It was like Radclyffe Halls 1920 classic, always there beneath the surface lingering. Bette had often found that men attracted her sensibilities, but with woman included the attraction of her libido. It was something shed always observed how a woman had layers and depths, curves and softness, tenderness and edginess all into one. It was so much more then what men had to offer. For her, it always seemed that men were intimated by her strength and beauty where as women wanted to know more; they wanted to understand. Shed never acted on her feelings for women, because of her Father. She loved him deeply and it was this love that had her pursuing a life that would please him; the Ivy League schools and organizations, dating and marrying into a respectable family, etc. Bette weighed success in much the same way as her Father, but she believed that there should be love. Between her parents she saw respect, admiration, caring, even tenderness but she didnt see love.

Now, three thousand miles away she felt free to open up to possibilities and opportunities that she would have never ventured in Philly because of the watchful eye of her Father. After the falling out with Kit, he held Bette tight and expected her to meet his expectations. Because of her love for him she felt an obligation to strive for all he wanted for her. Alexis, her Mother on the other hand, was mutual love/hate relationship. She knew Alexis was proud of her daughter, if only to have something to brag about to her counterparts. But, Bette always felt her Mother was jealous of her and for so many reasons. The most significant being Bette had the love of her Father.

She felt the warm breathe against the nape of her neck as a throaty voice whispered into her ear. Ive been thinking about you. Bettes eyes glinted at Tonis voice. She sighed as she felt Tonis hands trace slowly down her arms to reach around her waist. Bette turned to face Toni. She searched those green eyes and leaned in to Toni to meet her half way. The kiss was slow, sensual, sending firing neurons down her spine in pleasure. As their kiss turned to hunger an alarm went off. They pulled away searching for the cause with urgency.

Bette popped her eyes open and reached out to hit the snooze button on her alarm that read 5:15am. Bette rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling absorbing her dream and recanting it in her mind. A mischievous grin bubbled up as she pondered the thought of approaching her architect for a date. Dont mix business with pleasure bounced in her and a laugh trickled out. Poor Randle she thought.

Outside at the street corner at 6am Bette snuggled her jacket tightly around her to protect from the cool morning air. Randle had picked up Simone and was on his way to her; then off to San Francisco. She heard the rumble of his car first then saw him take the corner. She cringed because he had the top down and loud music escaped freely. He seemed alive, awake, and happy. Bette ran around to the passenger side before he could get out. She throw her bag into the back seat hitting Simones leg by mistake and then got in.

Put the top up its cold and turn down that music. Youre way too cheery for so early in the morning. I hope you dont think youre going to get lucky with a threesome.

And good morning to you too he chimed.

HHhhmm, grumbled Simone from back.

Bette strapped herself in and laid her head back against the headrest and thought curiously about what the weekend might entail outside of wining and dining artists.