"Freen, darling," Heidi cooed, her voice dripping with concern. "I rushed over as soon as I heard. Are you alright?" She reached out, attempting to stroke Freen's cheek, but Freen deftly stepped out of her reach.
"Heidi," Freen said, her voice sharp and laced with annoyance. "Why are you here?"
"Why wouldn't I be here?" Heidi retorted, her dark eyes flashing. "I saw the news reports, Freen. I was so worried. You mean so much to me. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you."
A deliberate cough echoed from the living room, drawing their attention. Becky cleared her throat, making her presence known. Heidi's gaze shifted over Freen's shoulder, landing on Becky, who sat composed on the couch. Becky offered a polite smile and a small wave. "Hi," she said, her voice calm and even.
Confusion and a flicker of anger crossed Heidi's features. She turned back to Freen, her eyes narrowed. "Who the hell is that?" she demanded, her voice laced with suspicion.
"None of your damn business," Freen snapped, her patience wearing thin.
Heidi stormed past Freen, her eyes blazing, and positioned herself squarely in front of Becky. "Alright, spill," she demanded, her voice laced with a venomous sweetness. "Who are you, and what are you doing in my Freen's apartment?"
Becky raised an eyebrow, a slow, deliberate movement that conveyed both amusement and disdain. "My, my," she drawled, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips. "Someone's territorial. I believe I'm the one who's going to excuse myself from this… fascinating display." She rose from the couch, her movements fluid and controlled. "Wouldn't want to interrupt your… domestic bliss."
Freen stepped forward, her voice sharp with a hint of desperation. "Becky, please, don't go. This is… this is ridiculous."
"Oh, I think it's perfectly clear who should be leaving," Heidi interjected, her voice dripping with possessiveness. "And it's not me."
"Heidi, that's enough," Freen warned, her voice low and dangerous.
"No, Freen, it's quite alright," Becky said, her voice calm, but with an edge of steel. She walked past Heidi, her gaze sweeping over the other woman, a silent assessment that left Heidi feeling vaguely uneasy. Reaching Freen at the open door, Becky's expression softened, a hint of warmth in her eyes. "Thank you for the wine, Freen," she said, her voice gentle. "It was… unexpectedly pleasant." She lightly grazed Freen's arm with her fingertips, a fleeting touch that sent a shiver down Freen's spine. "I'll see you soon," she added, her voice laced with a subtle promise.
Freen's breath hitched. "Thank you for coming," she replied, her voice sincere, her eyes pleading with Becky to stay.
Becky offered a small, enigmatic smile, then winked, a playful gesture that belied the tension in the room, before gracefully exiting.
Freen exhaled a long, frustrated breath, immediately feeling the sharp sting of Becky's absence. She slammed the door shut, turning to face Heidi, her eyes narrowed with a simmering anger. "What the hell was that?" she demanded, her voice dangerously low.
"Well, you certainly don't waste any time," Heidi sneered, crossing her arms tightly across her chest. "Where'd the sultry womeb spring from? Is she your new… girlfriend?"
Freen scoffed, her eyes flashing with anger. "How is that any of your damn concern?"
"Freen, I came here because I was worried about you," Heidi retorted, her voice rising. "And I find you entertaining some… stranger?"
"And your point is?" Freen challenged, her voice dangerously low.
"You're seeing her!" Heidi accused, her voice sharp and accusatory.
Freen shook her head, her patience wearing thin. "Heidi, you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, don't I?" Heidi retorted, stalking towards the couch and picking up a wine glass from the coffee table. "Wine, soft lighting, cozying up on the couch… don't insult my intelligence. It was a date."
"And if it was?" Freen challenged, taking a step closer. "What gives you the right to barge in here and demand an explanation? It's none of your business."
"Are you seeing her?" Heidi persisted, her voice laced with possessiveness.
"For God's sake…" Freen growled, running a frustrated hand through her hair. "Just leave, Heidi."
"Not until I know who she is," Heidi stated, her voice firm.
"Heidi, I'm not playing games," Freen warned, her voice tight with suppressed anger.
"Neither am I," Heidi countered, standing her ground. "Tell me who she is, and I'll leave."
Freen exhaled a long, exasperated sigh. "Fine," she said, her voice tight with suppressed anger. "If that's what it takes to get you out of my apartment. Her name is Becky. She's my new partner. She came by to check on me."
Heidi let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "Oh, I'm sure that's all she was doing," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Freen challenged, her eyes narrowing. "And 'trust me'? After everything?"
