now that we don’t talk

Neenie

Nick: And the air is thick with loss and indecision I know my pain is such an imposition Now, you're runnin' down the hallway And you know what they all say You don't know what you got until it's gone

Elfi
>>166147499

Btw I can't stop listening to Renegade since I saw your comment on yesterday's page. I love Taylor Swift, but didn't know this song and it is sooo good!

Maddy

RCM, where are you? I need to read my daily deep dive. 😭🫶 I'm unwell.

Elsie 3

Yes Charlie! Set that boundary! Hope he gets some time to cry in Tori’s arms. He’s been trying so hard and needs to let his feelings out

JoJo 🫶🏻🔐🎨

Nick you definitely need to see a therapist or counsellor to help you with your journey now x just please let Charlie in he loves you so much 🫶🏻

Hearting_NoOne

That was mean. Guess nothing else needs to be said then.

Brandon Ford
>>166133148

I had a question about when she said that? Is that a British thing or did she mean something else or was I raised in a place where the phrases were reversed? Where I’m from (in the US), when we want to say things are getting easier or smoother after this, we say “it’s all DOWNHILL from here” because rolling down a hill is easier than climbing up a hill. When we say “it’s all UPHILL from here”, that means it’s a rough climb up the hill from the bottom. When she said it’s all uphill, I thought she meant it’s all drama from here… which thus far it has been lolol. Knowing “Nick and Charlie” Novella takes place 5 months after what we are reading right now and since most of the problems we see manifesting these last few days are NOT solved by the start of “Nick and Charlie”, I assumed she meant that it’s gonna be nonstop angst for the time being until we back into N&C. I’m now realizing everyone else thought she meant things were gonna get easier from here. Now I’m wondering if my family has used that phrase wrong my whole life…

Murgy

Nick, that's not what Charlie is doing. Charlie isn't trying to manipulate you or invalidate what you're feeling. He is trying to help you because he loves you. I know you're deflecting because you're not sure what you're feeling, but you don't throw something like that out there. You know Charlie isn't fragile, but you do seem to be treating him like he is, and you're are making yourself fragile by pushing him away while also running from your feelings. I hate to say it, but Charlie is right to leave there Nick, and I fear you will be hearing from a wrathful Tori for making Charlie cry.

T

Oh no.

hayley
>>166133148

you can use the saying two different ways, actually! and alice meant it positively :)

Katie🐝

My heart hurts for both of them 🥺

rickettyuncles
>>166133148

That’s how we use it too—downhill being easier—but from the context I guessed that Alice’s “uphill“ meant getting better. Funny though, because this page is definitely more upsetting than the last 🤷‍♂️

hayley
>>166133148

yeah you can use it in two different... as a writer i usually use uphill from here :)

Mira
>>166124734

leaving him in the dark for weeks ???? all they need is maybe a little space and time to calm their emotions and come back to have a more healthy conversation like the one they have in nicks room during episode 3 of s3

Jordan
>>166110043

I agree I think the first time we saw the cracks was when he saw Charlie going up to give his Head Boy speech 🥺

shelfie69
>>166149747

OMG I've been scanning all day for RCM!! I need that analysis of everything to help me through. Hugs ❤️

hayley
>>166124734

yeah it's been kinda of a suggested theory that charlie needs to do a novella thing if nick's unwilling to talk. which was ????? it still seems to be popular which is still???? it's clear from alice's reassurance nick's probably gonna go to charlie after the rugby game

