The Game of Loving Her while Living with Him [Completed]

XIII - Charli's Birthday

It has been six months since I lost my family. We're seniors now and I'm not really sure what my plan is after that. I lived with Tris and Liss during the summer and it actually wasn't half bad. When we had the funeral Chris, Noah, Amir and Tess flew up to surprise me. Briana came as well but we didn't talk. Well, she kept trying to speak to me but I wasn't really in the headspace to deal with anything she had to say. It was currently almost Halloween and Tristan is making me go to our dorm floor party. This is my first Halloween at WMBS and just so happens to be my last. I don't necessarily want to go to the party, I just want to do my homework and go to sleep. It also didn't help that today was my birthday. My first birthday without my family, my first birthday with my new friends, my 18th. I was hoping they weren't going to make a big deal about it but knowing Tristan and Alissa, that plan will not go the way that I want it to. How do I know? Because an hour later I stood in our lounge with everyone who lived on our floor shouting and jumping to the beat of the music. Soon though, my friends and I split off to Tris and I's room. Chris decided that it was time to play a game. A few other people from the party joined but I didn't know them except Briana. For some reason, she decided to be in my room right now and she was sitting directly across from me. I am kind of worried about this game. Since we started the new semester, my friends have been trying to get me to talk to Briana. They backed off, obviously after losing my family, but we all could see that there was still tension. I had dated around a little bit during the summer, trying to take my mind off of everything, but nothing serious, but apparently she had done nothing. Many people, of all gender identities, had asked her out, but she turned them down. What sucks about this entire situation with her is that no matter how much easier it would be to just hate her, I simply bring myself to. I feel the complete opposite, I still love her as much as that night I told her, still as much as the day she left me, still as much as the first night that I found her with Tristan. Speaking of Tristan, I'd be lying if I said this new friendship with him still didn't take me by surprise sometimes. I guess I kind of expected him to switch up, try and push himself on me but no. Just the other night I had a nightmare and he proceeded to hold me for the rest of the night.

"Okay so since it's someone's birthday we're going to play seven minutes in heaven," Chris said winking at me.

"How is that game related to my birthday?" I asked very confused.

"It's your birthday?" Briana looked confused.

"Yep, Char is turning the big 1 - 8," Tessa said smiling.

"Oh, happy birthday Charli," Briana said. I responded with a thank you and immediately averted my gaze. When I looked back up though, she was still looking at me.

"Okay let's get this started," Tristan rubbed his hands together. He had to kiss some girl who joined named Mira. Next was Alissa and Noah and then Amir got to kiss Pia.

"Charli your turn." Chris looked at me and smirked. Oh no. "Briana." I sighed and stood up and went into Tris and I's bathroom. I didn't want to kiss her. Who am I kidding? It was taking every shred of self-control I had not to pin her to the wall.

"We don't have to." She said standing next to me.

"No it's fine - it's just a game right?" I sighed and kissed her. When I started to pull away though, she held onto my collar keeping me attached to her lips. I licked her bottom lip and she opened her mouth. My brain suddenly switched on and I pulled away from her. I took a step back.

"Charli, please."

"Huh?"

"Please kiss me again." She stepped toward me.

"I'm not your girlfriend anymore." I took another step back.

"I know, but please just kiss me again." She took another step toward me. Her eyes were all but begging me. And oh Lord, how I wanted to. But I couldn't. I couldn't give in. This was for the game, yeah, but all the emotion was still there for me. I couldn't do this to myself.

"Briana, I can't." I took another step back and my back hit the wall. Fuck. I looked down at the floor to avoid her lips. If I kept looking at them, I would've given in.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She took a smaller step toward me. "I broke up with you because I was afraid." My head shot up and I locked eyes with her.

"Of me?" My voice came out small and concerned.

"No, of loving you."

"Huh?" Now my voice came out extremely confused

"When you told me that you loved me - I felt it too. I felt it so strongly it fucking terrified me. It took me nearly a year to tell Kristina, and here I was feeling it after less than a month. I thought that if I broke up with you I'd be clear-headed and I wouldn't love you anymore and I wouldn't be scared. But the complete opposite happened. I was still scared but I wasn't scared of loving you anymore - I was scared you'd be loving someone else by the time I finally got the courage to tell you. I slept with Tristan to try and get over you but also to try and be near you. I figured I couldn't be with you but he was your roommate - so I had the opportunity to see you. I'm not proud of it but I had to see you. I couldn't let you go. I'm so sorry for hurting you. It backfired on me so fucking much. God, Charli, I fell more in love with you every time I saw you. Charli, I still love you and I -" I cut her off by kissing her. I turned so she was now on the wall and picked her up. This kiss was different than the one we just shared. This was full of our shared love. I pulled away and looked at her.

"I know it'll take some time to forgive me but I hope you still love me?"

"Of course I still love you, you dope. Come on, I think our time is up." When we exited the bathroom though, no one was in my room. There was a note on my bed though that said 'Happy Birthday, get your girl back ;)'. I laughed and started looking for clothes to change into. It was almost midnight and I would be lying if I said I wasn't exhausted.

"What's funny?"

"Our friends - they think they're slick. Briana?" I asked not looking at her.

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" I started changing my clothes waiting for her answer. When I turned around to face her though she was looking at my body. I blushed and covered myself.

"Don't do that." She came up to me and removed my hands. "You're beautiful. And I was going to tell you the night Tristan had me come to the room." She looked down.

"The night I got the call." She nodded.

"I figured after that news, the last thing you cared about was whatever I had to say. So I figured it best to wait." I nodded and sat down on my bed. I patted my lap and she sat facing me. "I really am so sorry Charli. For everything." She looked down at her fingers.

"I know Bri. I forgive you. I did a long time ago." When she heard her nickname she smiled. For nine months, she was just Briana and now she was Bri again. She laid her head in my neck and I wrapped my arms around her.

"Charli?"

"Yes, babygirl?" I could feel her smile across my neck.

"I wanna be yours again."

"You are mine - always." She kissed me and at that moment I knew that I was going to be okay. The past year of my life has been tumultuous, to say the least, but as long as I had this beautiful girl who was currently falling asleep in my lap and my new best friends who I lived with, Tristan and Alissa, I was going to be okay. I was going to make it because I wasn't alone. And to think, this all started with a simple game of truth or dare.