CHOOSE ME!

Part 19

Charlie's pov
I woke up the next morning feeling relaxed and well rested, except for my arm being numb. I tried to sit up but something gripped me tightly and I couldn't move, I looked over to see Alex hugging me tightly. I missed this, I missed the way he looked so peaceful in his sleep and how the way he rested showed the fresh hickeys I gave him. I snuggled back into him and pulled his head closer to my chest.

He smiled in his sleep and I fell back into a light sleep for a while, until I heard someone shouting me. I immediately woke up and looked around dazed for who it was, I managed to slip my arm from underneath Alex and turned around to be greeted by my best friend's face. I forgot we were meant to be meeting up this morning for a catch up as we hadn't seen eachother since the party.

I smiled innocently at him, "you forgot about you're best friend, huh?" he asked loudly. He actually sounded kind of mad, I shushed him and said I didn't want to wake up my roommate. Little did he know Alex was right next to me. I covered him up with the blankets and laid in front of the lump so he couldn't see. "Been too busy with you're girlfriend to spend any time with your best friend, we've been friends since we were born, how could you just forget about me!" he started shouting again, I knew he was only joking but if Alex woke up everything would be ruined.

We laughed for a while and he held up a bag with croissants inside, "I brought breakfast," he said after we stopped laughing. A small tired yawn came from behind me, shit he's awake. I tried to cover it up with a cough but Jackson got suspicious. He tilted his head curiously and then Alex's head popped up from behind me.

Jackson stumbled back in shock whilst me and Alex just stared at him trying to figure out what to do, we both knew this wasn't going to end well. "I can explain," I said jumping out of bed but he just walked out of the room. Alex sat up and stared at me with sad eyes, "I'm sorry," he said hanging his head in shame, I sighed and walked over to him kneeling in front of him and cupped his face. I was about to say it wasn't his fault when we heard someone going through the cupboards in the kitchen.

I walked out of my room whilst a sleepy Alex waddled behind me. Jackson had set the table and was waiting for us to sit down and eat with him. I turned around to look at Alex but he was already tucking into the food.

I followed him to the table and sat down slowly, "so, why didn't you tell me?" Jackson asked in a serious tone of voice. "I thought you would hate me and never speak to me again," I replied staring intensely at my plate and poked at my food for a while. I could feel his intense glare and everything was silent except for Alex's loud chews and swallows, "why would you think that?" he finally asked sounding a little upset. "I thought since making Alex fall in love with me was for a bet you wouldn't like it if I fell for him too," I replied finally gathering the courage to look him in the eyes.

A drop of a fork was heard and we both looked over to Alex who sat in shock, "you fell in love with me?" he asked, his eyes twinkled of hopefulness and fear. I couldn't deny I was in love with the boy so I nodded. A small squeal came from my best friend whilst he watched us, "this is cuter than I thought it would be," he said as he cupped his own cheeks and rested his elbows on the table. "I could never be mad at you for falling I love with someone, I also couldn't be one to judge, I've slept with a couple of guys too and I've got to say it wasn't too bad," he confessed.

Me and Alex stared at him with wide eyes and open mouths, Alex's knee moved closer to budge mine in disbelief, "seriously?" I asked completely shocked. Jackson has always had girlfriends and had never shown any interest in guys. I guess neither did I but I hid it well, maybe he did too. "I'm pretty sure in bi, so like, what are you?" I asked.

Alex hit my shoulder gently with the baggy sleeves of my hoodie, "don't ask people that, it's rude," he said with a small angry pout which was just adorable. Jackson just laughed it off and ended the conversation, "I don't know, I guess I've never thought about it."

We quickly got ready to go out, Jackson invited Alex to come along with us and we decided to invite the whole group to meet him. Alex seemed reluctant at first but he soon seemed to like the idea. Me and him sat in the front and the small car slowly started to fill up with the group. I had to tell some the others to go in someone else's car and meet us at the usual spot.

No one seemed to question who Alex was when he introduced himself, I guess I talked about him more than I thought. The car was filled with life, loud chatters and laughter. Alex was already getting along with my group and I couldn't stop smiling as I drove.

We soon reached the park we always went to and found a nice spot to sit at. It was a hot summers day and the cool breeze tickled my skin refreshingly. I didn't realise how chaotic the last few months were until now. The rest of the group arrived not long after us and we all sat down in a large group, "what's Alex doing here?" one of my friends asked. How did they know this was Alex without anyone telling them, "how did you know it was me?" he asked innocently.

They all burst out laughing and I hid my face in his neck embarrassed because I knew what they were going to say, "he talks about you all the time," one of my friends replied wiping a tear of laughter from the corner of her eye. "And he came to us for advice in what to do when realised what a big mistake it was to have chosen Annabelle," another friend said rolling his eyes.

Everyone burst out laughing as we reminisced on my idiotic ex girlfriend. "We haven't introduced ourselves, sorry Alex," one of my friends said when everyone was settled down. Alex didn't say anything but he started to fidget with the hem of his top nervously, I put my hand on his thigh and gave him a reassuring smile. The whole grouped awwwed at us and he quickly flicked my hand off and hid his red blushing face.

"That's Lucy, she's the smart one. That'a Ben, he's the athlete. This is Lilly, she's the mum of the group but one of the youngest. I'm Harry and I'm the gay one. And you obviously already know Jackson and Charlie." Harry said with a cheery smile. I had never had any friends before and it was the best afternoon of my life.

They told me embarrassing stories about Charlie who tried to deny them all but he was clearly lying and we shared many laughs. They were all so happy and fun to be around. I didn't want to leave but it was getting late and we all decided it was time to leave.