Bea's POV
The evening air was filled with the buzz of laughter and conversation as we all gathered at my place for dinner. Luca and Melanie, the unlikely pair, seemed to be hitting it off. I watched them from across the table, a small smile tugging at my lips. Who would have thought that matchmaking would be in my future?
Amidst the chatter, I felt Josh's hand on my thigh, his warm touch a comforting reminder of his presence. It was strange how things had turned out. I glanced at him, catching his eye, and he winked at me playfully. It seemed like even after all the twists and turns, we were finding our way back to each other.
But then, a cloud seemed to drift over the lively atmosphere. Luca turned to Melanie, curiosity dancing in his eyes. "So, how have your past relationships been?"
Melanie's response was unexpected, and it sent a ripple through the conversation. "I'm normally the girl on the side. I don't like to do commitment."
Luca's head tilted, an intrigued smile forming. "Then why do you want to be with me?"
Before Melanie could answer, Josh leaned forward, his expression shifting from lighthearted to serious. "Alright, everyone, let's pause for a moment."
The table fell silent, all eyes on Josh. Melanie looked perplexed, while Luca seemed a tad uncomfortable. I knew that this was about to take an interesting turn.
Josh cleared his throat, his gaze fixed on Melanie. "Melanie, I think it's only fair to tell you that being with Luca might not be the best idea."
Melanie frowned, her eyebrows knitting together. "And why's that?"
I knew Josh well enough to anticipate his next words. "Because he's right. You're not looking for commitment, and that's fine. But Luca here is a genuinely good guy. He's not looking for a casual fling. He's looking for something real."
Luca nodded, his expression serious. "I'm not interested in just having fun. I'm looking for something meaningful."
Melanie's lips curled into a half-smile. "Well, Josh, thanks for your concern, but I can handle myself."
Josh leaned in, his tone gentle yet firm. "Melanie, listen. You might think you're in control, but it's not just about you. Luca's heart is on the line here. And you, you have a history of playing with people's feelings."
Melanie's gaze hardened, and she shot back, "And what about you, Josh? You didn't have to get in bed with me every time you guys had a fight."
A collective gasp went around the table, and I felt my face heat up. Well, this had taken an unexpected turn. Josh's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing.
"I admit my mistakes," Josh said, his voice quieter now. "But I've also learned from them. I won't let Luca fall into the same trap I did."
Luca raised an eyebrow, glancing between Josh and Melanie. "Alright, this is getting a bit uncomfortable. Maybe I should just leave."
Before anyone could react, Melanie stood up. "No, wait. I think I need to leave. This isn't the kind of energy I signed up for."
As Melanie made her way to the door, Josh's gaze softened. "I'm not trying to be a jerk, Melanie. I just want you to realise that people's feelings are at stake here."
Melanie paused at the door, looking back at us. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I should take a step back and think about the impact of my actions. But maybe you should explain to your girlfriend why fucking me is easier than just talking to her?"
As the door closed behind Melanie, there was a moment of silence. Then, Luca turned to me with a smile. "Well, that was certainly unexpected."
I chuckled, relieved that the tension had lifted. "You never know what's going to happen when we're all together."
Josh leaned back in his chair, his gaze meeting mine. "Well, that's the beauty of it, isn't it?"
And just like that, the evening resumed its cheerful tone.
———————————————————-———————
Grace's POV
There I was, standing on Bea's doorstep, my mascara smeared, and tears streaming down my face. The day had taken an unexpected turn, and all I wanted was a friend to lean on. As the door swung open, I fell into Bea's arms, letting out a choked sob. She held me close and softly asked if I was okay.
I didn't trust my voice to respond, so I just shook my head and continued to cry. Bea's voice had a hint of urgency as she called out to Josh, her boyfriend. "Josh, can you get some fresh PJs and a tub of ice cream? And Luca, bring down a bunch of blankets, please."
Within moments, Josh appeared with a pair of soft pajamas, concern etched across his face. He handed them to me with a reassuring smile. Then, Luca followed, carrying an armful of blankets. Bea guided me to the couch and instructed me to make myself comfortable.
"Okay, Gracie, spill it," Bea said, sitting down next to me. "What happened?"
I let out a shaky breath and wiped my tears with the back of my hand. "Me and Theo, we're... pretty much done."
Bea's eyebrows shot up, her expression a mix of surprise and concern. "What? Why? What happened?"
