41. I like you, Beth.

LUCA.

Immediately after Beth left the get-together, an argument ensued between us. I didn't know what to say, so I sat there without any contributions.

"You should have just let it go, Grace. That was very unnecessary." Tony said to her with a serious expression on his face. I could tell that he was pissed that Beth left like that.

"Excuse me?" Grace said and shot at Tony. "How is that my fault? She claimed to not be able to do the simple dare given to her. We even allowed her to do something else and she said she couldn't, and you want the game to go on with her? Isn't that unfair and absurd?"

"Still, Grace. It was very unnecessary. You should have just let it go. Is it how she stormed out now that's the best thing?" Tony questioned. If he wasn't careful, someone will mention that he was being protective of Beth and suspicions might arise from there. He should just let it go. She has gone anyway and she won't come back even if we all argue.

"And why are you even bothered about her? If you care so much, why don't you pick up your car keys and run after her?" Grace scoffed. She was beginning to get pissed too.

"Guys!" Yeesha called, trying to put an end to the whole thing. "Guys! Just calm down. We should just go on with the game. This is very unnecessary!"

Tony snapped at her immediately. "This wouldn't have gone south if you didn't ask her to do a stupid dare, okay? So, let us have this discussion now and get it over with."

A look of shock crossed Yeesha's face with the reply Tony gave her. She immediately looked at Janet, and Janet motioned to her to calm down and not to say anything. Something about how they were acting made me think they knew something.

"I never knew Tony was this petty. At this rate, I'm done with this stupid game. I'm going home," Grace said and got up from the mat, but Lara pulled her back down. "What?!" She snapped at Lara.

"Hey!" Lara raised her hand, trying to motion to her not to shout at her for any reason whatsoever. "Why are you shouting? And who did you just call petty? You know me, Grace. I don't take slanders when it comes to my man."

"Oh, I forgot you're the Lara, but I never knew when you started protecting the numerous me—"

"How dare you!" Lara glared at her. It felt like she was trying to stop Grace from saying something, but I didn't stress it. It was none of my business anyway.

"Maybe if you're vigilant enough, you'd see that the whole scene Tony caused after Beth left was unnecessary. Why is he so pained that she left? She's not even his babe! And I get that she's your best friend, but don't you ever, because of that, scream at me. Is that clear?!" She yelled and without waiting for nobody's reply, she picked up her purse and walked out of the house, slamming the door shut behind her.

Immediately after she left, Janet spoke. "I guess this is the end of the night. I'll be taking my leave too." She said and stood up to pick up her bag. She then faced Yeesha. "Are you coming?"

"Sure." She said and picked up her purse from the table. She then turned to Lara. "We'll check on Grace when she's calm. Then we'd go see Beth later, even though she's the cause of all this. But one thing you have to know is that your friends of so many years come before any man. Even if that man is your so-called fiancé." She faced Janet again. "Let's go."

Yeesha and Janet were almost at the door when Lara said aloud, loud enough for both of them to hear. "Nobody is going to tell me or teach me how I live my life. I choose whoever I want to, and that's it. If I feel like my man is more deserving of me siding with him than my so-called friends, then I'd do so. But what I want you to know is that you can't teach me what to do."

"No problem," Yeesha said and turned to look in her direction. "You feel that way because you've always felt like the leader in our clique, whereas there shouldn't be one. But it's okay. I'll let it go." Without waiting for Lara's reply, Yeesha opened the door and walked out, and Janet followed, closing the door gently behind her.

I was about to get up from the mat and head upstairs to my room when Lara spoke. "And you," she said, facing Tony. "What was all that? Why did you cause a scene because Beth left? I mean, Grace was right, but I just couldn't let her win the argument because I must always win."

"I'm in no mood for this tonight, Lara. Just go home." He said and picked up his phone on the chair before walking out of the sitting room.

"What the fuck?!" Lara yelled and stamped her right foot on the ground. Standing a few meters away behind her, I was staring at her with folded arms when she suddenly turned to face me. "What's with your brother today?" She asked.

"I don't understand any of everything that just happened here, so please, leave me out of this. Thank you." I said and picked up my car key on the chair and headed towards the door.

"Just wow. What a night." I heard her say, and she continued to rant as I opened the door and walked out of the house.

I pulled over in front of Beth's house, and after locking the car, I headed for her door. After knocking twice, she opened the door and I entered.

"So, back to my question. Why are you here?" She questioned me.

"To see you, duh." I blurted out as I shot my head in her direction. "Plus, we have something to discuss."

"Uhm, what?" She asked me with raised eyebrows. "Why? Hope everything is fine?"

"Sure. I just want to speak to you about something. It's been on my mind and if I don't say it soon, it might have to bother me for the rest of my life. And if it doesn't end well either, I'd know I said it. And me saying it means I have no regrets whatsoever." I said, but it sounded to me like I was ranting.

"Okay?" She asked, looking at me with a confused stare on her face.

I walked closer to her, a little space now between both of us. Then, I looked down at her face, since I was a bit taller than her. "I like you, Beth."