The door opened. Bette stood there smiling at Tina…It wasn’t a friendly smile, more of a MY GOD YOU LOOK HOT!! Smile.

B: Hi there
T: Hey!

Tina gave Bette a small hug and a kiss on the cheek, to which she blushed after ward!!
She stepped into the big warehouse, it was amazing, and the art fitted perfectly in her place. Abstract could only define the pieces that were seen. Tina stared at one. Kinking her head to the left as if in deep thought…. Wondering what the piece truly revealed to her.

“Its called Intoxicate.” Bette passed Tina, heading towards the kitchen to check on the meal that was currently being prepared.

Tina huffed in amazement. “Who’s it by.”
“Yours Truly.” was all that came from the kitchen.

“Ahh another one of your amazing talents… You always seem to amaze me Ms Porter.” Tina looked down to the same picture as a couple of nights ago. Seeing the glass was still smudged by Bette’s fingers. She couldn’t help but smile at it. Bette looked so happy, yet in those days you didn’t really have to care about anything. You were happy climbing a tree, for the adventure was made in your heart. Tina laughed, and advanced into the kitchen, to find Bette over a hot stove. The smells of Tomato and Basil filled the air. It smelt so good and Tina hadn’t eaten since her lunch break, which was three hours ago.

“What ya cooking?” Tina peaked over Bette’s shoulder. Bette put the pot lid down on the saucepan.
“Its a secret…Go sit down in the dinning room, I’ll be there in a moment to serve dinner. You’ll find it pretty easy. Go into the lounge and you’ll see the two big glass doors. The dinning is in there. I only use it for special occasions.” Bette jolted her head to the left, ushering Tina to go.

Tina walked into the lounge, still hearing some assortment of jazz from the stereo. She found the glass doors and opened them to a candle lit dinner. The big red wood table in the middle of the room, the chair bottoms and backs covered with cream silk cushioning. A candle abra sat in the middle of the huge table, surrounding it were red rose petals. The candle arba sat on a cream table runner. “Well she’s got good taste even though she is a mechanic ‘n’ all.” Tina thought to herself. The Candle arbra was highlighted in moonlight, Tina looked up to see three or four skylights. Looking down on the table once again it looked so surreal. Funny enough just like a painting. Tina sat at the end of the table looking around the place, finding hidden treasures that she wouldn’t of expected Bette to have. Like the old antic piano in the corner, or the old fireplace just to the left of the table. The painting above it. Two naked women in an embrace. The back ground a light blue, yet the eye-catching thing about it was that they were moulded into each other. You could still see that it was two women, yet the way they moulded they almost seemed as one. Tina sighed. The room looked so beautiful in the dim light.

Just then Bette walked in, holding to Asian style square plates.

“Here, this is my special.” She winked at Tina as she placed the plate in front of Tina. She had made Spaghetti Bolognaise, complemented with a sprig of parsley.

“This smells so good.” Tina grabbed her fork.
“Wait, Wait I almost forgot something, Bette pulled a bottle of chilled wine from under the table. The cork almost out, Bette popped it open and poured a glass for Tina and then for herself. A rich late 80′s Merlot. A good rich pallet. Even though Bette was only 23, she knew a lot about wines and their texture. Tasting rich and boastful, great with pasta.

They quietly ate their meals, thinking of meaningless conversation points that they could endeavour in, but what was the point? Tina sat there reviewing all the points in her head about where this friendship was going and where she wanted it to go. She thought about her career and her schooling and right now it would be unfair to have a partner that should get all the love and devotion in the world, instead of a half dead partner who they would hardly see. Her fork stirring in her plate, a sign of pure in depth thought. This didn’t go unnoticed to Bette.

B: Whats on your mind?
T: Nothing much…This meal is real good…You put yourself down.
B: Ha well you haven’t seen me try to cook toast…BIG disaster.
T:(Chuckling) Well I know you have other talents.

Bette suddenly looked up from her meal, surprised by Tina’s response. ‘How does she know about those talents?’

T:I’m mean…You can work on cars…
B:(Blushing) Oh yeah that…
T: What do you think I was talking about? (Smirking)
B:(Playing with a strand of spaghetti with her fork) Nothing…. I meant nothing by it.
T: Yes you did…What was it Ms Porter?
B: (Blushing) I’ve just heard some rumours about myself and my OTHER talents.
T: And what would they be?

