Beneath the bet

Chapter 9 - Charlotte

I woke up the next morning to the soft light filtering through the curtains, my head pounding and my body aching from the alcohol and the events of the night before. The fog in my mind slowly lifted as memories of what had happened with Noah came rushing back, hitting me like a wave. I blinked, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of it all.

Noah.

I could still feel his touch on my skin, the way his voice had softened after everything—"You look so beautiful like this"—those words playing over and over in my head, like some kind of cruel taunt. It had felt real in the moment, intimate in a way that confused me, but now, with the harsh light of morning shining down, I felt nothing but disgust.

Not just at him, but at myself. How had I let this happen? The Noah who had made my life miserable for years, who had been the source of so much pain and insecurity, was now the one whose touch lingered on my body, whose whispers haunted my mind. I hated myself for letting him get so close, for believing, even for a second, that things could be different.

The knot in my stomach tightened, and I rolled over, pulling the blanket tighter around me. I wanted to disappear, to pretend none of it had happened. But I couldn't. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't forget how gentle he had been after. How, for the first time in years, he had looked at me like I mattered.

A knock on the door broke through my thoughts, and I jolted upright. "Charlotte? You decent?" Daniel's voice was cautious, and I could hear the concern in it.

I quickly pulled myself together, wrapping the blanket around me and scrambling to gather my thoughts. "Yeah, I'm decent," I called out, trying to sound as normal as possible. The door creaked open, and Daniel stepped in, his brow furrowed.

"We need to go," he said, his eyes scanning the room. "Jacob's parents are coming back soon, and this place is a mess." He paused, his gaze lingering on me. "You okay?"

I swallowed hard, avoiding his eyes as I nodded. "Yeah. Just hungover."

Daniel didn't look convinced. He knew me too well. "What happened last night? You disappeared with Noah, and..." His voice trailed off, like he didn't want to ask the question he already knew the answer to.

I shook my head, trying to force a smile. "It's fine, Daniel. Really. Nothing happened that I didn't want to happen."

He stared at me for a long moment, his expression filled with both confusion and concern. "Are you sure? Because if he—"

"I said it's fine," I cut him off, my voice sharper than I intended. "It's done. Let's just get out of here."

Daniel didn't push any further, but I could feel the weight of his worry as I gathered my things. The silence between us felt heavy, but I couldn't bring myself to explain. How could I? How could I tell him that despite everything Noah had done, despite the years of torment, I had wanted him last night? That some part of me had craved his attention? As I stuffed my belongings into my bag, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I reached for it, my heart sinking when I saw Noah's name flash across the screen.

When we're back at school, make an effort.

The words stared back at me, cold and impersonal, erasing whatever tenderness I had felt from him the night before. Any trace of softness was gone, replaced by the same arrogance and cruelty I had grown used to.

The pit in my stomach deepened, twisting painfully as the reality of the situation hit me. Last night hadn't meant anything to him. It had just been part of the game, part of whatever sick bet he and his friends had cooked up. I was just another notch in his belt, another joke to be passed around when school started again.

I clenched my phone tightly, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over. I couldn't let him see how much he had hurt me. I couldn't let him know that despite everything, I had wanted more. That I had stupidly hoped that maybe, just maybe, things could be different.

"Charlotte?" Daniel's voice snapped me back to reality, and I quickly wiped my eyes before turning to face him.

"Yeah, let's go," I muttered, stuffing my phone into my pocket and slinging my bag over my shoulder.

As we walked out of Jacob's house, the cool morning air hit me like a slap to the face, sobering me up more than I wanted. Daniel stayed close, casting glances my way, but he didn't say anything. He didn't need to. The silence between us spoke volumes.

I knew I couldn't avoid Noah forever. School would start again soon, and I'd have to face him, face the whispers and the stares. But for now, all I wanted was to forget. To forget last night, to forget Noah's touch, and to forget how I had let myself believe that things could be different.

But as the familiar ache in my chest settled in, I knew that forgetting wouldn't be easy. Not when the pain was so fresh, and not when the memory of his voice, his hands, his lips, still lingered like a haunting reminder of my own mistakes.

What the fuck had i done?