Chapter 6
Film nearly jumped up in surprise at the frantic knocking on her door, the echoes reverberating through her apartment walls.
She knew it was Namtan, and yet, she was still a bit surprised.
Namtan Tipnaree, just like her friends, had never really taken to knocking.
At least as far as Film knew, anyway.
"Film!" Namtan called exasperatedly, deciding to screw formalities and push the door open regardless of Film's position. "We have to move!"
Film glanced up at her from her position on her couch, laptop hot on her lap as she listened to the rhythmic ringing of her outgoing Skype call.
Film was probably saying bye to Bonnie.
Namtan's gaze softened immediately as she trailed off. "I can come back." She murmured.
"No, you're fine." Film patted the seat beside her on the couch, and Namtan padded over silently, sitting with her knees up, hugging them as she eyed the screen, and then her best friend's gaze.
"Bonnie?" Namtan asked gently, heart warming just thinking of the little girl with bright eyes and her love for Film.
Film nodded. "I promised her I'd say goodbye, in case I wouldn't be able to call her while we were at the reunion."
Namtan frowned. "Aren't you bringing your laptop?"
Film hummed her affirmative response.
"Then why don't you just call her and stick to your schedule?" Namtan asked genuinely.
Film made a face. "I wasn't sure what I was going to be doing. I wanted to be committed to your cause fully, without distractions, and I.." she trailed off. "I didn't want to get her hopes up."
Namtan's hand slid over Film's as she squeezed gently, reassuringly. "Babi, you know that this is important to me. Of course I want you to have time for things like this."
Film looked surprised, her eyes widening a little, allowing light to flood their umber depths. "You do?"
"Yeah." Namtan nodded. "I know how much it means to you, and Bonnie, and I would never infringe on that-"
Film looked slightly emotional, but before Namtan could finish, Bonnie's beaming face filled her screen as the call connected.
"Film!" Bonnie's voice was alight with childish glee upon seeing what was, essentially, the best role-model in her life.
"Hey, Bonnie." Film greeted softly, a smile melting onto her features as she subconsciously brushed her thumb over Namtan's hand.
Namtan reddened, inhaling at the touch, before she realized Film was doing it subconsciously.
"Is Namtan there?" Bonnie asked hopefully.
Film rolled her eyes, pivoting the computer slowly so that the lens adjusted to Namtan's smiling face, cheeks still a bit rosy. "She's here, too."
Bonnie grinned once more. "Hey Namtan!"
Namtan waved to her. "Hey Bon. How's it going?"
"Good!" Bonnie smiled proudly, turning her head to grab something, when Film noticed a large black looking spot on the side of her forehead.
She gasped and Namtan nearly jumped at the sudden change in Film's demeanor.
"Bonnie.." Film began, trying to contain her fear and what sounded a lot like rage. "What.. what's that on your forehead?"
Namtan looked concerned. Film had said Bonnie's latest foster parents had been kind enough.
"Oh, this?" Bonnie shrugged nonchalantly. "I got hit playing hockey yesterday."
Film heaved a sigh of relief, though concern was still tinging her tone. "Hockey, huh?"
Bonnie nodded excitedly. "Look at this trophy I got!" She held up the likely plastic, golden cup from the handle, grinning all the while.
"Wow!" Film exclaimed, beaming, and Namtan couldn't help but chuckle softly. "That's amazing! Congrats!"
"Can Namtan see it? Show her." Bonnie ordered excitedly.
Film murmured something like, "Thanks for replacing me, Tipnaree." Before turning the laptop so that Namtan could see it.
"Wow, Bonnie!" Namtan cheered. "I'm so impressed!"
Bonnie's cheeks reddened, and Film fought off her smirk.
She'd never admit it, but Namtan and Bonnie's skype calls had quickly become highlights of her weeks.
"Why can't I see you both?" Bonnie complained, setting her trophy down.
