A Gentle Collision

Chapter 11

The cool evening air wrapped around Freen like a soft blanket as she walked beside Becky, their steps in sync as they moved down the quiet street. The noise from the party had long faded, and the streetlamps cast a muted glow on the pavement. Becky’s presence beside her felt like an unexpected anchor, one that Freen hadn’t realized she needed. For the first time since she’d arrived in the neighborhood, she felt a little less alone.

Becky’s usual aloofness remained, her hands shoved into the pockets of her jacket, her face unreadable. But there was something about the way she moved—something unspoken in the space between them—that made Freen feel strangely at ease. Becky wasn’t exactly warm, but she wasn’t cold either. For the moment, that was enough.

“So,” Becky said, breaking the silence between them, her voice flat but not unkind, “you’re all right now, huh? Had a decent time at least?”

Freen hesitated, looking down at the sidewalk beneath her feet. The words felt strange on her tongue. “Yeah,” she finally said, her voice soft but clear. “I’m... okay now.”

Becky gave a small nod, though she didn’t look at her. “Good. Wasn’t planning on leaving you out there alone.”

Freen’s lips curved into the smallest of smiles. “Thanks,” she murmured, unsure of how else to respond.

They walked in silence for a while, the night air carrying the faint sounds of distant laughter and the rustle of leaves. The street was quieter now, the houses stretching on either side like quiet sentinels.

As they neared the end of the block, where Freen’s house stood, she felt her shoulders tense up again. The familiar discomfort of home settled in her chest like a weight. The house loomed ahead, dark and silent, just like it had been when she left it earlier.

She couldn’t help it—she sighed, the sound barely audible.

Becky, who had been walking with her head slightly down, glanced up at the sound. Her sharp eyes locked onto Freen. “You okay?” she asked, her voice nonchalant but with a hint of concern.

Freen stopped walking for a moment, her eyes cast downward. She had been trying to hide it, but it was there, the overwhelming heaviness that always seemed to come when she was near her house.

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, not meeting Becky’s gaze.

But Becky didn’t push. She waited, her silence almost comforting in a strange way.

After a moment, Freen took a deep breath and looked up, meeting Becky’s eyes for just a second. Something passed between them in that brief glance—something that Freen couldn’t fully name, but something that made her heart beat a little faster. It was like a silent plea, a request for understanding that she couldn’t voice. She didn’t even know if Becky noticed it, but in that instant, Freen felt a pang of vulnerability she hadn’t felt with anyone in a long time.

“Thanks for walking with me,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. She took a step toward her house, turning to give Becky one last glance.

Becky was still standing there, her expression unreadable. But there was something in the way she stood—something in the way her eyes followed Freen—that made Freen feel like she wasn’t completely alone in this world.

She turned back to her house, her heart a little heavier than before, but with the strange sense that something had shifted. Something had changed.

As Freen stepped up to her front door, she glanced back at Becky one more time. It was a look that carried so much—gratitude, loneliness, and an unspoken plea. It wasn’t a goodbye, but it felt like one.

Becky didn’t say anything, didn’t move. She just watched Freen, her gaze lingering for a moment longer than usual. Then, without a word, she pulled her headphones from her bag and slipped them on, turning away with the same nonchalance as always.

Freen stood there for a few seconds longer, her hand resting lightly on the door handle. She didn’t know what she was waiting for. Maybe she was waiting for some sort of sign, some word of reassurance that everything would be okay. But when nothing came, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The door closed softly behind her, and she let out a long breath.

Inside, the house was quiet—too quiet. Her father was somewhere in the back, probably working or brooding over something that had long since lost its importance.

She didn’t bother to check. Instead, Freen made her way through the dark hallway, her footsteps muted on the hardwood floor.

Meanwhile, Becky had started walking home, her mind swirling with thoughts she didn’t fully understand. The night had been strange—too much had happened, and yet, it felt like she had learned so little.

She glanced down the street, the faint glow of Freen’s house just a dim silhouette in the distance. She found herself walking slower than usual, unsure of why. Was it curiosity? Worry? Or maybe something else?

“Becky!”

She was snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of Nam’s voice. The pair of them appeared from around the corner, walking toward her with the same confident swagger they always had.

Nam smiled at Becky, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “What’s up? You leaving already?”

Becky shrugged, pulling the headphones off her ears. “Just heading home,” she said, her tone short.

Kate gave her a once-over, then raised an eyebrow. “Did you have fun with your new friend?” she asked, the words laced with playful sarcasm.

Becky rolled her eyes. “Not your business,” she said.

The two girls laughed, but there was no real malice in their laughter. They were her childhood friends, in a way—people she had known for years but rarely felt a real connection to.

“You know, you could have invited her to hang out with us,” Kate said, nudging Becky lightly. “Could have made things less... awkward for her.”

Becky glanced at her, then back down the street toward Freen’s house. “I did what I could,” she said, her voice low.

Nam and Kate exchanged a look but said nothing more. They weren’t exactly the nurturing type, but they knew better than to press Becky when she was like this.

“So, did she stay for the whole thing?” Nam asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

“Nope,” Becky replied, her voice as flat as ever. “She didn’t stick around long.”

Kate shrugged. “Pity. She seemed like an interesting one. Maybe she’ll show up next time.”

“Maybe,” Becky said, but she wasn’t so sure. She didn’t know what had drawn her to Freen, and frankly, she didn’t understand why she’d even cared enough to defend her earlier. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that the other girl was somehow different.

As they walked in silence, Becky couldn’t help but wonder if the brief encounter with Freen meant anything at all—or if it was just one more fleeting moment in a life that had always been filled with too many of those.

Freen’s glance, however, lingered in her mind. The look that had carried so much more than words. It made her chest feel tight, and she couldn’t quite shake the feeling that she’d be seeing Freen again—whether she liked it or not.