Making Moves

Melanie's POV

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Theo had just asked Grace to move in with him, and it seemed like they were planning to share an apartment while we all went off to university. I felt a mixture of anger and frustration with myself. What had I been thinking, entertaining the idea that Theo and Grace might break up? I felt foolish and more than a little mad at myself.

As Theo continued to explain his plans to everyone, my mind was racing. Then, he dropped another bombshell. "There are two more bedrooms, and I'd like Bea and Josh to come with us, and Melanie."

I almost choked on my drink. "Me?" I blurted out, unable to hide the shock in my voice.

Theo looked at me and gave a reassuring smile. "Melanie, you're basically my best friend. It wouldn't be the same without you."

I couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions. Part of me was thrilled that he wanted me to be a part of this new adventure with him, but another part of me couldn't help but wonder if there was more to his invitation than met the eye. Either way, as long as I had Theo, it didn't seem to matter.

As I watched Grace's excitement about the idea of all of us living together in the same house, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. I loved the idea of being close to my friends, but I was also incredibly confused about my feelings for Theo and where we stood now.

Just then, Theo approached me and asked, "Mel, can we go talk?"

I nodded, my curiosity piqued. "Sure," I replied, starting to walk towards the balcony, but Theo stopped me.

"No, let's go upstairs," he said, his voice low and serious.

Theo's request for a private conversation left me with mixed feelings. I followed him upstairs, my heart pounding in my chest. The confusion about our situation and my feelings for him weighed heavily on my mind. We entered one of the bedrooms, and he closed the door behind us.

Theo turned to me, his expression serious, and then he surprised me by pulling me into a passionate kiss. For a moment, I lost myself in the familiar warmth of his embrace. The chemistry between us was undeniable, but I couldn't ignore the fact that he was still with Grace.

He kissed me so passionately I nearly forgot my own name. I felt his warm tongue brush against my lips. I opened my mouth and we kissed deeply, tasting each other. He put his hands around my waist and I ran my fingers through his hair.

He pulled away for a moment and looked deep into my eyes, then kissed my neck. I could feel his breath, and the sensation sent shivers down my spine. He continued to kiss my neck and then slowly began to kiss his way down my body. "Did you miss me?" he whispered.

I couldn't help myself. "Yes. I did," I gasped.

"How much did you miss me?"

"Every day. I thought about you every day."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Really?"

"Yes," I breathed.

"Well then, you can have me," he said, his voice husky with passion. "I'm yours. All yours. For as long as you want me. For the rest of your life. I'm yours."

I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. I didn't know what I had done to deserve someone as amazing as him. He made me feel special, and like a goddess. "What about Grace? We'll all be in the same house."

"She'll just have to live with it," he said, looking up at me.

"Okay," I whispered, smiling. "We're alone right now. I want you to take me. Make love to me.."

He smiled back. "I'm going to make love to you so hard you won't be able to walk straight," he promised.

"I can't wait," I said, and pulled him close for another deep kiss. I felt his hands on my body, and his fingers were everywhere. It was like he couldn't get enough of me.

"Stop" I said, pushing him away, breathless.

"Why? What's wrong?" he asked, confused.

"Nothing, but I can't have sex with you. I don't want to do anything that might cause problems for Grace. I don't want to risk upsetting her."

He stared at me. "What? Are you serious?"

"Yes," I nodded. "I know you don't understand, but...I don't want to hurt her. She's my friend now."

He groaned and rubbed his face. "This is so fucked up," he muttered.

"I'm sorry," I said, feeling bad.

He shook his head. "It's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong. I understand why you're worried, but..." He looked at me. "Are you really going to give up everything we have together just because of her?"

"No," I said firmly. "But I don't want to betray her, either."

"You're not betraying her," he said. "She knows that you and I have a thing."

"Shut the fuck up.No she doesn't."

He stared at me and smirked. "She doesn't know? At all?"

I shook my head. "I told you before, she would kill me if she found out. Besides, you don't want her to find out, either."

"Well, no, but..." He trailed off. "It doesn't make sense," he said finally.

"What doesn't make sense?"

"You two being friends. She's...Grace is..." He searched for the right word. "Different.

"You're different, too," I pointed out. "So am I. And so is she. That's why we're friends."

"But it's not normal," he insisted. "She's a bitch.

"You're one to talk," I said dryly. "She's not a bitch. She's just...emotionally unstable."

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever. You're still not fucking me."

"No," I said, sighing. "We're not. Not today."

"Not today? So maybe tomorrow? Or the next day? How about the next week? When is this ever going to happen?"

I bit my lip. "I don't know," I admitted.

"I can't do this," he said, frustrated. "I can't just be with you without touching you, or kissing you, or...I need more than that."

"I know," I said, feeling sad. "I'm sorry. I wish it could be different. I really do."

