“Hey, Professor Porter!”

Bette turned on her heels, on her way to the washroom. The graduate ceremony had been tiring, and she found herself completely distracted with thoughts of Tina – of what graduation meant for them. The constant smile plastered onto her face was humble, but she finally felt free. After the last few months of school, she’d been very supportive of Tina, but now the need for secrecy was finally over. And that voice was very familiar. “Tina?” she said as plainly as she could, looking around to see if they were alone in the wide hall. At least she could hear someone coming.

“I … I wanted to catch you before you left,” Tina beamed, out of breath from running down to catch up to her ex-professor. She had been changed out of her graduation gown – cap still in hand. She was an honor student, but the pride truly gleamed from her as they locked eyes.

“Well, the celebration is far from over,” Bette assured her, “I was just going to use the restroom.” She gestured down the hall.

“You mean … you’re gonna stay?”

Bette chuckled, opening her arms for a hug. “Of course. I am so proud of you, Tina! You’re incredible … I wish I was so smart at your age.”

Tina scoffed as she released her tight hold. “But you’re a professor.”

“Well, you could be too if you wanted to be,” Bette smiled, finally pulling back to smile at Tina. “Look at you.”

“Yeah, I’m officially a dork,” Tina chuckled, the moment becoming serious as she took a cautious step forward. “After this … after today …” They would be free to be a couple, in every sense of the word.

Bette was so excited at the thought that she didn’t trust herself to speak.

“And … you still … wanna be?” Tina asked, taking a big step back when they heard someone opening the door from down the hall. They still had to keep their distance until the evening was through. And each moment was agony.

“Yes, of course,” Bette chuckled, taking note of a colleague of hers making his way toward the bathrooms himself. “Best of luck in the future, Tina. You’re a wonderful student.”