The Bachelors: a tiktok story

127: Accidental Roommate

After the party had ended, you and Josh were helping clean the kitchen while Chase, Jaden, and Nessa were picking up the living room and Bryce was helping Emma clean up someone's puke in the bathroom. Everyone else had gone home and the people that were left behind had already made plans to crash at the apartment... with the exception of Nessa. You weren't entirely sure what she was still doing here.

Josh wrapped his arms around your waist from behind and kissed your cheek as you did the few dishes left. He smiled against your ear and whispered:
"I can just crash here instead of going home since it's so late... if that's okay with you."

Absolutely nothing sounded better. You spun around, not letting his arms let go of your waist but before you could respond, Nessa mentioned:
"Would anyone mind if I crash here tonight too? I've just been staying on friend's couches but it's too late to call anyone."

Chase asked innocently:
"You don't have your own place?"

Nessa: "Well, not really. I was living with Josh until a few months ago when- well we broke up."

You choked back a response because you were absolutely dumbfounded. He'd never mentioned to you that they were living together when that whole mess went down. You knew he loved her once-upon-a-time and it'd been a fairly serious relationship but for some reason, you just never put two and two together. Josh must have picked up on the fact that you were now painfully aware of his omission because his arms around you squeezed you tighter.

Nessa smiled as she tossed a can into the open garbage bag she was moving around the room filling up as she went:
"Now that he knows the truth that I didn't really cheat on him, and we're getting along again and everything, I don't know- I could always move back in."

Jaden and Josh both looked up at you, prepared to see you dive across the kitchen counter at her animal-in-the-wild style. It seemed as though everyone was frozen in place awaiting your reaction. Nessa must have picked up on the vibe because she clarified:
"I know you have a girlfriend or whatever now. I meant like you have that spare room. We could be roommates."

You didn't know what you were thinking when you blurted out:
"We have an extra room. You can stay here."

In fact, you must have been not thinking at all. You were hoping against all hopes that Emma heard the exchange from the bathroom and would interject that there was no way Nessa would be allowed to stay but no such relief came.

Jaden: "Except it's not extra tonight. I already called dibs when I made plans to crash here tonight."

Nessa: "That's okay. I don't mind a couch for another night."

After everyone went to their own rooms, you were alone with Josh in your room. You dug through your drawers for the cutest pair of pajamas you owned and quickly changed into them. You had such an amazing night with Josh the last time you slept over that you were hoping for a repeat. After everything that went down with Nessa tonight, you really needed to feel still close to him. Josh pulled his shirt off and climbed under the covers while playing on his phone. He looked up to ask:
"Coming to bed?"

You ran a brush through your hair and when you put it back in your drawer, you noticed the package of birth control pills laying on top. You knew you had to be diligent about taking them now that you were actually sexually active so you paused and declared:
"Be right back. I need a glass of water to take my pill."

You passed by the couch on the way to the kitchen and saw Nessa curled up, playing on her phone and covered up with a thin throw blanket. You didn't know why you let it get to you when she was currently public enemy number one in your eyes, but it did. Maybe Emma was right and you were just way too nice. She hadn't said a word or even acknowledged you as you passed by, yet still, you stopped at the linen closet on the way back and grabbed a heavier blanket and an extra fluffy pillow.

You: "Here. You can use these for tonight."

Nessa looked up and seemed shocked that you were being nice to her:
"Th- Thank you."

You: "No problem."

Nessa sounded much more humble than you'd ever heard her as she asked:
"Are you really going to let me move in here?"

You: "You need someplace and we have the room, so yeah. I guess I am."

You couldn't believe that you were just given an out and still chose to assert your offer for her to stay at your apartment. Nessa was left stunned by your kindness as you wandered back into the bedroom. You shut the door behind you as Josh looked up to ask:
"What took you so long, babe?"

You: "I just took Nessa extra pillows and a blanket and stuff. It's no big deal."

Josh pulled the covers back to offer you a spot next to him. When you stood frozen he explained:
"I know it's weird having her here but I feel bad leaving her out on the streets when she has no one else."

You: "Like I said. It's no big deal. Besides, it's not like I could let her stay with you."

Josh pulled you down into his arms:
"I love you so much for what you're doing."

You wanted to stay distant to show him that you weren't okay with what you got roped into but you also knew that more than anything, you needed to be close to him.

*CHASE'S POV*

He had spent the night with Jaden a few days ago, but that was different. They were still just friends who kissed a few times then. Even though they clearly liked each other, there was no label before. He'd changed that earlier when they snuck away at the party. Now they were officially boyfriends. He still wasn't sure he was ready for everyone to find out, but he knew that Jaden was more than just a friend to him and there was no use denying that anymore.

Chase laid next to him as Jaden scrolled through his phone, setting an alarm before plugging it in and leaving it on the nightstand. Chase nervously asked:
"Well... ready?"

Jaden laughed:
"What am I ready for?"

Chase: "Uh- To go to sleep?"

Jaden: "I thought maybe we could talk for a while."

Chase exhaled a breath of relief as Jaden explained:
"That's was my favorite part of the last time we spent the night together."

Chase: "Really?"

Jaden intertwined his fingers into Chases and continued:
"Just not having to fall asleep to a facetime. We could talk until we fell asleep next to each other. It was really, just really nice."

Chase leaned in to kiss him and the gentle soft kiss quickly escalated into a passionate one. Jaden leaned back, pulled Chase closer. Chase let his hand graze across Jaden's bare torso before roaming up towards his neck and then cupping his hand gently on the side of his chin just below his ear. Jaden's hands moved up into Chase's hair and tightened as the breathless urgency increased. Jaden rolled over, pinning Chase to the bed and positioning himself above him. Suddenly, Chase slammed on the breaks in a panic and admitted:
"I- I don't think I'm ready to do that."

Jaden kissed him, sweetly once more before reassuring him:
"It's okay."

He moved out from under him as Jaden collapsed, breathlessly next to him. They both laid there in silence as they grappled to slow their heart rates back to stability. Jaden reached his hand across the space between them and grasped Chase's hand, firmly. As the silence lingered in the air around them, he finally admitted:
"I've never gone all the way with a guy before either."

Chase breathed a sigh of relief as he turned to his side and relaxed back into Jaden's arms. Jaden gently played with Chase's hair. Jaden promised:
"No rush, I promise. I'm honestly really happy just sleeping next to you."

Chase: "I promise this time, I'll still be here in the morning."

*END CHASE'S POV*

SHOULD NESSA MAKE A MOVE ON JOSH OR NO? A MOVE DOESN'T MEAN HE LETS HER FYI.