He sighed and leaned against the wall. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea," he said.

"What?"

"Us. Being together."

I stared at him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean...maybe we should just end this."

"But...I don't want to stop being with you," I protested.

"Neither do I," he said. "But if we keep doing this, and nothing changes, then what's the point? I can't live like this, constantly wanting you but never getting you."

"So you want to break up?" I asked, trying not to cry.

"No, of course not. But maybe...maybe we should take a break. Spend some time apart.

"How long?"

"I don't know.

———————————————————————————

Bea's POV

As we stand there, the two of us, on the tranquil beach, the sun dipping below the horizon casting shades of orange and pink across the sky, everything seems to fall into place. Our gazes lock, and a warmth spreads through me as our smiles synchronize.

He leans in, his voice soft as he confesses, "I've always loved your smile." The words send a flutter through my heart, and before I know it, our lips meet in a sweet, lingering kiss. Time seems to stand still as the world around us fades into insignificance.

Pulling away slightly, I muster the courage to express what's been in my heart for so long. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you," I whisper, my eyes searching his for any sign of hesitation. Instead, he grins, a radiant happiness washing over his face. Without a word, he takes my hand in his, and together, we start walking along the shore, the waves gently lapping at our feet.

Inhaling deeply, I savour the salty tang of the sea in the air, the breeze tousling my hair with its gentle caress. He draws me closer, his arm wrapping around my shoulder, and I melt into his warmth. In this moment, there's nothing else but us, our love, and the world around us.

With my head resting on his shoulder, he leans down and kisses my hair, the sensation sending shivers down my spine. Thoughts swirl in my mind, but there's one thing I'm absolutely sure of: with him by my side, there's nothing we can't overcome. I close my eyes briefly, relishing the feeling of his presence.

"This is the best moment of my life," I think to myself, a contented smile on my face. I silently wish that this moment, this perfect blend of love and serenity, could stretch on forever, an eternal embrace on this picturesque beach.

The sun was warm on our skin as we strolled along the beach, the waves lapping gently at the shore. It was a perfect day, and Josh's presence made it even better. He turned to me with that mischievous glint in his eye and said, "Guess what?"

I grinned, playing along. "What?"

He chuckled, his voice filled with affection. "Bea, you're perfect."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, though a smile tugged at my lips. "Guess what."

He raised an eyebrow, still wearing that boyish grin. "What?"

I paused for a moment, looking out at the vast expanse of the ocean. Then I turned to him and said, "You're a liar."

Josh laughed, wrapping an arm around my waist as we continued our walk along the beach. "I am not. Perfection is perception, and you're perfect to me."

The sea breeze tousled our hair as I leaned in to kiss him, our lips meeting in a sweet, lingering moment. When we finally pulled away, Josh had that boyish grin on his face again.

"You're the realest bitch I will ever put my lips on," he whispered, his voice warm and affectionate.

I couldn't help but chuckle at his playful words. "Shut up," I teased.

His eyes sparkled with mischief. "Make me," he challenged, leaning in for another kiss, and I gladly obliged, savouring the taste of his lips against mine, grateful for this perfect day with the imperfectly perfect guy I loved.

As Josh and I scrolled through our Instagram feeds, we couldn't help but comment on the Christmas posts from our friends.

"Look at Grace," Josh remarked, chuckling, "Why is her face so close to the camera?"

I laughed and said, "She's probably just excited about her first Christmas with Theo."

We continued scrolling, and when we came across Melanie's post, I couldn't help but smile. "Melanie looks so cute," I commented.

Josh nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she does."

Steph's post was next, and of course, Josh had to chime in. "Wow, Steph looks so hot," he said, earning an amused eye-roll from me. "What? I'm just stating the obvious."

We moved on to Lily's post, and Josh's comment surprised me. "I've been avoiding her this whole trip, and now I only see her back in that picture."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Well, maybe it's time to catch up with her."

Finally, we reached Jess's post. "Jess looks so hot with that black bikini on," I remarked, and Josh agreed with a nod.

It was fun sharing these moments and comments with Josh, even if he did tend to focus on the attractive aspects of our friends' photos.

As I looked into Josh's eyes, I could see a deep sincerity that made my heart skip a beat. I had to voice the question that had been on my mind for a while.

"You really like me, don't you?" I asked, my voice soft.

Josh's gaze remained fixed on mine, and he didn't hesitate for a moment before responding, "I fucking love you, Bea. Why do you ask?"

I took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of vulnerability and relief as I continued, "Because all those times when people thought you only liked white girls, and you were only with me to try and be with a black girl, I actually believed it, and..."

