They both walked out the door, Bette behind Tina, admiring the view. As they got to the car, Bette opened the door for Tina and to her surprise, Tina accepted instead of saying anything like the last time. Maybe this plan is working thought Bette..She closed the door and walked around the car..Tina looking at her..’wow, she is just so amazing…’..
Bette got in and they drove to the resturaunt..Bette opened Tina’s door and even opened the door for her at the resturaunt, ‘something else Brad never does’ thought Tina.. Once inside, the waiter addressed them:
“Miss Porter, how are you this evening?”
“Just fine, Manuel, and you?” answered Bette.
“Just great. We have your personal table ready for you and your beautiful date.”
Tina blushed…’personal table?’ she thought..’wow..impressive..’
“Thank you.” said Bette as she grabbed Tina’s hand and led her behind Manuel. Tina was surprised and a little unsure, but she didn’t pull away…all the while, Bette was worried that she would..
They were seated at the table, “I will return in one minute with your menus..what to drink for the both of you?” asked Manuel.
Bette looked at Tina for a response..”Um..” said Tina, “I will have a white wine.”
“Same for me.” said Bette looking up at Manuel. “Thank you.”
Manuel walked away, and Tina immediately said, ” beautiful date?”
“I couldn’t just tell him that we were here as friends..he thought you were my date.” smiled Bette as Tina returned the smile to her..
“Do you bring all of your dates here?” asked Tina.
“Oh,so this is a date for you?” asked Bette.
“I didn’t mean it that way…”
“I know, I know.” said Bette..”Actually, no I don’t bring any dates here..I usually come here because the scenery is so nice and mild. It’s refreshing after a long day of work..and the food is great. That’s why I wanted to share it with you.”
Manuel walked back up to their table, and set their drinks down, “I have your menus here.” he said as he handed them to Bette and Tina.
After a few minutes, they both ordered, and as soon as the food got there, they both devoured it..
“Wow” said Tina, “You were absolutely right. This food is great.”
“Told you so..”
“So, tell me more about yourself, Bette Porter.” said Tina..
“Well, there isn’t much to tell actually..I work all the time.” said Bette as she took a sip of her wine.
“Family?”
“Yea, My dad and I speak occasionally..actually, he doesn’t agree with my lifestyle and then there is my sister, Kit. Well, Kit is finally sober, after so many years of staying drunk.”
“That is great..Kudos to her.”
“Yea, I am really proud of her.”
“So, what do you do for fun when you are not working?” asked Tina.
” Well, I hang out with my friends..Alice, Shane, Dana, and Marina.”
“Are they all ***** too?” asked Tina.
“Yes, they are..they are my best friends…Maybe, ” said Bette, “If you decide that you want to go out with me again, I can take you to ‘The Planet’ to meet them.”
“Bette, I am having a really good time, but I am involved with someone.”
“Yes, I know….Brad.” said Bette in a saddened voice.
“I am sorry..I just can’t…I’m not into women..”
Bette was going to try and convince her that she was, but she changed her mind…*****,I thought my plan was working but I guess I will have to go to plan 2.
After a few more minutes, Bette asked if Tina was ready…
“Sure.” said Tina…Her heart was telling her that she wasn’t ready, she wasn’t ready to leave, and she wasn’t ready to part ways with this wonderful person before her, but her mind was telling her otherwise…
As they walked to the door, and left, Bette spoke up, “Tina, I’m really sorry about grabbing your hand back there…”
“No need to be sorry..I’m the one who should be sorry..I shouldn’t lead you on in any way, like accepting your offer for dinner tonight..” They walked out of the resturaunt.
“No. I am sorry.Look Tina, I have to be honest…I don’t date alot of women, but when you came into my gallery that day, I couldn’t take my eyes off of you…I felt my soul connect with yours and I immediately wanted to know more about you…I am sorry for wanting more than you are willing to give…”
Tina sat in awe, “Your gallery?” is all she could say..
“Yes, my gallery.”
