Tinas POV It had been about a day since Bette left on her road trip to Philadelphia and Tina was more confused than ever with her new found feelings. The day that Bette had left Tina got up and went to work as usual and it seemed like a normal day, but then she found herself sunk deep in her thoughts, practically drowning in her own head. I cant have feelings for Bette like thatcan I? Shes my best friend, and Im soooo not *****. Not that theres anything wrong with that, I mean Bettes a lesbiana very hot *****. Oh god I cant be thinking these things. No thinking about Bette, not about her amazingly full lips, toned body, her beautiful skin, the way she kinda squints when.NO.uh-uhIm not a ***** and thats that. Her thoughts really were starting to scare her. She didnt want to be *****, she saw all the things that Bette was going through with her parents, and with the way her mom already was; it definitely wouldnt improve the relationship any. Tina knew that she cared for Bette, but it had always been a platonic love and nothing more. Now that she was pretty sure Bette had feelings for her as well made things a little different, she found herself constantly wondering if her friend was thinking of herall of this was maddening and Tina needed a break from the seriousness of her thoughts. After work Tina drove home and made her way inside the house, when, certainly not out of the blue, she was met with a screaming mother and Colin crying in the kitchen. Her mother was obviously drunk, staggering about and waving slightly as she got in her seven year old brothers face about leaving the refrigerator door open. Damnit Colin! Are you really that stupid? Electricity costs money you little brat. You cant just ***** leave ***** open and the TV on all the timeI ***** wake up and every light we have in this ***** goddamn house is on. Im not ***** rich. I didnt raise you to be stupid! Jacqueline scolded the hysterical boy, throwing curses left and right and now slamming her dinner preparations onto the counter. Dinner tonight consisted of oatmeal and/or Cheerios with a side of macaroni and cheese. Mmm Mmm Mmm. As soon as Tina walked to the entrance of the kitchen she was disgusted by the sight of her own mother. The jeans she was wearing being the jeans she was wearing yesterday, and the day before, along with the ratty dark green sweatshirt. Her hair was matted, unwashed, and unbrushed which was probably the same with her teeth. Jacki, Tina said coldly as she approached the refrigerator door and shut it, you can stop yelling I think he gets it. Finally noticing her daughters presence she spun around and gave Tina a cold glare. Christina how many times do I have to tell you to keep your smart ***** mouth shut? And dont call me that, you sound like your sperm donor of a father. Where the ***** have you been all day? Tina now stood in front of her brother and bent down to be eye level with him. You okay buddy? she asked wiping his tears. He nodded and hugged her. Tina was his savior. She always took the brunt of their mothers verbal and occasional physical lashings, making sure that Colin was never touched or degraded while she was around. Im okay sissy. He said with a slight lisp. Good. Why dont you go watch a movie in my room? Ill call you when I get dinner ready. He didnt need to be told twice as he darted out of the room. Jacki was standing there at the counter watching them and she started to clap. Wonderful performance by Christina Marie Kennard, playing the divine savior from the evil ***** mother. Chrissy you really need to stop trying to play the martyr all of the time, its pathetic. If you baby if anymore hes never going to be able to take care of himself. Tina just stood and rolled her eyes. Hes a kid, someone needs to take care of himsince youre doing such a bang-up job yea? Where have you been? she asked as Tina moved past her and started putting dinner back and pulled out some hotdogs and the macaroni to make a real dinner. I was at work, some people actually need to have money, I cant rely on you to help me with school thats for goddamn sure. ***** you. Her mom spat. Nice momhow was your day? Get to the liquor store bright and early? Jacki just stared at her blonde daughter who stared back. Her feelings of revultion becoming even stronger she couldnt help but try to hurt her mother remembering all the times that she had hurt Colin and herself. Youre the pathetic one you know, in case you havent looked in the mirror, you look like *****, and you smell like a brewery. Now get out of my face so I can make dinner for my brother. She saw her mothers eyes narrow and her shoulder twitch, the tell tale signsshe knew what was coming and braced herself. Not more than a millisecond later Tina felt the biting sting and force of a hand connect with her face. Just wonderful Tina thought holding her face. She just had to backhand me with a ring on. It was amazing how she wasnt mad that her mother had done this, just that it will definitely leave a mar. As she straightened her head back up she saw her mother smirking. Im going out, watch Colin. She said as she was departing. Upon hearing the door slam she replied with a soft, Dont I always? as she finished dinner. Bettes POV (days later, on the way back to Los Angeles) Bette slept in her car last night. The long cross country drive required her to take a short nap during the night so that she could get home in one piece, so she had pulled over onto the side of a long stretching highway and climbed in the backseat. With no money left for a hotel, this was what she had to settle for. She really had no idea what state she was in as the sun started to creep over the horizon. There was a slight chill in the air that she could feel from the windows and the smell of a new day filled her nostrils. This trip had been exactly what she needed. She knew she told Tina that she just needed to get away for a few days, which was partly true, but she also needed to get away from Tina. Her feelings