Some Kind of Wonderful

Chapter Six

Tina was happy that it was out in the open but it was a shock that Bette had been so open about it. That had changed  – it just reinforced the brunette’s maturity – and possibly her own immaturity in comparison. Bette raised an eyebrow and looked at the blonde
“I don’t think I have misjudged the looks you have been giving me. If I am wrong I will be mortified “
Tina shook her head
“No – of course not. God Bette – do you really think there is anything that could happen that would lead me into turning you down ?”
Bette shrugged “There is always a possibility “
Tina shook her head again – “No Bette – you will always be Bette – my first love “
Bette smiled
“Sorry – maybe I handled that badly “
“No – I guess it had to be said. It gets it out in the open”
Bette nodded
“So beer 4 or a train ride to my place ?”
“I am not sure how wise a fourth beer is “
Bette lent back “Okay – I will put my cards on the table – total honesty. After four years its what we both need and deserve. In the last four years there have been a lot of women – and I meant what I said earlier – I am a real tart Tina. It didn’t take me long in that first term to sleep with a woman but it didn’t mean what it meant with you”
Bette had probably had too many beers because she was going to say more than she had expected to. But this felt like she had to do it – this would either kill things or clear the fog of  the last four years and allow them to move on.
“It took me less than a week to fall into bed with a blonde “ Bette wasn’t proud of this and she was worried that Tina would take it badly. To her surprise Tina grinned
“You were slow in those days Porter – I can see you have speeded up a lot “
“You don’t mind ?”
“I didn’t know until a few seconds ago and no – of course I don’t mind. We let one another go when we went to our different colleges.. I remember both of us crying and telling the other one that we shouldn’t let any opportunity pass – and yes that meant beautiful women wearing scanty clothes and huge tits “
Bette sighed “Thanks “
“You didn’t cheat on me because we let one another go. I didn’t think you would be celibate for four years and its nice that you finally seem to have realised just how scorching hot you are. I think I will have another beer after all- you want one ?”
“Yeah why not “
Tina got up and as she was pulling a $20 bill from her purse she looked at Bette who was looking at her most gorgeous
“For the record – it didn’t take me long to fall into bed with someone else. It didn’t mean anything – it was sex and it briefly took the pain away”
Bette rubbed her face when Tina had walked away – it seemed they had both done similar things – Tina had become a party girl while she had studied hard and ran a lot but also buried her pain in meaningless sex. In a way that didn’t matter – they were now graduates both living in the same city. Bette loved the city and wanted to put down her own roots in New York – what did Tina want ? Was there a chance of anything more than sex ? Well that would have obstacles to overcome – but they had obstacles six years ago when they had met and they had treated them like they didn’t exist.
Tina returned and put the two beers down
“I wasn’t a saint – I was a tart like you. I was probably way worse than you. But it didn’t take away the hurt and it didn’t take away the tears or the anger. The tears dry but the anger still burns – I still hate Emma for what she did”
“She’s not my favourite person “ Bette said mildly. Emma Kennard had become her bete noir for a long time. When she needed motivating she conjured up the image of the hyper successful lawyer and Bette was instantly angry enough to smash down any barrier in her way.
“I was talking to an ex abut it all once “ Tina said “she was training to be a therapist and she was grilling me about stuff and I was playing along. Partly because I was besotted with her and also because I wanted some sort of analysis from an outsider. She said that it was obvious that no woman is ever going to be good enough for her daughter because no woman is as successful as Emma Kennard and that’s how she judges it. No woman is ever going to be a rich lawyer who smashed the glass ceiling by setting up her own law firm and it becoming what it has in 25 years”
“Is that what you think ?”
Tina scratched her ear “I think she saw you as being good for me back when we were 17 because I was drifting so much. I wouldn’t have got the grades I did if it hadn’t been for you and there is no way I would have got the grades to get to Harvard – not an earthly. You served a purpose and when I got the grades it was now time for me to move on and met  – well God knows who she expected me to hook up at college. The remark this morning was so hurtful and so uncalled for – why did she think it was childish?”
“I take it she’s terrified in case we still have the hots for one another “
Tina grinned “I would think she would be mortified “
“Lets ignore her for a while – we let the outside world drive us apart. This is about us taking total control over what happens next “
Tina had wanted to touch Bette’s hand almost since the first minute of seeing her again. So far she had resisted but either the beer or the conversation had wore her down. She took Bette’s hand and squeezed it.
Bette swallowed – who the fuck had just plugged the pair of them into New York City’s power supply ? There was certainly a charge between them – one that they both felt.
“I remember holding your hand for the first time at the beach – when you told me you were gay and that you liked me” Tina said also feeling the same as Bette “I was scared and excited at the same time – six years later – that hasn’t gone away has it ?”
Bette shook her head “No – but its different.”
“We are both a couple of self confessed tarts “