YOU 1 [Charli D'Amelio]

Chapter 39.

I look at Max, then at Chase, and back to Max. There is no way this is going to go well.

"What are you doing here?" I ask Max, even though I do not want to hear the answer, especially not in front of Chase.

"What do you think I am doing here! You snuck out on me while I was asleep, what the hell was that?!" Max booms. I hold my breath as her voice echoes off the wall. Chase's face flashes with anger and I know he is beginning to put the puzzle pieces together.

I am torn between trying to explain to Chase what is going on and trying to explain to Max why I left.

"Answer me!" Max yells and stands in front of my face. I am surprised when Chase steps between us.

"Don't yell at her" he warns Max. I am frozen in place when Max's face twists in anger. Why is she so mad that I left? She would have kicked me out anyway. I need to say something before this all blows up in my face. She is probably only angry that she didn't get to make me cry first.

"Max.. please don't do this right now." I beg. If she leaves now, I can try to explain to Chase what is going on.

"Do what Charli?" Max asks and walks around Chase. I hope Chase keeps his distance, I don't think Max will hesitate to knock him over. What the hell is happening in my life that I have to worry about Chase and Max fighting?

"Max, please just go and we will talk about this later" I say and Chase shakes his head.

"Talk about what? What the hell is going on Charli?" Chase cuts in. Oh god.

"Tell him, go on and tell him" Max says. I can't believe she is doing this. I know how cruel she can be but this takes it to a whole other level.

"Tell me what Charli?" Noah asks.

"Nothing, just that I stayed at Max and Liam's last night" I lie. I try to match my eyes to Max's in hopes that she will stop this now but she looks away immediately.

"Tell him Charli or I will" Max growls and I begin to cry.

"Chase.. I..me and Max have been.." I start. Max's angry face shifts to smug. I can't believe I spent the night with her, last night it felt amazing but I knew I would end up regretting it. I just didn't know it would get this bad first.

"Oh my god" Chase stutters and his eyes begin to water. How could I do this to him? What the hell was I thinking? Chase is so kind and Max is cruel enough to make me tell Chase about us in front of her. His hands go to his forehead and he shakes his head.

"How could you Charli? After everything we have been through? When did this start?" Tears stream down his face from his blue eyes. I have never felt this terrible, I caused those tears. I look over at Max and then back to Chase. My hate for Max consumes me and I shove her back instead of answering Chase. Max is caught off guard and stumbles backwards but steadies herself before she falls.

"Chase, I am so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking." I am being honest, I don't know what the hell I was thinking.

I suppose I was thinking that Max could be decent and maybe I could break up with Chase and date Max. How stupid can I be? Or that I could stay away from Max and Chase would never know about what happened between us. The problem is that I can't stay away from Max. I am too far gone, too far under her spell, and she didn't hesitate to curse me.

Both are stupid and naïve options but I am haven't made one good choice since I have met Max.

"I don't know what you were thinking either, I don't even know you anymore" Chase shouts and walks towards the door.

"Chase please! Wait!" I scream and rush after him. Max grabs my arm and tries to pull me back.

"Don't touch me! I can't believe you! This is low Max, even for you" I scream and jerk my arm out of her grasp. I push her again. I have never pushed anyone in my life except her, multiple times.

"If you go after him, I am done" She says and my mouth falls open. Done with that?

"Done? Done with what? Fucking with my emotions? I hate you!! You can't end something that never began" I say, my voice no longer shouting. Her hands fall to her sides and her mouth opens but no words come out.

"Chase!" I call and rush out the door. I run down the hall and finally catch up to him in the parking lot. He notices me and walks faster.

"Chase, please listen. I am sorry, so sorry. I was drinking, I know that isn't an excuse but I.." I wipe my eyes and his face softens.

"I can't listen to anymore.." he says. His eyes are red. I reach for his hand and he pulls away.

"Chase please, I am so sorry. Please forgive me" I can't lose him and Max in one day. Even though Max was never mine and never would be, it still hurts to see her newest level of hatred for me. Especially after the way she held me and called my name in her sleep.

"I just need some time, Charli. I don't know what to think" He says and runs his hair over his perfectly gelled hair.

"Okay" I sigh in defeat. He just needs time to get over this and we can go back to normal.

"I love you Charli" he says and catches me by surprise when he kisses my forehead and climbs into his car.