She’s not as innocent as she seems

Bea's POV

The tension in the room was so thick you could practically cut it with a knife.

Melanie's angry shouts were echoing off the walls, and Grace, Theo, and Josh were all slowly making their way down the stairs. I exchanged a worried glance with Josh, who was watching the scene unfold with a mix of amusement and concern.

Melanie's voice was sharp as she continued to shout at Grace, demanding that she leaves the house. It was clear that Melanie was furious, and I had never seen her like this before. Grace was holding her ground, though, standing tall in the face of the storm, and that was something I respected.

As they all reached the bottom of the stairs, an unexpected twist occurred. Grace turned towards Theo, her expression determined, and before anyone could process what was happening, she moved in to kiss him. It wasn't just a peck on the cheek – it was a full-blown, passionate kiss that left everyone in the room momentarily stunned.

I exchanged a look with Josh. What on earth was going on? Grace and Theo were kissing as if the world around them had disappeared, and Melanie's shock was pretty fucking obvious. She didn't shout, she didn't explode – she just stood there, her eyes wide, and her voice shaking slightly as she asked, "Why did you do that, Grace?"

I could see tears forming in Melanie's eyes, and for the first time, I saw her vulnerability. It was strange to witness, considering Melanie's usual tough and self-assured demeanor. I felt a pang of sympathy for her – caught in this unexpected twist of events, trying to navigate her own emotions.

Grace pulled away from the kiss, her expression a mix of determination and empathy. "I never got to choose who I wanted to kiss in the game," she said softly, her words a subtle explanation for her actions.

There was a brief, charged silence in the room as Melanie and Grace locked eyes, each grappling with their own emotions. I shifted uncomfortably on my feet, feeling like an awkward bystander in this drama-filled moment. Josh placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, silently telling me that he was there with me, that we were in this together.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Grace turned and walked towards the door. The atmosphere in the room shifted as she left, her departure leaving an emptiness.

Josh cleared his throat, breaking the silence that had settled over us. "Well, that was...unexpected," he quipped, his attempt at humor not quite masking the tension that still hung in the air.

I let out a nervous laugh, feeling the need to break the tension a bit more. "Yeah, I think unexpected is the understatement of the year."

Melanie looked at us, her expression a mix of disappointment and something else – perhaps a newfound understanding of the complexity of human emotions. "I need a moment," she muttered, and then she turned and headed towards her room, leaving us standing there in the aftermath of a whirlwind of emotions.

As we stood there, trying to process what had just happened, I couldn't help but wonder where this unexpected turn of events would lead us. Emotions were running high, and it seemed like the drama was far from over.

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Josh's POV

I had never been Melanie's biggest fan, and honestly, that sentiment was probably mutual. But seeing her standing there, vulnerable and hurt, I realised that beneath all the tough exterior, she was just a person who was struggling with her own emotions. As Bea gave me the go-ahead, I decided to go and talk to her, even if it meant putting aside my personal feelings.

I climbed the stairs to Melanie's room and knocked gently on the door. She hesitated for a moment before opening it, her eyes red from crying. I assured her it was me, and she let me in. She looked so defeated, and without thinking, I pulled her into a hug. She clung to me as if I were her lifeline, and I held her, letting her find some peace in that moment.

After what felt like an eternity, we separated, and I offered her the joints I had brought with me. We sat out on the balcony, the city lights providing a backdrop to our conversation. She started talking, her voice shaky but determined. Melanie admitted that she had never felt this way about anyone before, not like she did about Theo. She confessed that she thought she might be in love with him, even though those three words hadn't been exchanged yet.

I took a drag from the joint and passed it to her. "Love is a big step," I said, my tone reflective. "It's not something to take lightly."

She nodded, taking a drag herself. "I know, but it's just...different with him."

I watched the smoke swirl around us before dissipating into the night air. "You have to be sure," I said carefully. "And before you take any big steps, you need to have a clear picture of where he stands."

Melanie let out a shaky breath. "That's the problem. I'm scared to ask him."

I looked at her, understanding her fear. "What are you scared of?"

She glanced down, her fingers tracing patterns on the joint. "I'm scared that he still has feelings for Grace. I'm scared that he's not completely over her."

I sighed, recognising the complexity of the situation. "Look, Melanie, relationships are messy. People have baggage, and sometimes it's not easy to let go of the past. But if you're going to move forward with him, you need to know where he stands."

She looked up at me, her eyes searching for answers. "What do I do?"

I leaned back in my chair, taking another drag from the joint. "Have an honest conversation with him. Ask him how he feels about Grace, and if he's still hung up on her."

Melanie nodded, her expression a mix of determination and anxiety. "I guess you're right. I need to know the truth, even if it hurts."

I patted her shoulder, offering her a reassuring smile. "And remember, no matter what happens, you deserve happiness. Don't settle for anything less."

"Josh, how did you know that you loved Bea?"

Melanie's question hung in the air like a weighty secret waiting to be shared. I leaned back in my chair, staring out into the night sky as if the stars could provide the answers. "It's like... she completes me, you know? Like every piece of me that was missing, she filled it."