RCM

Oh my, Nicholas Nelson! I actually love/hate this response from you...I hate it because of how it obviously and awfully hurts Charlie (stay strong, Charlie), and I love it because Charlie has just named, out loud (to both of you) those hard truths that 1) you are CLEARLY struggling with anxiety and uncertainty, but continuing to avoid ANY and ALL possible conversations about your mental health and 2) that you are making him feel like you think he is fragile, one thing you PROMISED Charlie you would never do. You feel exposed in the kitchen, so uncomfortable in your own skin, and flooded with overwhelming feelings that you have no idea how to say but are too big to suppress, and what is the easiest, quickest way to express your hurt "on the spot," you know, when you in panic mode with limited coping skills, and have internalized from childhood how your dad and David would reply? And there it goes, that unfortunate, automatic, unconscious response of ANGER...we saw it last night when you were in the bathroom too ( and it feels weird to see it coming out of your mouth, doesn't it Nick?)But my real question though, Nick, is WHO are you ACTUALLY angry with? (because I don't think it's Charlie Spring...I think it is YOU. You are angry with yourself). You feel this urgent and understandable need to regain control of this situation, this unanticipated "calling out" when all you were trying to do is make pancakes for your boyfriend and pretend like nothing happened! And how have you learned to regain control of yourself in an uncomfortable situation? You have to make yourself small, you have to "hide" until you are calm/numb/pleasant enough, right? But Charlie loves you too much to let you do that, so your automatic response is to push him away in order to protect him...I see it in the way you berate yourself in the first panel...your eyes don't seem to be looking directly at Charlie, but more like they searching for proof that you "don't think that!" And that second panel, god it hurts to see you, and even you have so much pain and brokenness all over your face and in your heart that you have to keep your eyes very tightly closed (because there is no fucking way you could say that to Charlie looking at him eye to eye)...and then that third panel...you insecurely reach for your neck, uneasy and mortified at what you just said, knowing you didn't mean it, you would never mean that, but in this very minute of this very day, you simply don't have the skills to NOT do that. That panel stretches out into the kitchen, like time is in a long, silent pause as you both absorb what just happened. There is light in the room, but it isn't highlighting or moving, it's just existing, in this raw, awful intense space...both of you feel sick, I'm sure, as each of your hearts have fallen into your stomachs, and are twisting in such confusion about what is going on. I am so PROUD of Charlie in the next panel for actually showing YOU all of his vulnerability, showing you a healthy way, his way he worked to learn, of expressing hurtful, uncomfortable, and sad emotions. He just looks at you, really looks INTO you, intent with his love and hurt and tears...not only for what you just said, but also because HE can't reach YOU. You won't let him in. You are supposed to be each other's person, right? (Charlie knows what that means, but do you, Nick? I think you think you know what that means, but you can't let it happen TO you, for you, and that is breaking all of our hearts. You lovingly pour into Charlie...all he wants to do is the same for you). You've just slammed a metaphorical door in his face, so, all he really can do right now, is go home. Is that really what you wanted.. to push him away, to protect him...or was it to protect you, too, Nick? Because that uncertainty of finding out what is locked in your heart that you keep (poorly) trying to push down is too scary, too out of your control, to feel safe...and god, Nick, I also know you hate this as much as he does. You love each other so much...and love hurts, and even misguides us, sometimes, when we close ourselves off. To me, this whole page still gives me hope because I see real signs that Nick may be reaching his limit, his breaking point, and as painful as that will be, I want more than anything for him to have a chance to heal that trapped little Nicky inside him. And now, after this crappy night and crappier morning, I know he is aware that his person, who he loves more than anything, and who means more to him than anything, sees the signs too...Nick is pushing away the one person, the one place, the one home where he feels most like himself...and that person just (wisely) removed himself from this conversation, and Nick has to sit in THAT for a bit too...( and that is okay...)

shelfie69
>>166155192

This!! Just this!! Once again you both break and heal my heart ❤️

Kt

Ooooooh Nick

Megan Chen
>>166117157

Charlie cried after his relapse because of the fight with nick! But it wasn’t any of their faults :’)

Lusi

The longer I look at this panel, the more my heart is aching. Like really physically aching. I think I 'm too invested in them...

grace taylor

Oh Nick. Poor Charlie. I’m crying with him tbh. Honestly I think Charlie knows Nick’s deflecting, he’s been there, and I think Nick realized he had a problem/the subconscious dissonance between his thoughts/words and his actions, as well as how that pertains to his uni choices and his stress over that. This is his moment of epiphany for sure, and he’s always done deep introspection for Charlie, so hurting him has to cause him to do deep introspection on himself. This sucks, but in the long run it’s probably a turning point for the better. It maybe could’ve happened under better circumstances, but I think it’s important he sees that he’s been hurting and worrying Charlie rather than hear it. I don’t think he would’ve truly realized it otherwise. Also, I hope he and Charlie talk about it and Nick realizes he can lean on Charlie, too, and actually starts doing it.

