Regrets

Bea's POV

Here I am, waking up next to Hugo, the events of last night still lingering in the air. It's as if everyone could see this coming from a mile away. The room is quiet, but my mind is far from it.

After everyone left last night, my phone buzzes with a long message from Luca. He's hurting, and I can't blame him. I've stirred up a mess of emotions that I never intended to.

Then there's Josh, his snap with Melanie serving as a stark reminder of the reality I tried to ignore. I guess deep down, I knew this was a possibility, but seeing it unfold in front of me still stings.

In the midst of all this confusion and unintended heartache, Hugo stands out. He's not just a fling; he's someone who gets me, and I understand him in return. It's a connection that goes beyond words, a feeling of mutual understanding that's hard to come by.

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Josh's POV

So, here's the scene: I wake up, and there's Melanie, lying there like the embodiment of last night's choices. Do I regret it? Well, no, not really. But let's be real, I'm not the star of this show – it's all about Bea.

Cue the dramatic pause, because here's where things get real. As I lie there, contemplating the mess of my love life, I can't shake off the fact that what I did will probably sting Bea. I mean, who wants to see their boyfriend hooking up with someone?

And then there's that whole "open relationship" business. I hope she knows that I've actually made some progress in the "becoming a decent human" department. I'm not the same clueless guy who left her heartbroken – or at least, I'm trying not to be.

But the real kicker is this: Did I play a part in pushing her towards this whole open relationship thing? I mean, seriously, did she feel pressured into it because of my past idiocy?

I hope that somewhere in the universe, Bea's getting the memo that things have changed. That maybe, just maybe, I'm not the same old Josh who once fucked up her heart.

I'm minding my own business, recovering from my morning-after contemplation, when suddenly, my phone starts buzzing.

I glance at the caller ID, and what do you know? It's Hugo. Yeah, the same guy who probably fucked Bea last night . Life's a wild ride, and I'm just trying to hold on.

I answer the call, trying to sound cool and collected. "Hey, Hugo. What's up?"

Hugo's voice comes through the line, surprisingly calm. "Hey, man. Listen, I know things have been a bit... complicated lately. But I thought maybe we could grab a coffee or something. Talk it out."

I can't help but chuckle. "Coffee, huh? Well, it's not like I can turn down an offer if you're paying."

Hugo lets out a nervous laugh. "Great. How about that café near yours?"

"Sure thing," I reply, amused by the whole situation. Who would've thought that the guy who unintentionally turned my love life into a piled of shit overnight would be the one suggesting a heart-to-heart chat?

We set a time to meet, and as I hang up, I can't help but shake my head. Hugo's my latest plot twist. Who knows what kind of awkward conversation is waiting for us at that café?

-2.30pm

I stroll into the café, looking around for the man of the hour. And there he is, sitting there with a grin that could rival the Cheshire Cat's. Oh, the fucking audacity.

"Hugo," I greet him with a nod, taking my seat.

He nods back, that knowing grin still etched on his face. "Hey, Josh. How are you?"

I take a moment, contemplating his question. "I spent some time with Melanie," I say, the words carrying more weight than I'd like.

Hugo's smirk falls for a second, replaced by something alike to surprise. "Oh, I see."

But I don't want this conversation to revolve around my choices or the recent complexities of my love life. I want him to address what led to our last encounter, the one where a punch was thrown –unintentionally, mind you.

Hugo leans back, his expression thoughtful. "I figured we should talk. Clear the air, you know?"

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued by his proposition. "Clear the air?"

He nods, his gaze steady. "Yeah. Look, I know things got messy between us, and honestly, that's not the kind of energy I want."

I lean back, absorbing his words. "Fair enough. I appreciate the initiative."

He offers a genuine smile. "Good. It's not about us, really. It's about Bea and whatever's best for her."

I nod in agreement, seeing the truth in his words. "You're right. She's the priority."

Hugo leans in, his expression earnest. "Exactly. And I don't want us complicating things further. So, let's talk, clear things up, and maybe find some common ground."

I find myself nodding again, a newfound respect for Hugo settling in. "Sounds reasonable. It's a good starting point."

Maybe the guy's not so bad after all. But then, just as I'm about to let my guard down, Hugo drops a bombshell.

"You know, Josh," he starts, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "I've been thinking. Maybe the best thing for Bea would be to be with someone like me."

I stop mid-sip, nearly choking on my coffee. "What the hell?"

Hugo raises his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, hey, calm down. It's just a suggestion."

I set my cup down, my disbelief turning into irritation. "A suggestion? One that won't happen."

Hugo leans back, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Oh, come on. I hate to admit it, but me and Bea had a pretty good night last night, if you catch my drift."

I narrow my eyes at him, not sure where he's going with this. "Yeah, so what?"

He leans in, his expression serious now. "Look, Josh, when I left the house, Bea told me to tell you something."

My heart skips a beat. I have a feeling I'm not going to like this.

Hugo takes a breath, then delivers the blow. "She wants nothing to do with you."

Ouch. That's like a punch to the gut – figuratively speaking, of course.

I blink, trying to process what he just said. "What do you mean?"

Hugo sighs, his tone softer. "I mean, she's trying to move on, Josh. And maybe it's time you do the same."

