Tina looked up in surprise. It had been weeks since her slip when they were having sex. Tim hadn’t even mentioned it since and in a way, Tina had hoped he had maybe forgotten about it. But who was she kidding? This was Tim, her best friend… and who would forget something like that?

“I know,” she sighed. “I don’t have feelings for her, don’t get me wrong. I barely know the girl. I also know my boundaries.”

“I know you wouldn’t abuse her, Tina, don’t be ridiculous. It’s just… I don’t get it. Bette’s a 17-year-old girl, what can she offer you?”

“I don’t know.”

“And since when are you a lesbian?”

“I’m not.” Tina paused. “Well – I think I’m not.”

“Have you talked to Helena about these feelings?”

“There aren’t any fee-”

“Cut the crap, Tina,” he interrupted her harshly. “If you don’t have feelings, then why are you imagining her to be me during sex? Then why are you crying out her name instead of mine?”

“It’s just so… surreal. I mean, I have never really had feelings for women. Of course, I have looked at some and thought how beautiful they were, but every woman does that, it doesn’t mean anything. And like you said, she’s 10 years younger. Our lives are at different stages now, she’s interested in other things than I am.”

“Did you ask to change classes because of her?”

“No.”

Silence.

“Okay, maybe. I was having trouble with that class in particular, but I would have probably not given up on them if it weren’t for her. It’s just… I’m also really worried about her and I want to get closer to her to find out what’s wrong. She has such low self esteem and there’s no reason for it – you’ll have to agree with me that she’s bloody gorgeous and she’s very intelligent as well.”

“Did you come to all those gym classes to check her out?”

Tina’s face flushed. “Of… of course not,” she stammered. Tim raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

“You need to stop it, Tina. You have to stop it before it gets dangerous, before someone notices it.”

“I won’t let it get that far, Tim. Trust me.”

“I hope you’ll work it out. It’s just really weird for me… I would never have thought you were lesbian, not by the way you act in bed.”

Tina closed her eyes and took a breath to calm down. “Ever heard of bisexuals?”

“You aren’t one of them.”

“And how would you know?”

“Because you enjoy sex too much.”

“Well… that proves the point I may be bisexual. As if they enjoy sex with a man less.”

“I would think so. A man apparently doesn’t offer what a woman can, so you would think they missed that when they were fucking a guy.”

“Do you have to be so rude?”

“Since when are you so sensitive? Anyway, have you ever had sex with a woman before?”

“No.”

“Okay. Look, I won’t say I’ll be there for you. I just… this idea is too weird for me. Is our agreement still on?”

“Only sex, no strings?”

Tim nodded.

“As far as I’m concerned, it is.”

“No more screaming her name, then?”

“Look, I couldn’t help it!”

“I was just kidding.”

“It wasn’t funny.”

“Sorry.”

“I don’t want get things to get awkward between us.”

“It wouldn’t be my fault.”

“Tim…”

“You know, talk to Helena about this, she’ll understand better.”

Tina looked down. Was she losing her best friend because of a student?

–

That weekend, Bette decided to seek some destraction and went to a gallery she knew had good pieces. She was walking around for about an hour when the door opened and she looked up.

In the door opening was a beautiful creature – not ms Kennard-beautiful, but still. Wild, black curls and fascinating blue eyes. Soft-looking, beautifully curved lips – just like the rest of her body. She had to be about Bette’s age. She could only be a bit shorter than Bette was. Bette subconsciously tried to stick around the girl, hoping she’d notice her.

It was only after half an hour the girl looked up, straight into her eyes. Bette’s blood had been pumping like crazy and she was nervous as hell. She smiled weakly. The girl smiled back and extended her hand.

“Hi, I’m Emily. Emily Mulholland.”

“Bette, Bette Porter,” the brunette answered almost in a whisper, shaking the soft hand.