Behind the Spotlight

Freen was in full panic mode. Her alarm hadn’t gone off, her hair was a mess, and she had just realized she had no idea what to wear. Clothes were scattered across the floor as she stood in front of the mirror, holding up a button-up shirt.

"This one? No. Too serious." She grabbed a black T-shirt. "Too casual. Ugh!" After five more outfit changes and nearly tripping over her own pants, she finally settled on a simple but stylish white button-up with the sleeves rolled up and her favorite pair of jeans.

"Cool but effortless," she told herself, staring at her reflection. "Like, ‘Hey, I didn’t try too hard,’ but also, ‘Yes, I look amazing.’" She rushed into the bathroom, quickly brushing her teeth. But in her haste, she got toothpaste on her shirt. "Are you kidding me?!" she groaned, grabbing a towel and wiping it aggressively. Then, as if the universe wanted to mess with her even more, her phone buzzed—

Becky: Don’t be late, babe. 😉 Freen stared at the text, her heart doing a stupid little flip. "Breathe, Freen. You’re fine. Just… don’t be weird."

Grabbing her keys, she ran out the door, nearly forgetting her phone. She sprinted back, grabbed it, then bolted to her car. By the time she pulled up at Becky’s place, she was sweating. Not from the heat, but from pure stress.

Becky opened the door, taking one long look at Freen. "...Did you fight a hurricane?"

Freen, still catching her breath, just pointed to the car. "Get. In."

Becky smirked but didn’t move. "Say please."

Freen narrowed her eyes. "Becky."

As soon as Becky sat down, she smirked. "You’re so impatient today. What’s the rush, babe? Can’t wait to get me alone?"

Freen started the car, gripping the steering wheel. "If I don’t drive now, I might pass out from all the stress."

Becky leaned closer, her lips almost touching Freen’s ear. "I can feel how tense you are… so close…" she whispered playfully.

Freen gulped. "Behave."

Becky grinned. "Make me."

Freen turned to look at her with narrowed eyes. "Oh, I will."

Becky grinned, stepping closer. "What? You seem a little… tense." She reached up, gently fixing Freen’s collar. "Big date making you nervous?"

Freen scoffed, but her ears were turning red. "You wish."

Becky giggled, finally getting in the car. But the moment Freen started driving, Becky leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "You smell good," she murmured, her lips dangerously close to Freen’s ear.

Freen gripped the steering wheel tighter. "Bec."

Becky rested her chin on Freen’s shoulder. "You’re so serious when you drive. It’s kinda hot."

Freen exhaled slowly, refusing to look at her. "You’re playing dirty."

Becky ran a finger along Freen’s arm, her touch light. "I have no idea what you mean."

Freen clenched her jaw. "If you keep this up, I’m pulling over."

Becky tilted her head. "Oh? And then what?" Freen stole a quick glance at her. "You won’t make it to the beach in one piece, that’s for sure."

Becky grinned. "Kinda sounds like a fun detour."

Freen groaned, gripping the wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. "You’re impossible." Becky simply smiled, victorious.

When they finally arrived, Becky stepped out of the car, expecting a normal beach hangout. But when she turned to see a beautifully set-up table on the sand, she froze. Twinkling fairy lights wrapped around wooden poles, casting a soft golden glow. The table was elegantly set with candles flickering in the breeze, and there, waiting for her, was all her favorite food—perfectly arranged like something out of a dream.

Becky turned to Freen, her eyes wide. "You did all this?"

Freen shrugged, stuffing her hands in her pockets. "Yeah. Thought you’d like it."

Becky took a step closer. "Like it? Freen… this is—" She stopped, biting her lip. "You’re unbelievable."

Freen smirked. "In a good way, I hope?"

Becky nodded, then suddenly grabbed Freen by the collar, pulling her close until their faces were inches apart. "I can feel how close you are," she whispered, her breath warm against Freen’s lips.

Freen chuckled, her hands sliding to Becky’s waist. "I wonder why that is."

Becky tilted her head. "Because you’re bad at keeping distance."

Freen smirked. "Or maybe you’re bad at resisting me."

Becky rolled her eyes. "Cocky."

Freen leaned in, teasingly brushing her lips against Becky’s but not quite closing the gap. "You love it."

Becky inhaled sharply, her fingers tightening on Freen’s shirt. "Shut up." Then, she kissed her. The world faded away—the sound of waves, the distant laughter of other beachgoers, everything. All that existed was the warmth of Becky’s lips, the way she tasted like strawberries, and the way her fingers curled into Freen’s shirt, as if she didn’t want to let go.