Heidi placed the wine glass back on the table, circling around the couch to close the distance between them. "Freen," she said, her voice softening, "she wants you. I saw the way she looked at you."
"And you came here to… what? Warn me?" Freen asked, her voice laced with incredulity. "Or to meddle in my personal life?"
Heidi sighed, her eyes dropping to the floor for a moment before she raised them again, her expression contrite. "I did come to check on you," she said, her voice laced with a deceptive sweetness. "I'm sorry, Freen. I didn't mean to… react like this."
Freen shook her head, her eyes hardening as she registered Heidi's hollow apology and the use of the old, cloying nickname. She wasn't going to be fooled by Heidi's practiced act of contrition, the feigned empathy that masked her self-serving motives. "But you did," Freen stated, her voice flat and devoid of emotion. "So, get out."
Heidi's brow furrowed, a flicker of confusion and disbelief in her eyes. "Freen? What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the fact that if you don't leave this apartment right now, I will arrest you for trespassing," Freen said, her voice firm and unwavering.
"You wouldn't," Heidi scoffed, a hint of doubt creeping into her voice.
"Try me," Freen replied, her eyes flashing with a cold determination.
They held each other's gaze, a silent battle of wills. Heidi, realizing Freen was not bluffing—or at least, unwilling to risk finding out—reluctantly conceded. She turned and walked towards the door, her departure a silent admission of defeat.
The image of Freen kissing another woman was like a physical blow, a sharp, twisting pain that pierced Becky's heart. The intensity of the hurt surprised her, and she desperately wanted to erase the image from her mind. So, here she was, in a stranger's living room, on a couch, engaged in a desperate, almost violent make-out session.
The woman beneath her arched her back, her hips pushing upwards, seeking friction. A moan escaped her lips as she found contact, the sensation sending a jolt of pleasure through her. Becky knew this woman was willing, eager. But every time Becky closed her eyes, Freen's image surfaced, unbidden and insistent. Those piercing brown eyes, the tousled hair, that captivating smile.
Her mind was a relentless projector, replaying the scene over and over.
No matter how fiercely she tried to suppress it, Becky couldn't banish Freen from her thoughts. She tried to lose herself in the moment, her hand moving down the woman's body, cupping a full breast. The woman groaned, her tongue plunging deeper into Becky's mouth.
But it was no use. These weren't Freen's hands caressing her back, this wasn't Freen's unique, intoxicating scent filling her senses, this wasn't Freen's body pressed against hers. Abruptly, Becky broke the kiss, pulling back to look down at the woman, whose breath came in ragged gasps. Green eyes stared back at her, not the startling, unforgettable brown of Freen's. The woman reached up, attempting to pull Becky back down, but Becky held firm, her resolve hardening.
"What's wrong?" the woman breathed, sensing Becky's sudden withdrawal.
Becky closed her eyes, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. "Damn it…" she muttered, before disentangling herself from the woman's embrace. She sat back on the couch, burying her face in her hands, a wave of confusion and vulnerability washing over her.
The woman sat up, quickly adjusting her blouse. "Are you alright?"
Becky shook her head, removing her hands from her face. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice laced with regret. "I can't do this."
"But I thought you wanted to…" the woman began, her voice trailing off.
"I did… I do…" Becky turned to her, her expression apologetic. "But not… not with you."
"Oh…" the woman replied, her voice tinged with disappointment as she looked down.
"Trust me, it's not you," Becky reassured, her voice sincere. "You're beautiful, and… if things were different, I'd…" she paused, searching for the right words. "I'd absolutely be… very interested. But I have… other things on my mind."
"Another woman?" the woman guessed, her voice soft.
Becky sighed, then nodded.
"You love her," the woman stated, her voice laced with a quiet understanding.
Becky hesitated, a moment of uncertainty passing over her face. "I… I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
"I think you do," the woman said gently. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have had any problem, as you so eloquently put it, 'fucking my brains out'."
"Sorry," Becky mumbled, a sheepish grin tugging at the corner of her lips.
"It's okay," the woman replied, offering a small, understanding smile.
"Whoever she is, she's very lucky."
"Yeah…" Becky sighed, her voice laced with doubt. She stood up, retrieving her leather jacket from the floor. "I should probably go. Thanks for understanding, uh…" She paused, turning to the woman on the couch, a questioning look in her eyes.
"Good bye Becky", the women replied and Becky stormed out of the house.