Bea's POV
The room was filled with an awkward silence as I struggled to maintain my composure. I had just lied to my friends about why I was in tears the previous night, and the guilt weighed heavily on me.
Grace, with genuine concern in her eyes, asked, "Bea, are you okay?" I looked up at Josh, whose support meant the world to me at that moment, and he reassured them, "She's amazing, why are you asking?"
Melanie persisted, "You were crying when you came in last night." I hesitated, unsure of how to respond, and Josh smoothly deflected, "It's because Josh and I got into a fight."
Theo, seemingly unaware of the tension in the room, chimed in with a sly grin, "Makes sense why we heard the make-up sex last night."
I forced a smile, trying to play along with the story, but inside, I felt a growing sense of unease. The weight of my lie was beginning to crush me, and I knew that sooner or later, the truth would have to come out.
Later, Melanie asked me to go upstairs with her to talk. Melanie's expression softened, and she looked at me with a mixture of sympathy and understanding. "Bea, whatever it is, you can talk to me. We're friends, and I'm here for you."
Tears welled up in my eyes again, and this time, I didn't fight them back. Melanie and I sat down in the living room, and I began to share the painful truth with her, about the lie, the rape, and the guilt that had been eating away at me.
I couldn't hold back the tears any longer, and they streamed down my face. Melanie's words had struck right at the heart of my secret pain. I nodded, unable to speak, my voice choked with emotion.
Melanie wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a comforting embrace. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice filled with genuine empathy.
Through my sobs, I managed to say, "I didn't want anyone to know."
Melanie squeezed me tighter and replied softly, "You don't have to keep it a secret, Bea. We're here for you, and we'll support you in any way you need."
In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude. Melanie had seen through my lie and was offering me the support and understanding that I so desperately needed. It was a small step, but it felt like the beginning of a healing journey that I wouldn't have to walk alone.
Now all of us girls are sitting in the living room. The room fell silent as Grace's words hung in the air like a heavy cloud. All eyes turned to her, disbelief and concern etched on our faces. Melanie, who had been privy to my secret, now had to confront her own unexpected revelation.
"You think you may have cheated?" Melanie asked, her voice a mixture of disbelief and curiosity.
Grace nodded, her expression pained. "Yeah, I had too much to drink, and things got blurry. I can't remember everything clearly, but I woke up with someone else in bed beside me. I had to leave his house at 4am, so I could pretend I slept here."
Steph gasped, and my eyes widened. I felt a surge of empathy for Grace, knowing the guilt and confusion she must be experiencing. It was a situation none of us had anticipated.
Melanie put a comforting hand on Grace's shoulder. "Grace, it's okay. We all make mistakes. The important thing is to be honest about it."
Grace sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I know, but I have to tell Theo. I can't keep this from him."
The room was filled with a heavy silence, the weight of the situation sinking in.
———————————————————————————
Melanie's POV
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Grace, who had always seemed so committed to Theo, had been unfaithful. It was a shock, to say the least.
As Grace turned to me with those anxious eyes, seeking guidance, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of empathy and a strange sense of validation. After all, I had my own complicated history with Theo, and knowing that Grace had crossed a line made my own actions feel less- well naughty.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on that. Grace needed support, not judgment. I offered her a reassuring smile and said, "Grace, you should talk to Theo. Honesty is always the best approach. It won't be easy, but you owe it to him to come clean about what happened. Just be prepared for whatever his reaction might be."
Grace's teary eyes met mine, and she nodded in agreement. "You're right, Melanie. I can't keep this from him. I need to face the consequences of my actions."
"But Mel, I need you to talk to Theo for me."
I relayed Grace's plea to Theo, my heart pounding as I approached him. His reaction caught me off guard. Instead of anger or disappointment, he just laughed. It was a relief, to say the least.
"Grace told me everything," I said tentatively. "She's genuinely sorry, Theo."
He grinned at me, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Well, now we're even," he said, his voice surprisingly light. "I can't exactly be mad at her for something when I've got my own skeletons in the closet."
