For the most part Charlie and Bass hardly ever saw one another for the first week. There would be occasions they would pass by one another in the hallway, and Charlie would sashay by him as Bass pretended to be looking at anything other than her short shorts.
Charlie openly made her sentiments known, lightly touching his body, pressing herself dangerously close to him every chance encounter, she even resorted to wearing as little as possible to bed. But after the first week of that and no response, she took it as a sign he wasn't interested, plus it was too exhausting to keep up the charade.
School was starting to stress her out even more than she thought possible, dumping research paper after research paper on her already full platter. It was hard enough balancing different classes, throw in a job helping out her friend at a local gym, and it was almost impossible.
She had no idea how people balanced more than this. She felt like a seal on top of a chair, on top of a ball, balancing plates on her nose, while surrounded by a ring of fire.
Pushing the door open, she felt a wave of dread pass through her body when she saw extra shoes and coats sitting inside. And not just anybody's, but a woman in particular, which she couldn't really complain about. This was his house, and she knew he often had women spending the night.
Just, why did it have to be this night?
She already had a throbbing headache and multiple papers to write, the last thing she needed was to hear them going at it like fucking rabbits all night.
Shutting the door loudly, alerting the two on the couch of her presence, the girl giggled loudly in Bass' ear as Charlie suppressed the urge to gag. Rolling her eyes, she dropped off her coat and shoes, not bothering to stop at the kitchen before she made a beeline straight for her room.
Before shutting the door, she barely heard the girl's angry, pathetic voice huffing out, "who the hell is she?"
She closed the door firmly not waiting for his reply, hoping to God they would leave eventually because the obnoxious giggling and the sounds of them making out was seeping under the crack of her door.
After an hour or so, she heard shuffling of feet and the shutting of another door. Letting out a loud sigh of relief, she switched from playing on the computer to doing her schoolwork.
Flipping her history book open, she dove right in to the researching and was able to get quite a bit of information jotted down. She was never really one for history, but at least one history class was required for every major and her friend told her this one was easier than the other choices. She opted for easier instead of European history, which sounded only mildly more interesting than American.
On a roll, she felt confident about this paper. It would be no problem getting it done, but that's when the sounds started to multiply and flow throughout the entire house.
At first she wasn't sure what she was hearing, but when her ears strained of their own accord, she recognized the sound of piercing, gritty moans.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
Muttering to herself, she groaned dramatically as she flopped back against her bed. Snatching a pillow, she tried to smother the sounds of squeaky girl's voice fluttering all around, along with Bass' primal grunts. Mixed in, Charlie could roughly hear the sound of the bed pounding against the wall at a steady pace, before picking up, more erratic.
As much as it turned her on to think about Bass in that context, she couldn't stand hearing the girl's voice as she cried out in pleasure.
Why the fuck did they have to be so loud?
She hoped it would be over after they finished this round. She could suffer through it once, but half an hour later when she heard it again, she repeated the process: groan, flop, smother.
Fuck, okay, two times was more than she wanted to hear someone having sex, but three times? That was fucking excessive, especially in only an hour's time. Once round three began Charlie finally snapped, at her wits end.
Flinging the door of her room open, she didn't even flinch when it rebounded against the wall, and she was pretty fucking sure they couldn't hear a damn thing.
Before she could talk herself out of it, her fist rose and started banging against his door.
"What the hell does she want, ugh," Charlie rolled her eyes upon hearing squeaky girl's breathless, annoying voice penetrating through the crack of the door.
Feet shuffling, the door flew open to reveal a half dressed Bass, naked from the waist up, "yes Charlotte, I'm a little busy at the moment so make it fast."
"Yes, I know you're busy," she spat, "the whole fucking neighborhood knows you're quite busy—"
"Green isn't a good color on you," he interjected which only fueled Charlie's anger.
"I'm not jealous I'm fucking annoyed. I've had to listen to you two fuck, three times now, " she held up three fingers for emphasis.
"I understand you have needs or whatever, but could you at least try to keep it down? I'm actually trying to do schoolwork. I get that this is your house," she sarcastically threw in, but he cut her off before she could continue.
"Exactly, this is MY house, and I should be able to do what I want, as loud as I want. I'm not going to become some kind of fucking monk because I was nice enough to let you stay here when your boyfriend threw your ass out," he barked at her, instantly regretting his choice of words and his tone when she physically flinched back.
The fire returned to her eyes hastily, "fine."
She turned on her heels, all but stomping back to her room. Bass closed the door, going back to waiting woman on his bed, but he was waiting to hear her door slam like an angry, pissed off teenager. He wouldn't be able to concentrate until then.
