The next day, Chase showed up while Charli was alone and invited her out for that dinner he'd mentioned before he came. She knew her best friend wouldn't be okay with her dating him. Even if she didn't agree with her reasons, she couldn't stand to lose her with all she was going through so she set her mind to it being just friendly.
Chase: "You look really pretty tonight."
Charli: "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself."
Chase reached his hand across the table and brushed his thumb against hers but Charli immediately recoiled back.
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Charli: *trying to act casual* "I've never been here. I wonder how the garlic chicken is?"
Chase: "What's going on here, Charli. You know I like you and sometimes it seems like you like me too but then-"
Charli: "I know and I do. I'm not trying to be wishy-washy. I just- I'm going through a lot."
Chase: "If this is because of Y/N then listen to me. She's always had my back but sometimes she can be too protective. Just let me worry about my friendship with her, okay?"
Charli decided to open up to Chase and showed him Jaden's tagged photos that were still weighing heavy on her mind.
Chase: "Maybe you need to go talk to him and get closure."
Charli: "I don't know why I'm so hung up on this mess, we haven't talked in weeks. I don't know that he's even interested in being friends anymore."
Chase: "Then don't be friends. That's why it's called closure."
After dropping Chase back off at the dorm, she looked up Jaden's show schedule and saw he was playing a club on the other side of town. She sat in the back and watched him perform and was absolutely star-struck. The last time she'd watched him perform, she was still dating Nick.
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Nick... there he sat up on the stage behind his stupid drums with his stupid cheating face. She looked back at Jaden and remembered he'd hurt her way worse. Why was she so much more hurt though when they weren't even together when he got with Mads. And that was her fault too. She was the one who rejected HIM. Ugh, why was this so hard? Maybe getting closure was a bad idea. Suddenly the music ended and the headliner took the stage. She pushed her way backstage before it was too late and she missed him.
Jaden: "...just load everything up and we will all be there in like 20."
He turned back and saw Charli waiting in the doorway. She moved to let the road crew pass by while Jaden picked his jaw up: "Ch- Charli? Wh- What are you doing here?"
Charli: "I'm not bothering you, am I? Is Mads here with you?"
Jaden: "No. Why would she be? We aren't dating or anything if that's what you're asking."
Charli knew better than to bring up that she'd been stalking his Instagram tagged photos so she just explained: "Everything is just so messy, sorry."
Jaden: "Yeah, I guess it is. If you'd asked me a month ago if I'd be back on stage-"
Charli: "And dating- or not dating Mads."
Jaden: "She hangs with the band because she's friends with Liv and I guess we are friends too but her and I aren't a thing."
They stood in silence for a moment as Charli processed all of that. Finally, Jaden broke the silence: "What are you doing here Charli
Charli got nervous and turned to make a run for it but Jaden grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a kiss that silenced everything. She was lost in the kiss so long that she didn't even notice Liv walking back into the room: "Well if it isn't little Miss Break-up-the band?"
Jaden: "Out."
He slammed the door on Liv and before the mood faded, urged Charli: "Come with me."
Charli: "What? Where? On tour?"
Jaden: "It's just the weekend then we're back. It's summer break."
Charli: "Your bandmates hate me. You heard Liv."
Jaden: "Look they will shut it if I ask them to. They need me way more than I need them and they know it."
Charli hesitated so Jaden pushed: "I know you miss me. C'mon. Just spend the weekend with me."
