The Bad Boy Next Room (Charlie and Taylor)

"You really could use a little more practice," Taylor suggested.

Charlie froze mid-blink. She frowned. "Me?"

"Yeah, the kiss was just... okay." Taylor shrugged, making a so-so hand gesture.

"Okay?" Charlie's jaw dropped. "Well, you weren't any better!"

Taylor narrowed his eyes. Then, suddenly, he leaned back and smirked, and that's when Charlie knew she was in trouble. She'd been living with Taylor for almost two weeks now, and if there was one thing she had learned, it was that his smirk meant trouble.

"Alright," Taylor said smoothly, "let's set boundaries."

Charlie folded her arms. "Boundaries?"

"Yeah, about the kissing," Taylor answered.

Charlie nodded quickly. "Right, good idea. Boundaries are important."

"Rules are important," Taylor restarted. "It clarifies things for both of us as to when we can kiss, who kisses first, and how."

Charlie shifted uncomfortably, suddenly aware of how warm her face was. "Yeah, sure. Makes sense."

"So, here is what I think we should do." Taylor looked very serious as he moved forward. He rested his elbows on his knees and said, “To keep Luke riled up, we both agree that kissing will eventually play a key role in our pretend relationship."

"Um." Charlie bit her lip. She wavered, but eventually, she remembered how Luke doubted her and tried to reinsert himself in her life. She said, "I supposed."

"And we both agree that our kisses were just, okay, right?" Taylor asked.

"Um." Charlie's stomach did an unnecessary backflip. Actually, she thought Taylor's kisses were sweet and nice, but she did not dare voice it out. Instead, she said, "Yeah, it was just okay."

"See, that's the issue. Okay, won't cut it," Taylor said. "If Luke doesn't believe us, he will keep coming after you like some desperate ex in a bad rom-com."

"Honestly, I don't know. I don't get him," Charlie groaned. "But, yeah, I want him off my back."

"Exactly." Taylor nodded. "So, we need to make our relationship look stronger... Going back to the boundaries."

"Yeah, the boundaries," Charlie echoed.

"First rule - if we see Luke looking at us, either of us can kiss the other. No hesitation."

Charlie hesitated. "O-okay..."

"Second rule-if you feel like declaring our relationship in public, just go ahead and kiss me."

Charlie stilled, her eyes rounding.

"And thrid rule," Taylor continued, completely unfazed, "if you're still hung up on Luke and need a distraction, just grab me and kiss me. I'll take one for the team.”

Charlie: ""

Her brain was spiraling, so she split herself into two imaginary voices:

Charlie's Guardian Angel: 'No, Charlie! No!'

Charlie's Inner Devil: 'Yes, Charlie. Bring it on!'

"Oh! Fourth rule!" He grinned. "If you're feeling sad, you kiss me."

Charlie, "...?"

"Fifth rule! If you're feeling happy, you kiss me."

Charlie, "???"

"Sixth rule! If you're feeling indifferent, you kiss me. And." Taylor added, “If you're just feeling horny and need an outlet, well... who elsenoveldrama

would you go to? Luke?" He pointed to himself with a smirk. "I am your man."

Charlie: "...???"

Her Guardian Angel was having a stroke.

Her Inner Devil was throwing confetti.

She gaped at him, speechless. Finally, she blurted, "Wait-weren't we supposed

to be setting boundaries?"

Taylor grinned. "Yeah, and the boundary is there are no boundaries!"

Charlie, "..."

"Wait. Wait. What?" Charlie asked. She was overwhelmed with emotions that she could not decide.

Guardian Angel: 'Your dad will disown you!'

Inner Devil: 'You have grandparents! Grandparents are literally built to fund forbidden romances!'

Sweat formed on Charlie's forehead.

Charlie was fanning herself as

Sawait. It's hot - I mean, i d here." Content beh

"It's not hot," Taylor corrected with a frown.

"I need to think about this, but I'm already good with rule number one," Charlie

finally decided.

Guardian Angel: 'Good girl, Charlie.'

Inner Devil: 'Boring!'

"You know I would not take advantage of you, right Charlie?" Taylor asked.

Charlie stared at Taylor. He was right-they lived together. He had seen her boobs, and there had been many times when she forgot to lock her room. Yet, Taylor had neve crossed her boundaries. This whole relationship act was definitely a mutual agreement!