Behind the Spotlight

Chapter 8
Freen's POV
I was on a mission. A mission to fix my self-inflicted problem—aka, being jealous over some actress's hand placement. Yeah, I knew, I sounded crazy. But I was determined to stop feeling like a puppy who'd been left in the rain every time Becky posted something.
It was Saturday, and I had the perfect plan to distract myself. I was going to hang out with my friends, eat a ton of food, and pretend Becky wasn’t the reason my heart kept flipping.
Except, of course, that Becky texted me just as I was grabbing my jacket.
"Hey, Freen. What's up?"
I blinked at my phone, already feeling that familiar rush. "Why is she always so casual?" I muttered to myself. "Doesn't she know I'm over here losing my mind?"
But then I decided, nope, not today. I was going to play it cool.
"Just going to hang with some friends," I typed back, sitting down on the couch to take deep breaths like I was about to face a very important meeting.
I could almost hear her smiling through the phone when she replied. "Sounds fun. Make sure to grab ice cream—you're gonna need it after last night’s video."
I froze. "Oh no."
She knew.
I had no response except to send a single emoji: 😅. I had tried to play it cool when I saw that video of me ranting like a maniac. I really had. But now, of course, she was teasing me.
"You’re such a cutie when you’re jealous, Freen," she texted. "Next time, just say you miss me, okay?"
I could feel my cheeks turning red. "I don’t miss you," I typed. "I was just... concerned. For your safety. That actress was dangerously close to you."
Becky sent a string of laughing emojis. "You’re adorable. But I’ll tell you a secret: You’re the only one I’m considering. No actress can steal me away."
I felt my heart race. "Really?" I texted back, playing it cool but secretly melting.
"Really," came her reply. "But only if you stop being such a jealous baby and ask me out already."
I groaned. "I told you, I’m not a chicken."
"You sure about that?" she teased.
The next thing I knew, she sent me a picture of herself in the middle of a photoshoot, looking completely flawless. "Just so you know, I'm still here, waiting for you to prove you're not a chicken."
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help grinning like an idiot. "You're impossible."
She sent another text. "So, are you going to ask me out or not? Because I’ve got all the time in the world... and a very patient heart."
That was it. The pressure was on. I could feel the weight of the moment.
"Fine!" I finally typed. "Let’s go out. I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Dinner. You, me, and no more actresses with smooth hands."
Her reply was instant. "I can’t wait, Freen."
I almost couldn’t believe it. I had done it. I had asked Becky out.
My phone buzzed again with a new message from her.
"And just so you know," she added, "You’re the only ship I’ll ever need. And we're sailing straight to date night."
I read that and had to stop myself from shouting.
"Okay," I typed back, "But we’re a yacht. A luxury yacht."
"Of course we are," she replied. "A yacht full of romance and teasing."
I set my phone down, staring at the ceiling like a lovesick fool. This was it—date night. I had done it.
And now, I couldn’t wait to see her again.

I knew it was a bad idea to ask Becky out over text. I mean, who does that? What was I thinking? I should’ve been more creative, more bold. Yachts? Freen?
So, there I was, running like a madwoman, flowers in one hand and milk tea in the other, determined to make things right. I wasn’t going to let my embarrassing text ruin this—no way.
I made my way to the set, heart pounding from the excitement and my mini-sprint. When I reached Becky’s dressing room, I didn’t hesitate. I pushed open the door without knocking—no time for that.
Becky was sitting in front of the mirror, her makeup artist adjusting something on her face. The second she saw me, she froze. I couldn’t help but notice the way her eyes widened, that familiar glint of surprise flashing through them, her makeup artist left us.
Without a word, I stepped into the room, closing the door behind me with a quiet thud. Then, before she could say anything, I grinned and, in a move that made my heart race even more, I pinned her to the wall.
Becky’s eyes went wide, clearly shocked. "Freen! What the—?"
I leaned in, my lips dangerously close to her ear, my voice low and teasing. "I think we need to talk."
Her breath hitched. "What’s going on?" she managed to say, her voice trembling, though I could see that mischievous smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
I held her there for a moment, letting the tension build between us. The air was thick with the unspoken words hanging in the room, and I wasn’t about to let go yet.
"Well," I said, pulling back just a little, letting my lips hover near hers, "I realized I might have made a tiny mistake asking you out over text." I couldn’t hold back the playful grin.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh? So, what’s the plan now, Freen?"
I stepped back slightly, revealing the flowers in one hand and the milk tea in the other. "This."
Becky blinked in surprise as I handed her the roses first, then the milk tea. "You ran all the way here... just to give me this?" she asked, still a little stunned but with a glint of amusement in her eyes.
"Yeah, well," I smirked, "I figured this would be a little more romantic than a text message."
Becky raised an eyebrow, holding the flowers and milk tea with a skeptical look. "Hmm, you're lucky you look cute when you’re this embarrassing."
I laughed, the teasing tone still in the air. "Cute? Oh, I was aiming for smooth."
She leaned in a little closer, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "I can feel how close you are. You know, a little space wouldn’t hurt." She said while her hands aiming for my hot ass. Why does this feel so good, Okay guys this may be the first time a hot girl is touching my hand but I feel divine.
I felt my heart skip a beat, and I could see that little twinkle in her eye. She was definitely teasing me now. She was close, so close, I don't know whose air we were breathing, her strawberry-plump lips were all I could think, Before I could think of a witty response, Becky grinned and, just like that, leaned in and kissed me.
It wasn’t soft or slow, either. It was quick, passionate, and made my head spin. All that teasing and tension had built up to this moment, and it felt like fireworks exploded in my chest.
When we finally pulled away, we were both breathing a little heavier, I think I gave birth to 1000 butterflies at that moment and Becky gave me that look—one that said, I got you right where I want you.
"Mmm," she hummed with satisfaction, "Now, that’s a much better way to ask someone out."
I smirked, leaning my forehead against hers. "Well, I’m glad I could make up for the yacht thing."
Becky laughed softly, her hands sliding down to my waist as she wrapped her arms around me. "You're lucky you're so cute when you're trying to be smooth, Freen."
I grinned. "You know I’m always trying to be smooth for you, right?"
Becky pulled back slightly, her eyes sparkling. "You should probably go, or I’ll get too distracted to work."
I pouted dramatically, not wanting to let go of her. "But... I don’t want you to go."
She chuckled, brushing her fingers across my cheek. "You’re going to have to deal with it, baby. I have a shoot to finish."
"But you're looking too sexy," I said and pouted and she laughed.
Before I could protest, she winked. "But, don’t worry. I’ll think about you the whole time. Maybe I’ll even steal a kiss or two in between shots."
I felt a grin tug at my lips. "Promise?"
Becky nodded, her smile turning into something more mischievous. "Promise. But now, you should really go. I’ll see you later"
"Okay," I said, reluctantly stepping back.
Becky blew me a kiss before turning back to her mirror, leaving me standing there, heart racing and feeling like the luckiest person in the world.