Chapter 3: The Conditions for Letting Her Stay

The silence in the room was almost deafening, broken only by the sound of her hesitant breath as her trembling hand brushed against his chest. Blaine stood frozen, the warmth of her touch sparking a cascade of conflicting emotions he wasn't prepared to handle. 

"Blaine…" Chloe Grace murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Her cheeks glowed a deep crimson against her fair skin, making her seem more vulnerable than ever. 

His mind raced as he stared at her, caught between exasperation and disbelief. This woman—bold, unpredictable, and unapologetically direct—had somehow turned his life upside down in less than a day. 

"What are you even trying to do?" he asked, his voice sharp as he pulled away and stood, reclaiming some semblance of control. 

Chloe blinked at him, her expression shifting from playful to earnest. "I don't know," she admitted, her wide eyes holding an honesty that left him momentarily speechless. 

"Unbelievable," Blaine muttered, raking a hand through his hair. He didn't wait for her to say more, instead storming out of the room and slamming the bathroom door behind him. 

Inside, he splashed cold water on his face, willing the tension to dissolve. His reflection in the mirror stared back at him, accusing and unrelenting. *What the hell are you doing, Blaine Jackson? You're supposed to protect her, not… whatever this is.* 

Meanwhile, Chloe lay sprawled across the bed, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. She stared at the ceiling, the weight of her misstep sinking in. Her grand plan to gain Blaine's trust—or at least his attention—had somehow turned into an awkward disaster. 

---

An hour later, the two of them sat on opposite ends of the sofa, the space between them thick with unspoken words. 

"Why did you come looking for me?" Blaine finally asked, his tone heavy with irritation, though his expression betrayed a flicker of curiosity. 

Chloe hesitated, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her sweater. "Because I had nowhere else to go," she said softly, lifting her gaze to meet his. Her eyes, wide and pleading, held a vulnerability that caught him off guard. 

Blaine narrowed his eyes, not entirely convinced. "Nowhere else? From what I hear, you've built quite a comfortable life for yourself in Japan. Surrounded by admirers, no less." The words came out sharper than he intended, though he wasn't sure why the thought of her being surrounded by other men irritated him so much. 

Chloe's lips pressed into a pout, her cheeks puffing slightly in protest. "What admirers? I've never even had a boyfriend! And those guys I lived with—they're just friends. Besides, they all have girlfriends!" 

Blaine raised a skeptical brow but said nothing, though the faintest hint of relief flickered in his chest. 

"I thought…" Chloe's voice wavered slightly. "I thought you'd help me. Sophie said you'd be here for a while, and I…" She trailed off, her words swallowed by the tension in the room. 

Blaine sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So, you just decided to move out of your place and show up at my doorstep unannounced?" 

"Well, yeah." 

He stared at her, incredulous. "And what was your plan? To just stay here indefinitely?" 

Chloe looked away, her fingers twisting nervously. "I don't know. I just… I didn't think you'd hate me so much." 

"I don't hate you," Blaine muttered, though the words sounded more like a begrudging admission than reassurance. 

Chloe's shoulders slumped, and she stood, her voice trembling. "I'll leave. I'm sorry for bothering you. Clearly, this was a mistake." She turned toward the door, her hand hovering over the doorknob as she brushed at her eyes. 

Blaine sighed, his frustration melting into guilt. "Chloe, where are you going? You've already moved out of your apartment. Do you even have a place to stay?" 

She turned to face him, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Why does it matter? You don't want me here anyway." 

"Just sit down," Blaine said, exasperated. "You can stay. But there are conditions." 

Chloe perked up instantly, her expression brightening. "Really?" 

"Temporarily," he clarified. 

"Temporarily?" she echoed, her voice dropping in disappointment. 

"Would you prefer I find you a new apartment right now?" Blaine asked, picking up his phone. 

"No! Temporary is fine!" she said hurriedly, snatching the phone from his hand. 

"Good. First condition: You have to call me 'Big Brother Blaine.'" 

Chloe's jaw dropped. "Big Brother? Are you serious?" 

"Dead serious," Blaine replied, leaning back on the sofa with a smirk. 

"Fine. But don't blame me if I slip up and call you Uncle Blaine instead," she shot back, rolling her eyes. 

"Second condition," Blaine continued, ignoring her jab, "no more kissing me, climbing into my bed, or doing anything else… inappropriate." 

Chloe tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But you didn't seem to mind earlier. Are you sure you don't want me to—" 

"Chloe Grace!" Blaine cut her off, his face turning red. "Do you agree or not?" 

"Fine, fine. I agree," she said with a sigh, though her playful smile suggested she wasn't entirely defeated. 

Blaine leaned back, trying to ignore the nagging suspicion that he'd just made a deal with a particularly cunning fox.