As Tina went closer to the building, she noticed that the door was slightly ajar. So, she took the opportunity and proceeded to enter with caution taking into account that it could be dangerous considering it had been abandoned and was disheveled. As she walked slowly up the steps, with her mind’s eye, she could see her lover’s…former lover’s…art gallery come back to life.
She came to where the dining hall was, where her and Bette shared their first meal together, remembering how although there was a room full of people, and several of them divided Bette and Tina throughout the table, it still felt as if they were the only ones there. It wouldn’t matter who they would be having a conversation with, they would still only be making eye contact exclusively with each other.
Tina moved on further, as she came to the wall where she was admiring an art piece when Bette extricated her earring from her hair. She thought about how she had done so with such tenderness and compassion, so as to not cause her to flinch, even if it were just a little, from pain.
Finally, Tina came to an empty room that was once Bette’s office. The room that, even though it now looked like another, somewhat trashed, cold, empty space…it was the one that warmed Tina’s heart and held the most meaning. It was where her earring had brought them together yet again and as a result, they had their first kiss. There lied in that kiss, the start of the rest of their lives together. Tina smiled as she reminisced about that night and thinking back to how she really did leave the earring there on purpose, as much as she had denied it to everyone else, but she would never tell anyone that.
%%%Bette’s House%%%
It was now mid afternoon. Bette, still in her robe from that morning, went to go sit on the bed. Now that Tina wasn’t around anymore, it felt so oversized and empty. Bette thought about how if she hadn’t fucked up so badly, then Tina might have been there right now, in her arms, or maybe, they’d even be making love.
They had shared so many wonderful things in that bed, of course there was that one, last, terrible memory of the night that Tina found out about Candace, but even still, there were so many good ones that beyond overshadowed that one nightmare. Like the night they had gone to their last resort, and they were going to have a threesome to try and get pregnant. Even though that didn’t fly, they were still finally able to reconnect because of it. Bette smiled a painful smile as she remembered the way that Tina reassured her that she wasn’t turned on by him when she said gently…”This is, you.” And this was the same place where they’d done the insimination, and how that was such a wonderful, joyous occasion, and how she had hoped that that would be the place where they would eventually try again. And then, the numerous other times they had expressed their love to one another.
Bette’s heart would hurt so bad every time she was forced to realize that now, her only connection with Tina at this point was through her boss, Helena Peabody. To go to work, and see her, and know that Tina’s fingers have probably ran through her hair, if not that morning. That Tina’s lips had touched her’s. When Bette would think about that, it would stir up both anger and sadness to know, that that used to be her.
Bette wanted Tina back so much, she had felt that way since the day that she’d walked out. In the beginning, Bette tried to reconcile with Tina, but she’d made it clear that she never wanted to be with Bette ever again. “I need to get out of here and clear my head,” Bette thought to herself. “I mean, people change, and so do their feelings. Who’s to say that by now, she hasn’t had a change of heart? I wouldn’t have a way of knowing for sure if I didn’t try and pursue it again.” Bette got up off of the bed, took off her robe and threw on a pair of black fitted cargo pants and a tank top, grabbed her purse, jacket, and keys and shot out the door. As she got into her blue Saab and started driving, she’d tried to divise a plan of attack so to speak, a course of action to take in order to re-capture Tina’s heart.
%%%At the gallery%%%
As Tina looked at her watch, she realized how much time had gone by and remembered that she was supposed to meet Helena at her job so that they could go to dinner. She took one last look around the room, and flew down the steps and out the door, only to see a tow truck pulling off with her car. Apparently, she’d missed the sign that said, “Park at your own risk, towing at owner’s expense.”
“I’m such an idiot, I left my purse in the car…” The purse had everything she needed, wallet, phone, liscense, everything. “What the ***** am I supposed to do now? I’m in L.A, everyone owns a cell phone so it’s not like I’ll find a pay phone anytime soon, they’re practically obsolete.” Every cab that went by was already with passenger, and even still how would she pay for it with no wallet or even keys to get back into the house to get money if she could at least get there? Tina had no choice but to start pounding the pavement.
After several blocks, she finally stumbled upon a pay phone. She pulled out the loose change that she’d found in her coat and saw that it was enough for one phone call. Who else would she call other than Helena? So Tina dials her cell. It rings a few times and of course, Murphy’s Law: Everything bad that can happen WILL happen; her voicemail picks up. Even though Tina doesn’t see where leaving a message will make a difference at this point, she leaves one anyway, basically just stating her circumstance but not to alarm her. Seeing that there was no more change and she couldn’t think of who else would be available anyway, she hung up and started to walk again. About ten more minutes elapsed and she was now in a slightly more familiar territory.
%%%Bette’s car%%%
“I have absolutely no idea where I’m going…” Bette said as she looked around. Just then she zoomed by a figure that looked almost exactly like Tina. Bette nearly caused, and got into an accident from staring into her rearview mirror trying to decipher who that was. Sure that she was wearing something Tina would wear, she pulled over to the shoulder and put the car into reverse and began to backup. As she got closer, the blurred image started to become clearer, and she soon recognized that it was indeed, Tina.