Bette got up from her chair and grabbed her plate.
B: Are you finished?
T: Yeah thanks

Bette grabbed Tina’s plate and scampered off to the kitchen, leaving Tina to contemplate tonight once again. After about 5 minutes Bette came back and plonked herself on her chair.

Grabbing her glass off the table and taking a sip, to calm her nerves. The whole reason why this night was planned was for Bette to tell Tina that she liked her more then a friend, yet Bette didn’t know when the right was to tell Tina all that stuff. She took another sip of her wine.

T: Do you play? (Nudging her head towards the piano in the corner.)
B: Yeah a little.
T: Would you play for me?
B…Ok, I don’t really put on a show for many people.

Bette and Tina stood up and walked over to the Piano. Pulling out the chair and dusting it off with her hand, Bette sat down. Tina stood next to the old up right piano. Leaning her elbow on it, holding her half glass of wine. Bette took a deep breath. She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking of what she wanted to play. Her hands moving to there starting positions.

The music flowed softly through the massive room, giving the place a very homey feel. Tina watched as Bette played, her fingers knowing where to move next. Her long, slim fingers gently pressing the keys down, making her beautiful music. Her head swayed from side to side, listening contently to the melody and the rhythm. Tina was mesmerised at this womans talents. The music flowed through her body, letting her body relax and forget about what this night was really for. She closed her eyes and hummed quietly to herself. The song ended beautifully, giving it a blues feel. Both women still had their eyes closed, thinking about what the song reminded them of. Tina sighed as she opened her eyes; the song was perfect for the night. Tina watched as Bette slowly opened her eyes, staring straight into hers.

T: (whispered) Wow…How do you learn how to play like that?
B: I basically taught myself…My mother always used to tell me that I had the ‘soul’ for the music…
Tina I got to tell you something before it rips me up inside.
T: Ok then…go for it

Both women took a deep breath.

B: I think you should sit down Tina.

Tina sat next to Bette on the old Piano chair.

B: I know I’ve only known you for a week or two, but Tina…There’s…. This something…inside me…I can’t really describe it, I’ve never felt it before in my life… But the first day I met you, I knew that you were going to be in my life somehow…See the thing is…Tina what I’m trying to say is…I like you…More then a friend…I have feelings about you that I can’t express, there to deep, to difficult to express…I want to, But I can’t…. Tina….

Tina started to hyperventilate, she knew what Bette was trying to say, but it just couldn’t happen she wasn’t ready…She needed time for all of this to sink in….Her body started to shake a little. She stopped Bette in mid sentence.

T: Please Bette, I know what youre trying to say and I ca… I just can’t.
She shook her head.

Meanwhile Bette being completely dumbfounded, finding hard to verbalize her response to Tina’s sudden out burst.
B: Why? She squeaked
T: (Sighed) Because right now I’m in college and I dont know if I’m like that… I dont know who I am anymore. Bette I like you, but I don’t know if I can take the next step…. I have to go.

Tears threatening to fall from her eyes, Tina turned around and headed for the kitchen, grabbing her purse and keys from the coffee table, Bette right on her heals.

B: Tina wait…
T: I can’t do this. Not now (shaking her head, tears falling from her face)

Tina walked to the front door, never turning to see Bette’s expression. She opened it and left it open, knowing that Bette was behind her. She stopped at the veranda. Letting her head drop to the concrete, then with all her will picking it back up. “Good bye Bette Porter.” She whispered, the tears still falling from her face. Tina almost ran to her car. She sat there for a moment, ‘what do I want?’ She wracked her brains. Trying to find the answer. Then she heard it…Bette on the piano once again, except playing a different song…a slower song then before. A sad song. Tina didn’t know what to do. She shoved her keys in the ignition and speed off down Bettes street; her cheeks glistened from the tears that had slipped down them. Her arm was being used as a tissue, for when the new tears fell, her arm was there to wipe them away… And her mind buzzing with all the questions of what could of happened if Tina went about it differently.
But the one question that remained in her head was. “Could it of really worked out between us?”