Settle Down

"Are you sure you have everything?" Charley's mom asked.
"Positive, mom."
"Okay. Have a good flight Char." she said, hugging her again. She had just checked all 3 of her enormous bags and was getting in line for security. She got a text from her newest contact, Patrick Kane.
P>Let me know when you board.
C>K.

About an hour later when her flight was boarding, she sent him another text to tell him. She found her seat and put in her earphones, trying to block out the sudden shift in her life.

The flight wasn't too long to her dismay, but she got over it.
C>Headed to baggage claim
P>Pulling into parking deck.

Patrick arrived just as she was pulling her last bag up to the other two.
"Hi Charley." he said with a nod.
"Hey Patrick." she said stiffly. Patrick grabbed two of her suitcases, and they went to his car. The car, "or tank," she thought to herself. It didn't surprise her that he drove a gas-guzzling behemoth that basically took up two driving lanes and five parking spots.
"A big asshole car for an even bigger asshole," she thought to herself as they approached the it. He opened the trunk and basically threw bags into the trunk and also didn't help her with the one she was pulling. As soon as he tossed hers in the car, he turned and got in. She rolled her eyes, put her last bag in and went to the passenger’s side. As soon as she closed the door, Patrick pulled out of the parking deck and sped away.

Not a word was spoken between the two on their way to the condo. The tension could be cut with a knife. When they arrived, Charley had the door open before the car came to a complete stop. All she wanted to do was get her stuff up her new room and lock herself in it and try to block out the thought that she was now living with one of the few people she couldn't ever stand to be around.

"45th floor, 4505." he said when they got on the elevator. She just nodded. The elevator ride was even more awkward than the car ride. The way they had gotten in the elevator with bags made it to where they were standing right next to each other, way too close for comfort. She noticed though that he had really nice cologne and it made her even more upset.
Right when she was just about to scream from the intoxicating smell, the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Charley silently thanked the heavens and rushed out of the elevator. Patrick led them down the hall and to her new home.
She walked in and was amazed at what she saw. The place was huge, and it had floor to ceiling windows. She thought to herself she could get over living with Patrick Kane, the condo was incredible. Charley noticed something else about the condo; there were three extremely attractive men sitting on Patrick's couch playing video games.
"Do you people not have your own houses?" Patrick asked.
"You have the best games," one of them responded. He had big brown eyes and Charley was pretty sure he was the one with the weird last name. She'd sit and watch games with Jessica, but never did by free will. She recognized another one as Patrick Sharp, but the other she was quite convinced she'd never seen.
"So is this your new friend?" Patrick Sharp asked, setting his controller down and approaching them.
"Roommate." Patrick and Charley said at the same time. They were by no means friends. They both turned to each other and gave death stares.
" Well this ought to be fun." Sharp said, stretching his hand out to Charley with a smile.
"Patrick Sharp." he said
"Charley Ackerman." she answered, taking his hand. The other two from the couch then came over.
"Jonathan Toews." the tall, brown-eyed one said. She repeated herself and shook his hand too.
"Brandon Saad." said the third that she hadn't recognized. They exchanged a few words, then Patrick led Charley away and to her new room. He opened the door and rolled her bags in, setting them by the bed. He picked up a few things off of the nightstand.
"Here's your key and a list of numbers you may need. Try not to screw anything up." he said harshly and turning away to walk out.
"You and I both know neither of us want to be in this situation, so maybe if we're not complete assholes to each other it may work out." she said.
"I think it’s pretty impossible for you to not be an asshole." he spat at her.
"Typical. I try to make this a little easier for the both of us, and that just can't work for you. Go fuck yourself, Patrick." she said, turning away and opening one of her bags to unpack. He simply walked out, but slammed the door shut behind him.

"She has a point." Sharpie said when Patrick walked back out to them.
"Fuck you." he responded, grabbing a beer and sitting with them.
"I think she's pretty hot." Saader said with a grin. That got a laugh from everyone but Kaner. He definitely noticed how much she'd changed, looks wise, and was pretty upset about it. He was mad at himself for thinking the same thing Brandon was.

