Behind the Spotlight

Becky's POV

Our second trip to the beach house started perfectly.

Freen picked me up again, but this time, we'd been texting all morning.

Freen: "Don't be late, princess."
Me: "I'm never late. You're just impatient."
Freen: "Can't help it when I get to see you."
Me: "Wow, you're so cheesy."
Freen: "You love it."

I didn't reply to that last message, but my cheeks had warmed, what is this woman doing to me. Ive never felt like this for anyone before.

Next morning when Freen's car pulled up outside my place, she leaned out of the window, grinning as if she'd just won a prize. "Get in, superstar."

"Superstar now? What happened to 'princess'?" I asked, sliding into the passenger seat.

"I like to keep things interesting," she said, smirking.

She had one hand on the wheel and the other resting casually on the console. Something about the way she drove, so confident and relaxed, made my stomach flutter and also drove me wild.

Why does she have to look so good doing the simplest things?

The house was buzzing with activity when we arrived. Her friends were already there, spread out in groups, pretending to work but mostly joking around. Freen sat next to me as we worked, but it was hard to concentrate with her around. She kept leaning over, pretending to look at my laptop.
"Is that your handwriting? Looks like a 5-year-old's," she teased, pointing at my notes.
"At least I'm getting work done," I shot back.
"Who needs work when I've got your company?" she said, flashing her signature grin.

I rolled my eyes, but my heart skipped a beat. She's exhausting—and so charming it's unfair.

We spend our day working, talking and mostly eating. And as we got free to relax ,  the lights went out.
Freen who was sitting across me suddenly came next to me.

"What happened?" I asked as everyone started murmuring.

"The power's out," noey said, lighting her phone flashlight.

Freen was beside me in seconds, grabbing my arm. "What was that sound?" she whispered.

I turned to her, surprised. "Are you scared of the dark?"

"No!" she said quickly, but she was clinging to me like a child.

A loud bang came from the kitchen— where yuki had knocked over a chair. Freen jumped, nearly pulling me down with her.

"Freen!" I said, laughing.

"That wasn't funny," she muttered, her voice shaky.

I couldn't help teasing her. "You are scared. It's okay, Freen. Shadow Ghosts can't hurt you."

She glared at me but didn't let go of my arm. "Shadow Ghosts can't hurt you, Becky, but I might if you keep teasing me."
I bit my lip to stop laughing. Freen was trying so hard to act brave, but her wide eyes gave her away and it was so freaking adorable and cute.
We found candles and lit a few, but the flickering light only made the shadows bigger. Freen sat as close to me as possible, her shoulder pressed against mine.
When her friends suggested telling ghost stories, Freen immediately said, "Nope. Absolutely not."

"Aw, scaredy-cat," I teased.

"Becky," she said, turning to me with the most serious face I'd ever seen her make, "don't test me right now."

I smirked. "You're such a baby."

She crossed her arms, pouting. "I am not a baby. I'm just... cautious."

"Right. The bravest baby," I said, leaning closer.

"You're lucky I like you," she mumbled, glaring at me.

I froze for a second. "You like me?"

"Don't make it weird," she said quickly, looking away. But her cheeks were pink.

When the night dragged on and the power didn't come back, most of the group decided to leave and camp near the beach. The heat was unbearable without the AC, and they didn't want to stay in the dark.

"You should go too," Freen said softly as her friends filed out.

"And leave you here alone to fight off the big bad shadows ghosts?" I said, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll be fine," she said, though her eyes flicked nervously to the dark hallway.
"Sure you will," I said, grabbing a blanket and throwing it over both of us.
She sighed but didn't argue when I stayed. Instead, she leaned her head on my shoulder and whispered, "Thanks for staying, Bec."

Hmm.. Bec why that nickname is doing things in my tummy. Her voice was so soft, so genuine, it made my heart ache a little.
"Of course," I said, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

She looked up at me, her eyes wide and vulnerable. For someone who always acted so tough, she seemed so small and sweet right now. "You know, you're kind of adorable when you're scared," I said.
She pouted again. "Stop calling me a baby."
"But you are," I teased, nudging her.
She leaned closer, her voice quiet. "Only for you."

That one sentence hit me like a wave. When did she start having this effect on me?

I wrapped the blanket tighter around us, trying to focus on anything but the butterflies in my stomach.

Freen may have been scared of the dark, but the way she made me feel was much scarier.