Tina and Bette, seperately, spent the day pacing around, lost in their own thoughts. Bette had made the first move, the ball was in Tina’s court now. Tina just didn’t know what to do with the ball. She decided to sleep on it and see if she had a clearer view in the morning.

The next day she made a decision. With shaking hands she picked up the phone and dialled the number she knew by heart.

“Hello?” the voice on the other end of the phone was deflated and almost unrecognisable, but Tina would know it anywhere.

“Bette” she said simply.

“T…I didn’t expect to hear from you” Bette’s voice perked up.

“To be honest I didn’t really expect to be calling”

“I’m glad you did”

“We have to talk…don’t we?” Tina asked nervously.

“I think so”

“Good, meet me at The Planet in an hour” and with that Tina hung up.

Her hands continued to shake as she hung up the phone. She’d had to end the conversation there otherwise her voice would have betrayed to Bette how she was feeling. She had to be in control of the situation or else it just wouldn’t work. Bette couldn’t see how broken she was, she had to think that Tina was coping fine.

Bette heard the click of Tina hanging up the phone. She jumped out of bed and started to dress. She had to leave the house in less than an hour, and she had to look good for Tina. She couldn’t let her see what a mess she was. But she also didn’t want Tina to think she was getting on just fine without her. In the end she chose to wear one of her suits (a symbol of the fact that she was in control) minus the jacket, but with little make up. Exactly an hour later she walked into The Planet, on time to prove to Tina that she was making an effort.

“T” she smiled.

Tina got up “You’re on time”

“Yeah, I guess I am”

The greeting was awkward, neither really knew what they were supposed to do. They couldn’t hug – that would put their bodies too close, a kiss on the cheek was out of the question – neither was ready to deal with each others’ lips, and a handshake seemed too formal. In the end they both just sat down.

“How have you been?” Bette asked.

“Good, I’m doing good” Tina hoped her voice didn’t give away the fact she was lying.

“That’s good” Bette tried to hide her disappointment.

“How about you?”

“I’m just about holding up” Bette looked into Tina’s eyes to show she was speaking the truth.

Tina cleared her throat “You said…in your message…we didn’t talk that night…maybe we should discuss…things”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“I don’t know. Her, maybe”

“Ok. I’m going to be honest with you. I only wish I had been a long time ago. Ask me anything you want to know” Bette rested her hands on the table.

“Ok…how many times did you ***** her?” Tina asked quietly.

“Twice…well kind of three times” Bette admitted.

“Kind of? Either you fucked her or you didn’t. I want to know details. Tell me about each time” Tina demanded.

“You really want to know? Isn’t this going to hurt you more?”

“I want to know everything. At least if I know the truth I can come to terms with it. You at least owe me the truth” Tina said firmly.

“I guess I do” Bette leant back in her chair “Ok, the first kind of time was that day we were in jail”

“When I was at home worrying my brains out about you?”

“Yes” Bette said guiltily.

“What happened?”

“I…we…talked about ***** each other. We masturbated” Bette admitted shamefully.

“Right, so you wanked over another woman. I can deal with that. *****, I’ve wanked over Angelina Jolie many a time” Tina forced them both to smile.

Bette raised an eyebrow “Angelina’s a tough one to compete with”

“That isn’t the issue here. Tell me about the other two times” Tina’s face was hard again.

“Ok, it was three days before Provocations” Bette looked down “I asked her to take me somewhere and we fucked in a hotel”

“Good?”

Bette’s head snapped up “What?”

“Was she good?”

“I…erm…”

“She must have been, I mean, you went back for more, right?”

“Alright, it was good, okay? Is that what you want to hear?”

“I just want the truth” Tina said softly.

“It was just *****. A moment out of reality. It wasn’t good, it wasn’t bad. Just *****”

“Better than me?”

“No” Bette’s reply was instant.

“Ok, and so the third time?”

“My office, the day of Provocations. I needed a way out, so I grabbed her hand and…well, you know”

“Before or after I got you out of the shower?”

“Before” Bette whispered.

“So you told me you wanted to try again for a baby after you had her ***** you?”

“I’m sorry. In that moment with you I realised what I really wanted”

“It’s a shame it was too late. And what about when you touched her hand that night? When I saw you?” Tina persisted.

“I…she gave me something I needed. That’s all”

“Something I couldn’t?” Tina asked simply.

“No, just something you weren’t, or didn’t want to at the time. I don’t know, I just needed a release and she was offering it on a plate” Bette tried to explain.

“Is there anything else I should know?”

“No, that’s all” Bette said softly.

“Ok” Tina picked up her bag and stood up.

“T…please don’t go” Bette begged.

“I need time to process this”

“Please…I need you” Bette got to her feet.

Tina stared at her “well I don’t need you, Bette. I need to get on with my life now that I know the truth”

Tina turned and walked out, never looking back so that Bette couldn’t see the tears falling down her face.