Chapter 6

CHARLOTTE

Raven.Reynolds

Did u leave for the rents yet?

Charlotte.Withers

Nope. Change of plans. Staying.

Raven.Reynolds

?????

Charlotte.Withers

Let’s meet up @ Starbucks in an hour.

Raven.Reynolds

Sure but it must be quick. I told Evie I would help her with some sewing.

Charlotte.Withers

When did you and Evie become friends?

Raven.Reynolds

I ran into her a couple times at the spa over the summer. She is cool. If you were into fashion I would invite you, but we both know how much you hate it.

Charlotte.Withers

I don’t hate it. I just don’t care for it.

Raven.Reynolds

Right. I will see you in an hour. Ciao!

Charlotte.Withers

Ok.

***

I unpack the little I packed, refolding and hanging. If I was in this position three years ago, without hesitation I would be heading home, but I want the guys to like me—I want Chase to like me more than anything.

You know that feeling when you transfer to a new school, a high school at that—you want to fit in. You want to be liked by the cool kids, and that’s how I am feeling all over again.

So, if missing home just this once to help with a project, then so be it.

“Hey, Darren.” I knock on his room door waiting for him to say come in. Not repeating our earlier situation. He invites me in offering me a seat on his bed. Politely declining, I take the computer chair.

“What’s crackin’, Charles?” he tosses his phone face down on the bed.

“I think I’m going to stay this weekend. I should help with the project. I don’t want to leave you guys hanging for the second time. I already said I was going to help.”

I shrug and give him a small smile. He tosses his head back and laughs. This laugh is hearty and deep. He leans forward now, still laughing. His blond hair covers his face like a curtain.

“Darren? What’s so funny?”

“Charles, seriously? Is that the best excuse you could come up with?” He pulls his hair into a man bun. Lucky I was immune to it, or I would be ready to toss my virginity to the wind.

“You just want to see Chase, I get it. That’s just the way you females are programmed when it comes to Chase.” He stands up.

“What are you talking about?” I watch him walk to the window. He gestures for me to come here and I do.

“Look.”

Miguel, Austin, and Chase are outside lounging by the pool, in their trunks. They all look like Greek gods, but Chase looks like he was handmade by Zeus himself.

I catch myself staring a little bit too long at Chase and avert my eyes to the garden to the left.

“See, he just has the effect on you ladies.” He walks away from the window. “I just said look and your eyes instantly went to Chase.”

“No, it did not. I was looking at the garden. The roses are beautiful.”

“Are you sure you weren’t checking Chase out, in his blue trunks?”

“No, and they were green.” I groan, realizing what I just did, and Darren just smiles at me. He’s right.

“Please don’t say anything to anyone, okay? I can’t have Mr. Moody Pants finding out about me having some silly crush on him still. Promise me you won’t say anything.”

I look at him, with all seriousness. I don’t want Chase thinking he has any pull on me.

“Your secret is safe with me.” His phone rings and he answers. I mouth to him I got to go, anyway. He gives me a head nod, and I close the room door behind me.

***

I walk into Starbucks, looking for Raven. I don’t have to look far. Her name is being called by the barista, and she is retrieving her drinks. I smile, knowing one of them is my favorite.

Venti Iced Caramel Macchiato, with two extra espresso shots. I follow after her. She takes a table by the window near the back.

“Hey, girl, hey.” She hands me my drink.

“Thanks.”

“So, tell me what has stopped you from going to see your parents.” She wastes no time.

“Nothing.” I take a sip of my drink. “But I do have some gossip. Remember last year how we—mainly you—were trying to figure out if Natalia Cumbler was dating Chase?” She nods eagerly. “Well, they wer—”

“I knew it! That bitch ditched out on every dress fitting I had scheduled and rescheduled for her. Saying something came up or her roommate needed her. The nerve of that lyi—”

“Rave, they weren’t together ~together~, but they definitely were doing the math.” I take a sip.

“The what? Math? What the hell is that?”

“You know, subtracting the legs and adding the penis.”

She groans, burying her face in her hands. “Charlotte,” she laughs, repeating my name. “You seriously are a true virgin.”

“Can you say that any louder?” I kick her leg under the table. She raises her hands in surrender saying she will cut it out.

I’m not ashamed of still being a virgin. Career first, and everything will fall into place. That is and always will be my outlook on things until I graduate and start RCA.

“Look around, no one is even paying us any attention. Anyway, why are you staying, though? Please don’t say ~nothing~ again, because we both know that isn’t true.”

Should I tell her the truth? She is my best friend, but I can’t stomach the whole university knowing I have a crush on Chase.

“I just want to see them interact with one another. It’s like some kind of zoo exhibit. I think it will be interesting.”

I am horrible at this lying thing, but I think I nailed it this time. Raven cocks her head to the side and nods slowly.

