"I have a room for rent" Bette heard it, for a second she wondered if there were a 3rd person in the car, then when she saw the blonde staring back at her, she realized it was her own mouth that those words had come from.

"You… you have a room for rent?" Tina noticed that her own voice was a little more high-pitched than usual.

"I do yes", ‘Oh my god, what am I saying? Oh my god, how do I back out of this?’ "Yes and in your price range I see", ‘oh you’re going to hell Bette Porter’.

Tina looked at her suspiciously. ‘Well she seems normal enough’ she thought, ‘but a bit of a coincidence isn’t it? And I’ve only just met this woman, though she does seem trustworthy, and she did kind of save my life.’

"I didn’t mention it sooner, because no offence, but you could have been a crazy person. But you seem normal enough." Bette tried to justify.

"Ummm, thanks" Tina mumbles, still a bit stumped for words.

"Anyway, no pressure. I’ll give you my number.” Bette pulls out a pen and scribbles her number in the corner of one the pieces of paper. “If those don’t work out, give me a ring. Though there’s quite a bit of demand so you’ll have to move fast". ‘Where did that come from? Oh the web of lies’ Bette managed to suppress all of these inner demons, still remaining calm and in control as usual on the surface.

She passes back the papers to Tina who stuffs them clumsily in her bag. “Well thank you Bette. You kind of saved my arse tonight”.

“Anytime” Bette smiled, ‘Anytime at all’ she thought.

As Tina opened the door she turned back to Bette, “Oh sorry, what do I owe you for driving me out of your way?”

“Owe me? Don’t be silly. How about instead you just promise me something?”

”Okaaay, well tell me what it is first and I might” Tina grins giving a little wink, thinking ‘Am I flirting here?”

 “Promise me… you won’t go and view anymore properties on your own.”

Tina goes to speak, but Bette raises her finger, “and if none of them work out, that you’ll ring me”.

Tina pretends to contemplate, “Deal”.

“Good”, Bette grins back. Concern starts to spread across Tina’s face, Bette suddenly feels uneasy.

“So say these properties didn’t work out,” Tina says.

‘And I kind of hope they don’t’ Bette thinks. “Yes” she responds slowly raising an eyebrow.

“Shall I bring a chaperone to your house, I mean is it safe?” Tina grins.

“Oh very funny, of course it’s safe, I’m there” Bette grins, “But don’t worry if it comes to that I can give you references beforehand so that you can check up on me”.

“Great, just checking!” Tina stands up, turns around and leans back into the car stretching out her hand. Bette looks down at her hand, smiling, thinking I hope this isn’t the last time I see this silly young woman.

“Take care you” Bette says. “As always”, Tina winks and walks away.

All Bette can think as she drives away is ‘How the hell am I going to explain this to the girls? And Alice, oh my god Alice…"