Happy New Year?

Bea's POV

The party was shifted to my house, and I was delighted to have my friends over.

Lily was an absolute vision in her black dress, and Melanie, well, she always managed to turn heads with her effortless beauty.

All the girls were dressed to impress, and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement.

We laughed, danced, and took countless photos in every corner of my house. It was one of those nights where the bonds between friends grew stronger, where we reveled in each other's company, and where we made memories that would last a lifetime.

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, I couldn't help but think that this was the perfect way to end the year and welcome the new one.

Surrounded by friends, all looking fabulous and having a blast, I knew that no matter what challenges the future held, I had a support system that would always be there for me.

"Guys, I'm so fucking drunk and I need to make a speech for my girl," He jumps up on the kitchen island, "I love this girl, so lets all raise a glass for her host in the last fucking best party of the year!"

Josh's words brought a smile to my face, and I felt a warm glow of happiness wash over me. I raised my glass, and everyone else did too.

"To Bea!" Josh shouted, and everyone chorused in unison, "To Bea!"

Josh's words filled my heart with warmth and happiness. As he made his heartfelt toast, the room fell silent, and all eyes were on him. He pointed at me, and I blushed as he declared his love for me in front of our friends. It was a beautiful moment that made me feel so special.

The room erupted in cheers and applause as everyone raised their glasses. I looked around at the smiling faces of my friends, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for having such an amazing group of people in my life. Josh walked over to me, took my hand, and whispered, "I meant every word, you know."

Tears of joy welled up in my eyes, and I kissed him, knowing that I was starting the new year surrounded by love and happiness.

We settled on the balcony, the cool night air a welcome contrast to the warmth of the party inside. Josh's words were slightly slurred from the alcohol, but they carried a weight that sobered me up instantly.

He continued, his voice a mix of vulnerability and passion, "Bea, I know people talked shit about us when we got together. They thought I was just looking for some fling. But it was never like that. It was never just about your looks. From the moment I met you, I knew there was something special about you."

I looked at him, my heart swelling with emotion. "Josh, I've never cared about what other people think. And I've always known that there's something incredible about you too. It's not just your words, but your actions. You've shown me what love really is."

He smiled, his eyes shining with sincerity. "I'm not the best with words, Bea, but I promise you this – I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make you as happy as you've made me. "

I placed my hand on his cheek and said, "Josh, you don't have to prove anything to anyone. I don't care about the color of our skin. What matters is how we feel about each other, and I love you more than words can say."

"The boys never pictured me liking you as much. For me it kinda started out like, hey she's cute but now its like, I'd fucking give up my life for this girl just to make her happy."

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I leaned in to kiss him. It was a kiss filled with all the love and gratitude I felt for this man who had become my rock, my confidant, and my partner in life.

I looked into Josh's eyes, and even though he was clearly a bit tipsy, I could see the sincerity and vulnerability in his gaze. His words touched my heart deeply.

He smiled, a bit teary-eyed, and kissed me gently. We sat there on the balcony, wrapped in each other's arms, watching the stars above as we welcomed the new year with love and hope.

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Theo's POV

"Why the fuck are you close to me?"

Grace's words hit me like a bucket of ice water. My heart sank, and I could see the hurt in her eyes. I had messed up again. I looked at her, wanting to explain, but the words caught in my throat.

Before I could say anything, Grace turned away from me and rejoined the group, leaving me standing there, feeling like the worst kind of jerk. I exchanged a worried glance with Ryan, who simply shook his head as if to say, "You've really done it this time, mate."

I needed to find Melanie and sort things out with her. But first, I had to try to salvage what was left of this evening with Grace.

"Grace, you look really good tonight." I said and she still ignored me.

"Theo, don't talk to me, you've already messed up today for me."

I sat down across from her and stared at her for a moment, my heart thumping. She was angry and she was being unreasonable.

My mouth felt dry and I licked my lips as I looked around the room, trying to find the words I wanted to say.

"I'm sorry. I just didn't pick up the phone- it was late and I didn't think it was important." I paused. "What happened to us?"

"What? What the hell is wrong with you? Are you serious right now? You are so arrogant, so self-centered. You're probably fucking someone else, you don't care about me anymore."

"No, no, I do. You are important to me, Grace. You are so important." I said and my voice caught on the last word. I took a deep breath, hoping to calm the nervous energy that had taken over my body.

