The dragonflies tattoist - Freenbecky

Chapter 8

They met again at the sushi restaurant where they had their first date, sitting at the same table, and once again, Becky ordered for both of them.

Yet, despite how similar the setting was, Becky seemed almost uncomfortable in that place where all eyes seemed to be on her, and Freen could tell. Her gaze was downcast, arms crossed tightly over her chest, and her leg bounced nervously under the table.

"We can go somewhere else if you want," Freen offered.

"I like this place, baby."

But this time, unlike all the other times Becky had called her that, Freen truly felt the warmth of it.

"I like when you call me that."

"I know," Becky replied with a genuine smile, the kind of smile a kid would have after his mom told them his drawing was beautiful. "I also know you love Harry Styles, 'The Fault in Our Stars', my eyes... and my boobs. But that's a whole different story."

Freen blushed instantly, laughing nervously.

Becky wasn't wrong. She loved all of that, and probably much more.

She loved the way Becky's lips, painted in dark lipstick, formed beautiful smiles. She loved her words, the way she admired the night sky, and the way she ate every meal with so much passion.

She loved Rebecca Armstrong.

The same waiter from their first date brought over trays of sushi and left before Becky could say anything to him. Freen noticed it didn't seem like Becky actually wanted to say anything.

"Sorry I didn't reply to your messages," Becky apologized, though she didn't really need to. "I've been feeling down since Irin's death. Honestly, I only got out of bed today because I knew you were going to be the one tattooing me, and somehow, you always manage to cheer me up."

Freen hated seeing her like this. She hated seeing her so broken.

But she also hated knowing that she was the one who had to cheer Becky up. She didn't want Becky to need cheering up at all.

"I'm sorry about Irin," Freen murmured, reaching across the table to gently caress Becky's hand. Becky looked at the gesture in the same way she had admired Freen's touch during Ying's party that night.

But unlike that time, Becky didn't pull away, at least not immediately.

"Me too..."

Silence.

"How are you feeling, Becky?" Freen asked, her concern evident.

She needed to hear the answer. She needed to know Becky was okay, or at least as close to 'okay' as someone could be after losing a grandmother, a brother, and a niece.

"With you here, I'm feeling amazing," Becky answered with a smile. And she wasn't lying. "So don't be surprised if I start showing up every day. I like this feeling of being wonderfully alive."

Freen smiled shyly, her eyes drifting down to their hands, still intertwined. Now she understood why Becky always looked at their hands with such admiration.

Their hands fit perfectly together.

And that made her feel amazing too.

"Do you want to talk about something?" Freen asked, hoping to keep hearing Becky's voice. She loved listening to her. Honestly, she could have listened to Becky read the weather report and wouldn't have been bored for a second.

"Maybe about your girlfriend," Becky teased, popping a sushi roll into her mouth. She chewed as if that bite of food was pure heaven, her eyes closing in bliss.