"Because my camera is tiny." Film murmured, shaking her head in amusement.
"Well, squeeze." Bonnie folded her arms defiantly.
Namtan smirked as she threw an arm around Film, pressing herself up against her as she rolled her eyes. "You heard squirt." Namtan announced happily. "Squeeze, Babi."
Film sighed as Namtan found her nook against Film, saying something to Bonnie which caused her to laugh violently.
Film hadn't heard it, being so busy thinking about Namtan that she couldn't help but let out a little laugh at Bonnie.
They were so cute.
"Are you guys best friends?" Bonnie asked after discussing sports with Namtan for a solid 10 minutes. "Still, I mean?"
Namtan nodded, and Bonnie glanced away clearly disappointed.
Film looked surprised, brows shooting up. Bonnie never had a jealousy problem with Namtan before. She'd always adored her since their first impromptu meeting.
Film remembered the moment it happened rather vividly, almost a year ago, when she and Namtan were still learning the ropes and boundaries of their budding friendship.
---
Film had sat on her couch, admiring Namtan's newly gifted painting that covered up the hole connecting their apartment walls. She turned abruptly when her laptop started ringing with a familiar tone: Bonnie was ready to skype.
Smiling to herself, she accepted the call, and her smile widened even more at Bonnie's toothy grin filling the screen.
"Bonnie." She greeted calmly, amused smile still in place.
"Hey!" Bonnie's voice was chipper upon seeing her 'older sister'.
"How are things there?" Film asked tentatively.
Bonnie hadn't had the best experience with foster parents, particularly since they'd both fled the care of Nia Tips.
Bonnie's grin brightened. "Gross' are the best! James said I could try out for soccer, hockey, and lacrosse! He said if I make the teams, he would take me to all three!"
Film couldn't help the grin she felt forming.
Bonnie deserved the world.
She deserved a happy childhood, away from Nia, and anyone else cruel enough to torment children physically or emotionally.
"Yeah?" Film played along, eyes widening. "You think you can handle three sports and school?"
"Yeah, I can just-" Bonnie paused, her face screwing up in confusion. "Wait."
"What's wrong?" Film asked instantly, worry seeping into her tone.
"You look.. different." Bonnie murmured, mostly to herself, leaning in closer to her computer screen comically, trying to get a better look at Film.
Before Film could respond, there was a knock at her door. She glanced at her watch, eyes widening at the time.
"Bonnie, I.." Film began unsurely.
Bonnie sighed, shaking her head. "It's okay Phi, go. I know you're having someone over."
Film's heart was aching. How could she have been so stupid and scheduled her dinner during her skype time with Bonnie? It was supposed to be sacred, untouchable.
Now she'd resent her, thinking she'd forgotten her for her new, better life.
Film glanced at the camera. "Hold on." She murmured, rising from her spot on the couch, signaling for her to wait.
She had to keep from wincing when she heard her sigh, knowing she was feeling trampled on.
Film opened the door wearily, fighting the intense burst of warmth she felt when she saw Namtan Tipnaree there, in a beautiful little dress, holding what appeared to be a white pastry box.
"Hey!" Namtan chirped brightly, stepping inside.
Film felt her mouth dry.
She couldn't turn Namtan away, she was just building that relationship.
She couldn't hang up on Bonnie.
She was stuck.
"Hi Namtan." Film's voice was audibly shaky. "I, Uh..."
"Hey, do you mind if I charge my phone?" Namtan asked, already moving towards the couch, where she'd seen an outlet before. "I killed it on the way here because I got SO lost in this sketchy area downtown, and when I-"
Before Film could respond, Bonnie had caught sight of Namtan, and seized the opportunity with leisure.
"Hey!" Bonnie grinned, realizing it was a pretty girl in Film's apartment, and not some boring business person she'd seen Film with before.
Film liked pretty girls, and that meant she was having fun, being her normal self.
Bonnie hated Film's business persona, knowing that was what took her so far away.