I leaned back against the couch, looking up at the ceiling as if searching for the right words. "It's complicated. But mostly, it's me. I'm the problem."
Bea let out a sigh and shook her head gently. "Grace, you're not the problem. Relationships are complicated, and it takes two to make them work."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Well, it seems like it's always me that's messing things up. What's wrong with me, Bea?"
Bea's eyes softened, and she placed a comforting hand on my arm. "Grace, there's nothing wrong with you. You're an amazing person, and sometimes things just don't work out. It doesn't mean you're the problem."
As if on cue, my phone buzzed on the coffee table. I picked it up, blinking at the screen through my teary eyes. It was a message from Theo. I opened it and saw a picture of him in a cab with a girl beside him. The message read, "Meet my replacement for tonight."
I felt a fresh wave of tears threatening to spill over. "Look at this, Bea. He's already moved on."
Bea's lips pressed into a thin line as she glanced at the message. "Well, that's just rude."
I let out a bitter chuckle. "Yeah, I guess it is."
Josh walked over with a tub of ice cream and handed it to me. "Here you go, Grace. Mint chocolate chip, your favourite."
I managed a weak smile as I took the ice cream. "Thanks, Josh."
Bea shot him a look, her tone teasing. "Hey, don't think you're off the hook, mister. You still owe us some blankets and a comedy movie."
Josh raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Blankets and comedy movie coming right up."
As Josh and Luca scrambled to make me as comfortable as possible, Bea turned back to me. "You know, Grace, sometimes a little ice cream, a good movie, and the company of friends can work wonders."
I nodded, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Bea."
Bea pulled me into a one-armed hug. "Anytime, Grace. We've all been there. And trust me, you'll get through this."
As the room filled with the sound of laughter and the rustling of blankets, I knew I was surrounded by friends who cared.
——————————————————————————
Josh's POV
It was the dead of night, and the house was quiet except for the faint sound of breathing coming from the living room where Bea and Grace were sleeping. I, on the other hand, found myself tossing and turning in Bea's room, struggling to find a comfortable position. The silence was deafening, and the weight of my thoughts was keeping me wide awake.
Just as I was about to resign myself to another sleepless night, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I grabbed it, squinting at the bright screen. Theo's name flashed across it, and I couldn't help but let out an exasperated sigh. What could he possibly want at this ungodly hour?
I answered the call, rubbing my eyes in an attempt to sound somewhat awake. "Hello?"
Theo's voice came through, slightly slurred. "Hey, man."
I frowned, propping myself up on the pillows. "Theo, do you realise it's 3 in the morning?"
He chuckled, clearly not bothered by the time. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Sorry, didn't mean to wake you up or anything."
I ran a hand through my hair, growing impatient. "Alright, what's going on?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line, as if he was gathering his thoughts. "So, uh, Melanie showed up at my place earlier. And she brought a bottle of... you know."
I rolled my eyes, despite the fact that he couldn't see me. "Alcohol?"
"Yeah, yeah, that's the one."
I sighed, my irritation growing. "And? What's the point of this late-night update, Theo?"
He let out a nervous laugh. "Well, um, we ended up drinking. And then... well, we ended up having sex."
I felt a mix of frustration and indifference. "Okay."
Theo sounded surprised by my lack of reaction. "Okay? That's all you have to say?"
I shrugged, even though he couldn't see it. "What do you want me to say, Theo? You're a grown man. You can do whatever you want."
He let out a relieved laugh. "Man, I was worried you'd be mad or something."
I chuckled softly. "Nah, not my business, Theo."
He seemed almost relieved by my response. "Alright, cool, cool. Thanks, man."
I was ready to end the call and finally get some sleep, but Theo's voice came through again. "Hey, Josh, you mind if I ask you something?"
I sighed, preparing myself for another unexpected twist in this conversation. "Sure, shoot."
He hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Do you think it's a bad idea if I... you know, date Melanie?"
I raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised by his question. "Date her? Seriously?"
Theo chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, I mean, we've got some things in common, and she's not like anyone I've dated before."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Theo, she's been around more than the common cold. But hey, it's your life."
He joined in the laughter. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, man. I appreciate the input."
I shook my head, even though he couldn't see it. "Anytime, Theo. Just don't say I didn't warn you."
He chuckled. "Got it. I'll keep you posted."