"How many girls have you fucked since we've been together?"

"It doesn't matter," I said and she got up from the table, her eyes flashing in anger.

"Fuck you, Theo." She said.

"Wait, wait, Grace. Don't leave. Look, I love you, ok?"

She stared at me for a moment and then her features softened.

"You what?" She asked, her voice shaking.

"I know you were with Melanie today, why didn't you tell me what happened to her? She told me you knew and you didn't tell me. I just...I just don't understand why you didn't tell me. That would have been the perfect time to tell me but you didn't. So I thought maybe you didn't want me to know. I don't know. Maybe you have something to hide? And the other day, the night that the guys were all here, why were you in my bed, pretending to be asleep? I thought you were awake, but you weren't. Were you trying to avoid me or something? Because we've hardly seen each other, it's like you are always somewhere else." She was rambling.

"Theo, you are the one who is not here. And I know something but I'm waiting for you to tell me yourself."

"Tell you what?"

"Why are you fucking Melanie?" She said and the way she said it was cold. I had never heard her like that before and my blood ran cold.

"What? Are you serious? I'm not fucking Melanie." I said.

"Oh please, stop lying. I know everything, Theo. I know. I saw you guys in Spain and I've tried to ignore it." She said and I stood up.

"You're insane. You're out of your mind."

"Then explain it to me." She said, crossing her arms.

"Grace, I'm not fucking Melanie and you know that. Stop being fucking crazy." I said and I instantly regretted it.

Her mouth fell open and she blinked a few times, trying to stop the tears from falling.

"Grace..." I said and she shook her head.

"No, no, stop. Just...just fuck off." She said, grabbing her purse and turning on her heel.

I sat there, shocked. What the fuck just happened?

I watched her go and didn't even move.

"What the fuck was that?" I said out loud, looking around at the party.

Grace comes back and says, "I put my all into this relationship, I gave it my everything, I did everything you ever asked me to do, but it just wasn't enough. So, I'm gonna give you a chance to tell me what I need to do to fix this and make you happy. You have two seconds to think about it and tell me. If you can't think of anything in that two seconds, then we're over, and there's nothing you can do to fix it. So, you've got two seconds. Now talk to me, and let's try and figure this out, and let's not waste any more time on this. We either are, or we're not, and if we are, I want to know what you want from me. Two, one—"

Is this girl serious?

She says, "I'm going to be honest with you, I don't think we should see each other anymore. I can't make you happy. You should be with someone who can, and it's not fair to you that I can't, and it's not fair to Melanie who you're obviously in love with and I can't compete with that. So, it's better that we end it now before anyone gets hurt. I'm sorry. I deserve better than this, and I'm sorry for hurting you."

I look at Grace and say, "That's good, and that's perfect."

She smiles and says, "Theo. You can't be serious?"

"Yeah, why not? This is good, we can work with this. You're right, we've been drifting apart, and you can't make me happy, and I can't make you happy, and this whole thing has just been a disaster, so it's probably for the best if we just end it now."

Grace is shaking her head no. "I thought we were gonna try and work things out. That's what you told me, that's what you said, we would work through this."

"I did say that, and that's true. But we should end it, because we're not meant to be together, and we can't make each other happy. I mean, I was just telling Melanie the other day that she deserves to be with someone who can make her happy and that's me. I can't play you both, and if you were me, you'd realise the same thing, and you'd say the same thing. It's the right thing to do, and if you're really serious about fixing this, and you really love me, and you really want to be with me, then you're going to have to be with someone who can make you happy, and you have to realise the same thing. Because this is just not working out, and if we can't make each other happy, then we shouldn't be together. We should be with someone who can, and as much as you're denying this, that's Melanie. I can make her happy, and she can make me happy, and you can't. And it's not fair to you, because you shouldn't have to settle, and if you can't be happy, then what's the point of even being together. So, we should just end this and move on."

Grace is sitting there crying. I can't tell whether she's upset or not, but I have a feeling she is, and I'm hoping she isn't , because I don't want her to be upset.

"This is what you want, isn't it?"

"Well, no, I want you to want me. I don't want you to settle, I want you to be with me, because you love me, and you want me, and I want to be with you. And if you're not willing to do that, then I don't see a point in even continuing this conversation."

She says, "Theo, what do you want?"

"I don't know, Grace. I just know what I don't want."

"Then tell me what you don't want, and let's go from there."