I let out a sigh of relief. Theo's reaction was far more forgiving than I had anticipated. "I'm glad you're taking it well," I said, a small smile playing on my lips. "Grace is really torn up about this, so be gentle with her, okay?"
Theo nodded, his expression softening. "Of course, babe. I don't want to see her hurting. We'll work through this together."
He leaned in and kissed me, a tender gesture that reassured me everything would be alright, at least for now. But I couldn't help but wonder how this newfound revelation would continue to reshape our intricate relationships in the days and weeks to come.
Theo's reaction took me aback as he lashed out at Grace. I had hoped for a more understanding and forgiving response, especially considering our own history. He totally ignored everything I said.
"Babe, I'm really sorry," she pleaded, looking genuinely remorseful.
But Theo was unyielding. "Sorry isn't gonna fucking cut it this time," he snapped. "You've crossed a line, Grace."
I couldn't stay silent any longer. "Theo, this is between you two, but there's no need to be so harsh," I interjected, my concern for Grace outweighing my desire to avoid conflict. "She knows she messed up."
Theo looked at me, a flicker of frustration in his eyes. "Mel, you don't understand the whole story. It's more complicated than you think."
I sighed, feeling caught in the middle of their turmoil. This wasn't the outcome I had expected, and I feared that the consequences of Grace's mistake might be more significant than any of us could have imagined.
Grace runs upstairs and the girls follow her. Then Theo says, "I just did it to take the piss."
Theo's casual response hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt a mixture of anger, confusion, and sadness all at once.
I pushed him away gently and said, "Theo, this is not a joke. This situation is messy, and it's affecting everyone around us, including Grace."
He shrugged, seemingly unfazed. "Mel, you know I care about you, but this whole thing is complicated."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Complicated? Theo, it's not just about us. We're playing with people's emotions here."
He sighed, finally showing a hint of remorse. "I know, and I'll talk to Grace about it, okay?"
I nodded, though I couldn't shake the feeling that things were spiraling out of control, and I was increasingly unsure of where I stood in this complicated web of emotions.
"You're the prettiest girl ever, I love looking at you, you're beautiful, Mel."
Theo's sudden shift in tone caught me off guard. His eyes, once filled with indifference, were now gazing at me with intensity. I didn't know how to respond, so I simply said, "Theo, you're with Grace. You shouldn't be saying these things to me."
He stepped closer, his hand gently brushing my cheek. "I know, I know," he whispered, "but Mel, I can't help how I feel when I'm with you."
His touch sent shivers down my spine, and I struggled to find the right words. "Theo, this is so messed up. We need to figure this out."
He nodded, his eyes still locked onto mine. "I know, and we will. But right now, I just want to be with you."
As much as I wanted to resist, I couldn't deny the attraction between us. It was a dangerous game we were playing, and I feared that sooner or later, it would all come crashing down.
I couldn't help but blush at Theo's compliment. Despite all the chaos and complications in our lives, there was still a strong attraction between us.
I smiled softly and said, "You can be incredibly charming when you want to be."
Theo grinned, and for a moment, it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off our shoulders. But deep down, I knew that this situation couldn't go on forever without causing more pain and confusion.
I blushed, despite the confusion and turmoil surrounding us. "Theo, we need to figure this out. I can't keep doing this if it's tearing everyone apart."
He nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I know, Mel. Let's try to sort things out. But for now, I can't deny how I feel when I'm with you."
We both knew we were treading on thin ice, but it was impossible to deny the attraction that had brought us together in the first place. In the midst of the chaos, we shared a passionate kiss, our emotions and desires momentarily overpowering the complexity of our circumstances.
As much as I was entangled in this web of emotions, I couldn't resist the pull of attraction and desire. I leaned in and kissed Theo passionately, momentarily forgetting the tangled mess we had created. In that stolen moment, I felt a mixture of love, guilt, and longing, and it was impossible to deny the chemistry we shared. But deep down, I knew that this situation couldn't continue without causing more harm to everyone involved.
