Chapter 4
It wasn't really shocking. It was supposed to be inevitable, right? Like the sun would rise the following morning, and Namtan would forget to lock her damn apartment door.
The sex talk was inevitable.
"I...I think we should have the talk."
The initial shock wasn't as bad.
"Hmm?" Namtan hummed, turning towards Film. "What talk?"
"The sex talk."
Film's lips were numb when she uttered the words, as if they were taboo, like a child in primary school. She twiddled her thumbs like a reproached schoolchild.
Namtan's eyes widened and she paused the show, eyes freezing when she noticed it happened to be in the middle of one of Game of Throne's many risqué sex scenes.
"Well... that's fitting." Namtan muttered as she promptly shut the screen off, not missing Film's reddened cheeks.
Namtan then turned to her, legs dangling off the couch, as she and Film were just inches apart.
"Film, listen very carefully." Namtan spoke, and Film's eyes were fixated on the lips that had just uttered the command, as she found herself licking her own.
Film nodded just a bit, a signal that she understood.
"Well, Film..." Namtan sighed. "When two people love each other very very much..." Namtan smirked, doing her best impression of an elementary school teacher trying to describe intercourse to her students.
Film smacked Namtan on the arm, eyes narrowing in response as a hidden smile graced her full lips.
"Ow!" Namtan rubbed her arm, frowning. "What was that for?"
"I know what sex is, Namtan." Film rolled her eyes. "I meant what about... our sex? How do we..." Film was fumbling for the correct terminology, and Namtan was enjoying every damn second.
Namtan's smirk returned. "I like to think you're a top, but-"
Another slap on the arm.
"Christ, Namtan!" Film bit her lip in embarrassment. "Not what I meant."
Namtan sighed, smiling still. "Okay, okay. I couldn't resist."
Film cocked her head to the side. "I... what's our stance on it? And public displays of affection in general?"
Namtan grinned. "Pro-sex, obviously."
Film rolled her eyes, rising. "If you're not going to take this seriously..."
"Film, wait! I'm sorry." Namtan's apology wasn't enough to stop her.
Namtan pulled her back down, perhaps with a bit too much force, as Film fell backwards into Namtan's lap.
Both girls froze, hearts hammering, chests rising and falling particularly quickly.
"See?" Namtan breathed. "Top."
Film immediately blushed at feeling Namtan's breath on her exposed neck.
"So... we're comfortable with it?" Film asked meekly.
Namtan cocked a brow. "What's got you so worked up about this? You're never this jumpy."
Film's rebuttal was fair. "You said that your friends would ask this kind of stuff."
Namtan smirked. "Oh yeah. That's not entirely out of the realm of possibility."
"So, we need to get our story straight." Film cleared her throat. "Like... our intimate story."
Film blinked in the moment of silence, realizing what she'd said was, perhaps, not specific enough. "You know..." she added. "To, erm... determine how our dynamic will be."
"Right, right." Namtan nodded, blowing out a breath, failing to see how Film’s skin erupted goosebumps when she felt Namtan’s hot breath against her skin. Namtan wasn't exactly sure how to proceed. "So you mean like, what are our roles?"
Film choked a little on her own spit. "That's maybe a bit specific. Just in general... what are we like? What is our relationship like?" She began to sound frantic. "God, if they found out we never slept together, it'll ruin everything I worked for and memorized, and Namtan, we need this, I can't-"
"Film!" Namtan's eyes widened. "Whoa, slow down!"
Film took a breath, reddening. "Sorry, I... uh, I panicked."
Namtan nodded, smiling amusedly. "I'm good at this stuff."
Film raised a sculpted brow. "How does one become good at 'this stuff'?"
"Just follow my lead." Namtan announced, facing her fully once more.
Everything was silent. The hum of the television was gone, the neighbors eerily quiet, and the street traffic dimmed to a minimum.
The evening light, combined with a few of Film's scented candles, created a tangible peace between the two.
Film could hear Namtan's deep breaths, and tried to conceal her own shallow attempts at getting sufficient oxygen.
She hated how Namtan did that to her.
She felt like a lame nerd who'd fallen hopelessly for the cheerleading queen in high school.
Except Film Racha didn't fall for anyone.
"So, we need to discover our dynamic." Namtan clapped her hands together, Film's attention snapping back.
"No big deal, we're already close, right?" Namtan added.
Film nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat.
"So, let's just...." Namtan shrugged. "Maybe I'll try a few signature moves..."
Film raised a brow. "Signature moves? What is this, a slam dunk contest?"
Namtan smirked. "It's only a slam dunk if we go all the way, babe."
Film rolled her eyes. "Namtan, are you sure you're not a secret frat boy?"
Namtan let out an amused chuckle, and Film mirrored her grin. "Sorry, couldn't resist."
"I seriously don't understand how you expect to OH, hmmm Namtan..." Film was cut off mid-sentence by the tiniest of surprised whimpers, Namtan pulling her over her waist, so that Film was facing her, knees on either side of Namtan.
"What are you-"
"Shh." Namtan hushed her. "Relax. I'm getting a feel for you."
Film's eyes widened as Namtan's hand supported her, while the other traced the ghosts of patterns on her thigh.
And Film was reacting.
Film was turned on by her best friend touching her.
God, this was so perverse and wrong.
And right.
The evening air wasn't causing the chills that were raised on Film's exposed skin as she struggled to keep herself together.
