Chapter 7

At the condo, Charlie and Taylor sat in their seats, staring at each other. Both of them were clearly second-guessing the situation.

“I still can’t believe I ended up in this mess,” Charlie muttered. “You are the worst possible roommate I could ever have.”

“Really?” Taylor reacted. “This is given your experience of being roommates with other men?"

“You -” Charlie gritted her teeth, her face burned in anger.

“Why don’t you tell me, Charlie Blondie, why were you looking for another place to stay just weeks into the first semester? Where were you staying before this?” Taylor scoffed and suggested, “Maybe your roomies couldn’t stand you, and you got kicked out!”

“You don’t know what you are talking about!” Charlie retorted. “I have my reasons, and it’s none of your business.”

Clearing his throat, Taylor said, “Well, anyway, Charlie Blondie -”

“Stop calling me that!” Charlie snapped.

“It’s a way for me to differentiate you and Charlie Slade,” Taylor answered.

“Who is Charlie Slade?” Charlie asked.

With a sly grin, Taylor replied, “It’s none of your business.”

Charlie’s mouth fell on the floor, but before she could make a comeback, Taylor said, “If you want to move out, you can, but finding a good apartment is difficult. I’m willing to be the good guy here - to give you this golden opportunity to be roommates with me.”

Taylor then glanced sideways. He revealed, “But if you decide to move out, I’ll need time to pay you back the deposit. The advance payment is non-refundable as stated in the contract.”

“So the real reason you are considering this setup is because you have already used my money,” Charlie pointed out.

“I used it for something important, but this decision is mostly because I’m being considerate. Your money being gone is just a secondary factor,” Taylor confessed.

Charlie closed her eyes. Then, the image of Regina taking over her previous room permeated her mind. It just angered her so much that she thought it was unfair.

She was the one who got hurt, but she was the one who ended up looking for another place to live, and just when she thought she had found the best apartment, it did not turn out as she had hoped!

However, Charlie also acknowledged that Taylor was right. Where would she get another place as convenient and comfortable as the condo? She could not stay in a hotel forever. It was a bit far, and the local hotel’s lighting was terrible.

‘I’m going to regret this,’ Charlie said in her head. Looking straight at Taylor, she conceded, “Fine. I’ll stay until the end of the semester, but let’s get this straight right now—we’re just housemates. Nothing more! You’re not my type, so don’t even think about taking advantage of me!”

Taylor raised a brow. He pointed to himself and replied, “Excuse me, Charlie Blondie, but I don’t need to take advantage of women to get what I want.”

“Oh, you are so full of yourself, aren’t you,” Charlie remarked.

“I’m just stating a fact,” Taylor answered. He leaned forward and resumed with narrowed eyes, “I don’t know what you have heard about me, and I don’t care. However, one thing is for sure, I don’t take advantage of women.”

Charlie paused. She clearly saw how her words angered Taylor. She gulped and answered, “Good. Just so you know, I have a taser and pepper spray. I know karate, taekwondo, judo, and taichi.”

Silence fell upon them, and Charlie felt she had established a footing, but soon, Taylor responded, “Wow, me too! I’m a martial arts expert. How about a duo?”

Well, Charlie might have exaggerated her combat skills, so when her face fell, Taylor cracked up. He said, “Whatever, Charlie.”

“I’m just saying that if you touch me, you are going to -” Charlie simulated a ‘slit in the throat’ and said, “Clear? I know big people that can make you go away.”

“I’m. Not. Touching you,” Taylor clarified. “But wait, hold on. What if you take advantage of me? What should I do to you?”

He smirked, his lips curling with amusement.

Charlie’s nose scrunched, and her upper lip curled in disgust. She answered, “I’m never touching you.”

After making herself clear, Charlie went on, “We need to determine a schedule for using the bathroom.”

Although the condo was great. It maximized the living space. However, it only had one bathroom. It would have been fine if they were girls, but since Charlie was living with a boy, then, boundaries had to be set.