Maddy
>>166155192

Why the hell did this just make me cry?😭 Absolutely beautiful analysis today. Ty

Megan
>>166143277

"leave him in the dark for weeks" is also a really unhealthy response to Nick and Charlie's first (maybe second if you include the relapse scene back in Volume 4) real argument in their ENTIRE relationship. He's deflecting because he doesn't want to admit (even to himself) that he needs help. Admitting and asking for help is one of the scariest, hardest and bravest things a person can do. Was the "therapy talk" comment harsh and a little out of character for Nick? Yes. But this is a reactive response coming from someone whose mental health is currently in a downward spiral and is petrified of confronting the issue. I think some people are forgetting that Charlie had the same reaction at first. He also deflected A LOT, and there were moments where Charlie wasn't exactly nice to Nick either on his journey to getting help and getting better, but again they were things that Charlie would never normally say or do when he's in a good place. I really appreciate Alice's post explaining "that neither are really in the wrong but both just doing the best with where they're currently at as humans." I fully agree. And that's the thing, we're so used to Nick being "the perfect boyfriend" who always says and does the right thing that it's easy to forget that he's also still just a young human being who hasn't processed any of his childhood trauma and consequently is now really struggling to communicate his thoughts and feelings, and his previous coping mechanisms are no longer working. He can't be perfect all of the time. He's said something he would never normally say when he's more of sound mind and I think the regret will be instant. (Like it was when he snapped at Charlie through the door when he was being sick.) I think you're right here and seeing Charlie cry and want to leave (when all Nick has ever wanted is to make Charlie happy) will completely jolt him and make him see the only way to diffuse this situation is to be honest with him and open up, even if it's only a small amount - just to give Charlie an indication of what's really going on.

Eileen

Ache. You are a master, Alice. Knowing their happy end I don't have to feel anxious and we all trust your process. I am really enjoying the masterly crafted dramatic scenes!! <3<3

artxsta
>>166155192

you’ve nailed it once again RCM. so well expressed and i always look forward to your analyses !

Milagros Barraza

God. I need to see this on a screen. I hope netflix give us the last season.

Elsie 3
>>166124734

Ok but to be fair, when Charlie was really struggling mentally, he did not lash out at Nick or shut Nick out to the extent that Nick has been lately. Charlie had one day of pretending nothing was wrong in France, but then opened up when Nick confronted him about it directly. He had one time of shouting at Nick (when Nick was not handling Charlie’s disordered eating in a helpful way)- but otherwise, was not snapping at Nick. I’m not saying Charlie should hold his comments against him or break up with him, but I do think it’s ok for Charlie to be hurt and to go home for a bit when Nick says something hurtful like he just did. We can understand and empathize with Nick and still speak up when he misses the mark.

Ali Michelle

he realllllly doesn’t think that!! Nick thinks nick is fragile :( But he for sure thinks Charlie is strong

RCM
>>166142726

Finally reading them all now! One of my favorite things is reading everyone's reactions...and I LOVE how many there are today!

RCM
>>166118705

Happy birthday!!! (and sorry about the Charlie tears...)

RCM
>>166101163

Happy Birthday, Diana! Hug for the Charlie tears!

mal

Nick doesn’t know how to express his emotions 😢😞

Ada Suzany

oh no Nicholas, you didn't

hayley
>>166143277

im on mobile right now so i can't type a long reply but !!! yes you got it!!! especially the part about nick's previous coping mechanisms not working anymore (to me he's grown a lot, so they no longer work now), he was full on facing charlie and really honestly will feel like total crap for hurting his feelings.. and again right on the last bit! (i feel like they might get interrupted when nick opens up slightly but will pick up later when the rugby game goes rough) hope some of this made sense lol

Cole Morin

My therapist wouldn’t like that he said that lol

Pato Ferguson

Oh, Nicky. I knew you'd get defensive. Because I've been there. You need to heal lots, but I think you're not there yet. Char, good job setting boundaries.

Pato Ferguson

Now I'm afraid Charlie is hurting himself or something 😭

Brandon Ford

Prediction: Nick goes to his rugby game. Charlie is not there. He plays horrible. Just like the Summer Fete, Charlie shows halfway through. Nick immediately plays better. Come from behind win. By simply showing up, after how awful Nick was, Charlie is both the bigger person and shows that where Stephane will leave when it gets hard, Charlie will stay. That one action ends this fight - as Nick will apologize profusely - and simultaneously leaves a little unfinished business that sets the table for Nick and Charlie.

