Hot tears clouded my eyes and blurred my vision. While I stumbled through the hallway, I bumped into a few guests and received a few insults for knocking their drinks out of their hands but I didn't care. I couldn't care less if people saw me like this.

I wanted them to see what betrayal does to a person. How heartbreak makes you incredibly miserable. I was sick of being tolerant only for people to take advantage of me and lie to my face. I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't be tough anymore.

Dumb patience was getting me nowhere. I wish I had someone I could vent to and cry on their shoulder but I didn't. None of these people knew me that well except Ethan, the guy who put a knife in my heart.

I had been here for quite some time and wasn't willing to spend another second. Screw this party. I tried to find the closest staircase, marching through the halls and that was when I nearly plowed right into Charlie.

"Woah, are you alright?" he asked, concern on his face.

"Not really," I replied just before a river of tears started flowing down my cheeks.

Emotions had overcome me, I couldn't hold myself back. I kind of broke down in front of Charlie and he was sweet enough to hold my shoulders and all. He even glared at the people who passed by looking weirdly at me.

"Let's get you to sit and calm down, okay?" he said, gesturing for me to follow him inside a room.

I followed him without a second thought.

The room had been decorated to look just like the one Elle showed me before; dim red lights, scented with candles, and it had a sofa bed in the center. Charlie sat me down on it and he went to close the door.

After some time had passed, I managed to control my sobs. I looked up at him and he had a sympathetic look on his face. Throughout my crying, he didn't say a word. He just sat there in silence, which I really appreciated.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" he spoke softly like he was sharing a secret.

"I think you already know," I replied with a large degree of skepticism.

Charlie pushed himself off the door and crossed his arms over his chest as he stepped closer to the sofa bed that I was sitting on. His eyes never left my face as if he was calculating something in his head.

"Go on, mock me." My voice quivered.

His eyebrows drew together. "Huh?"

"You must be dying to say 'I told you so'," I said to him. "And you might as well laugh at my stupidity now."

Charlie looked at me, puzzled. "But why would I want to do that?"

"Because you basically warned me not to fall for Ethan but I didn't listen. Now I got what I asked for," I grumbled.

"You think I'm that kind of person?" he answered with a scoff. "The type that laughs at people's misery?"

When I didn't answer him, Charlie heaved a low sigh and sat next to me. I know I shouldn't have judged him so harshly when he has done nothing but try to comfort me.

"Listen," he said, making me look at him in the eye. "We all have our moments but I don't find you stupid. I don't know how Ethan didn't see it but I had told you so many times, you're too good for him and when you're too good with the wrong person they won't appreciate it or value you."

I couldn't stop a smile from quirking my lips. "You're too sweet. Thank you. Also, you're kind of like the only person who knows about my problems right now."

"Well, I'm here so, you don't have to suffer in silence. I may not have the advice you need but I have ears to at least listen," he replied.

"Why can't every guy be like you?"

Charlie let out a delightful laugh. "Not sure if you really want something like that to happen."

I laughed along with him. I wasn't exaggerating. Charlie was one of a kind. Would there be thousands more people like him, the world would be a much better place if so.

"No, but you're like the coolest guy. I'm glad we're friends," I said to him.

"I'm not at all so, believe me when I say I have a fair amount of flaws," he told me, smiling.

"To me, you are," I replied with a grin.

Charlie's smile melted into a smirk as he hooked a finger under my chin. "Well, the feeling's mutual."

My cheeks grew hotter after he drew his face closer to mine. I held my breath for a beat, eyes flickering to his lips while my own tingled with anticipation.

We were interrupted by an oblivious couple who barged through the door and planned to use the room to hook up. Watching them eating each other's faces out like there's no tomorrow, Charlie and I were locked in a stare of mutual disgust.

It took a throat clearing from Charlie to make them realize they weren't alone.

"Whoops, didn't know it was occupied," the guy said calmly while his partner giggled.

"Now you do," Charlie spat. "Fuck off."

The couple didn't say anything more and soon they went out. Charlie let out a groan and laid back on the sofa, his nostrils flared, jaw clenched and his eyebrows furrowed. He tipped his head up to stare at the mirrored ceiling above.

"What do you want to do now?" he asked.