Before I could finish my sentence, Josh gently cut me off, his voice filled with emotion, "Bea, you're mine, and I'm yours, and I love you so much. What others say or think doesn't matter. You're the love of my life, and I'll spend every day proving that to you."Melanie's POV

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Theo had just asked Grace to move in with him, and it seemed like they were planning to share an apartment while we all went off to university. I felt a mixture of anger and frustration with myself. What had I been thinking, entertaining the idea that Theo and Grace might break up? I felt foolish and more than a little mad at myself.

As Theo continued to explain his plans to everyone, my mind was racing. Then, he dropped another bombshell. "There are two more bedrooms, and I'd like Bea and Josh to come with us, and Melanie."

I almost choked on my drink. "Me?" I blurted out, unable to hide the shock in my voice.

Theo looked at me and gave a reassuring smile. "Melanie, you're basically my best friend. It wouldn't be the same without you."

I couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions. Part of me was thrilled that he wanted me to be a part of this new adventure with him, but another part of me couldn't help but wonder if there was more to his invitation than met the eye. Either way, as long as I had Theo, it didn't seem to matter.

As I watched Grace's excitement about the idea of all of us living together in the same house, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. I loved the idea of being close to my friends, but I was also incredibly confused about my feelings for Theo and where we stood now.

Just then, Theo approached me and asked, "Mel, can we go talk?"

I nodded, my curiosity piqued. "Sure," I replied, starting to walk towards the balcony, but Theo stopped me.

"No, let's go upstairs," he said, his voice low and serious.

Theo's request for a private conversation left me with mixed feelings. I followed him upstairs, my heart pounding in my chest. The confusion about our situation and my feelings for him weighed heavily on my mind. We entered one of the bedrooms, and he closed the door behind us.

Theo turned to me, his expression serious, and then he surprised me by pulling me into a passionate kiss. For a moment, I lost myself in the familiar warmth of his embrace. The chemistry between us was undeniable, but I couldn't ignore the fact that he was still with Grace.

He kissed me so passionately I nearly forgot my own name. I felt his warm tongue brush against my lips. I opened my mouth and we kissed deeply, tasting each other. He put his hands around my waist and I ran my fingers through his hair.

He pulled away for a moment and looked deep into my eyes, then kissed my neck. I could feel his breath, and the sensation sent shivers down my spine. He continued to kiss my neck and then slowly began to kiss his way down my body. "Did you miss me?" he whispered.

I couldn't help myself. "Yes. I did," I gasped.

"How much did you miss me?"

"Every day. I thought about you every day."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Really?"

"Yes," I breathed.

"Well then, you can have me," he said, his voice husky with passion. "I'm yours. All yours. For as long as you want me. For the rest of your life. I'm yours."

I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. I didn't know what I had done to deserve someone as amazing as him. He made me feel special, and like a goddess. "What about Grace? We'll all be in the same house."

"She'll just have to live with it," he said, looking up at me.

"Okay," I whispered, smiling. "We're alone right now. I want you to take me. Make love to me.."

He smiled back. "I'm going to make love to you so hard you won't be able to walk straight," he promised.

"I can't wait," I said, and pulled him close for another deep kiss. I felt his hands on my body, and his fingers were everywhere. It was like he couldn't get enough of me.

"Stop" I said, pushing him away, breathless.

"Why? What's wrong?" he asked, confused.

"Nothing, but I can't have sex with you. I don't want to do anything that might cause problems for Grace. I don't want to risk upsetting her."

He stared at me. "What? Are you serious?"

"Yes," I nodded. "I know you don't understand, but...I don't want to hurt her. She's my friend now."

He groaned and rubbed his face. "This is so fucked up," he muttered.

"I'm sorry," I said, feeling bad.

He shook his head. "It's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong. I understand why you're worried, but..." He looked at me. "Are you really going to give up everything we have together just because of her?"

"No," I said firmly. "But I don't want to betray her, either."

"You're not betraying her," he said. "She knows that you and I have a thing."

"Shut the fuck up.No she doesn't."

He stared at me and smirked. "She doesn't know? At all?"

I shook my head. "I told you before, she would kill me if she found out. Besides, you don't want her to find out, either."

"Well, no, but..." He trailed off. "It doesn't make sense," he said finally.

"What doesn't make sense?"

"You two being friends. She's...Grace is..." He searched for the right word. "Different.

"You're different, too," I pointed out. "So am I. And so is she. That's why we're friends."

"But it's not normal," he insisted. "She's a bitch.

"You're one to talk," I said dryly. "She's not a bitch. She's just...emotionally unstable."

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever. You're still not fucking me."

"No," I said, sighing. "We're not. Not today."

"Not today? So maybe tomorrow? Or the next day? How about the next week? When is this ever going to happen?"

I bit my lip. "I don't know," I admitted.

"I can't do this," he said, frustrated. "I can't just be with you without touching you, or kissing you, or...I need more than that."

"I know," I said, feeling sad. "I'm sorry. I wish it could be different. I really do."