Upon hearing another door slam, the front door to be exact, he huffed, tearing himself away from the whiny woman underneath him.
"Dammit," he murmured, running a hand through his messy, unruly hair as he quickly threw his pants on to stop Charlie before she got any further.
"Where are you going?"
He could hear the nasally voice yelling out, but he didn't stop, taking long strides until he was outside. The cold air hit him with an immense force as the rain pelted his exposed chest. He silently cursed himself for not thinking of a shirt.
She had only gotten to her car, tossing a bag into the back seat before he grabbed her elbow roughly and spun her around to face him.
"What the fuck Charlie, come back inside, it's too damn cold and rainy to be out in this mess."
She pulled her arm back up he didn't let go or loosen his grip, "I've drove in a blizzard, I'm more than capable. Go back inside to your guest, and let go of my fucking arm."
He sighed, flexing his fingers around her elbow, "don't be such a child Charlotte, get in the house."
"I wouldn't act like a child if you didn't treat me like one. You made it clear this was your house, and I get it, but if you think I'm going to stay and be treated like shit you have another thing coming. I made that mistake once," his face faltered at her confession, "I won't do it again."
He almost couldn't believe what he was hearing. Miles didn't tell him anything about Charlie's situation. Only that her boyfriend kicked her out and she needed a place. He had no idea he treated her like shit, maybe even the same way Bass was yelling at her before, no wonder she flinched. Now he felt like shit, worse than shit because no one deserved to be treated like that, but especially not his Charlie.
Fuck, he had no idea where that even came from.
Seeing the sympathetic look growing in his eyes, she used all her force to tear her arm away from his slack grip, "don't."
Shocked, his eyes snapped down to meet hers, "don't fucking pity me, I can't stand that look in people's eyes. I don't need your sympathy. I took care of it. And for the record, he didn't kick me out, I left because he was a narcissist, self-centered asshole who got pissed every time I wouldn't put out."
Bass couldn't say anything, he felt as though his mouth was sewn together, which was more than okay. Charlie didn't need anyone to coddle or comfort her.
"And when I did finally have sex with him, he told me I'm an awful fucking lay," she bitterly laughed, the rain hiding the few tears that escaped from her eyes during her personal declaration.
She had no idea why she was even saying this, to Bass of all people. She didn't want to make him feel bad for snapping at her, she just wanted to tell someone, and it just so happened she felt comfortable telling him.
That comfort flew out the window when he reached out for her and she backed away swiftly, "no listen, just…don't tell Miles about this okay. I didn't even mean to tell you. Go back inside to your house. We're done here."
He only shook himself out of shock enough to reach an arm out, he still couldn't get his lips to move, but upon seeing her hand on the car door, his arm shot out and firmly closed the door shut again.
"We're not done here. You were right to call me out on being an asshole that was a douchebag thing to do and say. It doesn't matter that this is my house, you're my guest," his voice dropped on the last part, sending a flutter to Charlie's thumping heart.
She inhaled slowly, taking deep, long breaths in order to calm herself down, but her heart was still thumping like a jackrabbit.
"Please," she heard his low, pleading voice infiltrating her left ear as his face hovered inches away from hers.
"Please just, come back inside."
He didn't think she was being dramatic, if anything she was being rather calm and professional about the whole situation. She didn't yell, stomp her feet, slam her door. She just gathered her stuff and was going to hit the road. She was a headstrong, stubborn girl who wasn't going to take anyone's shit. Bass liked that about her, but he wasn't opposed to begging if she didn't concede.
Mutely nodding, she maneuvered around him, collecting her bag from the backseat as she shut the car door. She made it halfway up the stairs before his hand grabbed her elbow, this time more gently.
Turning her around once they were sheltered from the rain, he bent down at her level to get a better look at her. Her eyes didn't move from their fixed position on the cement stairs. Bass had to physically tilt her chin up with his fingers, "look if you don't want me to tell Miles then I won't. You just have to promise me, if we ever see this dick out in public you let me beat the shit out of him."
She started to interrupt, but he held up a hand, "not because you need it, but because he deserves it. It's this deal or nothing."
Sighing, she playfully rolled her eyes, "fine, whatever, though I highly doubt I'm ever going to see him again."
Bass looked like a kid at Christmas, at that, Charlie muttered "boys," as she went back inside. Bass however remained outside, rubbing at the back of his neck, still looking at the spot where Charlie was just standing. She was one amazing woman, and he was so fucking screwed.
Shit, there was still one very pissed off, needy woman in his bed. Bass groaned, he was wet, cold, and not in the mood. Hell, he didn't even like the girl. Her voice was annoying and she talked too much. She was too…not Charlie.