When her car got close to campus she realized that she couldn't go home and face Y/N or Josh so she had the car pull into Chase's hotel. When he opened the door and found Charli sobbing on his porch, he pulled her in and gave her a huge hug. After calming her down, she told him everything and he sighed: "Why did you lie to him?"
Charli: "What do you mean?"
Chase: "Why did you tell him there was someone else when we both know you aren't into me?"
Charli couldn't stand to feel what she was feeling for one more moment so she crashed her lips against Chase's in hopes of silencing everything else out. After giving in for a moment, Chase pulled back and pushed Charli to open up about how she was feeling.
Charli: "I just have all these feelings and everything is so confusing."
Chase: "Be brutally honest. Are any of those feelings for me?"
Charli wasn't lying when she answered: "Yes, but everything is just so confusing. I have all these feelings for him but he's no good for me and then there's you. So perfect and I really like you but Y/N would never forgive me."
Chase: "Let me worry about her."
Charli's argument was interrupted by Chase pulling her back into the kiss he'd interrupted a few moments ago. She never meant it to go this far but she found herself caught up in forgetting Jaden and Mads and every other heartbreak she'd felt.
Chase pushed her back against the hotel bed and covered her neck, collarbone, and chin with kisses before returning his lips to hers. His hands moved against her body with soft, careful gestures, and even if it wasn't as intense as what she'd spent the weekend doing... it felt amazing. He was smooth, calm, and solid with his movements and even Charli was shocked when she found herself giving in to him.
Charli woke up, still wrapped in Chase's arms, and immediately felt guilty.
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Chase: "Mmmmm, good morning."
Charli: "What were we thinking? Y/N is going to be furious."
Chase: "I told you. Let me handle my best friend. I know her better than anyone."
Charli: "I like you, I really do but I can't lose anyone else I care about right now."
Charli started panicking and Chase pulled her into a hug: "Hey, hey. Let's slow down and just spend some time together and take it as it comes. No rush."
The next few weeks were better than Charli could have imagined. She'd switched between staying at Chase's hotel and her dorm. He'd kept his word and not pushed more than a few kisses here and there but mostly just hanging out and getting to know each other. He really did make her happy but the news she'd found out 3 days ago was weighing too heavy to feel anything beyond stress.
She was on her bed working on her art portfolio when Josh peeked in: "Hey, you missed your girl. She just left to buy her books for fall classes."
Josh: "That's why I'm here. Grabbing a book. Hey Char, you know whatever you're going through... she will understand just talk to her she misses you."
He stopped before leaving to add: "And take a nap you look like you haven't slept in days."
