The Glory ( Freen❣️Becky)

3

"You knew  you were gay when you were twelve "

Freen laughed. "I didn't know what gay meant, I just knew I didn't like boys."

"You already had a crush on her then?"

Freen nodded. "I'm not sure I knew it, though. I was just the friend she had to hide from everybody. I know it drove her mother crazy. She tried her best to keep us apart."

"She didn't like you?"

"Not so much that. She was always cordial to me. But the friendship that Becky and I had, she wanted that for her with one of the country club group. She made sure Becky spent plenty of time with them. Tennis lessons, swimming lessons, riding lessons. Dance. All activities that didn't involve me."

"Yet at the end of the day, Becky came home to you," Nam said with a smile. "I'm sure that did worry her mother."

"Becky never got any better with math so I tried to tutor her. But we couldn't let her mother know. The first time she caught us, I was thirteen."

"Freen, it just doesn't make sense to me. Why does it have to be so hard?"

"It's not hard. You're just not understanding it. You're going to be in high school pretty soon. It's going to get a lot harder."

They were sitting cross-legged on the floor of becky's study room. Becky flopped down dramatically, one arm covering her eyes.

"High school? I can't do basic math and you're bringing up high school?"

Freen's eyes followed the length of her body, landing on her exposed armpit. She grinned devilishly, then attacked, tickling Becky mercilessly.

Becky squirmed, laughing as she slapped at Freen's hands. "Stop! I'll get you back, Freen Sarocha.”

"Promises, promises," she said, finally relenting. Becky grinned. "I hate it when you do that."

"Yeah? Then why are you smiling?"

Becky sat back up, still smiling as she stared at her. "I don't know. You make me happy."

Freen got a funny feeling in her stomach when Becky looked at her like that. She nodded. "You make me happy too."

The silence lingered as they stared at each other. Freen finally looked away and reached for Becky's homework. She was about to go over another problem when Becky's bedroom door opened. A few seconds later, Mrs. Armstrong stood at the threshold to the study room.

"Girls? What are you doing?"

Freen stared at the floor, speechless. Mrs. Armstrong scared her. But Becky's words made her raise her head.

"I'm helping Freen with some homework," Becky said. "That's okay, isn't it?"

Mrs. Armstrong slid her gaze to Freen, prompting her into action.

"I needed some help in...math," she said quietly. "Since Becky is so good at it and all..."

Mrs. Armstrong nodded. "Yes, well our public school system is sorely lacking in that regard. Of course Becky can assist you, Freen. She has a more formal education than you, it only stands to reason." She smiled quickly, then it was gone. "I came to tell you that your father will have a business guest for dinner. You'll take your evening meal up here, dear. I'll have Stella bring it up."

"Yes, Mother."

"Well, carry on."

As soon as the door closed they broke into a fit of giggles. "It only stands to reason," Freen mimicked.

"Carry on," Becky said in a clipped British accent, causing more laughter.

"So, Miss Smarty-pants, what are you going to teach me?" Becky's smile faded. "I'm sorry. But if she knew you were helping me, well...she would send me to a real tutor, one they would pay a lot of money to. It wouldn't do for you to be smarter than me."

"Because I'm the maid's daughter?" Freen didn't want to be angry, but she was.

"Freen, you know how it is."

Freen stood, intending to leave. "Yeah, I know. I'll never be as good as you, no matter what."

Becky got up too, grabbing her arm as she turned to leave. "You're my best friend. Please don't leave."

Freen stared at the hand that was holding her arm. Again, she got a funny feeling in her stomach and she didn't know what it was. She did know, however, that she liked it.

"You only want to keep me around so that you don't fail your test tomorrow," she said, her anger fading as teasing took over.

"Yes. That's the only reason I tolerate you,"

Becky agreed with a smile.

She then surprised Freen and possibly herself -by pulling Freen to her and hugging her tightly. Freen was trembling as her arms slipped around Becky's small waist. The cartwheels in her stomach increased, and she closed her eyes, wondering what was happening to her.

Becky had a funny look on her face when she pulled away. They stared at each other for the longest time, then Becky nodded as if she'd found an answer to an unspoken question. Freen nodded too, pretending she not only knew the question but the answer as well.

"You want to watch TV?"

Freen looked at the papers on the floor. "What about your test?"

"It's a lost cause," Becky said.

"But-"

Her protest was cut off as Becky took her hand and led her into the small living room that was adjacent to her bedroom. "Just for a little while. Stella will bring my dinner up at seven. Your momma will be expecting you back down."

Freen plopped down beside Becky on the sofa, math forgotten. "Will your mother be mad?"

Becky shook her head. "She won't come back in here. She's getting ready for their dinner guest."

Freen tried to relax, but she couldn't even begin to focus on the TV. Becky had scooted closer to her and they sat there, their thighs pressed together, both glancing from the TV to each other. When Stella knocked on the door, Freen and Becky moved away from each other guiltily. Freen had no idea what they should feel guilty about.

Still, with one last look into becky's eyes, she bid her a hasty goodnight.

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