“Just as well “ Bette replied grinning. She had to admit that Mel looked good in a business suit. Her long brown hair was tidied back in a pony tail and even though she wasn’t wearing heels her nature height of over 5ft 9in gave her a look of authority. Mel was tanned and she did look handsome.
“Lets eat before we start talking “ Bette said “ I know what we are like “
Bette bought a bowl of soup, an egg sandwich and a coffee and made her way back to their table. When Mel arrived a few minutes behind her she had a huge plate of fries, sausage, eggs and bacon.
“Hungry ?” Bette asked dryly
“Very – I can’t eat before interviews  – I get  too nervous “
“Bette smiled and started on her soup as Mel started on her food.
“So what was the interview for ?”
“Post grad job  – part teaching and some research “
“How did it go ?”
Mel shoved a huge fork full of food into her mouth and shrugged. Finally she spoke
“Hard to know  – I think I did well “
“You have some good references from your teachers though “
“Oh yeah  – maybe they think we Ivy League girls are going to be too snotty for them”
“I don’t miss the snotty types “ Bette said
“I can imagine – so how are you ? How is your grizzly new career going ?”
“Really well”
“Top of the class ?”
“Close enough to the top”
“You arent top ?” she exclaimed in surprise
“I didn’t say that – I am top in several subjects – they don’t rank things in the way that other courses are. We are all doing well in some area or other “
“But you are just doing better in more classes than anyone else ?” she said smiling.
“Something like that”
“And you are enjoying it ?”
Bette smiled “ Yeah – yeah its challenging and gruesome at times but I am enjoying it. It was the right career for me  – becoming an accountant or a lawyer would not have been for me “
“You don’t eat, sleep and live numbers like Viv does” Mel said nodding
“How is Viv?”
“Wonderful and she’s  loving the accountancy and audit stuff. You know what a math nerd she is “
“I know not to call her a math nerd to her face”  Bette said
“Well I do because she is and she’s my partner – and well – because I can”
“Three years is a long time to be in a relationship at our age “
“2 years 10 months and 24 days”
“Now whose being a math nerd ?” Bette laughed
Mel smiled “ Given how I was always so bad at math I think there is some osmosis going on”
Bette just loved the absurdity of the comment
“So does your math power get better when she fucks you or the other way round ?”
“We fuck so much its hard to tell “ Mel retorted leaving Bette laughing “Anyway – where is the number one girl in your life and when do we meet her – you do know you are not going to be able to escape until we meet Tina “
Bette smiled “ Oh you will be meeting her – no doubt about that”
“So she fell for the meet me under the clock in Central Station routine ?” Mel teased knowing that it had not been an act. Bette’s real friends knew that if Bette had the chance she would be back with her High School sweetheart. Bette knew she was being teased
“Yes she fell for it”
“How long did it take you to turn on the Porter charm ?”
“I didn’t know I had Porter Charm “ Bette replied
“Now whose talking bullshit ? “ Mel called her friend out on the comment. Bette grinned
“Well maybe I have a little bit of charm “
“A little ?” Mel wasn’t going to let Bette escape with that comment either
“I have some charm “
As Mel wasn’t going to get Bette to admit to the fact that she just oozed smoothness and charm she decided to leave it at having Bette admit to “ some charm “.
After finishing her huge meal Mel went and got a couple of candy bars and another coffee. She  moved her plate to a table close by that was full of dirty crockery and returned to her seat. She looked at Bette
“Does she know ?”
Bette glanced up from her sandwich
“About Jesse and Ashley you mean ?”
“Yes “
Bette nodded “I told her a month ago “
“How did she take it ?”
Bette smiled “ Protective towards me and understanding – shocked of course but understanding – very “
Despite herself Mel realised how relieved she was – she had been one of  core group of Bette’s friends who had taken it upon themselves to protect her from the worst of the gossip and innuendo. Throughout the whole time Bette had remained classy and calm – two things Mel didn’t think anyone else could have been. Her respect and love for Bette was shared by her closest friends – so to hear that Tina – the famed and mythical Tina Kennard had taken the shocking news in her stride was a great relief. She smiled
“That’s good “
Bette had missed having her close college friends nearby – they had been there and they understood. And they would know, like no one else could just what a release it had been for her to break her silence and tell Tina everything
“She took it in her stride – I mean she knew that I had some secret – she knew that I was hiding something – she knew almost from the first that I wasn’t telling her something major. She knew for the first few months of our relationship starting up and she didn’t judge me or try and make me tell her. She was patient – she just kept saying that I would tell her when I was ready. We went away for the weekend up to the Catskills and I sat her down and told her. She got angry for me – wanted to know what she could do to get even with Ashley “
“She would need to take a ticket “ Mel replied “Go on “
“I told her and she asked questions – I know she was shocked. I guess the worst thing for her was trying to guess what this big secret was. When I told her I guess it was a relief. It was out in the open and we are dealing with it “
“Has Jesse been in touch ?” Mel asked
“Nothing more than a couple of emails – she is seeing someone – first time in a while”
“And you are with Tina “ Mel said
Bette nodded “I have my wonderful Tina back “ she sighed “Its amazing “
“Just like it was before ?”