The Bachelors: a tiktok story

18: Charli

You stuttered out a hello trying to not draw attention to how uncomfortable you were feeling because it was obvious Charli didn’t recognize you. Was she cheating on your best friend or had they ended things during the fight they were clearly in as he left your house before. Either way telling him what you witnessed tonight would be the hardest thing you'd done in a while.

Bryce turned back with an overflowing trash bag and groaned:
“This fight is the least of my problems. Someone broke my roommate’s speaker.”

Charli: “Aww, I’m sorry. Do you want me to stick around and help you clean up?”

You: “I can stay too.”

Bryce: “No, no. You guys get going. I got this.”

You were standing by the front door digging for your keys when Charli sighed:
“I don’t know what I'm doing. Bryce actually picked me up. He's my ride so I don’t know if I should stay and wait for-”

You: “I can give you a ride. C’mon.”

You spent most of the ride trying to work up the nerve to call her out but all that came out was:
“So is Bryce your new boyfriend?”

Charli: “Nah, we chat online sometimes but tonight was the first time we’ve hung out- Wait. What do you mean new boyfriend? How do you know I had a boyfriend?”

You thought about telling the truth but you didn’t want to put your foot in your mouth without knowing Chase’s side of the story.

You: “Just a figure of speech. I mean, it seemed new.”

Charli: “I don’t really know what it is but you can relate, I’m sure. I saw those four guys fighting over you earlier. That was something else.”

You: “What it was, was embarrassing. I don’t think they were fighting for me as much as their own egos.”

She didn't seem bogged down by the sadness that usually came at the end of a long-term relationship regardless of who ends it which made you wonder if they were still together. Even if it had ended earlier that day, Chase would be devastated to know she'd moved on so fast.

You pulled up in front of the address Charli had given you and said your polite goodbyes but you were totally distracted by trying to decide how you were going to bring this up to Chase.

You’d made it all the way home without an answer but found yourself walking up to Chase’s door instead of yours. You stood in the cold and sent a 'you up?' text but instead of a reply, Chase hurried downstairs to open the door.

Chase: "What are you doing out in the cold so late, goofy?"

You couldn't help but shiver. You were so distracted you didn't even realize you'd left your coat in the car nor that the temperature was quickly falling.

He led you inside to his room with a smile that you hoped would still be there after what you needed to say:
“Can we talk?”

After a heart-to-heart with our bestie, we stay up late facetiming a boy... Will it be Josh, Jaden, or Noah?