Melanie nodded, seemingly lost in thought. "That's beautiful, Josh. It's rare to find that kind of connection."

I chuckled, a smile forming on my lips. "Yeah, it is. And trust me, I fought it for a while. But when you find someone who challenges you, who pushes you to be better, you can't help but fall."

She looked at me, her gaze filled with a mix of emotions. "I hope I find that someday."

I gave her a reassuring smile. "You will. Just be patient."

Before our conversation could delve any deeper, a knock on the door interrupted us. Theo stood on the other side, looking uncertain. Melanie asked me if I could stay, and I nodded, settling in for what was about to unfold.

Theo entered the room, his eyes darting between Melanie and me. Melanie wasted no time and got straight to the point. She told him that she didn't care about his apologies; what she cared about was him fixing himself. I watched the exchange, both surprised and impressed by Melanie's newfound assertiveness.

Theo's expression shifted from confusion to desperation. He reached out to her, his eyes pleading. "Melanie, I am trying to fix myself. I want to be better, for you."

She didn't seem moved by his words. "Fixing yourself doesn't mean just saying sorry. It means actually addressing your issues and working on them."

Theo's voice cracked, his vulnerability on full display. "I know I messed up, Melanie. I messed up big time. But I like you, and I want to make this work."

Melanie's gaze remained steady, her resolve unshaken. "Liking me isn't enough, Theo. It's a good start, but it's not everything. I need more than just words."

Theo took a step closer, his hand reaching out to touch her. Melanie didn't shy away this time, but her tone was firm. "Don't think that the physical aspect of this relationship is the only thing that matters."

Theo looked down, seemingly digesting her words. "I'm sorry, Melanie. I need to do better, and I will."

She pushed his hand away gently, her expression a mix of disappointment and frustration. "You're still hung up on Grace, aren't you?"

His silence was all the confirmation she needed. Her voice grew sharper. "I can't be in a relationship with someone who's not fully committed. It's not fair to me."

Theo's voice rose as he tried to defend himself. "Melanie, it's not like that—"

She cut him off, her tone icy. "Save it, Theo. I deserve someone who's all in, someone who doesn't have doubts or lingering feelings for someone else."

With that, she turned and started walking toward the door. Theo's desperation was hard to watch as he shouted after her, "Why are you doing this?"

Melanie paused, her back still turned to him. "Why are you still in love with Grace?"

The room fell into silence, the weight of their words hanging heavily in the air. Melanie took a deep breath and then walked out of the room, leaving Theo standing there, alone and lost.

I looked at him, sympathy mingling with exasperation. "You've got some work to do, man."

Theo sank onto the edge of the bed, burying his face in his hands. "I messed up, Josh. Big time."

I patted his back, trying to offer some comfort. "Yeah, you did. But the question is, are you willing to do the hard work to fix it?"

He looked up at me, his eyes filled with a mix of determination and uncertainty. "I have to, don't I?"

I nodded, my gaze steady on his. "If you want to be with her, then yeah, you do."

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Bea's POV

Steph had just left to support Grace, leaving Melanie, Jess, and me in the living room. It was evident that Melanie was in need of some company and advice, so Jess and I listened intently as she spilled the details of her conversation with Theo.

As she recounted the events, Jess didn't hold back her thoughts. "What the hell, Melanie? Are you stupid?"

Melanie's eyes blazed with irritation. "Excuse me? What's your problem?"

Jess's response was blunt and straightforward. "If you want him back, you have to go get him. Sitting here crying isn't going to do a damn thing."

I chimed in, taking a more empathetic approach. "Well, Jess, sometimes waiting is the best option. Josh and I had to wait two months before we found our way back to each other."

Melanie looked torn between the two perspectives. She wiped a tear from her eye and sighed. "I'm not going to make any hasty decisions until I've talked to Grace."

Jess leaned forward, her tone more gentle this time. "That's probably a good idea. You two need to have an honest conversation. Just remember, life's too short to hold back."

Melanie managed a small smile. "Thanks, Jess. I appreciate your honesty."

I glanced at the clock. "Well, it's getting late. We should probably get some rest."

Melanie nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks for being here, guys."

As Jess and I got up to leave, Melanie called after us. "And just so you know, I'm not planning on causing any drama. I just want to talk to Grace."

Jess shot her a skeptical look. "Just talk?"

Melanie's smile was devious . "Just talk."

We left Melanie with her thoughts, unsure of what the next day would bring. One thing was for certain, though – tensions were rising, and the dynamic between all of us was shifting.

"You guys can stay over!"

As Jess and I walked to our respective rooms, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get even more complicated.

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Josh's POV

-8am Next Day

The morning sun was streaming through the windows, casting a warm glow on the room. It was a crazy night, and I found myself sitting with Theo, with a cup of coffee and contemplating the mess we had all found ourselves in. After a moment of silence, Theo finally spoke up.