“You, my friend, are weird, but I love it. Secretly take some snaps of it and send it to me. Or just record it.” She believes me. She actually believes me!

“Hey, I got to run.” She looks down at her phone. I take a glance too and see she has gotten an email from Professor Duggan. ~Strange.~

“Is everything alright?” I ask, she turns her phone face down and smiles at me.

“Yeah, everything is fine. I forgot my new roomie needed my help picking an outfit out for tonight. I promise I’ll help her. Just send me some videos of that zoo exhibit.”

She gathers her things, kissing my cheek. I mumble a goodbye and finish my drink before heading back to the house. Why would Duggan be emailing Rave?

I check my email; it probably was a class email. Nope. I had nothing in there from her. Only Tom’s 30% off entire purchase, Target back-to-school essentials and other random emails.

***

“I have plans, so we've got to make this quick,” Everett stands next to me in the kitchen. I’ve made it home, thinking I can relax before starting the project. I think wrong.

The guys, minus Chase, are all huddled up in the kitchen waiting for my arrival.

“Shouldn’t we wait for Chase? After all, this is a group project,” I look around.

“Nah, no worries. He told us to start without him,” Austin says. The girls around campus say he is a good guy who just got sucked in by a whole bunch of fuckboys.

He has never slept with a girl on campus, due to his girlfriend back home, in London. I honestly don’t even know why I am thinking about this.

“Probably blowing Natalia’s back out,” Tristan jokes and the guys laugh.

“Pretty sure that ~is~ what’s happening. Remember how they mutually called it quits, but she is always sneaking out of the house at six in the morning—”

“Come on, guys, let's talk about the project. I’m sure Charley doesn’t want to hear about that,” Vincent cuts Darren off from saying anything else.

I look over at Vincent, and he is looking back at me with pity in his eyes. Oh hell no. Did Darren tell him? I will kill him. I look at Darren, who sends me a tight smile.

That bastard.

“So, the project is food-related, what else?”

“Patience, young one,” Everett says.

“Come on, guys, just tell me already.” I side-eye Everett.

“You mean to tell us, you have no clue?” Miguel rolls his eyes, grabbing a beer out of the refrigerator. I can see why he was one of Chase’s right- or left-hand men.

They act the same. At least Austin is nice, but then again Brits seem nicer than your typical American.

“You are a senior, correct?” Miguel looks at me in annoyance.

“Yeah.” I am confused right now. What does this have to do with anything? “So what?”

“If we need help with the project, and we are standing in the kitchen…” he trails off.

“Cooking?” I ask.

“Guys, are we sure we want her to help?” he asks.

“Miguel, quit being a dick, bro.” My eyebrows almost disappeared into my hairline. Never in a million years did I think Everett would come to my rescue.

“She is a crazed feminist. Do you know what she would do to you in your sleep? We need to make it to the finals this year.”

“You never cease to amaze me, Everett.” I roll my eyes at him. What a douche.

“Kidding.” He winks at me, throwing his arm around my shoulder.

“But seriously, dude, lay off. She is actually going to help us. I don’t mind Natalia helping, but once Chase gets tired of blowing her back out, she isn’t going to want to help.

“We all know this, and the posse will always want to be around here too. I don’t have time for that shit again.”

“Know what?”

Everyone’s head but mine turns to the voice. I don’t want to look. I make my way to the refrigerator, behind the guys. I need water or something to keep me from looking.

I hear my name being called and just stare into the open fridge. We need more eggs and butter. Maybe if I pretend to not hear him, he will stop calling my name.

“Hey.” Vincent lightly bumps me, leaning into the fridge.

“Hey,” I answer back.

“Everything alright?” he whispers.

“Just peachy. Why?”

“Nothing, just seems like you are avoiding the inevitable. Just do it. It’s only going to suck more if yo—”

“I am fine. I was just looking to see what I need to go shopping for.” I straighten back up and look around the room. Like I predict, Natalia is clinging to Chase.

She and I are the opposite. Her black hair is pulled into a sleek high ponytail. She is a model type, tall and fit—a very beautiful female. Oh, did I forget the flawless skin and captivating gray eyes? Total goddess.

My blonde hair is a total mess thrown into an even messier bun, I’m average height, nothing to go crazy for, and some days my skin hates me or loves me.

“Hi, I’m Natalia. You must be Rachelle’s old roommate, Christina.” She extends her hand. I take it into mine, smiling.

“You must mean Raven—my old roommate. I’m Charlotte.” I let go of her hand and excuse myself from the room. The nerve of her.

“Hey, Charles, wait up.” Darren comes up behind me.

“I have to go pee. Can this conversation wait?”

“Oh?”

“Oh, what?”

“I thought—never mind. See you back in the kitchen, don’t take too long. Chase wants to start now.”

I roll my eyes. Of course, he does.

“You guys start without me. I’ll get in where I fit in.”

