Bette hesitated in her response and Tina shook her head in disbelief. “Jesus fucking Christ.” Tina muttered, tears starting to work their way down her face.

“Tina–”

“Justgo away. Leave me alone.” Tina pleaded as she closed the door. This time, Bette was too slow to stop her.

She banged on the door with her fist. “Tina open the door. Please open the door!”

A door opened up to her left and Bette turned to see a man in his robe, standing there with his arms crossed over his chest, his tired wife peeking out from behind him. “Would you mind keeping it the fuck down?” He ordered, the irritation radiating off of him.

“Would you mind you own fucking business?” Bette shot back before banging on the door again. “Tina!”

“Leave now or I’m calling the cops.”

“I fucking dare you.” Bette challenged, never removing her eyes from Alice’s door. “Tina please!”

Tina turned, leaning her back against the door and slid down to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest as tears coursed down her face. “Go away Bette!”

Bette slid down against the door as well, pressing her face against it, listening to Tina’s shallow breathing. “Baby please.” She whimpered. “Just talk to me.”

“The cops are on their way.” The man interrupted before closing his door.

Tina heard the man and turned her head toward the door. As much as she wanted Bette gone, she didn’t want her arrested. “Call me when you can promise me.”

“You’ll answer?”

Tina tensed her jaw, sniffling and wiping her tears away. “Yes.” She choked.

“Okay.” Bette whispered, relief flooding her body. “Okay.”

Tina lightly banged the back of her head against the door, mouthing, “fuck” as she struggled to catch her breath. She couldn’t have another attack; it wouldn’t be good for the baby. There was another knock on the door and Tina groaned. “For the last fucking timego away!”

“Ma’me, it’s the police.”

“Shit.” Tina whispered, wiping her eyes quickly. She stood up, taking a few deep breaths before opening the door. She expected to see Bette in handcuffsbut Bette wasn’t there. Two police officers stood in the doorway, on their guard.

“We got a call about a disturbance. Is everything all right?”

Tina sniffled and wiped a few stray tears. “Yes, officer. Everything’s fine.” She swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding.

“Are you sure?”

“I am. Thank you.”

“Would you mind us asking what happened?”

“Y-uhI just had a fight with my girex-girlfriend. That’s all. She left. I’m sorry for disturbing everyone.”

He took special note of the gauzed hand resting on her forehead. “What happened there?”

Tina removed her hand and looked at it, sort of laughing. “Oh, I-I just cut myself. Nothing serious, really.”

The officer didn’t look too satisfied. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Yes.”

The officer looked at his partner, who shrugged and began to walk away. “Next time, try to keep it down.”

“I will. Thank you officer.”

“Have a good night.” He replied as he left.

Tina closed the door and rubbed the back of her neck, sighing loudly as she looked toward the ceiling. “Fuck”

————————————————————

Bette pulled her car over to the side of the road, two blocks from Alice’s apartment, and broke down. Covering her mouth to stifle her sobs, Bette leaned back in her seat and let the hot tears flow down her cheeks. They weren’t tears of sadness, or joy, hope or relief.

They were tears of great worry and confusion.

Why couldn’t she promise Tina that she wouldn’t see Candace again? It shouldn’t be that hard. She didn’t love Candace; she loved Tina. Bette knew that. She was sure of it.

So why would she hesitate like that?

To be continued