As we hung up, I couldn't help but shake my head at the stupidity of the situation. Late-night confessions and relationship advice from a guy who couldn't even keep his own love life together. But at the end of the day, Theo's choices were his own, and I had enough on my plate with my own relationship to worry about his.
——————————————————————————
Bea's POV
-8am
The early morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. It was one of those rare moments when I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead.
Grace was still curled up on the sofa, fast asleep, and I decided not to disturb her. With a grin, I silently slipped out of the living room and headed upstairs.
As I entered my room, I found Josh already wide awake, lounging on the bed and scrolling through his phone. I couldn't resist the urge to mess with him a little, so I playfully crawled onto the bed and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Good morning," I greeted him with a mischievous smile.
He grinned back, showing me his phone. "Morning. Check this out."
Curiosity piqued, I leaned over to see what had captured his attention. It was Theo's Instagram story, and I immediately saw why Josh found it interesting.
"Oh my god," I exclaimed, stifling a laugh. "What do we do?"
Josh's expression turned into one of contemplation. "We can't let Grace see this. It's way too soon."
I nodded in agreement, my mind racing with possible solutions. "But she's going to find out sooner or later."
Josh's eyes widened as he had a sudden realisation. "Oh god, yeah. She'll definitely see it."
Just as we were discussing our predicament, Grace's voice rang out from downstairs. "Bea! Josh! You've got to see this!"
We exchanged knowing glances and made our way downstairs, finding Grace staring at Theo's Instagram story with a mix of disbelief and irritation on her face.
"He's pathetic," Grace declared, shaking her head.
I couldn't help but empathise with her frustration. "I know, Grace. It's not fair to you."
Josh chimed in, offering his perspective. "Honestly, my best friend does some pretty weird things sometimes."
Grace let out a sigh, clearly exasperated. "I can't catch a break, can I?"
I put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Grace, you deserve better than this drama."
She gave me a weak smile. "Thanks, Bea. I just wish Theo would grow up."
I exchanged a glance with Josh, silently conveying that we were on her side. Then, I turned to Grace. "You know, maybe Josh could talk some sense into him."
Grace's eyes brightened with a hint of hope. "Yeah, Josh. Do you think you could try?"
Josh shrugged, a determined look on his face. "I'll give it a shot. Can't promise miracles, but I'll do my best."
Grace sighed, gratitude evident in her expression. "Thanks, Josh. I appreciate it."
——————————————————————————
Josh's POV
Seeing Grace's disappointment was like a punch to the gut. I couldn't stand by and let her be treated so horribly by Theo. As I climbed the stairs, my mind was set on giving him a piece of my mind. I pulled out my phone and dialed his number, determined to have a serious conversation.
But then, the unexpected happened – Melanie picked up the phone. I was taken aback for a moment, unsure of what to say. But I gathered myself and got straight to the point.
"Put Theo on the phone," I told her, my tone firm.
Melanie's voice came through, laced with a hint of amusement. "Why? What's so urgent?"
I rolled my eyes, feeling impatient. "Just put him on the damn phone."
She chuckled, clearly enjoying the power play. "Someone's got their panties in a twist. Hold on a sec."
After a brief pause, Theo's voice finally came on the line. "Hello?"
I wasted no time. "Theo, we need to talk. Meet me at the park in fifteen minutes."
There was a hint of reluctance in his voice. "What's this about, Josh?"
I sighed, trying to keep my temper in check. "Just meet me there. It's important."
He hesitated for a moment before agreeing. "Alright, fine. Fifteen minutes."
As I hung up, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Melanie was behind his behavior. I shook my head in annoyance. The sooner I sorted things out with Theo, the better.
---
Fifteen minutes later, I found myself at the park, waiting for Theo. I leaned against a tree, taking a deep breath as I mentally prepared myself for the conversation. The sound of footsteps approached, and soon, Theo came into view.
"Hey," he greeted me, looking a bit guarded.
I nodded in acknowledgment. "We need to talk about Grace."
Theo's expression shifted, a mix of confusion and defensiveness. "What about her?"
I crossed my arms, my frustration simmering beneath the surface. "Dude, you can't just treat her like a disposable toy. She's hurting because of your actions."
He rolled his eyes, clearly not thrilled with my intervention. "Oh, and suddenly you're her knight in shining armor?"
I sighed, annoyed by his dismissive tone. "Look, I've had my issues with you, but this is about her. She deserves better."