I shrug, heading to the bathroom. I can’t stay in this house much longer. I feel like Chase is making it his mission to push me out sooner than later.

He need not try any harder because Monday morning, I am going back to speak with Mrs. Martha so I can go immediately.

I head back into the noisy kitchen. The guys are laughing at something Natalia said.

~Get over it, Charley, he doesn’t even like you.~

Chase turns a little, and his eyes land on mine. Suddenly the atmosphere is so heavy I can’t breathe. He looks at me from head to toe, and I become aware of my appearance, too aware.

My hair, the jogging pants I am wearing, have four bleach spots on them, and my tank top is smaller than I would like it to be at the moment.

“Charlotte!” Austin calls out to me, and I am thankful.

“Yeah?”

“Ready to tell you about the project.”

“Okay.” I stand in the empty space between him and Everett.

The papers on the counter are a blueprint of some hotel and restaurant I’ve never heard of before. How in the world can I help them with something like this? I look up, and he is staring at me, ~again~.

“So, this is our project,” Everett says in a ~tada~ voice. I cease any more eye contact with Chase and look back down.

“You see, for our final project we have to start a fake business, but we want to take it a step further and actually do it. We want to open the Springdale Hotel and Moss Restaurant.”

“That’s great. So, what do you need me for? I don’t know the first thing about opening a hotel or restaurant.”

“But you are an excellent cook,” Miguel compliments me. Wow. “We all have had your food for the past week.”

“Not all of us.” Chase hasn’t once tried my food, and it hurts, but the other six can’t get enough of it, and that counts for something. Chase grabs a bite or makes something himself.

I don’t know what his problem is with my cooking, but I’m getting over that slowly. No need to trouble myself with worries I can’t change.

“You have no idea what you are missing.” Tristan winks at me, and I blush. Why am I blushing? Ohmigod, Charlotte, stop it!

“Better than my cooking?” Natalia speaks up. She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes when she looks at me.

“Better!” they all say in unison, and I laugh, thanking them.

“So why am I here?” she snaps, looking at Chase. He’s taken aback, but quickly recovers, grabbing her upper arm, escorting her out of the kitchen.

“Guess this is the last we will see of Naggy Nat.” Miguel runs his fingers through his red hair. “Thank the heavens, though. She was a real bitch and always tries to make herself the queen of the house.”

The guys laugh, chiming in, and I’m—I’m just staring there watching. What the hell just happened?

“Can we get back to why I am needed?” I want this to be over so I can go to bed.

“Right. Right.” Darren moves papers around and lands on the one about the restaurant. “You are majoring in cooking, and you can cook, so we were wondering if you would like to be the head chef for the project.”

“Like the Executive Chef. All things restaurant-wise will go through you, but you have to speak to us about it before finalizing anything,” Austin adds.

“Yeah, after all it’s our money,” Everett chimes in.

“Wow.” This was huge. Really huge. “Guys, I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how—”

“Don’t say anything yet.” Chase walks back in alone.

“I want to taste your cooking before agreeing to anything pertaining to our business. If I like your food, you can stay on the project. If not, we stick with Natalia.” He says the last part looking at his friends.

“Umm sure. I can make you something now.” I fumble over my words.

“No need, I had plenty to eat before coming.” The guys give him props, and I am lost.

I don’t get it. He never takes his eyes off of me as he licks his lips slowly and then I ~finally~ got it. My face is red, crimson red. I am living in a house with a whole bunch of sexual perverts.

“Guys, please stop it.” I am so embarrassed right now.

“Aww, come on Charles. You know you got your kitty licked before,” Everett teases.

I’m blushing hard now.

“Holy shit!” Tristan’s eyes pop out of his head. “Charlotte, are you a virgin?”

Why me?

“Can we just drop it? I don’t feel comfortable talking about this with you guys.” I bury my hands in my face, elbows propped on the countertop.

“Are you waiting for marriage? If so, just give that up, Charles, no one waits anymore. You got to test the car before buying it,” I hear Darren say.

“I’m not confirming or denying any of this,” I groan. This is too much.

“Alright, guys leave her alone,” Chase commands. This is a first.

I don’t pick my face out of my hands as the guys apologize and tell me I should be happy to still be a proud owner of the “V” card. Martha needs to find me a room and fast.

I think I will die of embarrassment every time I see any one of them now. I hear their footsteps climbing the stairs, perfect. Room door after room door closes and I finally uncover my face.

“Next week, Saturday. Dinner. I like steak, if that helps.” Chase looks at me and his stare isn’t as icy anymore. If anything, there is a hint of admiration in them.

“Okay. It’s a date. No not date ~date~…but you know, save the date—I’m just going to go to my room. Bye.” I flee from the kitchen as if my life depends on it.

Chase is a walking sin; he’s the guy who will make a nun reconsider her life path. Raven was so wrong about me living this fairytale. I am sure Snow White was ~not~ interested in banging one of her seven dwarfs.