I was dragged into the apartment by Tom with Reece following close behind. “Honey, I’m home,” Tom sang, the excitement in his voice clear. “It’s about time you came back. Reece has been lost without you,” Charlie told me, rushing over and giving me a hug. The rest of the lads gave me hugs in turn and I even got a hug from Claire. “I…um…I hope that there are no hard feelings between us,” I said to her. She smirked before saying, “Of course not.” She was a better person than I was. I’d stolen her boyfriend. If I were her, I’d have started world war three.
“If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have got to know Barclay better,” Claire told me, stepping back so Barclay could put his arm around her. “So you two are like a thing now?” I asked as Reece slipped his hand into mine. “We are,” Barclay replied with a huge smile on his face. Claire beamed up at him, the happiness evident in her expression. He kissed her on the lips and I smiled, happy for the happiness.
“Oh my God, we can go on double dates,” Claire told me, making me chuckle. “Yeah, sounds good,” I replied, the smile still on my face. James hadn’t returned home yet and I was worried but Tom had said he’d sorted it.
Reece and I managed to escape to the balcony, away from all the madness. He shut the doors then turned to look at me. “I’m so glad I have you back,” he told me and kissed me. I smiled against his lips then pulled away. “Me too,” I whispered. “I don’t ever want to be away from you for that long again,” he said and kissed me again. He tucked some of my hair behind my ear before saying, “Move in with me.”
I looked up at him for a moment, unsure if he was being serious. “Move in with you?” I questioned and he nodded. “Why not? The lads love you. And you don’t have college anymore. I can’t stand to be away from you anymore, Char,” he told me. I didn’t know what to say. It was a crazy idea. “What about James?” I questioned. Reece thought for a moment before saying, “He’ll find someone else. All I need right now is you every single day. I need to wake up to your beautiful smile every day. Lottie, I am in love with you.”
“So what do you say?” Reece asked after a few moments of silence. I smiled and nodded. “Yes, of course.” My seventeenth birthday was just a few weeks away. And it’s not like I was overly attached to my dad. It was a crazy idea but it was the right time for a big change. And Reece was my life now. I’d get a job in a café or a shop somewhere. And everything would be perfect.
“Lads,” Reece said as he pushed open the balcony doors. Barclay, Claire, Casey, Chris, Jake, Tom and Charlie all looked up at me and Reece. “Charlotte’s moving in,” he told them. I’d expected them all to protest but their reaction was one hundred percent positive. “We have a girl in the apartments. Finally!” Jake cheered, making me laugh. Tom gave me a hug and said, “At least we’ll have someone as mature as me in the apartments.”
The door suddenly slammed shut and we all turned to look at an angry James. His eyes stopped on me and Reece and he glared at me. To my surprise, he didn’t say a word. He went straight into his bedroom and slammed the door shut. “He’ll come around, don’t worry,” Tom told me, flashing me a sympathetic smile.
I couple of hours later, we ordered Chinese and when Reece and Tom went to collect the takeaway, I went and knocked on James’ bedroom door. He opened it and glared at me. “James, I’m sorry,” I told him. “Save it,” he snapped and went to shut the door in my face but I wedged my foot in front of it so he couldn’t.
“Look, I’m sorry that I left you in the middle of Thorpe Park. I’m sorry that I’m not with you. And I’m sorry that you love me. But it’s not fair for you to treat me like this. James, you’re literally my best friend. You’re the person I turn to when there’s no one else. You’re my shoulder to cry on. I can’t have you hating me,” I spoke harshly.
James grabbed my hand and pulled me into his bedroom, shutting the door so we were alone. He stepped towards me and I ended up stood with my back against the wall. “Tell me you love me,” James said, taking my hands in his. I looked up into his eyes and whispered, “You know I can’t.”
James stepped a little bit closer to me and bent down, his eyes on my lips. I placed my hand on his chest and said, “James, don’t do this.” He looked down at me, his eyes glazed over with lust. I took a deep breath, trying to stop myself from crying. “I don’t love you. Understand that.” I pushed him away and left his bedroom. I felt so horrible for saying that to him. But he needed to understand that I was with Reece. He couldn’t have me.
When Reece returned with the Chinese, I was sat in his bedroom, my head in my hands. “Sweetie, what’s happened?” he asked me, bending down in front of me. “I just…I just spoke to James,” I told him. He suddenly tensed at the mention of James’ name. “And?” he questioned. “He asked me to tell him I loved him,” I replied. Reece was quiet for a moment before asking, “And did you?”
“Of course not, Reece, I love you,” I told him. He stood up and I followed his actions. “Reece, no matter what, I’d still choose you,” I whispered before grabbing his t-shirt and pulling him towards me so I could kiss him.
YOU ARE READING
Second Girl (Reece Bibby)
Fanfiction"I can't be second best anymore, Reece," I told him. Reece shook his head as if he was dismissing what I'd just said. "You have never been second best, Charlotte, I love you."