Theo looked away, his defenses slowly crumbling. "I didn't mean to hurt her. Things just... happened."
I shook my head, not accepting his excuses. "That's not an excuse, Theo. You need to grow up and take responsibility for your actions."
As we talked, I pulled out a cigarette and lit it, trying to calm my nerves. Theo glanced at my cigarette, then down at his vape pen. He hesitated for a moment, then looked back at me.
"You know what, Josh? I don't have to care about Grace's opinions anymore," he said, a hint of defiance in his voice. "I'm tired of trying to please everyone."
I took a drag from my cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "It's not about pleasing everyone, Theo. It's about treating people with respect."
He shot me a defiant look and then reached into his pocket, pulling out a cigarette of his own. "Well, then maybe it's time I start doing things my way."
I watched as he lit the cigarette, a mixture of surprise and resignation washing over me. As much as I wanted to lecture him further, I knew that change had to come from within him. Maybe, just maybe, this was a small step towards his growth.
---
After our conversation, I walked back home, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment. Maybe my efforts had actually made a difference. As I entered the house, Bea gave me a questioning look.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
I nodded, a small smile playing on my lips. "Yeah, I think so."
Bea raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "What happened?"
I recounted the conversation with Theo, leaving out the more disrespectful parts. Bea listened intently, her expression a mix of surprise and satisfaction.
"Wow, Josh. I'm impressed," she said, a proud glint in her eyes.
I chuckled, feeling a sense of relief. "Well, someone had to knock some sense into him."
Bea grinned, wrapping her arms around me. "You're a good guy, you know that?"
I shrugged, feeling a bit bashful. "I'm just trying to do the right thing."
She leaned in and kissed me, her lips warm and reassuring. "Well, keep it up. It suits you."
As I held her in my arms, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. Maybe, just maybe, I was becoming a better version of myself – all thanks to Bea's influence and a little bit of unexpected teamwork with an unlikely ally named Melanie.
——————————————————————————
Grace's POV
I stood in front of the mirror, meticulously applying my makeup. The goal was to strike the perfect balance between effortlessly attractive and completely put-together. It was a fine line, and I was determined to walk it flawlessly. After all, I was meeting with Theo, and I wanted to show him that I was just fine without him.
As I stepped outside to meet him, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of nerves. He was leaning against his car, looking... different. Gone was the hunger in his eyes that used to make my heart race. Instead, there was a cigarette dangling between his fingers.
I walked over to him, my smile carefully crafted to look casual. "Hey."
Theo looked me up and down, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of his old desire. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "Hey," he replied nonchalantly.
I gestured to the cigarette. "You know I hate it when you smoke those."
He took a drag and blew out a cloud of smoke, his indifference infuriating me. "I don't really care anymore."
I rolled my eyes, unable to believe his audacity. "So, what did you call me out here for?"
He sighed, flicking the cigarette butt onto the ground. "Grace, we were good together, right?"
I felt a surge of hope, thinking that maybe he was realising his mistake. "Yeah, we were."
He nodded, looking almost regretful. "Yeah, and I want us to be respectful of each other. So, I wanted to let you know that I'm going to be in a relationship with Melanie."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. For a moment, I couldn't process what he was saying. "Wait, what?"
Theo scratched his head, avoiding my gaze. "Yeah, we kind of hit it off, and I think we're good together."
My shock quickly turned to anger, and without even thinking, I slapped him across the face. His head snapped to the side, his expression one of disbelief.
"What the hell, Grace?!" he exclaimed, holding his cheek.
I stared at him, my anger boiling over. "That's for being a complete jerk, Theo!"
He rubbed his cheek, incredulous. "I can't believe you just slapped me!"
I folded my arms, not backing down. "Oh, believe it. I'm not just some toy you can toss away when you're done with it."
He glared at me, his pride clearly wounded. "You didn't have to do that."
I shot him a sarcastic smile. "Oh, and what? You think I should just smile and congratulate you on your new relationship?"
He huffed, clearly frustrated with me. "You're impossible, Grace."
I shook my head, my anger fading into something closer to resignation. "You know what, Theo? Maybe it's time we both moved on."
He looked at me, a mixture of annoyance and something else in his eyes. "Fine. Maybe it is."
As I turned to walk away, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction. Maybe slapping him wasn't the most mature reaction, but it sure felt good. And maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of me putting myself first for a change.
It felt good.