"The One" – Part 79

Summary and additional notes in part 1.

Author's Note: In this chapter we'll get the POV of an often referenced character, whose inner thoughts we haven't seen since chapter 4!

This is not related to my Degrassi timeline fics. (See my Author's profile for details!)

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Degrassi!

-oOo-

Beth stared at her phone again. The words had already been committed to memory, and her short replies sent but she found herself re-reading them again. She snapped her phone shut, disgusted with herself.

Today had been an alright day. She got a lot of work done in the studio during the morning. Around 1:00PM she had a meeting with a prospective buyer, who was interested in one of the pieces in her Fall art show. In the afternoon, she met up with group of fellow artists to discuss a Guerilla-style art project that they were planning for next month. Halfway through the meeting, she received a text message from the last person she expected to hear from.

After a month of radio silence, her Ex of two years asked her to meet up. Beth wasn't stupid. She knew it probably had more to do with smoothing things over for their shared friends than actually making amends. From her words and actions, it was clear to her that Fiona had no regrets. Beth wished she could say the same.

The hardest part of their break up, was that she hadn't seen it coming. Sure they had recently gone through a rough patch, but they had come out on the other side. Their relationship was getting better and they were starting to get on the same page about their future. Then without warning, it all came crashing down.

Beth sighed as she dialed a familiar number. It rang five times before the person on the other line picked up.

"Samantha Lehrer, here. How may I help you?" a calm voice asked.

Beth smirked. After all these years her mother had yet to get caller ID on her office phone! "It's me, Mom. I'm returning your call."

"Oh," Mrs. Lehrer responded. She had called her daughter about an hour ago. "Mary Beth, how are you?"

Beth rolled her eyes at the usage of her full name. "It's just Beth," she reminded her. "And I'm fine. What did you want?"

Her mother paused. "Are you sure? You sound a little sad."

Beth sighed and ran a hand through her honey blonde hair. Beth's mother was a therapist and her father was a chiropractor. Both parents put their skill sets to use at home too. Growing up she and her sister didn't mind their dad's input. It came in handy whenever they were hurt. However, when they reached their teen years, their mother's ability to read people so well was problematic. It was amazing how much she could tell from just the sound of their voice!

"I'm fine, mom," she insisted.

"Okay, then. You know that you can always talk to me," her mother reiterated.

"I know. So what did you want to tell me?" Beth pressed. She was getting impatient. "I have to hop on the train in a few minutes."

"Oh, right. I don't want to hold you up. I wanted to know if you could swing by the house and feed Dottie. Your father and I both have to work late tonight," Mrs. Lehrer informed her. "I would have asked Libby, but she doesn't get out of dance rehearsal until 7:30PM." Beth's schedule was more flexible since she didn't have a 9-to-5 job.

Beth held back a groan. She didn't want to go all the way to Brooklyn, only to turn back around and head uptown to Inwood! "I can't. I have plans tonight."

"You do?" her mother asked.

"I do," Beth asserted. She didn't elaborate. There was no point in getting her mom excited for nothing. "Listen, I need to catch the train. If there isn't anything else…"

"No, it's okay, honey. I was hoping you could stop by since you would get there sooner, but I'll ask Libby."

Beth felt a little guilty, but Libby lived in Brooklyn also so it would be easier for her!

"Have a good day, my darling. I love you," her mother told her.

Beth smiled. "I love you, too."

-oOo-

When Beth got back to the townhouse she immediately went to the kitchen and poured herself a cold glass of water. Today had been pretty warm outside, and the subway had been even warmer! She then went to the Den, looking forward to collapsing on the comfy couch. However, when she got there, she found that she was not alone.

"Hey," her roommate Tami and their friend Simone said at the same time.

Beth threw them a quizzical look before sitting down. "What are you guys up to?"

The two of them exchanged a knowing look. Beth frowned, already knowing what they were going to say.

"I don't want to talk about it," she declared and took a sip of water.

"If she doesn't want to talk, we shouldn't push her," Tami said. "Besides, she has a date to get ready for!"

Beth nodded in agreement. Tami always had her back! However, she was less than thrilled about the blind date tonight that her friend talked her into. She never had any luck with them in the past.

