Chapter 4
1363 Words
With that, he strode away and left Lucas and Bethany staring at each other in an awkward silence.
Lucas shifted. His mind raced. He hadn't anticipated seeing her so soon, let alone under these circumstances. His father trying to set them up? Ridiculous.
Bethany folded her arms over her chest, a guarded look upon her face. "Well. This is awkward."
"Well," she started off coolly but firmly, "Small world, isn't it?"
Lucas still reeling his head from what was happening, finding words as he cleared his throat. "Yeah… very small."
His father did not know any of their history, and yet here they were, thrown together again by some twisted stroke of fate.
She cast a glance around the room, noticing from time to time people's eyes on them, interested in the encounter between Henry Grey's son and her
"Look, Lucas,"
"Let's just get through this with no more drama than we have to. I'll give you space, and you can return to pretending that I do not exist, like it never bothered you back then."
Lucas winced. Her words stung, but they were well-deserved. He did more than ignore her back in college; he participated in her humiliation.
It gnawed at him now more than ever.
That's not what I want," he said, actually catching himself off guard with just how true that sounded. Bethany c****d an eyebrow in skepticism.
"Oh, really?" she asked sarcastically.
"So then, what do you want, Lucas? A do-over? Another chance to mock me? Because I can promise you, that is not going to happen."
"No," he hurriedly cut in.
"That's not it at all. I know I messed up. I've been thinking about it ever since the reunion.”
Bethany laughed scornfully. "So, what—you feel guilty now that I've lost weight and can fit into your world?"
Lucas’s face flushed. “It’s not like that
“Isn’t it?” she challenged, stepping closer.
"You didn't care who I was before, when I was just 'Fat Betty".
Now you're suddenly interested because I look different? Because I'm… acceptable?"
Lucas opened his mouth to argue, but nothing came out.
She wasn't wrong; he had ignored her, dismissed her. And now, having her in front of him, not just physically changed, but carrying herself with confidence and poise, it was impossible not to notice.
But it was more than her appearance. There was something about her that had always been there, something he had been too blind, too immature to see back then.
"I was an i***t," he said, his voice low. "I know that. And I'm not asking you to forgive me or give me a second chance. I just… I want you to know that I see you now, Bethany. Really see you."
Bethany's eyes softened for a moment but she quickly steeled herself again.
She wasn't going to be swayed by words. Not after all the hurt he had caused. People didn't change in the blink of an eye.
"Great for you," she said with a flat voice.
"But I didn't come here for your approval. I have worked hard to get to where I am, and I don't need you, or for that matter anyone else, to 'see' me."
Their conversation was interrupted by Bianca, who had just arrived.
"Unbelievable," Bianca huffed loud enough to let her presence be known. "This is what you're doing, Lucas?"
Lucas spun around, startled. "Bianca, what are you-
Bianca didn't let him finish. "I felt sorry about the way we left things off at the reunion and came to apologize, but you're here with her? What's going on?"
"This isn't what you think." Bethany replied.
Bianca shot her a glare. "I don't need your explanation. I'm asking Lucas."
Lucas let out a sigh, clearly uncomfortable. "Look, it's not a big deal. My dad invited her-
"Your dad invited her?" Bianca cut in, her voice taking on a higher pitch. "Why would he do that?"
Bethany lifted one eyebrow at the clear and growing frustration heard within Bianca's increasing tone. "Our dads are friends. This is not about you."
Finally, Bianca's frustration boiled over. "Not about me? You're flirting with my boyfriend and you're telling me it's not about me?"
"Alright, that's enough. Bianca, you're turning this into something it's not.”
Lucas said, stepping between them
Bethany was losing her patience. "Believe what you like, Bianca. I don't owe you an explanation."
"Oh, you think that you are so much better now, don't you?" Bianca stepped closer, her eyes burning with anger.
"Just because on the outside you have changed doesn't mean you've changed on the inside. You are still that same girl, desperate for attention.”
Bethany's jaw clenched, but she didn't back off. "If you are so sure about how things are between you and Lucas, why are you feeling so threatened by me?"
Bianca blinked once, taken aback for the moment. "Threatened? By you? Please."
Lucas threw up his hands, openly exasperated. "This is getting out of hand. Can we stop this?
But Bianca ignored him, turning all her attention to Bethany. "You're here trying to worm your way into his life. I can see right through it."
Bethany took a deep breath. "Honestly, I'm not here to fight with you, Bianca. I don't care about whatever issues you two have. I'm here because Mr Grey invited us. That's all.
Oh, now she's best friends with Mr. Grey too?" Bianca sneered.
"What, you think that'll make Lucas come running to you? Newsflash, he's with me."
Lucas continued to try and calm her down
"Bianca, stop. You're making a scene over nothing. Stop overreacting.
Overreacting?" Bianca shrilled. "You think it's overreacting that I'm upset my boyfriend is hanging out with a girl who clearly still has feelings for him?"
Bethany laughed softly, accompanied with a shake of her head. "Feelings for him? You're really reaching for that one."
Bianca's eyes flashed. "Oh, so you don't? You expect me to believe that?
Bethany met her gaze calm but firm. "I'm not here for Lucas. I've moved on, Bianca. Maybe you should too."
Bianca took another step closer, her temper peaked. "Don't act like you're above it all. You're still that same pathetic girl, and deep down, you know it!"
At this, Bethany opened her mouth to say something, when Bianca's hand shot out and slapped her hard across the face.
It was as if, at that moment, time stood still in that room, as the echo reverberated and sent Lucas and Bethany into utter shock.
Bethany was taken aback but refused to back away. The stinging cheek she reached with her hand, her eyes now set dead level on Bianca's. She slapped her back with just that much force.
The slap connected with a sharp crack, sending Bianca reeling in shock. "You. you dare-" Bianca sputtered, clutching her cheek, her face in disbelief.
"I am not that girl anymore, Bianca," Bethany said with a calm voice, though her heart was running. "And if you ever lay a hand on me again, you'll regret it."
Lucas held back Bianca's arm to stop her from making things worse. "Bianca, stop it! This isn't helping.
Bianca whipped around to him, her eyes going wild with anger. "She slapped me, Lucas! Are you seriously going to stand there and defend her?"
"You slapped her first! What did you expect?
"I can't believe this. You're taking her side, Lucas. After everything we've been through, you're choosing her?
Lucas ran a hand through his hair, openly frustrated. "I'm not choosing anyone! This is ridiculous. Both of you need to stop.
Bethany stepped back, still rubbing at her cheek, and shook her head. "You two need to figure your stuff out. I'm not interested in being part of this mess."
She turned and walked toward the door, leaving Bianca fuming while Lucas struggled to keep this situation from spiraling out of control.
"Bethany, wait—" he called after her, but she didn't stop.
Bianca gave him a stare and shook her head. "Go after her then. See if I care."
“What's going on here!” Lucas’s father showed up, visibly annoyed.
- Writer