"I don't want you to settle. I don't want you to just stay with me cause you can't be alone. That's not fair to me. I want you to be with me because you want to be, not because you feel obligated."

"So, what, you're just gonna walk away from this relationship, because you feel like I'm settling? Theo remember all the memories, our first date, our first kiss. I was your first love, you were mine. Do you not care about any of that?"

"Of course, I care, but we have to be realistic. I love you, but I'm not in love with you. Not like I was. That's not fair to you, and that's not fair to Melanie."

She sits there for a few moments and looks at me. She's looking in my eyes and says, "Let me speak to Melanie then?"

"What, why?"

"Cause, if she's gonna take my man, the least she can do is hear me out and let me have my say. She owes me that much."

I call Melanie over and tell her that Grace wants to talk to her, and that she owes her that. She comes over and sits down. Grace tells her everything. About how we met, and about our first date, and about the first time we had sex.

She's telling her all this stuff, and she's saying that I was her first love, and she was mine, and we have so much history, and we have so much to look forward to, and she's going to regret not being with me, and she's going to wake up one day and realise that and wonder why she didn't fight for me.

She's talking and talking and talking, and it's almost like she's pleading. And Melanie's sitting there, just taking it in.

"Is this what you want, Melanie?"

"I mean, I think it's pretty clear, what he wants, but yeah, I'll let him tell you."

"Grace, I want to be with you, and I do care about you, but I'm not in love with you."

"Theo, what about everything I just told you. Don't you remember how happy we were together?"

"Yeah, I remember, and those were some of the happiest times of my life, and I'll always have those memories, but that was the past."

"But it's the future, Theo. We have a future. A bright one. And I'm not willing to just give up on us because you've had a change of heart."

"Grace, this is not a change of heart. This is the same heart, and it's still yours. It's just not beating for you anymore. It's beating for her."

"Are you sure? How can you be sure?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. She makes me happy, Grace. You know that. You know what she means to me. You know how special she is to me. And if you truly care about me, and you truly love me, you'll be happy for me. I love Melanie."

"You do? You really love her?"

"With all my heart. She's everything I've ever wanted, and she's the one for me."

"But I love you, Theo."

"And I love you too. Just not the same way."

"Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

"Theo, please..."

"I'm sorry, Grace, but this is the way it has to be."

"Theo, let's go outside, and talk, please."

We leave the room and go outside. The night air is cool and the street is quiet. We stand there for a few moments, neither of us saying anything. Melanie just smiles at me.

"I don't understand. Why are you doing this? Why are you throwing away everything we've worked for? All the time we've spent together. All the memories, all the laughter, the love, the happiness. Why would you give that up for her? She's not worth it. She doesn't deserve you."

"I'm not throwing anything away, Grace. We can still be friends. We can still hang out, and laugh, and have fun, and have memories, but we can't be together. Not anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because I love Melanie. How many fucking times do I need to tell you."

"And you don't love me?"

"I do, but not the way I love her. Not the way she loves me. And if you really loved me, you would want me to be happy. And I'm not happy with you, not like I am with her. I'm happier with her than I've ever been. So fuck off and leave it be, and let me be happy, and let us be happy."

"But Theo..."

"I'm sorry, Grace, but that's the way it has to be. There's no point in trying to convince me otherwise. My mind's made up."

"But I love you, Theo. I love you so much. Please don't do this."

"I'm sorry, Grace, but I have to. This is the right thing to do."

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Bea's POV

The clock struck midnight, and we all joined in the raucous countdown. "Ten, nine, eight..." The room filled with excitement and anticipation. "Three, two, one... Happy New Year!" We all cheered, and in that AMAZING moment, I leaned in and shared a passionate kiss with Josh.

The room was filled with love and laughter as couples embraced, celebrating the start of a new year together. It was a moment of hope and promise, and for that brief instant, all worries and doubts were forgotten in the magic of the new beginning.

But my heart ached as I saw Grace in tears. I quickly pulled away from Josh and rushed over to her. Melanie was already by her side, trying to console her. I put my arm around Grace and whispered, "What's wrong?"

Grace looked up at me, her eyes filled with sadness, and said, "Bea, I just saw Theo kissing Melanie. Right in front of me. On New Year's Day."

I didn't know what to say. I felt anger, confusion, and sympathy all at once. But for Grace's sake, I had to be there for her.