“No – I can take a class of yours that has the same amount of hours.”

“Let me take my list.” William muddled in his briefcase and finally pulled out a sheet of paper. “Let me see… 2 hours of history… what about 3A? They’re good guys – not always attentive, quite noisy but they have the right intentions. Maybe you taught some of them – Amy Adams, Melissa Connery, Rachel Matthews, Phil Parker, Elisabeth Porter, Ashton Tyler, Nicole Tucker, Tracy Wrightman…”

Why the hell did her heart Jump with capital J when she heard Bette’s name? Why did she sound over-eager when she replied? “Yes, I know some of them. It would be great, William.”

“Well… I see no problem in switching classes. Will you ask Jodi for permission?”

“I’ll take care of that stuff, William. Thank you so much!”

“No problem, Tina,” he smiled. “Good luck with Jodi!”

“Thanks.” Not that I’ll need it.

#

The following day, Tina put on a figure-hugging blouse, leaving the top buttons open and providing a nice amount of cleavage. She put on her best jeans and some perfume. She even applied slightly more make-up than she usually did, accentuating her hazel eyes. She smiled at herself in the mirror after having given her hair a wild look.

She was so happy she had got rid of the worst class in history and at the same time got Bette Porter’s class instead. “Well done, Tina Kennard,” she told herself. Convincing Jodi Lerner this was a good plan would be no problem at all, not when she was looking like this…

She stepped outside and breathed in the fresh air, enjoying the sun caressing the exposed skin of her fore-arms. Tim was already waiting in the car and had to look twice as she got in.

“Wow – who’s the lucky guy?” Tim asked, amazement clear in his voice. In his eyes, she also saw something else… lust, especially as his eyes wandered over her cleavage. She had decided to wear no bra – of course she had a sleeveless pullover to wear on top of this blouse when she had to teach.

“Girl,” she corrected him. She wrinkled her eyebrows. “Well… woman.”

It had seemed impossible five seconds ago, but the amazement in Tim’s voice was even greater. “What? A woman? But… are you… gay? Sunday you weren’t… not at all.”

Tina laughed. “Don’t be silly. Of course I’m not gay. I just have to pull some strings with Jodi and Helena told me this was the best way.” It stung inside, now she was doubting this statement. The look of relief etched in Tim’s features hurt even more. She looked down at her hands on her lap. If she appeared to be gay, Tim would have a hard time accepting it, since it would mean the end of what they had. But then again, she might as well be bisexual? Did she enjoy sex with men, with Tim, or was she ‘programmed’ to enjoy it? Was it an evidency and had she never really thought about it?

“Tim – are you free tonight?”

“Yeah, sure, why?” He asked, his eyes focused on the road in front of him. She let her hand wander to his crotch. He smiled. “I’ll see you at my place around seven.”

“Great.”

Only did Tina not know if that was true. Wasn’t this abusing her best friend? Wasn’t this using him to find some stuff out about herself? Didn’t he deserve the truth? Did she know what the truth was herself? How could she tell anybody she thought she could be gay if she wasn’t even slightly sure of it herself? She’d have to sleep with a woman as well… Helena, maybe? She dismissed the though immediately. She could never sleep with Helena. Never.

“Good luck with Jodi,” Tim said as he stopped his car on the parking lot. “I have to run – see you!”

“Yeah. See you,” Tina said softly.