YOU 2 [Charli D'Amelio]

Chapter 184.

Max's POV.

"I had a nice time tonight Max." Charli tells me when I pull into my father's driveway to drop her off.

I should be taking her off at home, our home.

"Me too. I hate ice-skating." I say and she laughs.

"I couldn't tell."

"What are you doing the rest of the night?" I ask her.

"Nothing, studying I guess. You?"

"Nothing, I don't have shit to do actually." I rub my eyes.

"Are you tired?" She questions.

"Yeah, a little."

"You should go to bed early." She suggests.

"I can't. I haven't slept through the night in two weeks." I admit and her face falls.

"Oh."

Charli's POV.

Of course she hasn't.

"Are you.. have you been.." I begin.

"Yeah, every single night." She tells me and my heart aches.

"I'm sorry." I hate this. I hate those nightmares for haunting her.

I hate that I'm the only elixir, the only thing to make them stay away.

"It's fine. I'm fine." She says but the dark circles under her eyes beg to differ.

Inviting her up would be a terribly stupid idea. I am supposed to be thinking about what to do with my life from this point forward, not spending the night with Max. It's so strange that she is dropping me off at her father's house, this is exactly why I need to get my own place.

"You could come up? Just to get some sleep, it's still early." I offer and her head snaps up.

"You'd be okay with that?" She asks and I nod before I let my thoughts invade.

"Sure.. only to sleep though." I remind her with a smile and she nods.

"I know Charli."

"I didn't mean it like that.." I try to explain.

"I got it." She huffs.

Okay..

There is a distance between us that is both incredibly uncomfortable and comfortable at the same time. I want to just reach over and push the lone strand of hair that has fallen onto her forehead but that would be too much. I need this distance, just like I need Max. It's very confusing and I know inviting her up won't be helpful to that confusion but I just really want her to be able to sleep.

I give her a small smile and she stares at me for a second before shaking her head.

"You know, I better not. I've got some work to do and.." She begins.

"It's fine. Really." I interrupt and open the car door to escape my embarrassment.

I shouldn't have done that, I'm supposed to be distancing myself and here I am being rejected.. again.

When I reach the door I remember I forgot my dress and heels in Max's car but she's already out of the driveway by the time I turn around.

My mind replays our date over and over as I wipe the makeup from my face. She was so..nice. Max was nice. She was dressed up and she didn't get in a fight, she didn't even curse anyone out. This is major progress. I begin to giggle like an idiot as I remember her falling on the ice, she was so irritated but it was so funny to watch her fall. She's so tall and lanky and her legs kept wobbling in the skates, it was definitely one of the funniest things that I have ever seen.