When Bette found out that it really was Tina, her hold on the steering wheel loosened as she could feel her whole body start to shake, and now, at this point, she could see her heart beating through her chest. Bette was completely justified for feeling this way at the sight of Tina, after all, it’d been over a month since Bette had touched or spoken to her last, since then, their encounters of each other were only from afar.
Now, she was only about forty feet away. “Okay, be cool. What am I going to say to her? I hope that she doesn’t think that I followed her or something weird like that.”, she thought.
Alas she arrived at Tina. Because she had been walking with her head down most of the time, and was also in such deep thought about Bette and herself, she hadn’t even noticed the car until she was right up on it. In fact, she’d ran into the tail end of it. She saw the Saab symbol which immediately triggered more memories of Bette remembering that she owned one and that it too, was blue.
Her eyes skimmed over the surface of the car, taking in all of the familiarities, all the while, Bette wasn’t saying a word as she just sat and waited for Tina to notice her. Finally, Tina’s eyes fell upon a more stunning than she remembered, Bette Porter.
“Oh my god…” she blurted unintentionally. By now, Tina’d wished that the top wasn’t down or else maybe, she wouldn’t have heard that. Tina didn’t want Bette to hear that for fear of exposing herself, exposing that she was pleasantly suprised to see her there, or that she thought that she looked absolutely amazing. Tina wasn’t ready to take down the wall that was between her and Bette yet.
Bette wanted to make a joke containing sexual innuendo with regards to Tina’s recent exclimation, but didn’t feel comfortable enough to do so and also figured that, considering the circumstances prior to this day, it wouldn’t be appropriate anyway. Instead she settled for a simple, “Hello Tina.”
Tina could hear the uneasiness in Bette’s voice. “Is she nervous? Is Bette afraid of me now?”, she wondered.
Tina: Hi Bette, (she said meekly, not really knowing for sure what was going to become of this encounter.) What on earth, are you doing here?
Bette, seeing that Tina wasn’t going to go ballistic on her for speaking to her, now felt confident enough to make a small joke.
Bette: You know, I should be asking you the same thing, you’re the one that’s walking down the Pacific Coast Highway. I mean, unless, you’re doing this for your health, I could be wrong, I just assumed since there’s no visible evidence of a running shoe.
As Tina laughed at that remark, she remembered how she could never resist Bette’s wit.
Tina: No you were right the first time actually, it’s not for my benefit, or for recreation, it’s a long story really. A long…crazy story that you might think unlikely.
Bette didn’t really pursue it further, wanting to make sure as not to pry or to come off as being too pushy or controlling. She figured that if Tina really wanted her to know then she would tell her in her own time. She wanted Tina to be able to see the new, revamped her, and that she was willing to do whatever it would take to get Tina to fall in love with her again.
Bette: Oh okay, I understand. Well is there any way that I can be of any assistance to you? Anything at all, you can just name it.
Tina: Well, I guess it would make sense to at least ask you for a ride. Do you mind?
Bette: Are you kidding me? No not at all, certainly.
Tina was glad to hear Bette’s readiness to help her out. She took it as a sign that Bette might still have some feelings for her. Then again, she didn’t want to get her hopes up by reading into things too much, so she eventually dismissed it.
As Tina got into the passenger seat of the car, she came to realize how much she really did miss her life with Bette.
The first few minutes of the car ride were quiet and awkward, with both of them only thinking, about what they could say, and what they wanted to say, and even what they wanted to do to with each other. An example of that would be the instance where Bette wanted to take Tina’s hand into her’s while she was driving. Or how Tina wanted to reach over and just massage the back of Bette’s neck gently while she rode. There was no doubt at this point that the attraction indeed, was still there, just not the comfort level. Finally Bette spoke…
Bette: So I guess I should ask where you were heading, so I can take you there.
Tina: Oh yeah, duh. I’m not exactly sure where I need to be going at the moment, so let’s just do first things first, can you take me into town please?
Bette: Alright, that sounds like a plan. To West Hollywood.
Tina: Well now, if you have time, I guess if you felt like listening, I could tell you what happened.
Bette: Yeah sure, definately, go right ahead.
Tina: Okay, to make a long story short…(Bette interrupts.)
Bette: Tina, that defeats the purpose of me having time to hear you out. Unless you don’t want to give me the long version, but if it doesn’t make a difference, then I would prefer to hear the whole story.
Tina felt slightly caught off gaurd by Bette’s willingness to listen, considering that before, she wouldn’t ever really be interested in hearing about something like that because she would view it as trivial. So Tina proceeded to explain.
Tina: Okay. I was leaving The Planet earlier today and was driving around. I ended up at a place that I had or really, I should say, have, fond memories of. The door was open so I went in, and therego, starts my blast from the past trip. Well needless to say, time got away from me, I mean really got away, and so I rushed out of the building because I was running late for an appointment. As I exited the building, my car was in the process of being pulled off by a tow truck. Oh and me being the genius that I am, left everything in the car, but mainly my purse, but that had everything,(she laughed). So we’re in LA, you know that they don’t believe in pay phones anymore so I had to walk a few, lengthy blocks, to get to one. I had change for one phone call, and the person didn’t pick up, so there went my lifeline. So seeing that I had no money, no phone and no one else, I started walking.
Bette felt sad for a multitude of reasons and so many that she’d wished that she could tell Tina. One being the fact that she would always have been accessible to Tina and she could reach her anytime so she wouldn’t have had to start walking.
Bette: Wow Tina, you’ve had a pretty rough day, havn’t you?
Tina: Huh yeah, rough is the way I would put it.
Bette: Well I’m glad you’re okay. You know, like it’s good that you got through it, you know what I mean.
Tina: (Laughing at the fact that Bette’s kind of squirming a little.) Yeah well I’m glad that you showed up because, honestly, I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.
They both lingered in the silence after each of their statements, both wanting to confess right then and there but neither being sure about the other one’s feelings. Bette changed the subject and broke the silence yet again…
Bette: Okay well here we are, in good old West Hollywood. Now is there some place imparticular that you’d like to go?
Tina now had to bring up Helena and so reluctantly she did so, letting Bette know that she needed to meet her at the California Art Center because they had dinner plans. Tina had tried so hard to not even mention her at all, but now that she did, how was Bette going to take it?
Bette: Oh okay, the CAC…? I think I know where that is. (She said jokingly.)
Tina laughed, although she was a little confused at first, wondering what Bette’s non chalantness about the matter revealed about her feelings toward her, but then thought about it and realized that she was being very respectful of her relationship.
Tina: So have you been really busy lately with work?
Bette: No not too much. I’ve tried to rearrange my priorities.
Tina: So then do you think that you’ll be busy tomorrow?
Bette: Well that all depends.
Tina: On?
Bette: Very much so on you.
Tina had heard exactly what she wanted to hear but insisted on playing it cool.
Tina: And how exactly does it depend on me?
Bette: Well if you decide to take some more hikes down the highway and decide that you want to quit halfway through, then I might need to come and get you again.
They both laughed as they reached their destination at the art center.
Bette: Anyway, here we are Ms. Kennard. It’s been my pleasure and I hope that in your future travels, you will go with Porter Transit again.
Tina: Thanks again Bette, I really appreciate this, and please, call me T.
Bette almost cried tears of joy upon hearing that. That Tina felt comfortable enough for her to call her “T” again. Hopefully this was the start of a new beginning that we all have been hoping for.