The Bad Boy Next Room (Charlie and Taylor) novel Chapter 26

"Friends?" Tristan repeated. "Actually, I was kinda hoping you'd date me. My therapist and I set a goal for this year, and getting a girlfriend is part of it."

Charlie, "..."

"Pfft! Haha!" Taylor laughed his heart out. He pointed to Tristan and said, "No, that's not happening. She is my girlfriend."

Charlie, "???"

"What?" Tristan reacted. He shook his head and took out his phone and stylus pen, seemingly crossing something out on his notes. "Bummer, you were on the top of my list."

Charlie, "..."

"Okay, let's eat first. And don't hurry up on dating," Taylor said. "I'll talk to your therapist about delaying that part of your goal."

They chatted while having breakfast. Taylor mainly asked his brother about their home. Charlie learned that, apparently, Tristan used to live with Taylor in the condo, but after the last fight incident, their parents decided to take Tristan back home. Their father took Tristan to school daily.

Taylor drove Tristan home around ten in the afternoon. He returned in the evening, and Charlie had the chance to ask him about Tristan.

They sat on the living room sofa when Taylor shared, "Tristan is a level one in the spectrum, meaning he requires less support, but he is smart. He memorizes dates, locations, and anything about technology, like when the Samsung S24 was released and its specs. My brother is amazing. I think he is one of the greatest geniuses out there. However, his emotional maturity is still that of a fifteen-year-old."

When Taylor turned to Charlie, he was shocked. He asked, "Why are you crying again? I wasn't telling you any drama!"

Charlie laughed. She sniffed her tears away and said, "I just think you are an awesome brother."

They covered some of Tristan's past treatments next, including how Taylor met Carl's family. He narrated, "Carl and Tristan have the same therapist. That's how I met Carl's family. His parents asked for help with basketball because it was Carl's fixation. No one would understand such fixation more than I do, having Tristan as my brother."

"Do you and Tristan spend time together at school?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, we do. You just don't hang around the College of Engineering often. Tristan also has his friends, and I try to leave him alone so he can be more independent," Taylor revealed.

"So, you knew that Tristan knows me?" Charlie asked.

"Honestly, he has mentioned you. I'm pretty sure, he had asked me to look at you in the previous games. He called you Luke's girlfriend, but I had forgotten about it. It only came back to me during the general assembly," Taylor revealed. "When I found out you were Luke's girlfriend."