No Strings Attached

Chapter 25: Exploring Emotions

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That Saturday night the gang found themselves sitting on the beach around a nice fire they had made. Having finally received the opportunity to get out of the city to a nearby quiet beach, they grabbed it, thankful for a chance to see the stars with such clarity. The strip of beach wasn't entirely empty. There were a few food stalls towards the road and a few other people were also walking around or sitting down in the sand to watch where the stars met the dark ocean.

"No, I'm serious! He grabbed his pants, apologised and ran off." Freen had been regaling the group with stories of Nam and Tor's escapades since they started attending university.

"That's nothing!" Heng chipped in and both Becca and Richie eyed him with a venomous warning. Heng caught on and chuckled nervously. "All I'm going to say is don't let Becca sleep over at your place after a gig."

"Hey, I'm a fucking delight and don't any of you dare say anything else." Becca puffed up in mock bravado.

"Well in that case, we need to play a game to bring out people's skeletons." Nam suggested slyly and by the way Irin squeaked it was easy to assume she was also in favour. "Everyone grab your drink. Never have I ever...gone skinny dipping. Now everyone who has done it, has to drink. So drink." Everyone took a sip of their drink, having had the simple experience before. "The whole point is to mention stuff that's naughty but easy enough to get more people to drink."

"I'm next!" Irin jumped in and got ready for her turn. "Never have I ever...used body chocolate." Becca, Heng, Nam and Tor all lifted their drinks in admission to the next plea.

"Never have I ever..." Heng started and grinned at Becca, not even trying to make it seem subtle. "...had a threesome." Heng knocked back his drink and waited for the only other person he knew for sure had done it. Becca sighed and finally took a sip of her drink before shooting daggers in her glare at Heng. She looked over at Freen then and found that she was being watched, but the facial expression was not one of warmth. She was not enjoying finding out in such a crass manner about my history.

"Never have I ever..." Becca decided to take the next turn, adamant to catch Heng with his own shoelaces. "Never have I ever had anyone give me head while driving." Becca grinned at Heng, knowing he was the only one among them insane enough to try that one. "Okay okay fine..." He grumbled and drank from his bottle.

"My turn." Freen said next and thought of her very best. She wanted to know more about Becca, and perhaps what she likes even. "Never have I ever... developed a strange kink or fetish." Heng paused the drinking and narrowed his eyes at Freen. "How strange is strange?" The other started moaning and groaning at him, collectively deciding that 'strange' was anything outside of societal norms or understanding. They also came to the conclusion that all of them had some or other kink or fetish, though they'd never share with the others.

The conversation quickly turned to weird fetishes and the kind of stuff you can find on 'only fans'. As the conversation flowed back and forth, Becca could hear someone calling her name from the side, towards the waves. "I'll be right back." She assured the others and walked towards the ocean in the direction of the woman's voice. "Friend, is that you? Oh my god! How have you been?" Becca found herself enveloped by the taller girl's arms, hanging around in an extended warm hug. "Becca, it's been ages. I've been good, thanks! How about you?" The finally broke apart to continue their face to face conversation, all while two almond eyes were glued to them. Freen had a hollow pang of jealousy radiating from the core of her stomach outwards, making her feel nauseated.

"Anyone know who that is?" Freen asked softly as some of the other also started focusing on the interaction some feet away from them. "I know who it is, but Freen, it'd be better if Becca tells you herself." Irin spoke calmly from Freen's side. She knew that only implied that the woman was an old flame. Freen did not want old flames to deal with just when she and Becca were starting to find their way back to each other. Freen watched further as the two women laughed together. She paid attention to how the stranger would touch Becca's arm at every chance she got. Every now and then she would lead into Becca to speak and get a little too close.

Freen couldn't watch anymore. She grabbed a bottle still half full of vodka and started walking off down the beach into the darkness, keeping her back to Becca and blocking out the sounds of her laughter. Becca didn't ever bother noticing her slip by.

Freen was well nestled away next to some rocks and had been sitting there long enough to make friends with the bottle of vodka. It had been quite a while before Becca finally found her. Slowly she approached Freen and sat down next to Freen. "You just disappeared."

"You disappeared first." Freen frowned and scoffed at Becca. "Who was that?" Freen blurted out like the jealous girlfriend and quickly retracted. "Sorry, that's none of my business. No Strings attached, right?" Freen gathered all her might to not break down and put up a front for Becca. Freen aimed to walk away and head back to the bonfire when Becca grabbed her by the wrist. "Is that really what you want?" She squeezed gently at Freen's arm. "I'm not going to change who you are Beck." Freen tried her best not to sound angry or defeated. She didn't want Becca to think that she had made a mistake because of the overwhelming nature of Freen's emotions. She knew that Becca had to choose her as much as she chose her.

Becca was still opening her mouth to respond when Freen had already wriggled her hand out of Becca's grasp and was walking away, albeit somewhat unsteadily due to her alcohol consumption. Becca followed close by, but she knew essentially that Freen was mad at her. Becca smirked. Not mad, no. Freen was jealous and it made Becca absolutely giddy.