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HOPE ALONE – Chapter 19
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“Haven’t you ever shown art that didn’t speak to you?”
“Of course I have,” Bette chuckled as she allowed her hands to graze over a young woman’s sculpture before she continued to speak. “That’s the difference between a gallerist or curator and the artist don’t you think?”
“What if it offends someone?”
“For every person that loves a work of art,” Bette began to explain. “There is another that hates it. If you offend someone, isn’t that alone political in nature? Where one cannot stifle the work of another in the name of art?”
“I never thought of it that way,” one young man said obviously completely enamored with Bette causing Tina to bite back her laugh.
“I have this piece in my home,” Bette said as her eyes seemed to drift off into the distance. “Its’ by one of my favorite artists Lisa Yuskavage. I can remember how excited I was to bring it home and show my wife.”
Tina watched as some students shot a knowing look at one another, as if Bette’s sexuality was still a mystery, despite the publicity surrounding her that clearly labeled her as a lesbian.
“She had this look on her face,” Bette began to laugh. “She hated it, the thought of hanging a woman on our wall that was dressed in nothing but a shell bikini. The colors were magnificent, but the piece didn’t speak to Tina.”
“You hung it anyway?”
“I’m nothing if not stubborn,” Bette admitted as she stood in the middle of the room.
Tina watched as she shook her suit jacket off and hung it on a nearby sculpture that Jodi left half completed. Tina marveled as Bette rolled up her sleeves and smiled at the students that seemed to be hesitant of truly expressing themselves in Bette’s presence.
“Are we all going to stand here?” Bette asked with a smile to appear more approachable. “Or are we going to get started and completely shake things up for everyone?”
An hour had passed before Bette looked at her watch noticing the time had come for class to end. Tina had stayed in the shadows of Jodi’s work, watching as Bette guided the young students toward their ultimate goals, what spoke to their hearts. Her shirt had several spots on it, but Bette hadn’t seemed to mind when she discovered them over 20 minutes ago. She had a smudge on her cheek from when she had worked with someone on a sculpture of a woman coddling a baby. The way Bette used her hands to guide the student was inspiring, and Tina couldn’t help but to notice how much the entire class had fallen in love with Bette.
Bette ushered everyone out of Jodi’s studio when Tina dared to step out of the shadows. Bette heard the sound of heels on the floor approaching her, causing her to turn around and gaze at Tina. She had her suit coat half on when she offered Tina a curious look along with a smile.
“What are you doing here?”
“Seeing how in love that class was with the guidance you gave them,” Tina said as she reached over and fixed Bette’s collar. “It is either that or they are just plain in love with you and I can’t blame them for either.”
“I doubt that,” Bette teased back as she folded her arms against her chest while she leaned on a table near them. “How long were you here?”
“Almost the entire class.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were here?” Bette asked.
“I loved watching you work,” Tina answered honestly. “They really do look up to you. You gave them excellent direction, including your story of that hideous piece Lisa Yuskavage did.”
“I’m sure you liked that,” Bette chuckled causing Tina to slightly shiver at the seductive sound. “Aren’t you swamped at the studio with ‘Lez Girls’?”
“I am,” Tina hesitated before continuing. “I had to come here though and tell you something that couldn’t wait.”
“It waited an hour,” Bette teased as Tina moved closer to her.
“I had to tell you that I set Kate straight,” Tina said softly, her eyes darting from Bette’s eyes down to her lips.
“Oh?” Bette licked her lips as Tina’s eyes seemed to be memorizing every detail of them.
“I told her that in no uncertain terms,” Tina smiled as she used words familiar to both Bette and Tina given Bette’s use of them in Tina’s office. “Am I available to date.”
“Why is this?” Bette asked as Tina leaned forward to invade Bette’s personal space.
Tina licked her lips, her eyes dropping to Bette’s lips before she tilted her head and stopped just before touching Bette’s mouth.
“If you don’t know then maybe I should just show you.”
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I LOVE this story. One of the BEST on this site. Thank you for sharing your talent with us.
What a great chapter, Gumby. It shows so much of this relationship: the willingness to change, to see change in another. To fall in love over and over again with the same person is real if we allow ourselves to look forward and not back. Thanks for this chapter. Lin
I’m in love with the way you write, Gumby! This is a beautiful story. PPS.
Doing the happy dance, wooohoooo go tina get ur woman! just fantastic!! i wish they could talk like this on the show… u need to give IC some tips!
Great chapter Gumby. Wish the show would go this way. Looking forward to more.
