I Don't Belong To You

Chapter 19

"Freen," she doesn't even bother turning off the water. She slides the door open and steps out quickly, grabbing a towel to wrap around her waist.

"How could you?" Freen has a voice of steel and it frightens her more than any foster parent ever has.

The fear of losing Freen gives her goosebumps and makes her blood run cold.

"No, I didn't. I swear I didn't."

She laughs and it sounds close to cruel. "You know, I applaud you for all the effort. The texts last night, the shower this morning and even the sheets you were thoughtful enough to clean. All very efficient of you...just one problem, dear. You forgot to see the whore in your kitchen out."

Her heart is pounding and she continues to shake her head to all of this.

"Baby, just list-"

"Are you serious right now, Becky?" The firm voice, that's borderline yelling, shuts her up.

"I caught you! I was staring right at her. She's wearing your shirt and prancing around your house in her underwear. Do you still want to call me baby?"

"Maybe I'm just a friend? A really really close friend."

An instigator is the last thing she needs right now. She rolls her eyes but doesn't tear her gaze away from Freen.

"I'm sorry little girl but was I speaking to you?"

"I'm sorry but you don't have to be such a bitch."

She's already in a ton of shit, and she knows it, she doesn't need this right now.

"Oh my god, get out." She pushes past Freen and pushes the taller woman out of her room.

"I'm just trying to help Bec."

"You helping is you leaving."

"Alright, alright call me later." Becky nods and turns back around immediately, feeling like one fire has been put out.

But when she re-enters her bedroom, she realizes that the small fire has actually spread wildly in the ten seconds she's been gone because Freen looks ready to run and slap her all at once.

She keeps her distance and remains in front of the door, blocking it, just in case she tries to do either.

"Becky, I don't want to hear it." Her tone is final but she shakes her head. She refuses to lose Freen over something she didn't even do.

"Well that sucks but you're going to hear it. I'm not going to let you walk out of here, walk away from me and us and this thinking that I fucked you over."

She's not really the most serious person, she knows that. But there must be something in her voice that tells Freen this isn't up for discussion because she says nothing and she takes that as her cue, rushing out the words so that she can explain without interruption.

"That was Irin. My best friend. From downstairs. She just stayed over last night. She was so drunk last night and her girlfriend hates to see her like that so sometimes after a late night, she crashes at my place. No sex, no touching. I don't even think of Irin that way. We're just friends. I swear to God, Freen, absolutely nothing happened last night."

She watches on quietly as Freen stares at just her bare mattress.

She's not sure if it's the right move but she approaches.

"They smelled like smoke and tequila so they're in the washer." She answers the unspoken question quietly, afraid that a normal voice will spook her.