That little bit of honesty had cost Bette Porter the world, and yet Coleman’s honesty had left him unscathed; quietly Bette suspected that some dishonesty had saved him, but she didn’t want to fight over friends who she had been unable to talk too anyway. She didn’t even want to be seen by anyone who might know her name, not an easy ask while living on campus and being the fairer half of a fairly known ex-couple. One thing was certain Bette didn’t like boys, but that doesn’t mean I like girls she had reasoned with herself on many an occasion- maybe I just don’t like people; and at that moment she didn’t very much. No one seemed to have any qualms with writing her off on the word or actions of Col and she hadn’t received a single how are you note or phone call or letter or just a damn conversation, nothing. Even bloody Jill had changed tutorial groups and managed to make herself invisible for the past two weeks; or maybe it was Bette who had become invisible. After all she couldn’t remember the last time she’d entered the dining hall- or the last time she’d eaten for the matter.

It was only the fear of disappointing Melvin that kept her there- walled into her rooms by books and empty cigarette packets.

On the up side she’d done what Porter’s do when the going gets tough and that is throwing yourself into your work, she was consumed by it- breathed, lived and ate it night and day (which had rolled into one). Hence she had enjoyed several coffee expeditions with her now friend Prof. Lambert and it was for this reason that she now left her room. As she walked down the corridors to the exit Bette avoided eye contact with any passer by, preferring to stare at the ground and keep her arms crossed to her chest. Her uniform at present was a pair of stone wash blue jeans and a white t-shirt, which she rarely changed out of even for bed- her tussled hair was pulled into a loose bun and no make-up had chanced near her face for the fortnight.

The professor was already there when she walked in and the beauty of the older woman hit her all over again, her dark curls and bright green eyes that sat amongst gaunt features and long, unpredictable limbs. A bright smile lit up in her eyes before it touched her lips on spying Bette