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Bea's POV

I'm here, surrounded by the girls – my trusted squad of Grace, Steph, and Jess. It's like a support group for matters of the heart, and I'm spilling the beans about Josh.

"I told Hugo this morning that I want absolutely nothing to do with Josh," I confess, looking at my friends for some sort of guidance.

Steph raises an eyebrow, confusion etched on her face. "Wait, what? Why would you say that?"

I let out a sigh, feeling the weight of my own uncertainty. "Because... I'm scared."

Jess leans in, that inquisitive glint in her eyes. "Scared of what?"

Suddenly, the floodgates open. My eyes well up with tears, and I can feel my emotions bubbling to the surface. "I'm scared of him breaking my heart again," I admit, my voice cracking.

The girls exchange glances, seemingly understanding my turmoil. Grace reaches out to give my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Bea, it's okay."

I manage a shaky smile through my tears. "It's just... I can't handle going through that pain again."

And then comes the big reveal, the confession that's been eating at me. "You know, the whole open relationship thing? I did it just to see if he'd take the bait."

Steph looks puzzled, her brow furrowing. "Wait, what bait?"

I wipe away my tears, my voice steadier now. "I wanted to test if he still cared, if he'd fight for me. And it feels like he didn't."

Grace chimes in, her tone reassuring. "Bea, just because he was with Melanie last night doesn't mean anything."

Jess, ever the candid one, interjects with a sly grin. "Grace, you're only saying that because Theo cheated on you."

Grace's face turns red, and she glares at Jess. "Shut up, Jess."

But amidst their playful banter, I'm still lost in my thoughts. I'm trying to navigate the maze of my emotions, the fear of getting hurt again, and the realisation that maybe this whole open relationship charade wasn't the best idea.

"Girls I need to get high."

Steph leans in, that mischievous grin on her face. "You know what, Bea? You're absolutely right."

She looks around at the rest of us, as if sharing a secret plan. "Let's get high."

Now, I've never been one to shy away from an adventure, and this sounds like the kind of adventure that involves a lot of giggles and maybe some deep conversations about the universe. So, with a nod, we all agree.

And just like that, we find ourselves in a haze of smoke and shared stories, passing the proverbial peace pipe, or in our case, a fragrant joint. As the room fills with laughter and the world takes on a technicolor glow, I can't help but feel a sense of weightlessness.

Being high is like being on a fluffy cloud, floating above all the troubles and worries of the world. My mind is a mix of calm and happiness, and my energy is off the charts. I'm chattering a mile a minute, and the girls are right there with me, creating a symphony of laughter and shared memories.

We're all feeling so light and carefree that it's almost like we're dancing on air. The conversations take on a dreamlike quality, and I find myself nodding along to profound statements about life, love, and the mysteries of the universe.

The Frank Ocean is playing.

But then, just as the world feels like a beautiful, colorful dream, reality comes crashing in – in the form of me passing out. Yes, you read that right. One moment, I'm riding high on a cloud of laughter, and the next, I'm out like a light.

The girls try to wake me up, but I'm in a world of my own, a deep sleep that's probably filled with strange and wonderful dreams. I can hear snippets of their worried voices, but they seem far away, as if coming from another dimension.

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Josh's POV

My phone starts ringing, and I'm met with a panicked voice on the other end. "Josh, you need to get to the hospital. It's Bea. She's unresponsive."

My heart leaps into my throat, and I don't even remember grabbing my jacket as I rush out the door. Hugo, of all people, is right there with me, his concern mirrored in his eyes. We're a mismatched pair, united by the worry for the same person.

We reach the hospital in record time, and it's like every second is dragging on forever. The doctors assure us that Bea will be fine, but honestly, in that moment, it feels like the world has stopped. Losing her, even just the thought of it, is a reality I can't even begin to think about.

As we sit there in the hospital waiting room, the girls join us, concern etched on their faces. Grace leans in, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What happened with you two?"

Hugo exchanges a glance with me, and I have to admit, it's strange to be in the same boat as him. His voice is calm, almost nonchalant. "Doesn't matter, really."

I can't help but raise an eyebrow at his response. What's with the sudden secrecy? I mean, sure, we've all had our moments, but this is something different.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the moment we've been waiting for arrives. Bea wakes up, and there's this indescribable rush of relief and worry crashing into each other. The girls surround her with questions and concern, but she waves them off, looking at me.

"Hey, could everyone give us a moment? Just Josh and me," she requests, her voice a mix of weariness and determination.

Hugo hesitates, clearly torn between staying and giving us space. He looks at Bea, his expression softening. "Are you sure?"

Bea nods, her eyes locked on mine. "Yeah, I'm sure. Thanks, Hugo."

And just like that, the room clears out, leaving me and Bea alone. I take a seat beside her bed, and the air is charged with an unspoken tension. She's been through something, something that I don't fully understand yet.

She looks at me, her eyes searching mine, and then she takes a deep breath. "Josh, I... I need to tell you something."

My heart races, and I can feel that whatever she's about to say is going to change everything.

"Honestly, Bea, I just want you to be okay," I admit, my voice softening.

She smiles, and it's like a glimmer of hope in the midst of uncertainty. "I know, Josh. And that's why I need to tell you this."