"I need to go deal with Grace,"
Theo's words lingered in the air as he pulled away from our embrace. He left me standing there, feeling hollow and confused. It suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks – we didn't have a real relationship. We were tangled in a web of secrets and lies, and I was just the guilty pleasure on the side.
I watched him as he went to find Grace, wondering how I had let things get so tangled and messy. It was time to sort things out and face the consequences of my actions, no matter how hard they might be.
———————————————————————————
Bea's POV
"Grace, can I come in?"
Grace's tear-streaked face lit up with a mix of hope and apprehension as Theo's voice echoed from behind the door. She quickly wiped away her tears, and Steph and I exchanged uncertain glances. Grace managed to choke out a weak "Come in," her voice trembling.
Theo entered, his expression a complex blend of anger, hurt, and confusion. He walked slowly towards Grace, his gaze never leaving her. "Grace," he began, his voice softening, "I overreacted, and I'm sorry."
Grace's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, it seemed as if her heart might leap out of her chest. Steph and I exchanged another look, this time filled with hope.
Theo continued, his voice genuine, "I love you, Grace. We both made mistakes, and I don't want this to tear us apart."
Grace nodded slowly, still in disbelief. "Theo, I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I never meant for any of this to happen."
Theo reached out and gently wiped away a tear from her cheek. "I know, Grace. We'll figure this out together, okay?"
As they embraced, I couldn't help but feel relieved that their love had weathered this storm.
While Grace and Theo were reconciling, I realised that I needed some time with Josh too. His comforting presence always made everything better. As I waited for him to pick me up, I quickly changed into more comfortable clothes, eager to be with him.
Within moments, Josh arrived, his car parked outside the apartment. I rushed out to meet him, a small smile already forming on my face as I saw him waiting for me. Without a word, I hopped into the car, and he drove off.
As we hit the open road, the wind rustling through the open windows, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over me. Josh glanced at me and smiled, his hand gently reaching for mine. "Feeling better?" he asked.
I squeezed his hand and leaned over to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Much better now," I replied, knowing that with Josh by my side, any worries seemed to fade away.
"Bea, promise you'll always tell me if something's wrong. I want us to last forever"
I smiled at Josh, his words warming my heart. "I promise," I said, placing my hand gently on his. "We'll always communicate, no matter what."
He grinned back at me, his eyes filled with sincerity and love. We had been through our fair share of ups and downs, but it was moments like this that reminded me why I loved him so much.
As we drove away from the apartment, I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope for all of us, knowing that love had the power to heal even the deepest of wounds.
"Josh, I really worry about us sometimes,"
"Stop overthinking, it's gonna kill you, we're ok and I love you."
Josh's words were like a soothing balm for my anxious heart. I leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek. "I love you too," I whispered, my worries slowly fading away as I focused on the love we shared.
We continued our drive, the world outside passing by in a blur. I knew that life would bring its challenges, but as long as we faced them together, I believed we could overcome anything.
He stopped the car and kissed me for a long time. It was dark outside and I had never felt so lonely and lost. I leaned into the kiss and felt a warm rush in my stomach and then tears were falling down my cheeks. When I felt his hand on my knee, I grabbed it and held it tight, feeling the soft warmth of his fingers and remembering how they had felt against the smoothness of my face and neck. I could have kissed him for days. He looked into my eyes and brushed the hair away from my forehead and kissed me there, his lips barely brushing my skin.
"You have no idea what you do to me," he whispered.
"I can't wait to find out," I whispered back, smiling through the tears.
He smiled. "You will," he said. "Very soon."
"Promise?" I asked.
"Yes."
I touched his cheek and stared into his dark blue eyes and felt like I had never wanted anything as much as I wanted this.
"Why are you crying, Bea" he said, his voice full of concern.
"It's nothing," I said, looking away and wiping at my eyes. "I'm just being stupid."
"Don't cry," he said. "Please don't cry."