He sighed and leaned against the wall. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea," he said.

"What?"

"Us. Being together."

I stared at him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean...maybe we should just end this."

"But...I don't want to stop being with you," I protested.

"Neither do I," he said. "But if we keep doing this, and nothing changes, then what's the point? I can't live like this, constantly wanting you but never getting you."

"So you want to break up?" I asked, trying not to cry.

"No, of course not. But maybe...maybe we should take a break. Spend some time apart.

"How long?"

"I don't know.

———————————————————————————

Bea's POV

As we stand there, the two of us, on the tranquil beach, the sun dipping below the horizon casting shades of orange and pink across the sky, everything seems to fall into place. Our gazes lock, and a warmth spreads through me as our smiles synchronize.

He leans in, his voice soft as he confesses, "I've always loved your smile." The words send a flutter through my heart, and before I know it, our lips meet in a sweet, lingering kiss. Time seems to stand still as the world around us fades into insignificance.

Pulling away slightly, I muster the courage to express what's been in my heart for so long. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you," I whisper, my eyes searching his for any sign of hesitation. Instead, he grins, a radiant happiness washing over his face. Without a word, he takes my hand in his, and together, we start walking along the shore, the waves gently lapping at our feet.

Inhaling deeply, I savour the salty tang of the sea in the air, the breeze tousling my hair with its gentle caress. He draws me closer, his arm wrapping around my shoulder, and I melt into his warmth. In this moment, there's nothing else but us, our love, and the world around us.

With my head resting on his shoulder, he leans down and kisses my hair, the sensation sending shivers down my spine. Thoughts swirl in my mind, but there's one thing I'm absolutely sure of: with him by my side, there's nothing we can't overcome. I close my eyes briefly, relishing the feeling of his presence.

"This is the best moment of my life," I think to myself, a contented smile on my face. I silently wish that this moment, this perfect blend of love and serenity, could stretch on forever, an eternal embrace on this picturesque beach.

The sun was warm on our skin as we strolled along the beach, the waves lapping gently at the shore. It was a perfect day, and Josh's presence made it even better. He turned to me with that mischievous glint in his eye and said, "Guess what?"

I grinned, playing along. "What?"

He chuckled, his voice filled with affection. "Bea, you're perfect."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, though a smile tugged at my lips. "Guess what."

He raised an eyebrow, still wearing that boyish grin. "What?"

I paused for a moment, looking out at the vast expanse of the ocean. Then I turned to him and said, "You're a liar."

Josh laughed, wrapping an arm around my waist as we continued our walk along the beach. "I am not. Perfection is perception, and you're perfect to me."

The sea breeze tousled our hair as I leaned in to kiss him, our lips meeting in a sweet, lingering moment. When we finally pulled away, Josh had that boyish grin on his face again.

"You're the realest bitch I will ever put my lips on," he whispered, his voice warm and affectionate.

I couldn't help but chuckle at his playful words. "Shut up," I teased.

His eyes sparkled with mischief. "Make me," he challenged, leaning in for another kiss, and I gladly obliged, savouring the taste of his lips against mine, grateful for this perfect day with the imperfectly perfect guy I loved.

As Josh and I scrolled through our Instagram feeds, we couldn't help but comment on the Christmas posts from our friends.

"Look at Grace," Josh remarked, chuckling, "Why is her face so close to the camera?"

I laughed and said, "She's probably just excited about her first Christmas with Theo."

We continued scrolling, and when we came across Melanie's post, I couldn't help but smile. "Melanie looks so cute," I commented.

Josh nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she does."

Steph's post was next, and of course, Josh had to chime in. "Wow, Steph looks so hot," he said, earning an amused eye-roll from me. "What? I'm just stating the obvious."

We moved on to Lily's post, and Josh's comment surprised me. "I've been avoiding her this whole trip, and now I only see her back in that picture."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Well, maybe it's time to catch up with her."

Finally, we reached Jess's post. "Jess looks so hot with that black bikini on," I remarked, and Josh agreed with a nod.

It was fun sharing these moments and comments with Josh, even if he did tend to focus on the attractive aspects of our friends' photos.

As I looked into Josh's eyes, I could see a deep sincerity that made my heart skip a beat. I had to voice the question that had been on my mind for a while.

"You really like me, don't you?" I asked, my voice soft.

Josh's gaze remained fixed on mine, and he didn't hesitate for a moment before responding, "I fucking love you, Bea. Why do you ask?"

I took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of vulnerability and relief as I continued, "Because all those times when people thought you only liked white girls, and you were only with me to try and be with a black girl, I actually believed it, and..."

Before I could finish my sentence, Josh gently cut me off, his voice filled with emotion, "Bea, you're mine, and I'm yours, and I love you so much. What others say or think doesn't matter. You're the love of my life, and I'll spend every day proving that to you."