Jonathan and Brandon had to leave a little later, but Patrick Sharp opted to stay and get a little Pat-on-Pat time.
"You know, it might not be a bad idea to try getting along with her." Sharp said. Patrick didn't respond.
"You can't live together acting how you guys did earlier. It's just going to make the entire situation worse. I'm not saying you're the only one at fault, but like I said before, she has a point." he said
"Well how am I supposed to? Literally every time we talk we fight. We're polar opposites." Patrick said.
"Take it slow. Don't let it elevate. If either of you start getting irritated, just stop the conversation. Don't instigate." Sharp advised.
"Why do you always have to have good advice and shit?" Patrick said.
"It's just logical." Sharp said with a laugh. Patrick shook his head and smiled, taking a sip of his beer. Sharp stayed a little longer before returning home to his wife a daughters.

Meanwhile, Charley had locked the door to her room, then her bathroom and was sitting in the shower, her knees pulled up to her face as the water fell down on her. She cried some, but she mostly was just thinking. She thought about how much money she'd need to move out, and what kind of job she could get that would pay enough and she could juggle with school. Charley thought about how she could ignore and avoid him as much as possible before she was able to move out. Or she could hopefully find someone she could live with when she started school. There was no way her and Patrick living together would work.

When her fingers had become completely water-logged, she got out of the shower found the towels under the sink. Charley pulled a pair of leggings and a sweatshirt out of her suitcase and changed, then curled up in her new bed. She was surprised he had even bothered to put bedding on it.

Around 5:30, there was a knock at her bedroom door. Charley had dozed off, and she sat up with a jolt.
"Charley?" Patrick said. She got out of her bed ran her hand through her still-damp hair.
"Just a second," she said. Her makeup had smeared some and she slightly looked like someone had punched her in the face.
"Lovely", she thought to herself. Quickly, she tried making herself look a little more presentable. The last thing she wanted was for Patrick to comment on the way she looks.
"Need something?" she asked when she opened the door.
"Uh, yeah, actually. Could we talk about a few things?" he asked, noticing how her hair fell and waved naturally.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, in here or-" she answered. They were both a little uncomfortable.
"I guess, yeah if you're okay with that." he said
"Yeah, no its fine." she said. They both were somewhat stumbling over their words. There was a couch in one of the corners in her room and they sat on opposite ends of it. Both were silent for a few seconds.
"So, um, okay. You were right earlier about trying to not be assholes to each other," he started,
"and since we don't really have an option right now, we're going to have to make this work." he finished, running a hand through his curls. Charley almost made a sarcastic comment, but held it back. She knew he was right and saying something snarky wouldn't help anything.
"Sounds fair," was all she said. He nodded.
"Um, are you hungry?" he asked after an awkward silence.
"Uh yeah, a little." she answered. They had yet to look each other in the eye since they'd sat down.
"Okay, I can order a pizza or something." he said, standing up and wiping his hands on his pants.
"Sure, yeah." they met eyes for barely a second, but each looked away immediately.
"Okay. Cool. Just uh, yell if you need something." he said before turning and quickly walking out of the room. Both were convinced that nothing in their entire lives had been more awkward.

After that first night's discussion, things were going pretty smoothly between the two. They spoke minimally, and when they did, it was also minimal and simple conversation. Classes started for Charley, and she was starting to get to know her group she did labs with. She also had reconnected with a girl she was friends with in high school and moved to Chicago for college.

One night, Charley and her high school friend, Lane, decided to go out and see how the club scene was in Chicago. Charley and Lane, both being 22, were still getting used to clubbing. They also had no idea which ones certain people went to and how expensive each one was to get in. They bounced around until they finally found one that had good music and wasn't completely disgusting. Little did they know though that the Chicago Blackhawks frequented that particular one after games. Both Charley and Lane were having a good time dancing together and with a few guys who had bought them a few drinks when all of a sudden, the crowd started cheering for a large group of guys who had walked into the club. They and the guys they were dancing with couldn't see over the crowd who it was, so they blew it off and continued.

