Chapter 19: You gave away the things you love, and one of them was me

Two days after Valentine's, Beth went to The Hummel-Anderson residence to talk to Zach. He hasn't returned her calls, and never responded to her texts or Facebook messages. She was broken. And crushed. And she knew it was her fault. But what could she do? Arnold was a good man. And Zach is, too, but she's with Arnold—

Her thinking was disrupted as Kurt opened the door, "Oh, Bethie," He greeted, kissing her on the cheek, "What a pleasant surprise!"

Beth tried to smiled, "Is Zach inside?"

"Yeah, he's—" Kurt glanced inside and saw Zach getting down the stairs, "Oh there he is…Zach! Beth's here."

Zach didn't know what to say.

"Come in," Kurt told Beth as Blaine gave her a little wave, "Anyway, we have to go," He smiled, "Sunday lunch with your mom, Finn and Rachel and everyone else. Rachel's hosting this time."

"Thanks, Mr. Hummel," She smiled.

"See you, Beth," Blaine said, as he kissed her goodbye.

"Thanks," Beth muttered.

And then Kurt and Blaine went off. Beth closed the door as she went inside.

"What are you doing here?" Zach asked.

"You aren't responding to my texts…or calls…or—"

"And what do you want me to say? Congratulations? I'm happy for you? Oh we were planning our future and then you just say yes to your boyfriend?" Zach sounded really hurt which killed Beth even more.

"I'm sorry," She said, tearing up, "I—"

"Oh, dammit, Beth," He said, "What happened in those few seconds? You just changed your mind, huh? We were planning to make things right, but what did you do?"

"I just can't hurt him," She said, her voice breaking, "Zach, he's a good man…and he's my boyfriend and—"

"And you could've said no!" He said, "Don't you understand what you've done, Beth? You only made things worse."

She took a deep breath, "It was Valentine's."

"It doesn't matter."

"Don't you think this hurts me too?"

"Then why are you doing this?"

"I just…I just can't hurt him, Zach. I can't."

"But you can hurt me?"

"Maybe we just can't be together," She said, "Maybe…I mean…Just see the timing, Zach. Right after we talked, he proposed."

"You were supposed to make a choice, not let him make the choice for you."

She bit her lip, "I'm sorry."

"I am, too," He said.

"Zach,"

"You know what?" He said, "Maybe, you're right. Maybe we should do what you think is right—"

"Zach—"

"Maybe we should just pretend like that talk never happened. Maybe you shouldn't even be here right now. You're engaged."

"I'm sorry."

"Just…" He said, "Just go."

"Zach, you're my bestfriend."

"Maybe I can't be anymore."

She stood there for a few seconds without saying anything. And then the reality of what he said hit her. They couldn't be friends. It's all or nothing.

"I'm sorry," She muttered silently, her voice strained by tears, "I'm so sorry." And then she ran away.