Chapter 7

EVERETT

Everett.Sawyer

Damn Charles is a virgin! This just made me want her more.

Darren.Reed

Eve come on chill out.

Everett.Sawyer

I’m just sayin she hasn’t been corrupt yet. Do you know how rare that is????!?

Tristan.Beckett

Evie back off.

Everett.Sawyer

Fuck off! Don’t call me Evie asshole! I know you all thinking it so imma just say it.

Miguel.Jackson

Yeah I’m gonna agree with the guys on this one. Chase will beat ya ass. We all saw the look on his face when she said didn’t deny being a virgin.

Everett.Sawyer

Fuck all that.

Austin.Kramer

She is a wonderful woman and we need not be discussing her. She isn’t one of the girls you guys hit and quit.

Miguel.Jackson

Naaaaaah Everett you buggin Chase gonna beat that ass. Charlotte is his. *walking slowly away from the conversation lol*

Everett.Sawyer

So I can’t get her because Chase has this unspoken rule about her? She is fair game. Chase always does this.

Austin.Kramer

Your funeral man. I’m out ✌️

Darren.Reed

Weren’t you just sleeping with Jenny or some other chick last night? Chase will flip. Go for another challenge instead.

Everett.Sawyer

Since when you dicks had morals for chicks?

Everett.Sawyer

Guys? Hello?

Everett.Sawyer

DICK HEADS

CHARLOTTE

So, it’s Saturday, and I am freaking out in a good way. I’m going with a steak dish like he asked. Not sure what side dishes I would like to go with it, but the steak must be done to perfection.

I’m like the girl you read about in novels or watch in those cliché rom-com movies. Going completely bonkers over a guy. Everything needs to be done to perfection.

I sense someone in the doorway. I look up to see Miguel standing in the doorway staring at me.

Great, just what I need, a pair of eyes watching my every move while I cook. I begin seasoning the steak, trying to ignore him, but it’s not working. “Yes, Miguel?”

“Nothing, just watching how you are preparing the steak, that’s all.” He shrugs. I’ve never spent time with Miguel, and this is the perfect time to do so. To get to know Chase’s left or right-hand man.

“Do you want to help me? I can use some help, actually.”

“Sure,” he walks into the kitchen heading towards the sink. “You know I was hoping you would ask me to help.” He washes his hands. I am so thankful I didn’t have to tell him to do so.

“Why is that?”

“I love steak, and this is your first time making it for us.”

“So, you don’t think I know how to season.” I turn around looking at him.

“Uh—I didn’t say it. You did.” He chuckles.

“But that is what you were thinking. I have cooked for you on many occasions. My food is always seasoned to perfection.”

I turn back around and continue to season the steak. I feel his presence beside me. “You can go cut the potatoes.”

He tells me he is fine watching me seasoning, and I roll my eyes.

“Please, Miguel, go cut the potatoes, or you can leave. I don’t need you hovering over me. I am already under enough stress with this dinner tonight. So please don’t start.”

“Are you having a meltdown?” He raises his hands, backing away from me. “Look, I think you are doing a great job on the steak. I was only teasing. Please don’t cry.”

Cry? The guys in this house always think I will cry. I know I am a female, but every little thing they say that they think is harsh, I will not cry.

“Miguel, you can leave now.” I roll my eyes pointing towards the door. “I just need you to leave.”

“Charley, I am sorry.”

“Nope, you can leave.”

He shrugs his shoulders, walking out the kitchen mumbling incoherent words under his breath.

***

Two hours later, dinner is ready, and I am nervous. I do what any girl in my position would do, invite her best friend over for moral support. Raven doesn’t miss a beat when I ask her to come over.

She comes over so fast, I think she was waiting outside the house. Everyone is seated at the table—correction, everyone but Chase. The guys text him multiple times, and he hasn’t responded.

I didn’t want to eat without him, but it’s been twenty minutes, and no one has heard from him. After everyone complained about not wanting to wait, and deep down inside, I couldn’t wait either, we ate dinner.

Giggling from the foyer caught everyone’s attention, then the glass breaks. The guys tell Raven and me to stay in the kitchen and they will be right back.

We stay in the kitchen for one minute and then we go see what the hell is going on. The vase of flowers is on the floor, and Natalia is clinging to Chase.

She is drunk and by the look of it, Chase seems intoxicated too.

“You,” I push through the guys, zoning right in on Chase. He looks surprised to see me. “How dare you!?” I poke his chest.

I am mad.

~Livid.~

~Angry.~

~Hurt.~

Pissed off, but overall disappointed in him.

“How dare you, Chase?” I pushed him a little.

He stepped back and a smile made its way to his face. He is laughing at me, taking me as some freaking joke.

Natalia isn’t any better. She laughs too. All I can see is red, and my hand has a mind of its own.

I slap him and turn away—worst mistake of my life. It feels like the air has been knocked out of me. I was pulled back and slammed against the wall. I wince at the head and back pain.

Opening my eyes, I come face to face with Chase. He is no longer smiling or laughing.