When Becky finally pulled away, she smirked. "Still think you win?"

Freen let out a breathless laugh. "You’re dangerous."

Becky winked. "You like danger."

Freen grabbed her hand. "Fine. But let’s eat before I decide to just kiss you all night instead."

Becky grinned. "Who says you can’t do both?"

As they sat down for their dinner under the stars, Freen realized something—Becky wasn’t just fun. She wasn’t just teasing or beautiful or smart. She was everything. And Freen was in trouble. The ocean breeze was soft against their skin, the sound of waves filling the silence between them as they ate. Freen couldn’t stop stealing glances at Becky, and every time she did, she felt her heart do ridiculous little flips.

Becky caught her staring and smirked. "You’re looking at me like you have something to say."

Freen chuckled, setting her fork down. "I always have something to say when it comes to you."

Becky leaned in slightly, propping her chin on her hand. "Oh? And what’s today’s speech about?"

Freen exhaled, her eyes drinking Becky in—the way the fairy lights reflected in her eyes, the way her lips curled into the most perfect, teasing smile, the way she made Freen feel like gravity didn’t apply anymore. "You," Freen said simply.

Becky raised an eyebrow, pretending to be unimpressed. "Wow. So specific."

Freen laughed softly, shaking her head. "Alright, fine. Let me be more specific." She reached out, brushing a strand of Becky’s hair behind her ear, her fingertips lingering against her cheek. Becky’s breath hitched slightly, but she didn’t pull away.

"You are… unfairly beautiful," Freen murmured, her voice lower now. "Like, genuinely. It’s distracting."

Becky bit her lip, but the smile still broke through. "Distracting how?"

Freen leaned in, her nose almost brushing Becky’s. "I can’t think straight when I’m around you."

Becky tilted her head. "That sounds like a you problem."

Freen smirked. "Oh, it definitely is. Because every time you look at me like that"—she traced a slow circle on Becky’s wrist with her thumb—"I feel like my heart is trying to escape my chest."

Becky inhaled deeply, her fingers twitching slightly as if she wanted to grab Freen and pull her closer. "That sounds serious. Should I call a doctor?"

Freen smiled, shaking her head. "No. You are the problem."

Becky laughed softly, but her voice was breathy. "You’re saying I make your heart beat too fast?"

Freen nodded, her eyes locked on Becky’s lips. "You make it do all these things. You make me nervous. You make me forget how to breathe. You make me feel like…" She paused, her fingers now gently tracing Becky’s jaw. "Like I’ve never felt before."

Becky’s teasing smile softened, her eyes searching Freen’s. "Freen…"

Freen swallowed hard, suddenly feeling everything all at once—the warmth of Becky’s skin, the soft scent of vanilla on her, the way the entire world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them. "You ruin me," Freen admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "And the worst part?"

Becky’s lips parted slightly. "What?"

Freen leaned in until their lips were almost touching. "I don’t even mind."

Becky’s breath hitched, and for the first time, she was the one speechless.

Freen smirked. "You’re blushing."

Becky scoffed, trying to hide her face. "I am not—"

Freen caught her chin, tilting it back toward her. "You totally are."

Becky groaned. "You’re so annoying."

Freen grinned. "And you love it."

Becky huffed, then—without warning—grabbed Freen’s collar and pulled her into a kiss. It wasn’t soft this time. It was warm and slow, like she was trying to prove a point. Freen felt herself melt into it, her fingers gripping Becky’s waist as she deepened the kiss, her heart racing so fast she was sure Becky could hear it. When Becky finally pulled away, she looked entirely too pleased with herself. "There. Now you’re the one blushing."

Freen let out a breathless laugh, shaking her head. "Yeah. Definitely ruined."

Becky leaned back, looking at the stars. "So… what now?"

Freen watched her, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Now? I sit here and fall even more in love with you."

Becky turned her head, eyes wide.

Freen smirked. "What? Too soon?"

Becky pretended to think. "Hmm. Maybe say it a few more times so I can decide."

Freen laughed, reaching for her hand. "You’re impossible."

Becky squeezed her fingers. "And you love it."

Freen sighed dramatically. "Yeah. I really do."

And under the stars, with the sound of waves in the background and Becky’s laughter still lingering in the air, Freen realized something. This wasn’t just a crush. This was it. The waves crashed softly in the distance as Freen led Becky up the steps of a beautiful beachfront house. The moonlight reflected off the windows, making everything glow, and the salty breeze was warm against their skin.

Becky’s eyes widened as she took it all in. "Wait… This is your house?"