I just love this story. If only the writers on the show could write like you…wishful thinking I suppose. :) PPS
Aw, yes! This was ace, Gumby. Thanks for posting it.
I love the way Tina went to see Bette and watched the whole class. A graet story and one terrific writer!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! Yes, yes, please SHOW US SOON why Tina’s not available to Kate anymore. I have a feeling the next chapter will radiate the thermometer-busting heat of THE KISS in episode 504. Thanks for this great update, Gumby! PPS
I’m so into this story….it’s beautiful and captivating. Hope you’ll post soon. Thanks.
Lean a little closer Tina and show her. Md
Finally we are getting some place.Is there a NC 17 in our future. Just kidding
It so hard to fall in love with someone completely.sometime it takes yrs. Falling out of love is harder.you find yourself loving this person more and more as each day goes by. It hard to try to share your heart with some else when another person has the whole heart. Love this story. thanks
Whoo-hoo! I love it! Tina telling Kate off about wanting to put Bette into a box and then telling her she wasn’t available. And Tina going to Bette and letting her know that Kate wasn’t in the picture was perfect. I am eagerly awaiting more!
This update made me want to scream.. in a ridiculously good way. This was the update I’ve been waiting for.. for Tina to realize the changes that Bette has made. To see her stand up to Kate. I can’t believe you cut it off at the kiss juncture. I want to see them date slowly, do everything right this time. I would LOVE some family scenes. Yay to Tina! (Finally).
YOU STOPPED THERE??? I feel like i’m repeating myself to you! OK…Please please please post some more!! I think Kate needs her ass handed to her. I figured that as soon as she saw Tina’s feelings for what they are she would turn to a bitch!!
You are the best Gumby…really, the only part I absolutely HATED…..was that you stopped…I wasn’t finished reading yet…
Gumby,Your writing always makes me happy and makes my day better.
wonderful update, loved it :)
Show her T. Great story. Parallel, parallel universes.
Oh Gumby, that was a wonderful chapter. So happy that Tina told Kate she is not available to her and that she does not know a rat’s ass about Bette and her feelings about things and why she does certain things. I love when Tina gets mad and starts talking through her teeth, you just know that the fire is about to erupt. She is so darned sexy when she gets like that, LOVE IT. So happy that Tina got her act together and told Bette how she felt. she had me a little worried that she might turn to Kate and I hoped that she would not. Should have known you would not let that happen. You love our girls too. PPS
Great chapter. I feel an NC-17 comming soon…….right?
Bravo !
Kate needed to be set straight alright. Now that she’s out of the picture :), let’s move on with my two favorite people. Great chapter.
Woooohoooo.Happy times ahead methinks:-) I think you have made them work for it and now they have earned some happiness.your writing rocks as always!
How could anyone possibly fail to be in love with Bette Porter…
You take my breath away.I love this :,) Thank you and PPS.
OMG! All the dialogues have me glued onto my screen. Amazing chapter. Thanks for sharing your talent with us! So… next chapter tomorrow maybe? :P
“She had never felt so many different emotions at once, but the one clearly rising to the top was love.” This story is awesome in its romanticism.
Hello Gumby, I love how passionate Tina and Bette both are… Tina for her love… not just for Bette but for her Love… she has such an incredible understanding of her own need and desire for Love and she realizes that this love belongs to someone… to Bette. No matter how much time or distance comes between them… she realizes they will always be connected through love… and that is something I think Tina lost sight of… but as she started to regain her sense of identity she started to realize that you can’t give away something that doesn’t belong to her… her love… her heart… her soul. I think Bette has realized just how important her passion is… when she was at the CAC she had to put her own passions on hold… she had to skip through hopes and try to impress others while all the time she only needed to impress herself and in doing so she would impress Tina. I think this is the thread that caused these two souls to wander away from one another… they lost their passion not only for each other, but for themselves… and their lives. This was so very powerful and vibrant. Sincerely, JC
Great update! I love how you write them so realistically! Your the best Gumby!
great chapter and thanks for the update!
I’ll settle for the implied kiss, but can we have the real action next time ? :) I’s great to see both B&T making thought out and honest desicions instead of playing games and possibly hurting others in the process. Thanks Strechy Arms
Awww…Tina sat in that art class while she was awed by the love of her life. To watch that one person that captures your heart as they work and to fall in love a little bit more with them, is the kind of love that should be celebrated not ignored. I think it’s safe to say that Tina is not available to date & not available to share her heart with anybody but Bette Porter. PS.
yeah!!!!
WOOOHOOO LOVE THIS!