“Fated” Chapter Two – by Querida

Bette realized she had no way to contact Tina, so she hoped she would take her up on the invitation to the gallery.  She really wanted to see Tina again.  Tina had told her she was in her final year of  Film Art and expected to graduate this spring.  Bette remembered her college days, not so far away as all that.  She smiled; she remembered being constantly broke, as her father had kept her on a strict budget. From what Tina had said, she was putting herself through school, partly on a scholarship, partly through student loans. 

She must be pretty broke too, Bette thought.Yet she bought me several cups of coffee.  Maybe I can help her out.  The idea of helping Tina made her feel warm inside.

About a week or so later, on a Saturday afternoon, Bette was working in her gallery when she felt someone watching her.  Looking up, she saw Tina smiling at her.  A wave of pleasure washed over her.

“Tina!  I’m so glad to see you!”  Bette wanted to hug her but restrained herself; she didn’t want to scare her off before they had even got to know each other.  Bette happily began to show Tina  all over the gallery, describing each painting and piece of statuary. After an hour or so, she laughed and said,

“I’m sorry, I suspect I’m boring you silly!  I wonder if you will let me return the favour and buy you a coffee?  There’s a good place right across the street.”

Tina had not been bored.  She found herself fascinated with the beauty and knowledge of this woman.  She gladly agreed to the coffee, and together they left the gallery.

Again there was that sense of  having known each other forever, of not wanting to part.  After the coffee, Bette said,  “Look, it’s getting late.  Please share a meal with me?”  She wouldn’t take no for an answer, and soon Bette was driving Tina to a very nice seafood restaurant where they could look out at the ocean.  It was late by the time they were finished, and Bette insisted on driving Tina home.

The house was full of students, noise and laughter.  Tina laughed.  “Saturday night!” she explained.  “I have the top floor, which isn’t very big, but usually all  I do is sleep there.  Mostly I use the film lab, or the library, and I do have a carrel.”