I nodded and looked out the window. I wasn't sure why I was crying. I felt so sad. The rape from last night changed me somehow. I knew that, and I think that's what was happening. I was feeling the pain, and I was letting it out.
"Should we go back to our apartment?" I said, after a while.
He shook his head. "Not yet. I'm not done with you."
"But we are in a car," I said, surprised.
"Exactly."
We drove for a few more minutes, until we were out of the city, and then he pulled off onto a deserted side road and stopped the car. It was dark and I could barely see the trees, but there was a half moon that reflected enough light onto the windshield so that we could see each other.
"It's New Year's Eve now." He said, as we looked at his phone.
"It is," I agreed.
"So that means a kiss," he said, with a wicked smile.
"You want a kiss?"
"I always want a kiss," he said.
"Then you'll have to come and get it," I teased.
He reached across the seat and put his arms around me and kissed me so hard and so deep that I almost forgot where I was.
"You have the sweetest lips," he said. "I love the taste of your mouth. I can't stop thinking about them. You've got to stop wearing that lipgloss. I can't keep myself off of you when you do."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Yeah."
I giggled.
"Don't laugh, Bea," he said.
"What are you going to do?" I said, giggling again.
"I'm going to make you stop."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah."
"How?"
"Like this," he said.
Then he moved over so he was on top of me, pushing me back and pressing himself against me.
"This isn't the best place for this," I said, trying to catch my breath.
"We'll make do."
"But..."
"Let's go back," he said, covering my mouth with his.
We stayed like that for a long time, kissing, touching, laughing, and whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears. After a while, he moved back over and sat in his seat. I watched him for a minute, trying to catch my breath. He was looking out the windshield, watching the clouds pass across the moon, his dark hair shining in the pale light. He looked beautiful, but sad. I wondered what he was thinking about. I was glad we had come here tonight. It felt like we were finally connecting on some level, and that meant a lot to me.
"Hey," I said. "Are you okay?"
He nodded, without looking at me.
"I'm fine," he said.
"You seem far away."
"I am."
"What are you thinking about?"
"Those dickheads that raped you," he said.
"Yeah."
"Did they say anything?"
"About what?"
"Anything."
"Just that they wanted to have sex with me."
"How many were there?"
"Two. Don't worry I'm fine now."
"I'm gonna ask Millie for every boy that was invited to the party."
"And what are you going to do to them?"
"Nothing. I'll just talk to them. See what they have to say."
"Okay," I said, not really believing him.
"You're not going to try to stop me?"
"No."
"You trust me."
"Of course."
"That's good," he said.
He turned and looked at me, and his expression changed.
"You look so beautiful," he said, softly.
"Thanks."
"I really love the way you look tonight. With your hair and makeup. It's all perfect."
"You're making me blush."
"Good. You should be blushing."
He reached out and touched my cheek, brushing it lightly with his fingertips.
"I could sit here forever and just watch you," he said.
"But I wanna go home," I said.
"Alright, alright," he said. "Let's go."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
He leaned forward and kissed me once more. Then he started the car and we drove back to our apartment. When we got inside, he went into the bedroom and closed the door.
I stayed in the living room, Grace asked me if I was okay.
"I'm fine," I told her. "Why?"
"Because you look like you're going to throw up."
"No. I'm okay. Just tired."
"Do you need anything?"
"No, I'm good."
"Alright. Well, I'm going to bed. If you change your mind, let me know."
"I will. Thanks, Grace."
She smiled and headed off to her room.
I was going to throw up. The thought of my rape makes me feel sick to my stomach. I went into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water and a banana.
Then I sat down on the couch and tried to calm myself down. After a few minutes, the nausea passed, and I felt better.
"You still awake?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Come here."
I stood up and walked over to the bedroom door.
"Come in."
I opened the door and saw that he was sitting on the edge of the bed. He was wearing a white T-shirt and black boxers.
"Come here," he said, holding his arms out.
"What are you doing?"
"Holding you."
I walked over and he wrapped his arms around me.