«I have a feeling it will be all better by tonight…»

They walked into The Planet and ran into Dana, Shane and Alice. Tina sat across from Bette and she slipped a hand under Bette’s leg so she could elevate her foot onto her lap. «Hey Bette, how’s the ankle?», Dana asked.

«Still pretty sore. I didn’t know a sprain could be that fucking painful»

«Yeah, I know what you mean, I’ve had quite a few myself», Dana replied.

Alice, Dana and Shane asked about her interview at the university and then Dana talked a little bit about Lara, the girl she was interested in. «She’s so cute, we’re going out tomorrow night for the first time», she said, blushing. Tina looked at Bette and she was so happy to see her baby was having a good time. The idea of changing job and her ankle injury were taking a toll on her, and this time with her friends was surely helping to take her mind off things.

It was past six when they left The Planet to go back home. It was during that short drive that Bette decided to come clean with Tina. She was ashamed of herself not to have done it sooner. After all, it was her who had told Tina to leave Joe and to be truthful with who she was. Tina had had the gut to walk out on her wedding to live her life with honesty and Bette was doing the opposite. It didn’t feel right…

«Hey baby, you’re pretty quiet over there», Tina said softly as she took her eyes off the road for a few seconds to look at Bette. «Are you OK ? Is your ankle hurting?», she asked.

«I’m fine», Bette replied although her ankle was being a bitch every time she would have her foot down.… A few minutes later, Tina pulled into their driveway and brought the crutches to Bette. She helped her inside and closed the door.

«Baby, we need to talk…», Bette told her all of a sudden.

«Let’s go into the bedroom first, all right?», Tina replied.

«I’m serious Tina… Going to bed is not a good way to make me talk», Bette said.

Tina smirked. «You have a dirty mind Bette Porter… I just want to you to get some rest and you’ll be able to elevate your ankle properly if you lie in bed sweetie», Tina explained.

«OK, but let me just check on something first», Bette said. She wanted to see if Joe had called or rather hung up when he had heard the answering machine. Tina walked toward the bedroom and Bette was halfway to the phone when she heard Tina’s frantic voice. «Bette, come here quick!»

Bette crutched as fast she could toward the bedroom and gasped when she noticed the state of the room. Their drawers had been emptied on the floor and the mattress had been ripped to pieces.

«Joe…», Bette thought as she took a sobbing Tina into her arms.