Simone shook her head. "This date is a good step forward, just as making amends with Fiona would be."

Beth and Tami both narrowed their eyes at the mention of the name.

Simone scoffed. "Enough! It's been a month! She can't stay persona non grata forever. You know too many of the same people," she reasoned.

"You don't get to tell me how soon I should get over a two year relationship," Beth countered in an even tone. "Especially one that ended the way that it did."

Tami nodded vigorously.

Simone sighed. "It sucks. Believe me, I've had my share of shitty break ups. But we're all human, and we're all flawed. Sometimes we hurt each oth–"

"Cheating on your longtime partner of two years is a choice. Not a flaw," Tami interjected.

"There's no proof that she cheated," Simone argued.

"No one goes for 'coffee' and magically falls in love with someone else!" Beth refuted. "I'm not stupid! One minute we're trying to sort out our shit, and put together a timetable getting our own place. The next she's out the door and shacking up with some dude!" Fiona told her she wanted to renew the lease at the townhouse for another year and then they could start making concrete plans. It was a compromise because Beth wanted to move sooner.

Her friends looked at her sadly and she hated it. She didn't want to be bitter. But she knew she was. Her heart had been smashed and her hopes had been dashed. The rug had been pulled from under her feet and she was still waiting for her world to settle, whereas her Ex had moved on to greener pastures.

After a long moment Tami broke the silence.

"I don't think you should meet up tomorrow. It's only going to bring up bad feelings."

Beth slowly nodded.

"I disagree," Simone said firmly. "You have a ton of unresolved issues with her. The way things ended so suddenly. I think you two should speak, because if nothing else it will give you answers. The more you talk about it with us, the more we continue to talk in circles."

Beth considered her words. "I… I have to get ready." Simone looked at her confused as she started towards her room. "I have a date!"

-oOo-

When Gretchen walked through the door she was a little apprehensive. Her book launch party was tomorrow night. What should be a happy time was marred a little by the feeling of walking on egg shells whenever she was home. It was of course related to their fourth roommate, who had recently flown the coop!

Gretchen had invited Tami and Beth to her dinner party on Monday night, but Beth couldn't go because of a previous engagement. Still, Beth was angry that Gretchen had invited Fiona and her new partner! Tami refused to go because Fiona would be there, and the mood around the townhouse had become a little tense! Gretchen hated it, but this morning the three of them had gotten along fine during breakfast. It finally seemed like the craziness had passed and it was water under the bridge.

"Anyone home?" Gretchen called out as she walked into the Den. She saw Tami and Simone sitting on the couch. They waved hello before turning away. "What are you guys waiting for?" she asked intrigued.

Beth emerged from her room, wearing a short, brown party dress with spaghetti straps.

"What do you guys think?" she asked.

Gretchen grinned. It was a long time since she had seen Beth generally giddy. "You look hot!"

They all laughed and nodded in agreement.

"This is for your date, right?" Gretchen asked as she took off her messenger bag and sank into one of the empty chairs.

"Yep!" Beth affirmed.

"It's with this girl I know named Sarah. She's a writer but she works part-time at the coffee shop by my job," Tami revealed.

Everyone involuntarily winced at the mention of 'coffee shop'!

"Sorry," Tami apologized, realizing her faux pas!

Beth sighed as she shook her head. Going to the coffee shop was another thing that Fiona had ruined for her! She often wondered what would have happened if she had said 'yes' and gone with her to meet Adam. Would they still be together? Or would Fiona have eventually left her for him anyway?

"It's okay. I'm not a fragile piece of glass," Beth asserted.

"Well, you could have fooled me," Gretchen told her. She couldn't help being blunt. It was part of who she was.

Beth chuckled. "I admit, I've been a bit of a drama queen lately. But no more."

Gretchen smiled. "I hope so."

.

tbc

A/N: A lot ground was covered in this chapter, and we've learn quite a bit about Beth! Does this change what you think about her? Or not?

They say that there are three sides to every story. Beth and Fiona seemed to remember where their relationship was headed quite differently. Wonder where the truth lies…

Reviews are like tip jar for writers ;-)

In the next chapter… Fadam! (like I originally promised yesterday, haha)