”In the beginning Bette told me that…that she had never had serious relationships before me and that I am her first in many ways…” Tina wailed, rocking herself back and forth in order to subside her hysteria. ”And look what I’m learning about just now! God, our relationship is a one big LIE!”

Alice stroked Tina’s back comfortingly, cringing from seeing her best friend in such anguish.

”How could she, Alice…how could she do this to me? Have I really deserved this?”

Shaking her head, Alice swallowed. ”Nobody deserves this…”

”Obviously I do…” The blonde whispered forlornly. She let out a good amount of air, blankly staring straight before her. ”It has never felt painful to love her, not for a moment…until now…”

It took several minutes for Tina to recover herself. She looked down and saw numerous used tissues scattered around her. She then turned her head to Alice and noticed for the first time that her friend was also feeling pretty weepy.

Tina laughed tearfully, hugging Alice’s shoulders. ”Oh, Al… Aren’t we two naive fools?”

Alice just sniffled in respond and attempted to nod.

”Two naive fools we are…”

After spending the whole evening together talking, Alice finally decided to go home. Now alone, Tina used the bathroom and settled in bed, wanting to just hide from everything and everyone in her favourite movie. As she was about to press play her phone rang, sending a wave of chills throughout her body. Looking at the caller ID, the blonde frowned. It was unknown.

Putting a hand to her fiercely beating heart, Tina tried to regulate her breath before answering. She prayed for it not to be Bette on the other side of the line, either way she would just completely lose it.

”Hello?”

”Tina, this is Helena”

Tina’s heart sank. Why is it when she wasn’t even praying sincerely that her prayers were answered?

”Wherever you are, please don’t say my name”

”What’s going on?” Tina asked with alarm.

”Nothing. Just don’t say my name. Are you alone?”

”Yes. Are you looking for Alice? She left like half an hour ago”

”No, no, I’m not looking for Alice…”

”Then what is it?”

There were several seconds of silence on the other side of line and Tina was starting to feel nervous.

”I’m just calling to ask how are you, I guess…”

”Stupid question, don’t you think?” Tina replied spitefully.

There was a sigh. ”Yes, of course. I’m sorry…”

”Listen, H–” The blonde caught herself in time, considering Helena’s request rather weird. What was the secrecy about again? Fucking ever-present secrecy, Tina thought angrily before continuing. ”I’m preparing for bed, so…”

”Wait a minute, I’m just…” There was another sigh. ”Are you free tomorrow?”

”I have studies tomorrow”

”Are you free after them?”

”I don’t know, should I?”

”I’d like you to meet me at one place”

”For what? If it’s about Bette, don’t even think I’m gonna–”

”It’s not.”

Tina swallowed. ”It’s not?” She asked with a hint of surprise in her voice.

”No”

’Then why would Helena possibly want to meet me?’ Tina thought to herself, totally puzzled now.

”Please, Tina, meet me tomorrow and we’ll talk… Can you do that?”

The blonde pondered for a moment. ”Okay”

”Promise me not to tell anybody about this meeting and our talk in general”

Tina threw her arms in the air, letting out a rueful laugh. ”What the hell is secrecy for?”

”You should trust me. As I said we’ll talk about it tomorrow, but please promise me…”

”I promise not to tell anybody!” Tina raised her voice, losing her cool suddenly. She shook her head in despair. ”God… You guys are fucking sons of a bitch for doing this to me…”

”I’m sorry…”

”I need to go now”

”Of course. I’ll text you a message with the address of the place tomorrow. Goodnight, Tina…”

The blonde hung up without saying any more. She tossed the phone on the nightstand and leaned her head on the headboard. Glaring at the ceiling with water-filled eyes, Tina spoke with a hiss. ”I hate you, Bette Porter… I hate you so much…” And then she broke into a sob, shaking uncontrollably, trying to catch her breath. ”Fuck you, fuck you…” Hiding under the blanket, Tina continued to scream muffled agonizing cusses into her pillow until she was no more in possession of any energy or spirit. Drained both physically and emotionally, Tina closed her eyes and left her consciousness for the mysterious world of dreams.