The Glory ( Freen❣️Becky)

4 (Kiss)

Let me help with that," Freen offered as Tee brought the salad to the table.

"I've got it. Open the other bottle of wine," she suggested instead. Tee was bent over the stove, inspecting the huge pan of lasagna. "Smells great. How much longer?"

"When we finish our salads, it'll be ready to serve."

Freen slapped her hand away as Nam reached out to grab a taste. "You know her rules," she said.

"If only I'd learned to cook, she wouldn't be able to hold all those rules over me," Nam said with laugh. She linked arms with Freen as they made their way back outside to the patio. Tee had already served generous portions of salad onto their plates.

"I want to hear more about you and Becky" Tee said as she took the wine bottle from Freen. "Were you falling in love with her at thirteen and you didn't even know it?"

"It was around that time that I started to get a clue," she said with a smile. "The butterflies in my stomach thing only happened around Becky. Never around guys. The thought that I might be gay terrified me."

"You've said you've always had a close"

"Are you kidding me? I couldn't talk to her about that," Freen said with a grin. "At least not when I was that young." She took a bite of salad and glanced at Tee. "This is great."

"Thank you." Tee raised her eyebrows. "So did you talk to Becky about it?"

"No. And she didn't talk to me about it either."

"Ah. So you were both feeling that way," Nam stated.

"Yes. We simply didn't talk about it. We never talked about it."

Tee leaned forward and smiled wickedly. "Did you kiss her?"

Freen nodded. "I was fourteen." ***

..............................................................................

"I don't want to go out with Nop ," Becky complained as they sorted through her clothes. "Why is she making me?"

"You said yourself when you got into high school you'd have to start dating," Freen reminded her.

"I don't even like Nop," she said as she tossed yet another blouse onto the bed. "Do you like this one?" she asked, holding it up to her chest.

"Yes. It's gorgeous on you.."

Becky stared at her for a moment, her head tilted. She tossed that blouse on the bed with the others as she walked closer. "He's going to want to kiss me."

Freen nodded. Even though she had no idea who Nop was, other than the boy Becky's mother had picked out for her years ago, she still felt a twinge of jealousy.

Becky took her hand and their fingers linked together. It was something they did often- hold hands. Sometimes, it was casual with Becky leading her this way or that. Other times, they would stare at each other, their fingers moving softly against the other's skin, touching, memorizing, tracing. Those were the times Freen loved. Now, Becky's thumb was trailing across the back of her hand, and Freen swallowed nervously.

"I don't know how to kiss," Becky said quietly. "I've never kissed anyone."

"I'm sure it won't be hard to learn," Freen said, hearing her voice crackle with nervousness.

Becky took a step closer. "Maybe...we should practice."

Free could feel her heart pounding in her throat and she was surprised she was still able to breathe. She looked into Becky's eyes, seeing that she was completely serious. She was afraid she was going to start hyperventilating. Becky gave her the sweetest smile Freen had ever seen.