This was an improvement, despite the interruption.
"Hey!" Bonnie waved vigorously.
"Oh!" Namtan jumped nearly a foot in the air, whipping around to see the bright grin and sandy haired girl. "Hey?" Namtan offered a confused smile. "Film! Your laptop is waving at me."
Film's eyes widened as she smacked her forehead, instantly moving between Namtan and Bonnie's view. "Uh.."
"Film, move, I can't see your girlfriend!" Bonnie whined, and Film would never have forgiven her for the slip up, if she weren't so damn adorable.
"Girlfriend?" Namtan quirked a brow from behind Film, grin in place. "I missed the part where you asked me out."
Film's cheeks reddened as her mortified expression came into full view. "No! I uh, Bonnie... Namtan..." she paused, taking a deep breath, pinching the bridge of her nose in exhaustion and annoyance at her own flustered display. "Namtan, this is Bonnie, my little sister."
Namtan smiled, never missing a beat, remembering Film mentioning her once before. "Hey Bonnie! I'm Namtan Tipnaree! I'm Film's neighbor."
Bonnie's face fell a little. "Oh.." she mumbled. "So you're not dating?"
Bonnie had just recently had her world opened to the dating scene, and as far as she knew, it was holding hands and few pecks here and there.
Film, of course, deterred her wholeheartedly.
"Not that I know of..." Namtan drawled amusedly, eyes taking in Bonnie's adorable face. "Hey! Wait! Is that an Xbox One in the background?"
Bonnie's eyes lit up. "Yeah! James got it for my birthday!" She grinned. "Wanna see?"
Namtan grinned. "Heck yeah I do! What games do you have?"
Bonnie's eyes widened as she began counting them off on her fingers. "Um FIFA, Call of Duty,..." she trailed off into a bunch of titles Film assumed were gory, and frankly, ridiculous.
Namtan was nodding enthusiastically, actually commenting with her opinions on each game from time to time.
Film watched the entire exchange with her jaw to the floor.
Namtan was such a natural, and Bonnie was always a handful.
"I'll.. start dinner?" Film mumbled quietly, not wanting to interrupt their conversation.
"Yeah yeah..." Namtan waved her off with a wink. "Bonnie and I will be here."
Film smiled on through that entire night.
---
So why was Bonnie behaving this way now? Was it jealousy? Why would she be asking if they were still friends?
"Why?" Film asked gently, glancing up as if she were looking directly into Bonnie's warm eyes in person.
"Oh, nothing." Bonnie shrugged sheepishly. "I just thought you two were, I don't know.. dating and stuff."
Film choked a little and Namtan smirked. "Really?" She pressed.
"Yeah. It would be good, I think." Bonnie decided that she was either too bored or too embarrassed to continue with that topic, so she shifted gears seamlessly. "Are you coming to visit me soon?"
Film recovered, cheeks burning red. "I hope so. I miss you." She admitted gently, and Namtan's heart melted right there and then.
Bonnie smiled goofily at her. "You're coming too, right Namtan?"
Namtan looked genuinely surprised. She glanced at Film, raising her eyebrows. She'd never met her in person, but she seemed like a hell of a kid.
Namtan liked to imagine she was like a young Film.
Film bit her lip. "Uh, maybe..." She drawled.
Bonnie looked dissatisfied with that. "But, you talk about Namtan all the time!"
"Listen, Bonnie." Film smiled in the camera's direction, pinching Namtan's thigh when she smirked triumphantly. "Namtan and I have to catch a flight, soon. But we'll be in touch, okay? I promise."
Bonnie's grin lit Namtan's entire world, and apparently, Film's. "You mean, you'll call me even on your trip?"
Film nodded, smiling as Namtan squeezed her hand once more. "You bet."
"Great! I gotta go to school soon but, I'll see you later." Bonnie smiled. "Love you, Film."
Film froze, her smile fading slightly before she could muster a simple, "you too, Bonnie."
