Fan Fiction
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Crash Course
Bette shakes her head slightly, still scanning the space. “No,” she says. “I’m just going to… mingle around in here for a bit.”
James nods. “I’ll be right outside if you need anything.” He steps back toward the door, pausing just briefly before heading out.
Bette barely notices. She’s already somewhere else, mentally tearing the room apart, rebuilding it piece by piece. She stops in the center of the room again, looking around. This time, her expression shifts, no amusement…just complete focus….
***
Tina Kennard leans forward as her mint-green moped hums down the street. The thrum of traffic and distant chatter mingle with her engine’s buzz, and a soft click in her ear signals that Alice Pieszecki is on the other end of her Bluetooth.
“I still can’t believe you and Shane fell for the okie-doke and went back to school,” Alice scoffs through the speaker.
Tina laughs, shaking her head as she slows at a light. “We’re in grad school, Alice,” she replies. “We didn’t join a cult.”
“Suckers,” Alice fires back immediately. “You should’ve been like me, done my four years, and I was out. Got me a nice job, a nice apartment… where I can have adult company when I want or just tap the ol’ bean if the mood hits me…”
Tina smirks. “I don’t remember you having any hesitation doing any of that in our dorm room, Al.”
Alice laughs. “Okay, first of all, you were rude for listening. Second…. are you on that thing again?”
Tina rolls her eyes as the light turns green and she eases forward. “Yes, because gas is too expensive to be driving everywhere.”
“Are you wearing that ugly green helmet?”
Tina narrows her eyes, even though Alice can’t see her. “My helmet is not ugly,” she says firmly. “And yes, I’m wearing it. Because it’s the law.”
Alice giggles. “Nerd.”
Tina smiles despite herself. “I’m hanging up now.”
“Yeah, yeah, just don’t be late for beers and pizza tonight.”
Tina scoffs lightly. “When am I ever late for beer and pizza?”
She turns onto the next street, the California University campus opening up in front of her, wide walkways, students scattered across the lawn, the sun catching on glass buildings and palm trees, and then everything slows.
Across the street, a woman steps up to her car, tall and brunette, her long curls falling just past her shoulders. Tina watches as the woman clicks her key fob, the trunk popping open. She lifts her arms slightly, pushing her sunglasses up as she moves, her muscles flexing subtly beneath the fitted t-shirt she’s wearing.
Tina’s mouth parts just a little; she doesn’t look away. She can’t look away.
The woman moves with quiet confidence, unbothered, completely in her own space.
Tina keeps watching… and watching, completely forgetting she’s operating a moving vehicle. “Oh, shit….” she says when she finally remembers. The front wheel of her moped slams straight into a bike rack with a loud screech and a dull thud.
Tina jerks forward, catching herself just before she wipes out, her mint green helmet tipping down and covering her eyes. “Shit,” she mutters as she pushes her helmet up, her heart racing as she awkwardly steadies the moped and kicks the stand down.
She swings off, trying and failing to look like that didn’t just happen. Tina straightens, brushing her hands over her jeans like that somehow resets the moment.
She then looks across the walkway, and a tight cluster of students has gathered, their low murmurs drifting over. The woman with the curls pauses, a box tucked under one arm. She lifts her sunglasses, eyes scanning Tina with a flicker of concern, then a teasing curve of her lips. Without a word, she swivels on her heel and strides toward the Art Building…..
Tina just stands there, staring, processing absolutely nothing. Her brain finally catches up a full three seconds later. “…who the fuck is that?”
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Thank you so much for this new story. I love your writing. You’re very good at pacing and giving the right weight to an incident. The scene with Bette and Melvin is wonderful. Effortless to picture them at the table, to hear them say those words. You’ve humanised Melvin too, given us a reason why Bette loves him, despite everything. She wouldn’t be who she is without him. I also LOVE your descriptions of Bette in Philly. We don’t see that very often, but it’s important I think to how she carries herself in LA. Just a great opening – please write and post more when you can. I know it’s quiet around here, but you are helping! Big thanks from me.