Laura

I feel like Alice having said the rugby game is about to be tough is a hint we shouldn't be expecting this to resolve super quickly.... at least in terms of one page per day time. I think we're about to see a VERY sad nick and charlie for a few pages which will be hard but when the resolve happens, will be worth every second. You got this boys. Charlie, if you need to go home and cry it out, you're allowed. I think nick could use a good cry too. The amount of times I've opened this page today is insane lol... these boys have my whole heart ❤️ 💙 💜

gunclevanya

I’m now wondering if Nick will be injured at the rugby match, and Charlie, who doesn’t go to the match, gets a call and has to go to A&E. Maybe Nick being bandaged up or in a cast for a little while would allow them the time to have some real talks, about Nick’s current state, and about how they’ll deal with being apart starting next year. I hope they get at least a brief amount of time to bask in their status as the Truham Power Couple…

Embla Nyhlin

In the wide shot of the kitchen you can see the picture of Nick, Sarah and David by the stairs (I think,) which he looked at on page 1663. It’s an interesting detail

Jasollie
>>166198919

Agree with this. I think this is going to be “resolved” in a relatively short time, as compared to the argument in the novella that took a few weeks. I definitely don’t think that will happen. But I think we are going to see some very sad scenes with both N&C processing/ feeling sad on their own and with others hopefully. I think Charlie maybe will talk to Tori and I know we’ve all had guesses about Nick. I think his mum or Ms Singh. I don’t think this will stretch out too long bc we know Alice said that the argument is the low point and then things generally get better. But, one page at a time, it’ll still be a little while for us before we get to the resolution I think.

Jasollie
>>166193429

This is an interesting idea. I think Nick should apologize for the “therapy speak” comment- but generally I don’t think Nick really needs to focus on apologizing. I think what Charlie wants and Nick needs is for Nick to finally acknowledge that he has, in fact, been very anxious and then actually open up to Charlie about it, even if it’s messy and he doesn’t know exactly what to say. At this point, we’ve seen Charlie notice many external signs that Nick is having a hard time and so far Nick has said he’s just fine. At this point when Charlie can clearly see Nick’s not fine, it’s disingenuous for Nick to insist it’s nothing, almost walking the line of unintentionally gaslighting Charlie, implying that Charlie is making a big deal out of something that doesn’t even exist. I still maintain that Nick is so out of touch intellectually with his own emotions, he’s not been able to consciously admit to himself that he’s struggling but I think finally he’s just going to have a dam break, and he will access inside himself that something is wrong, and start the process of sharing that with Charlie, hard as it will be. It would be interesting if Charlie were to attend the game. That would be very meaningful for sure. But I think it’s ok if Charlie doesn’t (and attending every single game is a big ask of anyone), and it won’t mean he’s not there for Nick, but he can’t just go immediately from feeling great sadness to then having to watch a rugby game.

Jasollie
>>166193216

I don’t think Alice will take Charlie there. But it is sad to think that Nick might be scared that Charlie would revert back to that any time they have a fight or go through something difficult. That would feel very scary. I hope that Nick is able to trust and know that Charlie has a lot of support and coping methods and it’s not Nick’s job to never do anything that will upset Charlie bc he fears Charlie will self harm. Of course I don’t LIKE how Nick is acting, but he’s going through some normal difficult times, and so is their relationship.

Marilyn

Your note, Alice!!! I think Nick is literally terrified of what will happen when he starts to look at or talk about his emotions directly. It’s like a dam fit to burst at this point and then what?

Klara Dalgren
>>166102078

It's not necessarily fear. The realization just takes time and knowledge. And realizing that you're in a bad place is the hardest part.

Noemiette
>>166102078

But he does realize it, at least a part of it. What's happening is denial, putting his head in the sand and trying to push it aside because he doesnt want to deal with aaaall of that. And he wouldnt go on the defensive like that (he did the same with David) if he really thought nothing was wrong

Lolli98

My comment is number 500🥳 I wonder what today's page will do to us... Have a wonderful day everyone!💛

Caroline Wallace

I know Nick’s hangxiety is going wild right now.

.
>>166124734

i meannn he told him to fuck off and didn’t talk to him about how he was feeling for a few months. i’d say that’s rather similar to this situation

Claire

I am still stunned by the drawing a Charlie's eyes here - so much emotion and pain.

Marina

I would have reacted in the same way as Charlie, to be honest. Fed up of trying your boyfriend to open up to you, unsuccessfully, and receiving that mean response.

Briars-Lilies

So sorry for Charlie here, Nick needs to realize what he is doing.