Chasing Love

Throughout the month following Charlie and Alex’s first sexual encounter, they see each other constantly. Charlie even skips school to be with him. One evening, Alex takes her on a date. They hike to the top of a cliff, where Alex professes his love. Charlie reciprocates the sentiment.

Lex and Charlie meet up for dinner. Lex is overcome by emotion but reminds himself they’ve “agreed to be friends” (401). He takes her out on his yacht. Over dinner, they talk about their sex lives. Charlie reveals she’s been with five people but won’t reveal their names. Lex admits he’s had sex with countless women, but those relationships are meaningless to him. The conversation shifts to their relationship.

Back at Charlie’s later, the two say goodnight. Lex gives her a kiss, suddenly convinced that Charlie is pregnant and that the baby is his.

Charlie wakes from a dream where she and Lex are married. She wonders if she and Lex could have a future together. On a run, she bumps into Kate. They chat more about their love lives. Kate shares details about her boss and his secret, intense affair, suggesting that love can change anyone.

That weekend, Charlie takes her motorcycle to Will’s game. Later, she meets up with Adriana to help plan her wedding. They discuss Charlie’s relationships; Adriana thinks she should break up with Julian to be with Lex. Charlie admits that she’s afraid of getting hurt again. Adriana is understanding but encourages Charlie to face her demons. Charlie silently wonders what Lex is up to as she hasn’t heard from him in several days.

Back in London, Kate notices that Lex is distracted. They chat about life in New York, their relationships, and their friends. Then Lex texts with Charlie. Lex is relieved when she admits she misses him.

The following week, Adriana informs Lex that she and Rocky have moved up their wedding date. The conversation makes Lex wonder if he’d get married again. He feels desperate to return to New York.

Lex spends the weekend working with the Bolton Group and Preston Enterprises. He needs these deals but remains reluctant to stay in London. Victoria pulls Lex aside, insisting they should be together. He turns her down and realizes he has to get back to Charlie immediately.

Julian shows up unannounced at Charlie’s office and demands to know what’s going on with Charlie. Before leaving, he warns her about Lex.

Charlie meets up with her friends before they head to the Hamptons for the weekend. She’s shocked when Lex shows up, too. Lex is impressed to learn that Charlie has a motorcycle. She lets him drive it and invites him to the Hamptons. Charlie privately realizes she’ll have to break up with Julian after the weekend.

On the way to the Hamptons, Lex and Charlie discuss their lives and work. Lex privately hopes this weekend will bring him and Charlie back together. At the Hamptons house that night, the friends all play strip poker. They drink heavily and have fun.

The next morning, Lex and Charlie run errands and then have sex in the kitchen. They spend the day swimming and hanging out on the beach. Afterwards, they sneak off to have sex again. They rejoin Adriana, Rocky, Nikki, Elijah, and Will for food. Seven-year-old Will asks about Charlie and Lex’s relationship, expressing his wish for Charlie and Lex to get married. Lex insists that Will is right. Charlie isn’t sure she can trust him but feels giddy when he puts a keychain on her finger and insists they pretend they’re engaged for the weekend.

That evening, Bryce calls Lex to offer more information he has found on Charlie. Charlie was admitted to a psychiatric ward shortly after her grandmother’s death. Lex realizes how heartbroken Charlie really was after their breakup.

Charlie goes to the amusement park with Lex and her friends. She and Lex fool around on the Ferris wheel. Charlie wonders if they could be together after all. Afterwards, they ride the motorcycle to a secluded road where they perform oral sex on each other. Afterwards, they reminisce about their past. Charlie opens up about her heartbreak years prior and her relationship with Julian. A frustrated Lex insists they return to the house instead of watching the sunset as planned.

Before Charlie’s prom, Alex confronts her about her date, Carter. He’s upset she’s going with someone else and worried she’ll have sex with him. Afterwards, Charlie and Adriana chat about their dates. They’ve both noticed how much Alex hates Carter.

Alex shows up at prom unannounced. Charlie is glad to see him but admits she’s afraid people will discover their affair. Then Carter surfaces, making a scene. Alex and Finn defend Charlie. Another scene breaks out when Charlie’s classmate Kaley insults Charlie for being with both Carter and Alex. The girls get into a brawl. After the fight breaks up, Alex and Charlie sneak off into an empty classroom and have sex. They profess their love and promise to be together forever.

In the morning, Charlie watches Lex outside playing with Will. She’s overcome by emotion and realizes how much she cares for Lex. She joins him on the beach and they play in the water. On the sand, Lex helps Charlie put on sunscreen while they talk about their relationship.

That evening, Charlie gets upset at dinner when Lex starts talking about his and Samantha’s relationship. She excuses herself and hops on her motorcycle. Lex chases after and hops on the back. Charlie says she can’t do this anymore, but Lex insists he loves her. They have a long conversation about their relationship. Finally, Lex proposes, and Charlie says yes. Leaving the motorcycle behind, Lex drives them to a nearby town and leads Charlie into a palatial home. Inside, the wedding preparations are arranged. A justice of the peace marries them on the spot. That night, they have sex, and Charlie can’t believe she and Lex are together.

In the morning, Charlie wakes up and scrolls through her phone. She’s shocked to see a headline announcing that Lex has in fact been in a secret relationship with Victoria Preston. The article includes photos of the two together. Charlie then sees a message on Lex’s phone from Victoria. A furious Charlie realizes she shouldn’t have trusted Lex. She tells Rocky she’s leaving. On the drive back to the city, she stews over everything that’s happened.

Charlie arrives at her building. She throws her phone at the wall and slides to the floor in tears. Then she sends a text asking for help. Shortly thereafter, the person she texted arrives. She begs him to help her, suddenly confused as to where she is and what’s happening. She realizes she isn’t in a fairy tale and that Lex is the big bad wolf. However, she blames herself, too. Her friend takes her out of the building and shepherds her elsewhere. She finds herself in a warm bed, regretting everything.