Room 241: A Josh Richards Story

49- Off Limits

The next day you are in your room with Charli. Chase was still asleep across the hall and Josh was at class already. It was really starting to bug you the fact that her and Chase had obviously been texting often since he left. She had completely ripped out Jaden's heart after leading him on and you were starting to understand why.

You: "I don't want this to be some weird thing or anything, but I thought we should talk about Chase."

Charli: *looking worried and a little guilty*
"Oh? What's wrong?"

You: "I don't know if you are intentionally trying to go after him, but just don't, ok?"

Charli: "I'm not doing anything. We are just friends."

You: "No. He and I are friends. Best friends. And I don't feel comfortable with you getting really close with him."

Charli: "Did I do something wrong?"

You: "He's not like Jaden. He won't recover like Jaden will eventually."

Charli: "Jaden is fine. What did I do so awful to Jaden?"

You: "You can't possibly be that naive. He was absolutely in love with you and you shattered his heart."

Charli: "I can't help that I didn't want to be with him?"

You: "Do you honestly not see how much you led him on? You think I didn't see all the nights that you snuck out to be with him? All the nights I woke up in the middle of the night to see you kissing him?"

Charli: *eyes wide open in shock*
"Trust me, whatever feelings he may have had are long gone. He's with Mads."

You: "That was a one time thing. Don't do that."

Charli: "Have you not seen his instagram? She's with him on tour."

You pulled out your phone and scrolled through in shock. You couldn't help but wonder if Josh had seen these pics. He never mentioned it. Almost as if on cue, Josh walked in and flopped on the bed while your jaw is still on the floor:
"Baby, I thought you said Mads went home?"

Josh: "I assumed she did. She isn't here that I know of. Wait... have you seen her? Did something happen?"

You: "She's with Jaden..."

Josh: "Yes, we all know they hooked up. Why is that a shocker? That was over 2 weeks ago but I don't think they are, like dating together. It was just a hookup."

You: "No, Josh. I mean they are together right now."

You show him your phone with his tagged photos showing Mads has posted all over with him.

Josh: "I follow Jaden, how did I miss him posting that?"

You: "He didn't, Mads did. They are in his tagged photos."

Josh: "I unfollowed her a long time ago. I had no idea. Wow girls and their detective skills are a different breed, my God."

You didn't know whether to be worried that he clearly was affected by them being together, but you were relieved that he didn't follow Mads anymore. 

It's been 2 months and summer is coming to an end. Having Chase here was really amazing, but he decided to get a part time summer job while he was here so he was busy sometimes. Charli was never around. She was clearly hooking up with someone because she was always hurrying off in way too good of a mood, but as long as it wasn't Chase you didn't care. You'd ranted to Josh about it and he didn't understand why you cared who Chase dated, but he hadn't been the one to stay home from school for a week comforting him when he got his heart broken for the first time Sophomore year.

You were not ready for school to start back up. You really missed Josh when he was in class or studying and now things were about to get even busier. You'd left him in his room to focus a few hours ago because you were tired anyway but now that you couldn't sleep you were starting to regret that.

You woke up in the middle of night to the sound of Charli sneaking in. She kissed someone in the doorway before shutting the door and then giggled as she tripped on her way to her bed. She laid on her bed sending a text message before holding her phone to her chest and smiling even bigger.

You: "It's really late... I'm trying to sleep."

Charli: "Yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so loud. It was just a really good night."

You: "Who's the guy?"

Charli: "Uh... I don't know."

You: "You don't know? He doesn't have a name?"

Charli: "I didn't ask-"

You: *interrupting*
"Of course you didn't."

Charli: "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

You: "Look, I'm all for you having fun and living a little. Like you do whatever and whoever you want..."

Charli: "But? It sounds like a but..."

You: "But this is why I didn't want you going after Chase."

Charli: *flipping the lights on*
"So you're saying I'm too slutty for your best friend?"

You: "No! I didn't say that. I just mean you don't know what you want. First it was Nick, then you got over that in a flash and it was Jaden. Then Chase and now whoever Mr. No-Name at the door is. I just don't think it's a good idea that you drag along any more boys until you make up your mind."

Charli: "Maybe I do know what I want!"

You: "And maybe you just turned into the thing you were so scared would hurt you."

Charli: "Look, I know you think you're protecting him, but-"

You: *interrupting*
"No, I KNOW I'm protecting him. I love you and I want you to be free to have fun and find your way. This isn't about me judging you."

Charli: "This sure sounds like a judgement."

You: "Ever since I was a little girl and my parents were never around, Chase has been there."

Charli: "Are you sure you don't have feelings for him?"

You: "It's not like that. His Mom babysat me and we became inseparable and I confided in him how lonely I was and he just kind of adopted me. He's the closest thing to a brother that I have."

Charli: "Don't you think he deserves to make his mind up himself?"

You: "Yes, and that's why I haven't told him to stay away from you. I'm asking you to really think about where you are in life and the kind of choices you're making right now and ask yourself if he deserves that."