"Go home," I said, and his head whipped in my direction.

"Don't go yet," he begged, surprising me by taking my hand in his. "The party hasn't started."

"I can't face them again," I said.

Even with the limited light, I could still see Charlie rolling his eyes. "You don't have to. Stay here and we could smoke some joints."

"Tempting but no," I replied. The last time I did, it didn't end well for me.

He bit his lip, giving me a lop-sided smile. "Okay. I don't want to force you. I guess I'll stay here then. Alone. Bored. Nobody to talk to."

"Fine, I'll hang out with you," I gave in, making him chuckle. "But I'm not going to smoke."

"Suit yourself," he told me before pulling out a little rolled-up joint with a lighter from his pants pocket.

He lit it and took a puff while observing me thoughtfully. I fidgeted with one of my sleeves waiting for him to say something.

"What did he do this time?" Charlie asked, blowing smoke rings.

"Ethan didn't want to come, actually. It was my fault I guess because I was kind of pressuring him to break up with Elle again tonight," I said.

"He chickened out," Charlie figured.

"Yeah. It's frustrating 'cause I've been very patient with him."

Charlie took a deeper inhale of the joint as he let his eyes slide closed then dropped his mouth open to let the smoke leave on a slow exhale. "And now you're back to square one."

"Pitiful, I know," I replied.

He broke into a chuckle, looking over at me. "Not really."

"Oh? Don't you think I deserve some sympathy?" I argued, raising a brow. "I have feelings too, you know."

"You wanna know what I think?" he murmured.

Maybe whatever he was about to say would be worth listening to. "All right."

"You're not a victim. If you do anything for people that is your choice. You didn't have to, but you choose to do that," he said mildly.

"Yeah, I do, but I never thought I'd become a fucking doormat," I said.

"You're not. You only showed Ethan how to treat you based on what you believe about yourself," Charlie pointed up.

I let out a long breath. "So you're saying it's my fault?"

He chuckled. "You can still do good to people but next time set some boundaries. Be kind but smart, or don't. No one said you had to be nice to everybody."

At that point, I knew I couldn't argue with him anymore. Charlie was right. I had to think more for myself and set a certain boundary so people wouldn't easily walk over me.

"Can I get a hit?" I asked and a huge grin formed on his lips.

"Come here," he urged while gesturing with his finger for me to scoot closer. I was nervous but I did what he asked.

Charlie sat up straight to face me, his blue eyes deeply bored into mine. "Do you wanna do a shotgun?"

Caught off guard yet I was intrigued. "Yes."

He took a long drag, the end of the joint flaring bright orange. My eyes trailed up to his mouth, his lips looked soft and smooth under these red lights. It made me think of thoughts that I shouldn't be thinking.

Charlie leaned forward until his face was inches from mine. I opened up for him and he blew the smoke onto my tongue, our lips brushing gently. It felt like everything was moving in slow motion and I was stuck in a dream. I was dazed when he pulled away, and it was not from the shotgun.

"God, you're so cute up close," he said breathily and I felt flush. My desire to kiss him grew uncontrollably stronger.

"I'll go to the festival with you," was the only response I could muster.

A lively glimmer sparked in Charlie's eyes. "Are you serious?"

"I meant it when I said I want to know you."

"Ah, cool, it's a date then." Charlie chuckled shyly. "I can't think of a better way to spend my weekend."

Without being able to control it, I captured his lips with mine and despite being surprised by the gesture, it only took a moment for him to reciprocate. After putting out the joint, he quickly pulled me in and gave me a hard, bruising kiss.

Charlie was a starved man who wanted to consume me with his demanding kiss and I immediately submitted by opening my mouth for his exploring tongue. A rush of desire overwhelmed me when his hand went behind my neck to prevent me from retreating.

The moment we both came up for air Charlie had me laying flat on my back. I parted my thighs as he crawled between my legs to hover over me. Meeting his fiery gaze, I caressed his soft locks tenderly while his hands wormed their way between my back and the sofa so that I was pulled up more closely against him.

"What the actual fuck?" A familiar voice roared causing my heart to jump in my chest.

Charlie and I glanced over only to see Ethan standing by the door with a look of unhinged wrath on his face.