Love & Reason Keep Little Company (Freen x Becky)

Chapter 8

Becky woke up, lying at the bottom of her bed, with a pillow tucked under her head and Freen curled up at her side.

An episode of Doraemon played on the TV in the corner of her room. It took Becky a moment to remember where she was. She blinked and rubbed at her eyes.

"P'Freen..." Her voice came out husky as she shook the other girl awake. "Phi, wake up."

"Hmm." Freen grumbled, swatting at the hand shaking her. "Five more minutes..." She shuffled closer to Becky, pressing her face into her shoulder. She was tempted to let her be, but Becky didn't want her getting in trouble with her uncle.

"P'Freen , it's after midnight. Your curfew."

"Oi. Damn it." Freen rolled over and scrambled for her phone on the bedside table. It was five past midnight and there was already a missed call from her uncle. She sat up and ran her hand through her hair with a yawn. "I better call a grab car. I'm too tired to drive."

"Stay?" Suggested Becky, catching her off guard. "If it's okay with your uncle? It's late. I doubt he wants you wrapping your Jeep around a telephone pole."

"I'll mention that." Freen chuckled. Lying back beside the other girl, she lay on her side with her phone pressed to her ear as she waited for her uncle to pick up. "Uncle Nadech, hi... Sorry I fell asleep at Becky's. Is it okay if I spend the night here? Okay ka, thanks na ka. Bye."

"You're not in trouble, are you?" Becky asked. She'd heard Nadech mention discussing Freen's curfew with her tomorrow. Freen waved her concerns off as she tossed her phone aside.

"He's fine. My uncle is actually quite chill."

"I find that hard to believe." Becky snorted with laughter. "I'll find you something to wear for bed." She stood up and stretched, craning her neck from side to side to get rid of the crick in it.

"Thanks, nong." Freen excused herself to go wash up. She came back a few minutes later, fresh faced with her makeup washed off, and bit back a smirk as she found Becky holding bright pink pyjamas with little red hearts on them. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Seriously, Beck?"

"They were a Christmas present off my Grandma. I don't wear them."

"This is payback for me making you wear P'Nam's shirt, isn't it?" Freen rolled her eyes as she snatched the offending garments from Becky's hand. "Well the joke is on you. I like them."

She wandered back into the bathroom to change, leaving Becky to do the same. Becky left her clothes in a heap and changed into the shorts and tank top she usually wore for bed. Freen walked back in the room as Becky wrestled a sleeping bag from the top of her closet.

"A little late for camping, isn't it, nong?"

"Oh, no I... It's for me. I figured I'd sleep on the couch." Becky shifted from foot to foot, feeling the full weight of Freen's scrutiny as the other girl frowned.

"Why? It's not like we haven't shared a bed before, nong." She laughed, trying to lighten the tension. "Which side do you sleep on?"

"Uh... the left." Answered Becky, shoving the sleeping bag back in the closet.

Freen moved to the other side of the bed and slipped under the covers. Becky took a steadying breath before moving to switch off the light and joining her. Despite having not long woke up, Becky wasn't the least bit tired. She felt wide awake, lying on her side, facing away from the other girl.

Beside her, Freen seemed to have the same problem. Becky listened to her turn over with a sigh. They were each on their own side of the bed, and the space between them might as well have been a chasm.