"Your hands." Namtan murmured. It wasn't demanding, it was just right. "My hair."
"I, what?" Film balked.
"Tangle your hands in my hair." Namtan repeated softly, and her doe eyes bore into Film's feline gaze, both challenging her and telling her to let herself go simultaneously.
Film released her fingers into Namtan's blonde locks, fighting off a sound at the base of her throat.
What the hell was happening?
She'd only had dreams like this, maybe once or twice.
Namtan leaned forward, her grasp on Film tightening as she breathed along Film's neck.
Film's chills intensified.
Namtan's lips were just centimeters away from Film's.
Film closed her eyes, her mouth parting slightly, inviting Namtan to taste her, to connect them fully.
It was going to happen. She'd thought about it and fixated on it for so long, and now it was going to be a reality and she wasn't sure how to react.
She swore she felt Namtan brush against her lips just the absolute tiniest bit, but when she opened her eyes, they were distanced from her own.
"So..." Namtan shrugged awkwardly. "I mean, that felt okay to me."
"Um..." Film breathed. "Yeah."
"Of course, if we kiss there, we'll actually do it." Namtan muttered as Film slid off her numbly.
"Yes." Film nodded slowly, turning to Namtan. "Are you exhausted? I'm exhausted. I think I should retire, for the evening."
Namtan raised a brow. "Really? It's 7:45."
Film blushed as she glanced at the clock.
Oh.
"Right..." Film nodded. "I think I'll just take a bath? I don't know, Namtan, work has me stressed." She rose promptly.
Namtan nodded, eyebrows furrowed. "You want a back massage or something? I'm told I'm great with my hands..."
Film's eyes widened as she immediately thought of terribly obscene scenarios. "Oh, I um, No, thank you, my... I... I'm good."
Namtan watched her disappear into her bedroom wordlessly. What an odd one Film was.
"Night, Babi!" Namtan called after her, eyeing the remote. Film had HBO, and she had to finish that episode.
Besides, she couldn't go back to her apartment. She'd just replay the almost-kiss over and over again, and how much Film... didn't want it.
"Goodnight, Namtan." She heard Film sigh from the other side of the wall.
Neither of the two girls slept particularly well, their dreams plagued by each other.
*
The following day, Namtan made herself scarce by taking a trip to the local art gallery, hoping to perhaps find some peace of mind.
Instead, she found perhaps a little too much peace of mind.
Namtan had never been more bored in her life.
People passed in and out in awe of the works displayed before them, some of them even people Namtan had considered "hot regulars" in the past.
There was that blonde she'd been eyeing for at least a year. And that guy who always came with his lame artsy girlfriend. He'd been the highlight of Namtan's day at one point.
And now, it all meant nothing.
The worst part was, she knew why. She'd just had an adrenaline inducing, full on nearly sexual encounter with Film Racha.
It made her heart hammer and her palms sweat just thinking about it.
She'd tried to play it off by acting cool and collected, but that was hardly it.
How could she be?
Namtan had never felt like this in her life.
And even there, amongst the champagne and chatter of wealthy patrons and great masterpieces, Namtan felt hollow inside.
So, she succumbed to the temptations of her generation and pulled out her smartphone, leaning against the wall on the quieter side of the gallery, near her favorite work by a local artist like herself.
Namtan's thumbs twitched in anticipation as they embarked on a familiar game of "will they/ won't they?".
They did.
Pulling up Film's contact in her phone, neatly organized and labeled, "Nerd" with a red heart next to it, Namtan decided to try and mend their awkward encounter.
God knows it had seared her mind long enough.
Dork (4:15 PM): Hey.
Dork: Srry I missed our run today.
At first, there was nothing. No response, no lighting of her screen, no tri-tone warning of relief.
And then, after several minutes, the gods took pity on Namtan Tipnaree.
Nerd: Well, I don't blame you. I'm pretty sure I heard you cussing out Cersei Lannister in the wee hours of the morning.
Namtan snorted at her screen. She had done that.
Dork: Wait u were up?
Namtan sniggered to herself, knowing full well that Film had an aversion to texting grammar.
Nerd: ...
Namtan bit her lip, realizing Film had probably relayed that information unwillingly.
She decided to save Film the pain of having to explain herself.
Dork: I hope I'm not interrupting ur work schedule or anything
The answer came quickly, this time.
Nerd: Of course not, Namtan. I wouldn't respond if I couldn't.
Namtan heaved a sigh of relief.
Okay, so last night was a bit awkward. Sure, the pasta and the wine Film had so maturely paired it with was fantastically numbing.
And yes, maybe she did almost make out with her best friend. For practice reasons.
Okay, so it was less than ideal.
But Namtan Tipnaree was never one to back away from a challenge, and she certainly wasn't going to let the awkwardness between them get to her. Especially seeing as they had only a few days before the big reunion.
She figured she had to mend the bridge before it broke off completely, into the raging waters of shame below.
Dork: Dinner at my place @ 7?
Nerd: Aren't we passed the "asking out" phase?
Namtan rolled her eyes endearingly. How was she like that even over text?
Fine, Namtan could be grammatically correct if she had to play Film's game. Texting lingo didn't do her sass the justice it deserved.
Dork: You can't lie about having plans, by the way. I'll just look through the hole in the wall and spy on you.
Nerd: ...how romantic.
Dork: ;)
Nerd: I'm assuming you'll be ordering pizza.
Dork: ...yes.
Nerd: Fine. 7 it is.