“You own that gallery?” asked Tina.
“Sure do.”
“Wow. How old are you Bette?”
“Ugh, how old are you?” asked Bette.
“I asked first.” said Tina.
“okay, I’ll say mine and you say yours, we’ll do this at the same time, ok?”
“ok.”
Bette started to count, “1….2….3…” Bette said, “22″ as Tina said “21.” Both at the same time..They both laughed together…
They arrived back at Tina’s apartment and were still in the car…”I had a great time.” said Tina.
“Do you have to go in now?” asked Bette.
“It’s nice, being with you…oh *****…..I’m sorry..I know you don’t like that.”
“It’s okay.” said Tina as she turned and looked at Bette.
“Can I ask you a question?” asked Tina..
“Sure, anything..” answered Bette.
“When did you know that you were, you know..”
And before she could continue, Bette blurted out, “*****?”
Tina smiled and looked down…
“Tina, don’t be afraid to ask me anything.” said Bette.. ” I guess I knew in my senior year of high school when I slept with one of the cheerleaders…”
“Were you a cheerleader?”
“No..I’m not the pom-pom type…I was the head of the debate team.. My parents always told me that I should’ve been a lawyer..”
Tina laughed,”Well, I was the pom-pom type..”
“I always did like to sit and watch women shake their pom-poms.” laughed Bette.
Tina laughed, “You never had any feelings for other women?” asked Bette.
“No, actually..Well, that’s not totally true…” and Tina sat for a moment in silence.
“Go on…” incouraged Bette.
“Not until lately anyway..”
“O yea?”
“Yea, I met this great woman, and I don’t know what it is, but I am definately attracted to her. I have never felt like that before..so, it’s all new to me…the problem is, I am with my boyfriend. Brad.”
“Yea, Brad.” said Bette..as she made an ‘ugh’ face that Tina didn’t see
“Anyway, Iike I said, I don’t know how to deal with it, because it is so new…”
“Why don’t you just tell her, and see how it goes..Love can go a long way…”
Tina looked down and fumbled with a string hanging off of the seat, being extremely quiet…
“Tina?” said Bette as she was just staring at her contently…
“Um…I…I did just tell her..” said Tina as she looked at Bette.
“Um, I’m not sure what to say…” said Bette with an accomplished grin on her face.
“Bette?”
“yea?”
“Woud you like to come in, for coffee?” asked Tina fidgeting..
“That would be great. I would love to.” said Bette as she got out of the car and walked around to Tina’s side to open the door.She had a very big grin on her face. Tina was wondering what the ***** she had just said..What are you doing Tina? God, you had to open your mouth. I was comfortable around her, but now I’m gonna be edgy…
Bette opened the door, and Tina got out..They walked to the door and Tina retrieved her keys. Upon walking in, she threw her keys on the counter and checked her answering machine.
‘You have one new message…Beep’
“Tina, hey baby, I was gonna come over tonight, but you aren’t at home.Where are you? I miss you, and I love you babe.’ Beep…
Tina turned to Bette who was standing over by the counter, “Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay..He’s your boyfriend.”
Tina walked into the kitchen and started the coffee machine…”Do you like your coffee black or with sugar?”
“Sugar, definately sugar. That is probably one of my downfalls..I live on sugar…It keeps me going..”
Tina laughed, “Yea, I know what you mean.” She poured the coffee and handed Bette her cup as she walked over to the couch to sit down….Bette followed and sat too.
Bette looked around the room, “You like movies, I see?”
“Yea, I sorta started a collection of them a few years back. Every now and then, I pull one off of the shelf and Pop it in to the DVD player.”
“I have my own collection, too.” said Bette as she stood up and walked over to the shelf where the movies sat. “But, you probably wouldn’t like any of them.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” said Tina…
“Have you ever seen any ***** love stories?”
“Um, no,” answered Tina.
“Well, you will have to come over to my apartment one day, and I can show you my collection.”
“Okay.” said Tina….

To be continued…..