Over the next few weeks of school vacation, Bette and Tina met frequently over lunch, coffee, early dinners, falling…into casual banter and losing themselves…to time. Bette found herself opening up and laughing more freely whereas Tina no longer felt barren and alone. They would call, make plans to often meet up outside a subway stop close to their destination and spend hours together. Slowly, without realizing it, they provided sanctuary to each other, an escape from their individual failures and disappointments and fell into a comfortable friendship.  
 
Of course, the constant bickering and playful bantering did not stop. And they had not forgotten their resolutions.  
 
*********************************************************************** 
 
Bette and Tina walked into the New York Library. 
 
"I don’t know why we have to come to the library. Ever heard of Google, T?" Bette grumbled as she limped up the stairs with the help of her cane. 
 
"Bette! If it was up to you, all books, all media even, would be indexed and put online so that you could happily spend your lifetime in solitary confinement." 
 
"I am not seeing any disadvantages in this situation. Why should information be confined to dusty shelves, caged in the privileged and posh buildings of the ‘First World’ and be lost to history over time? Why can we not share knowledge freely on the internet so that everyone can have access to it?" 
 
"Because one, everyone does not have a computer or internet access. And two, we do not need to be more alienated from each other than we already are…" 
 
Bette frowned as they entered the building. Tina decided to use another tactic. 
 
"And just think, how many more people would come to the library for the extra benefits and be encouraged to actually read…" 
 
"WHAT extra benefits?" Bette said, a tad bit too loudly. 
 
"Hot librarians Bette. Geez." 
 
"Oh PLEASE, we can always just build many hot 36-24-36 virtual librarians online." Bette said smugly walking on as Tina just stared at her from behind. Her eyes momentarily fell to Bette’s ass in tight Levy jeans and she unconsciously licked her lips. The library was air-conned but somehow she was feeling very hot and bothered. 
 
Bette noticed Tina not beside her and turned around, "T?" 
 
The librarian at the front desk cleared her throat and glared at Tina and Bette who did not seem to comprehend the signs screaming for SILENCE 
 
Bette glared back at the gray-haired librarian and turned to Tina who was smiling at the librarian apologetically and looked quite turned on. Bette raised her eyebrows, amused.  
 
Bette nudged Tina with her cane and whispered into her ear, teasingly: 
 
"Geez, T…your taste is getting worse by the day…you could have just told me about the real reason we came here." 
 
"Huh, what?" Tina replied distractedly, getting more flushed and feeling goose bumps on her skin from the feel of Bette pressed up so close, her hot breathe sending tiny shivers and hot sparks through Tina. 
 
"You…you…really have it for her?" Bette scrunched up her nose, stepping back in surprise as Tina fought to recover her nerves. Calm down Tina, she screamed silently into her head. Bette is so hot, she can turn anyone on at anytime right? It does not mean anything. 
 
"Oh please Bette, get your mind out of the gutter." Tina rolled her eyes. 
 
"You first T," Bette huffed, wondering what Tina saw in the librarian. Then again, Eric was not too dashing either, she mused. 
 
"C’mon, I want to pick up some books and then we can get out of here." 
 
"Sounds good to me. Lead the way." 
 
 
 
Tina browsed slowly through the library as Bette observed her from behind, pretending to read a book or flip through a magazine occasionally. T is right—this is better than the virtual experience, she thought to herself as her eyes returned to roam over Tina’s hip-hugging jeans and white blouse showing ample cleavage. 
 
For the rest of their time at the library, Tina did not hear any complaints from Bette.