Freen grinned, pulling out her keys. "Yep. Bought it myself."

Becky turned to her, impressed. "Damn. Look at you, Miss Independent."

Freen unlocked the door and pushed it open. "I worked my ass off for this place. Like, literally—there were times I thought I’d have to sell a kidney."

Becky laughed, stepping inside. The house smelled like ocean air and a hint of Freen’s cologne. It was modern but cozy, with soft lighting, an open kitchen, and floor-to-ceiling windows that showed the waves rolling onto the shore. "You did all this by yourself?" Becky asked, turning to her.

Freen rubbed the back of her neck, suddenly shy. "Yeah… I mean, it wasn’t easy, but I wanted something that was mine. A place I could come back to, breathe, and just… be."

Becky’s teasing smirk softened into something more serious. "That’s really amazing, Freen. I’m proud of you."

Freen looked at her, heart flipping at the sincerity in her voice. "You’re proud of me?"

Becky rolled her eyes. "Duh. Why wouldn’t I be?"

Freen let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. "I don’t know. Just… no one’s ever said it like that before."

Becky stepped closer, looking up at her. "Well, then, listen carefully—I’m proud of you, okay? You worked hard, you made your dream come true, and now you have this beautiful house by the beach. That’s sexy as hell, by the way."

Freen let out a laugh. "Sexy, huh?"

Becky smirked. "Very."

Freen’s heart was doing all kinds of things now, and she was sure Becky knew exactly what she was doing. They talked for a while, sitting on the couch with a bottle of wine, watching the waves roll in. Freen told Becky about the late nights, the doubts, the way she sometimes sat on this very couch wondering if she’d done enough. And Becky listened, hanging onto every word, eyes warm and full of something that made Freen’s stomach flip. Eventually, the clock struck midnight, and

Becky stretched, letting out a small yawn. "Okay, I think it’s bedtime."

Freen sat up straighter, suddenly feeling weirdly nervous. "Yeah, um… I, uh—there’s a guest room, or if you want, you can take my room, and I’ll—"

Becky blinked at her. "Are you… stuttering?"

Freen groaned. "No—I’m just trying to be polite!"

Becky smirked, standing up and walking over to her. "You want me to sleep in the guest room?"

Freen gulped. "I mean… If that’s what you want—"

Becky hummed, pretending to think. "Hmm. But what if I don’t want to sleep alone?"

Freen’s brain short-circuited. "W-what?"

Becky stepped closer, looking up at her with those mischievous eyes. "I can feel how close you are," she whispered, her breath warm against Freen’s skin.

Freen was officially done for. "Bec…" Becky grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the bedroom.

"Come on, before you explode from overthinking." Freen let herself be dragged, heart racing, nerves all over the place.

The second they reached the bed, Becky flopped onto it dramatically, patting the space next to her. "Get in here."

Freen hesitated. "You sure?"

Becky rolled onto her side, propping herself up on her elbow. "Freen, if I wanted to sleep alone, I would’ve let you put me in the guest room. Now get in." Freen swallowed hard before finally climbing in.

The second she did, Becky pulled her closer, their noses almost touching. "See? Not so scary," Becky teased.

Freen let out a nervous laugh. "Not scary. Just… dangerous."

Becky smirked. "Oh? Why dangerous?"

Freen exhaled sharply, looking at Becky’s lips. "Because I’m trying to be good, and you’re making it very, very hard."

Becky raised an eyebrow. "Hard, huh?"

Freen groaned. "Becky, I swear to—" Before she could finish, Becky closed the distance, pressing a slow, teasing kiss to her lips. Freen felt her entire body react, her fingers gripping Becky’s waist as she kissed back, deepening it just a little.

Becky hummed against her lips. "You taste like wine."

Freen smirked, breathless. "You taste like trouble."

Becky laughed softly, tracing a finger down Freen’s arm. "Mm. And yet, you’re not running away."

Freen exhaled, trying to control herself. "You pulled me into this bed, remember?"

Becky grinned. "I did, didn’t I?"

Freen closed her eyes, groaning. "This is torture."

Becky pressed another slow kiss to her jaw, whispering, "Goodnight, Freen."

Freen opened her eyes, staring at her. "That’s it? Goodnight?"

Becky smirked, pulling the blankets over them. "Mhm. Sleep tight."

Freen sighed dramatically, flopping onto her back. "You’re evil."

Becky cuddled up next to her, nuzzling into her neck. "And you love it."

Freen groaned. "Unfortunately, yes."