for the woman she knew as her best friend were starting to grow rapidly, and now adding in the factor that they were going to live together and Bettes mind started to get carried away. Not to mention that she got a really weird feeling the last time she saw Tina that something in their relationship was shifting slightly. She wanted, craved, breathed the popular blonde beauty.and she was on the end of her rope. That is why she took this road trip. They had talked a few times since Bette had been gone, but each time Tina seemed so distracted and would need to hang up almost immediately after Bette had called. Why is everything so confusing? Nothing has ever made me feel this lost in my entire life. She thought to herself as she started the car and drove off. Coming towards a small diner she got out and got something to eat. Driving for a while she began to think again. She had felt so at home in Philadelphia that she really didnt want to go back. She was more than tempted to call Melvin and Lara Porter and tell them she wasnt coming home, the only real reason she wanted to go back waswell Tina, who consumed every thought in her waking moments. _____________________ Hours later she found herself coming back into the state of California and decided to call Tina to see what she was doing and maybe if they could do something that night. After a few rings Tina answered. Hey T. Suddenly becoming very nervous. Bette hey, hiwhats up? Uhwell nothing really Im driving home now. Im back in LA. I just called to see if maybe you wanted to do something later? Tina really didnt want to be alone with Bette right now. She still had a lot to think over when it came to her new found feelings for the beautiful brunette. I sort of made plans already, maybe some other time she said quickly. She didnt miss the sad tone Bettes voice took on at the statement however. Oh. Okay. What are you doing tomorrow cause I think I cou Tina was getting frustrated. She wanted to see Bette horribly and just be with her, she needed to be held by someone, and the first person that had been popping into her head since last week was Bette. It was all very new and terrifying. The last thing she wanted to do was alienate her best friend, but she didnt want to jump head first into something she wasnt sure she definitely wantedand then break her heart and loose one of the most important people in her life. So she cut Bette short. I uhm, Bette I need to go. Ill talk to you tomorrow maybebye. And with that she hung up quickly, leaving a bewildered Bette listening to the dial tone. What the ***** is going on! Bette thought. She pulled into her driveway a little while later and went straight up to her room flipping on the stereo and crashing on her bed. She didnt know what was going on with Tina, but she assumed that she was getting back together with Kevin. She always started acting weird when she did that. This thought served to quell Bettes growing nerves for some time, but then they just came back with a vengeance at the thought of Tina getting back with that creep who had no idea just how wonderful the blonde really was. Now thoroughly depressed and angry Bette found herself practically suffocating in a pillow coated with tears and muffled screams. Moments later she was drifting off into a much needed sleep and dreaming of a could be. Meanwhile, after disconnecting the Tina sat in the bed with her phone in her hands. What am I doing? She thought to herself. I can talk to Bette about this, shes been through the same thing.and shell be able to tell if its more than just a crush of admiration.right? It seemed logical enough since Bette knew what it was like to have feelings for another girl. Tina didnt have to tell her that they were about another girl, she would just have to be sneaky and find a way to make Bette tell her what it felt like the first time she knew she was *****. Tina already knew the story, but she never really heard the emotions Bette was going through. Figuring that this would be the way to go to try and get closer to letting Bette know about her feelings, she got up and started pacing. She was even more nervous now then before. Getting angry with herself at her childishness she chucked the phone across the room and watched as it bounced of the giant stuffed Hersheys Kiss and connected with the hardwood floor. At the sudden noise Tina heard her mother yell a What the ***** was that? before she scribbled a note for Colin and left it in her CD player, like she told him she would, whenever she left without her mom knowing. Checking her appearance she turned around once or twice to get the full picture of her outfit and then smiled into the glass. Not to bad Tinanot bad at all. Cracking the window she bent herself and shuffled through the window landing her feet firmly onto the roof. She then dropped down to the shed, then to the buns below, and then to the ground. Deciding to walk so her mom wouldnt notice she had left later than she should have, she set off walking in the direction of Bettes house. When she got there, she noticed all the lights were off, and if her head had better control of her heart she wouldve left. But no, she needed to get this out with her friend. She didnt want to wait until she changed her mind again, or until it passed by, She needed to explore this now, while it was still new and fresh. So she picked up a tiny pebble and pitched it at the brunettes window. She left doing this until she saw a shadowy figure walk towards the window, and then the window came up and a shocked looking Bette was staring down at her. Twhat are you doing? I thought you were busy? I lied. She smiled sweetly. I needed to see you, I missed you. Tina didnt notice the puzzled look on Bettes face as she just nodded. Go to the back door and Ill let you in. Mommy and Daddy are asleep so be quiet. Tina just smiled and made her way to the back of the house. Then her smile dropped into a nervous frown and happy thoughts were replaced by Here we go