I can hear the guys yelling and pulling him away from me. He wrestles to get free from them and turns back. I want to run, but I’m frozen in place. Oh God, he is about to hit me. I watch him raise his hand.

Closing my eyes, I cower, and the next thing he does surprises me. Gently cupping my cheek, his lips land on mine. Soft, I can taste the Hennessy on his lips and tongue.

Everything goes quiet, and I open my eyes as he breaks the kiss.

“Sorry,” he whispers against my lips.

“Chase!” Natalia screeches. I forgot she was still here. “Chaaaaaaaase.”

She’s closer to us, and he takes a step back looking at her. I look down at the floor, wishing it will just swallow me whole. I shut everything and everyone out.

“Charles? Charles, are you okay?” Darren’s voice is laced with concern. I look up. Chase and Natalia are gone. It’s just me, Rave and the guys.

“We’ve never seen Chase like that before.” Austin walks towards me, and I shake my head for him not to come closer. I need space.

“Are you in pain? He slammed you against the wall hard. I thought your head was going to explode.”

“Everett, man, that’s too soon for trying to make a joke,” Vincent snaps at him. He turns his attention to me. “Do you want me to walk you to your room?”

“I’ll do it.” Raven rushes to me, gently taking my arm. “Does anything hurt?” she asks as we make our way up the stairs. I shake my head no. That’s a lie. My head is absolutely throbbing.

I glance over my shoulder at the guys. They’re staring at the wall, pissed. Before turning up the next flight of stairs, I see what has them so angry.

Touching the back of my head, it’s wet. I remove my hand slowly, not wanting Raven to see it. Blood.

“Hey Rave, I’m okay, really. Just go back to your dorm room. I’m going to get in the shower and call it a night anyway.” Half-truth, half-lie.

“I think I should stay. Chase might come back and do God knows what.” She is angry and has every right to be. Everyone should be angry right now, including me.

I just can’t seem to be angry with him after that kiss.

“I’m not leaving you.”

“Come on Rave, I’ve been through enough in the last ten minutes. I just need to be alone.”

She huffs. “Fine, but you better call me if anything happens. I will be over here in a nanosecond.”

“I will. I promise.”

“I’m going to take my plate to go.” She hugs me heading back down the stairs. “Remember to call me if anything. Love you.”

“Ok. Love you too.”

I’m not in my room for ten minutes when the door comes flying open. The guys walk in like they own the place.

Thankfully I haven’t gotten undressed yet. I don’t have to ask what they are doing here because Vincent says it.

“We’re kicking Chase out of the house.”

“Wait, what?”

“You’re bleeding,” Miguel deadpans. “Don’t lie, Charles, we saw the blood on the fucking wall.”

“It was an accident.” I look at them.

“You can’t be serious.” Vincent throws his hands up in the air. “He hurt yo—”

“What happened to the crazed feminist we met at the beginning of the month? Aren’t you females against this kind of shit?” Everett looked utterly confused.

“I know you like Chase, we all do, but this behavior isn’t tolerated at the house.” Tristan exhales heavily. “You shouldn’t have to live in fear of what he might do next when he is drunk.”

“Guys seriously, it’s no big deal,” I say nonchalantly.

“We are kicking him out, and that’s final, Charles.” Darren’s voice leaves no room for argument, but I don’t care. This was so unfair for everyone involved. He is their family…

“I’ll leave so he can stay.”

“He must’ve hit your head harder than we thought. I think we should take you to the hospital,” Miguel chimes in.

I stare at Austin. He is the only one who hasn’t said anything, and that must mean he doesn’t like the guys’ decision either.

“Austin, what do you think about this? Huh?” I asked.

“Charlotte, this is a house rule. It’s always been a house rule, since before our time. Whether you leave or not, Chase still can’t come back.

“Don’t think he is banished from the house, because he isn’t. He just can’t live here for the next two months,” he explains. I know this is a fight I can’t win.

“Fine.” I cross my arms at my chest.

“Your safety is our number one concern.” Vincent looks at me, his facial features soften. “You might be mad at us now because everything is still fresh in your mind, but we are doing this for you.”

I know what they are doing is the right thing, but this is Chase, their best friend, brother. He is family to them. I cannot stay here for two months knowing he must stay God knows where. This wasn’t fair to him.

I slapped him first, and the blame should be equal.

“You still want to leave,” Austin says.

“I need to know what kind of kiss he put on you, for you to defend him the way you are.” Tristan shakes his head.

“Charles, welcome to the SFC.” Everett claps. “I think you should be the president.”

“Dude, shut the fuck up.” Darren snaps.

“What’s that?” I ask.

“SFC stands for the Silly Female Club. You know the girls who take their man back after he has done something wrong and then—”

“Get out! All of you get out right now! I didn’t want to be here in this stupid house in the first place. Just leave me the hell alone,” I scream at the top of my lungs.

They look reluctant at first, but leave one by one, saying they’re not sorry for their decision, but they will miss me if I leave.

All I want to hear is the sound of the shower running and then the sweet melodies of Niall Horan to put me to sleep.