The group of guys who had walked in was indeed, the Chicago Blackhawks. It wasn't the entire team, just most of the single guys who didn't have families at home. They boys got some drinks, some resorted to the booths lining the walls, and others went to dance. Patrick and Jonathan Toews were ones who found booths. They ventured towards the back of the club, trying to go somewhere where people would bother them less. After a while of sitting and talking, Jonathan saw someone he recognized.
"Hey, Kaner, isn't that Charley?" he asked, gesturing to the girl in a tight, short, black dress and had the hands of a frat boy groping her sides and her ass grinding on his crotch.
"Damn, yeah." Patrick said. He was surprised to see her out; he didn't know she had that close of friends in town to go out with. Patrick watched them dance for quite some time, becoming more irritated as he watched. He didn't like the way the guy was touching her. He knew he shouldn't care, but for some reason, he felt protective and possessive of her. He knew he had no place to be, but the new living situation and being around this past week was making him care. They'd both grown up, and there were qualities he was starting to notice and like about her. It also didn't help that he now found her extremely attractive and almost was jealous of the guy dancing with her.


He continued watching her dance with the guy for a while. But, Patrick got pushed over the limit when the guy slid his hand up the front of her dress. Patrick didn't know if it was the beer in him or the anger, maybe some of both, but he immediately shot up from the table and went over to them, pulling her away.
"Patrick, what the hell are you doing?" she shouted, trying to get out of his grasp.
"C'mon, we're leaving." he said, not letting go of her and pulling her away and out of the club.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" she said when they got outside and he finally let her go. He opened the door to one of the cabs lined up in front if the entrance to let her in. She hesitated for a second though, contemplating is she should really leave. To leave would mean fighting with Patrick, but going back in there would mean even more embarrassment. Charley was defeated, and slid into the cab. Patrick got in too and told the driver their address. Both were silent the entire way back, not wanting to argue with the driver listening.

Charley slammed the door behind her and threw her clutch down on the table by the door after they walked in.
"What is your problem?" she yelled at him.
"What's my problem? You were letting that guy basically fuck you out there!" he yelled back.
"It's none of your business what I do. It's not your job to be in charge of me." she answered. Patrick just rolled his eyes and walked away from her.
"You've never wanted anything to do with me before, so what's your deal?" she said, following him. They were in the hallway where their bedrooms are. Patrick wasn't sure how to answer. He didn't know. Charley had only been there for about two weeks, but knew something was different about her. Patrick finally realized how attractive she was, but that wasn't all. He loved hearing her laugh on the phone when she was talking to her friends, she was extremely smart and he loved that she was making a career for herself. She was also an amazing cook; every night that she'd made food, she'd make enough for a few people and Patrick definitely took advantage of that. He knew she had a good personality too, growing up around her and hearing her and Jackie talking. Patrick and Charley had talked some too, and he'd admired everything she had to say. Why he'd been so mean to her growing up was unknown to him now.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" he thought to himself. He'd never thought of a girl this way, and now he was thinking about Charley, his sister's best friend who he'd loathed for years.
"I- I don't know." he said, unable to bring his eyes to hers. She stood there for a second, but then stormed down the hall and went to her room, slamming the door behind her. Patrick turned and went into his room, laying down on his bed and rubbing his eyes. He knew this was a bad situation, and as they continued to live together, his feelings would only grow. He was screwed.

Charley had gone to her room and changed out of her tight and uncomfortable clothes. There were a few tears streaming down her face because she was so frustrated, upset, and slightly drunk. Charley couldn't believe what he'd done. He'd embarrassed her and made it look like someone was taking care of her like a child. What made her even madder though was that she was starting to think differently about him. When they'd talk over dinner or something, he wasn't as pretentious and rude as she'd always thought, he'd make her laugh every now and then, and he had a lot of good things to say. He made sure she had everything she needed too.
“What the hell is wrong with me?" she thought to herself. Charley had thought about qualities of guys before, but only if she was interested in dating him, but this was Patrick, her best friend's brother who she'd loathed for years. She knew the situation would only get worse. For however long she stayed living with him, her feelings would only grow. She was screwed.

Notes

Holla, first chapter. Let me know what you guys think, hope you like it!!