Seconds later, the call was dropped, and Film shut her laptop, sucking in a breath.
Namtan smiled. "You made her morning."
Film smiled somewhat sadly back at Namtan. "You helped." She rose, her fingers slightly grazing Namtan's as she stretched a little.
"You all packed, nerd?" Namtan asked gently, standing as well.
Film nodded, smiling slightly at the nickname as she felt her bracelet around her wrist. "Can you still call me that?" She murmured.
Namtan looked at her quizzically. "Because of the kiss? I mean, sure, you were in control for a bit but that doesn't mean-" Namtan's rambling was cut off by Film's look of pure embarrassment.
"No!" She quickly recovered. "I mean, can we still wear these? For the next week we're not friends, right?"
Namtan frowned, shaking her head. "Not necessarily."
Film glanced at her, eyes beckoning her to come forth with an elaboration.
"Film you'd always be my friend." Namtan murmured thoughtfully. "Even if we were, hypothetically dating. I'd be dating my best friend, which would make it even better y'know?" Namtan looked incredibly insecure and vulnerable in that moment.
Film's heart hammered as she nodded slowly. "I think I do, yeah."
Namtan clapped her hands together abruptly, as if to fight off the lingering moments of silence between them. "Cool, let's get our stuff down. I should probably hail a cab."
"There's that driver that's parked just up the road." Film suggested, retreating to her room to get her suitcase as she called it over her shoulder. "What's his name? Jamie? Jimmy?"
"Jason." Namtan rolled her eyes. "And, ew. No."
"Why not? It's convenient." Film replied, the sound of her suitcase hitting the floor as she pulled on the handle, entering the living room where Namtan was waiting patiently.
"Because he always hits on you. I'll drive instead." Namtan grumbled as she took the suitcase handle from Film's grip, wheeling it out the door wordlessly.
Film looked at Namtan with a bemused smile as she wondered why that was suddenly an obstacle.
*
Namtan was behind the wheel, while Film was in charge of manning their group chats with Lookmhee and Sonya to coordinate the times.
Namtan's eyes were busy with the road, but every once in a while, they'd land on Film's cheek bones, illuminated by the golden morning sun, bathing her in holy light.
"I feel like I'm forgetting something." Namtan mumbled, hands turning the wheel with smooth ease.
"Namtan, I looked over your suitcase and put it against my checklist. It looked fine." Film sighed, ever the pragmatist.
Suddenly Namtan's face lit up. "Oh!" She grinned. "It's in my notes, somewhere, I think!"
Film looked at Namtan quizzically.
Namtan rolled her eyes. "Ask Siri to read my latest note."
Film did as she was told, asking Namtan's phone to do just that.
Siri's nearly monotonous artificial voice filled the car's Bluetooth connected speaker, reading: "Okay, Namtan. You have one note from yesterday. Would you like me to read it?"
Namtan snickered at Film's eye roll and dry response of: "Well, obviously."
Siri's voice sounded once more. "Okay, Namtan. Your note from yesterday reads: Don't forget Film's mixtape! Heart emoji heart emoji, heart emoji."
Film's eyes widened and Namtan turned beet red.
"My what?" Film asked softly, eyes searching Namtan's which were fixed on the road.
Namtan swallowed, pausing for a moment. "Oh, right.. That was it."
"Namtan." Film smiled gently. "What did you do?"
Namtan smiled sheepishly. "Well, it's actually a playlist. I uh...made you two playlists and I put them on your phone, in case you got bored or something, I don't know."
Film's mouth parted slightly in surprise. So that was why Namtan was so adamant on playing games on her phone the evening prior.
"Oh..." Film breathed, unsure of how to respond to Namtan's thoughtfulness. "I.. thanks Namtan, that's so sweet." Her heart felt light and free for once.
Namtan did that to her.
Namtan did that for her...
Namtan smiled. "What are best friends for?"