Friend

**Friend** is the fifth episode of the first season of *Heartstopper*, and the fifth episode of the series overall.

## Synopsis

*Nick decides whether he should skip his date with Imogen for Charlie's birthday. Tao vows to protect Charlie from Nick and his rude rugby friends*.

## Plot

Charlie, Tao, Elle and Isaac are playing monopoly. A fight breaks out about who is winning and Isaac kicks the board over.

A little while later, Tao and Elle try to figure out how they will tell Charlie that Nick is going on a date with Imogen. Tao is very protective of his friend group and even vows to crush anyone who hurts them. Verbally, of course.

They agree to tell Charlie when he gets back upstairs and then Elle tries to change the subject. This leads to some interpretive dancing from Tao. It comes to an abrupt stop when Charlie and Isaac pop back into the room. Before Tao and Elle can tell him about Nick’s date, Charlie asks them if they would be okay with Nick coming to his birthday party. Everyone agrees it’s okay and Tao and Elle keep Nick’s upcoming date a secret.

The next day before school, Nick tries to tell Imogen that he doesn’t want to go on the date. However, he stops when he sees her crying over her recently dead dog.

During form, Charlie invites Nick out for his birthday party on Saturday. He gives him an out since he doesn’t really know Charlie’s friends but of course, Nick wants to be there. He also needs to figure out what gift to get him since he doesn’t have a lot of time to find one.

Outside, the guys try to figure out what is up with Nick. They all think it is because of his date with Imogen on Saturday. Which is the same day as Charlie’s birthday party. Imogen is telling everyone about their date and now Nick has to figure out what he is going to do. Tao and Charlie walk past them and Harry uses this moment to throw something at them. This causes Tao to rush up and start arguing with them and Nick tries to get Harry to stop. Harry makes more homophobic comments and Tao fires back before dragging Charlie out of there.

Charlie doesn’t want Tao to make things harder for Nick by fighting with his friends, which sets Tao off more. While Charlie is trying to make things easier for him, Imogen is flirting up a storm back where they left him.

At home, Nick is trying to figure out what he is going to do. He tells his mom about his dilemma and she tells him that he should not go out with someone because he feels bad. She tells him that he is young and how the right girl will come along. Nick doesn’t correct her about his feelings for Charlie, though.

At Charlie’s birthday party, Nick shows up with a present in hand. Charlie does a bit of prep work about his friends before the official introduction. Isaac and Elle are more welcoming, but Tao is still against the whole thing. Things are going well and Charlie and Nick try to stay close to each other without being overly noticeable. The rest of the group is happy, even Tao seems to be having fun. After the first game, Charlie heads off to the bathroom and Tao decides now is the time to talk to Charlie.

Tao tells Charlie about Nick’s date with Imogen, but Charlie doesn’t believe him. This sets off Tao even more since he wonders why would he lie about something like this?

Back at the bowling lane, Nick heads off to get the group drinks and food leaving Elle and Isaac behind. While waiting at the counter, Nick overhears Tao and Charlie’s argument in the bathroom. Charlie sticks to the story that Nick is just a friend and that he isn’t like the others. Tao reluctantly accepts this on the grounds that if he is even the slightest bit mean to him, then there will be hell to pay.

They find Nick outside the bathroom, but he doesn’t say anything about the fight. He just hugs Charlie instead.

Back at the bowling lane, the game continues. Nick uses the quiet moment to try and talk with Tao. Tao informs him that this is his final warning and that he doesn’t trust Nick one bit. The group heads over to the arcade and Nick tells Charlie that he heard about the argument. He apologizes about the whole Imogen thing and that he will make things right and tell her that he doesn’t like her like that.

Charlie is nothing but supportive through all of this. The two change the subject and Charlie opens up his birthday present and finds a framed picture of them with Nellie during their snow day. The two share a sweet birthday kiss. Charlie heads off to find another game to play and Nick fires a text off to Imogen telling her that he has to bail on their date and will explain everything tomorrow.

The rest of the night goes well for everyone and Isaac even wins at one of those coin games.

The next day Nick meets with Imogen and tells her how he truly feels. Nick shares with her that he doesn’t feel like he fits in with their friends anymore. That he is changing and is afraid that the person he truly is, isn’t someone who will fit in or even want to be a part of the group anymore.

In the end, Imogen and Nick part ways amicably.

## Cast

### Starring

* Kit Connor as Nick Nelson
* Joe Locke as Charlie Spring
* William Gao as Tao Xu
* Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent
* Tobie Donovan as Isaac Henderson
* Rhea Norwood as Imogen Heaney
* Cormac Hyde-Corrin as Harry Greene
* Olivia Colman as Sarah Nelson

### Guest-Starring

* Ashwin Vishwanath as Sai Verma
* Evan Ovenell as Christian McBride
* Echo as Nellie (Nick's Dog)