"I need to talk to Grace," he said, his voice heavy with a mixture of determination and uncertainty.

I took a sip of my coffee and nodded. "Yeah, you should. It's time to clear the air."

We both agreed that inviting Grace over to Melanie's house would be the best option – after all, Melanie was still asleep, and she wouldn't have to know about our little intervention. So, the plan was set into motion. Grace was soon on her way.

As Grace arrived, there was a tension in the air. She greeted us with a smile, but I could tell she was on edge. She glanced at Theo, and for a moment, it seemed like she was about to lean in for a kiss. But Theo took a step back, his expression serious.

"No, Grace, not now, not ever," he said firmly, his gaze unwavering.

Grace looked taken aback, her confusion evident. She took a seat, and I settled down next to Theo. It was time to have an open conversation, no matter how uncomfortable it might be.

"Why am I here?" Grace asked, her eyes darting between Theo and me.

I leaned forward, ready to contribute to the conversation. "We're all here to clear the air, Grace. It's time to address what's been going on."

Grace's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at me, then at Theo. "And what's been going on?"

Theo took a deep breath, his eyes locked onto Grace's. "Grace, I know I've been sending mixed signals. And I need to be honest with you. I don't know how I'm feeling."

I could see Grace's frustration building. "What do you mean you don't know? You can't just mess with my feelings like that."

I jumped in, trying to steer the conversation in a productive direction. "Theo's right, Grace. It's not fair to anyone to keep things ambiguous. If you both have feelings for each other, you need to figure that out."

Grace turned to me, her expression defiant. "And what about you, Josh? Why are you even here?"

I met her gaze directly. "Because I need to be. This situation affects all of us, not just you two."

The tension in the room was intense, and just as Grace was about to say something, she leaned in, attempting to kiss Theo. But before their lips could touch, a voice cut through the air like a lightning bolt.

"What the fuck?!"

Melanie had descended the stairs, her voice a mixture of shock and anger. Theo practically jumped away from Grace, his face flushing. Grace pulled back, her smile wide.

"It's not what it looks like," Theo stammered, his attempt at explanation falling flat.

Melanie's glare could have burned a hole through steel. "Really? Because it looks like my boyfriend was about to kiss you again, Grace."

Theo tried to backtrack. "I swear, Melanie, it was just a mistake."

Grace chimed in, her voice defensive. "Yeah, it wasn't like that."

Melanie folded her arms, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, wonderful. Then please, enlighten me. What exactly was it like?"

Theo shot me a desperate look, as if he was seeking help from anyone who could provide it. I sighed, realising the situation had spiraled out of control – again.

"Look," I interjected, "this is clearly a mess. Let's all take a step back and cool down. Emotions are running high, and we're not going to solve anything by arguing."

Melanie's eyes were still locked onto Grace, a mix of hurt and anger in her gaze. Grace looked equally upset, and Theo seemed to be caught in the middle of it all.

The atmosphere in the room was tense, like a rubber band stretched to its limits. Melanie's presence at the table added an extra layer of unease. I exchanged a glance with Bea, who seemed just as unsure about how this conversation was going to play out. Grace took a deep breath and decided to address the elephant in the room.

"Look, I'm sorry for everything," Grace began, her voice wavering slightly. "I didn't mean to cause this mess."

Melanie rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh please, spare us the theatrics."

Theo cleared his throat and looked at Grace, his expression a mix of exasperation and curiosity. "You wanted to know if I still had feelings for you?"

Grace nodded, her eyes on Theo. "Yeah, I thought... I don't know, maybe there was still something there."

Melanie scoffed. "Pathetic."

Theo raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting between Grace and Melanie. "Why do you care so much, Melanie?"

Melanie's eyes darted from Theo to me and back again. She hesitated for a moment before finally answering. "Because... because I love you, Theo."

There was a collective pause in the room. I exchanged a surprised look with Bea, unsure if we had just witnessed a monumental shift in Melanie's feelings. Grace looked taken aback, her expression a mix of disbelief and confusion.

Grace let out a small laugh. "That's not true. You're just saying that."

Melanie's eyes look into Grace's, her tone firm. "No, Grace. I mean it. I do."

I couldn't help but chime in, sensing that the situation was quickly spiraling. "Grace, you can't tell someone how they feel. If Melanie says she loves Theo, then that's her truth."

Grace turned to me, frustration evident in her eyes. "And how can he say it back if he doesn't mean it?"

Theo sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Melanie, I can't force those words out if they're not genuine. It wouldn't be fair to either of us."

The room fell into an uneasy silence as we all grappled with the weight of the situation. Melanie seemed to be wrestling with her emotions, Grace was struggling to process everything, and Theo appeared torn between the two.

Finally, Melanie looked at Theo, her gaze unwavering. "Just answer me honestly, Theo. Do you still have feelings for Grace?"

Theo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I... I don't know. There's a part of me that still cares about her, but I don't know if it's romantic."

Melanie's expression softened, and she reached out to touch Theo's hand. "That's all I needed to know."