As Becky’s breathing slowed, Freen lay there, staring at the ceiling, heart pounding. She was so in trouble. Because if tonight was any indication… She was never going to survive sleeping next to Becky. The sound of the waves outside was soft and rhythmic, a perfect lullaby. Becky was fast asleep, her head tucked against Freen’s shoulder, her breath warm against Freen’s skin. Freen, however, was not asleep. She couldn’t sleep. Because she was horny as hell. She had tried. Really tried. She counted sheep, thought about taxes, even mentally recited the alphabet backward. But none of it worked because every time she closed her eyes, all she could think about was Becky. The way she smelled—like vanilla and a little bit of sea salt. The way she had kissed her earlier, soft and teasing. The way her body fit so perfectly against Freen’s under the covers. Freen swallowed hard, squeezing her eyes shut. This is fine. This is totally fine. Except it wasn’t fine because every little movement Becky made—every shift, every sigh—sent a fresh wave of heat through Freen’s entire body. She felt like she was going to die. Just as she was debating whether to sneak out and take a very cold shower..

Becky shifted against her and mumbled sleepily,"Mmm… Freen?"

Freen froze. "Y-yeah?"

Becky cracked one eye open, her voice husky with sleep. "Why are you still awake?"

Freen felt her face heat up. "Uhh… n-no reason!"

Becky blinked, clearly more awake now. "Freennn…" she said in that teasing, knowing tone. "What’s wrong?"

Freen groaned, covering her face with her hands. "It’s nothing! Go back to sleep!"

Becky propped herself up on her elbow, watching her closely. "You’re acting weird…"

"I am not!"

Becky smirked. "You totally are. What’s going on?"

Freen swallowed. Oh my god, how do I say this? She hesitated for a long moment before finally blurting out, "I—I can’t sleep because—I feel… weird!"

Becky raised an eyebrow. "Weird how?"

Freen covered her face again. "Like… hot. And tingly. And my heart is doing weird things. And it’s all your fault!"

Becky blinked, and then, suddenly, her lips curled into a very smug smile. "Ohhh."

Freen groaned, rolling onto her stomach and burying her face in the pillow. "Please don’t make fun of me!"

Becky laughed softly, reaching out to brush Freen’s hair away from her face. "I’m not making fun of you, baby. It’s just… you’re so cute."

Freen peeked up at her, pouting. "I’m suffering, Becky."

Becky bit her lip, trying not to giggle. "I can see that."

Freen huffed. "It’s not funny!"

"It’s a little funny." Freen groaned dramatically. "I hate you."

Becky leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. "No, you don’t."

Freen let out a small whimper, her entire body on fire. "I might if you keep looking at me like that."

Becky smirked. "Like what?" "Like you know what you’re doing to me."

Becky giggled, tracing a finger down Freen’s arm. "Maybe I do."

Freen sighed, flopping onto her back. "I am going to die."

Becky grinned. "Well, I don’t want you dying on me, so… do you want to talk about it?"

Freen swallowed hard, her voice small. "I—I’ve never felt like this before…"

Becky’s playful expression softened instantly. "Never?"

Freen shook her head, cheeks burning. "Never. I mean, I—I’ve had crushes before, but I’ve never—never wanted someone like this. It’s… it’s a lot."

Becky’s heart melted. She reached out, gently intertwining their fingers. "Oh, baby…"

Freen bit her lip, staring up at the ceiling. "Is that weird?"

"No," Becky said softly. "It’s beautiful."

Freen turned her head to look at her, vulnerable. "Really?" Becky smiled, brushing her thumb over Freen’s knuckles.

"Yeah. And it makes me love you even more."

Freen’s breath hitched. "You—" Becky leaned in, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to Freen’s lips.

"Shh," she whispered. "You don’t have to figure everything out right now. Just let yourself feel."

Freen let out a shaky breath. "But what if I—"

"We’ll take it slow," Becky murmured, kissing the tip of her nose. "No pressure. No rush. Just us."

Freen exhaled, finally allowing herself to relax. "Okay…"

Becky smiled, pulling her close. "Now get some sleep, my little disaster."

Freen let out a small laugh. "You’re really not helping."

"Oh, I know." Becky winked. "But I love watching you squirm."

Freen groaned. "You’re evil."

Becky giggled, snuggling into her. "And you love it."

Freen sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately, yes."

As Becky’s breathing slowed again, Freen lay there, her heart still racing but feeling a little calmer. She still wasn’t sure how she was going to survive sleeping next to Becky, but one thing was for sure… She never wanted to sleep alone again.