Tina returned the smile, “Thanks, you too.”

When Tina strolled out of The Planet she noticed it was a bit cooler and a lot darker. Tina sighed, she really hated the dark and to walk it alone in unknown territory was quite frightening. She reluctantly began to journey down the street to her apartment. About an hour later, she was inside her place. Tina glanced around really hating it but knowing it’s all she could afford right now. The apartment was from the 1950’s, back then it was one of the nicest apartments around this area. A lot had changed since then and now it was occupied by starving artists, drug dealers, teens kicked out of their homes, and low income families. Tina’s apartment was about 900 sq. ft. with only two windows. The walls were stained brown with cracks and peeling wallpaper. The carpet looked as if it use to be white but now was the color of rust. She trudged through the tiny kitchen to her dining table near the wall. She sat down in the chair grabbing the newspaper she had picked up on the way home. Skipping the news, announcements, and obituaries, she went directly to the classifieds.

After about two hours of circling potential jobs, she decided it was best to get some rest. She pushed the paper away and got up heading to the bathroom. Tina took her clothes off and climbed into the shower. It was a fast shower since the plumbing in the apartment was not up to date. She got out drying herself and slipped into a pair of plaid boxers and a white wife beater. She grabbed a tie band off the sink pulling her hair up off her neck and put it into a messy bun. Once settled, she went back by the kitchen to the living room. Tina took the cushions off the couch and then gave it a tub, pulling at the hideaway bed. It was all that she had and she was thankful it was left behind by the previous tenants. As she laid down, she sighed hoping that her boxing career takes off. Tina felt her eyelids begin to droop, so she said a quick prayer before falling into a deep slumber.

Bette arrived home late in the evening. She loved her California style home. It was very modern and even had an amazing backyard with a garden and pool. But she rarely ever was home to enjoy it or the house. The gym became her home. She walked inside dropping her bag down by the door and went to the kitchen to find something to eat. She pulled open the fridge to find nothing but sour milk and cheese. She slammed it shut, “Fuck!” she shouted at nobody. She felt irritable and she knew who it was about. Ever since yesterday when Bette had spotted Tina, she could not stop thinking about her. She knew it was more than just a crush, because she had never felt the spark like they had when they touched with anybody. Bette made her way over to her couch lying down. She recalled that she had dated one of her boxer before and they were madly in love or so they thought. Bette begun to tear up reliving what had happened five years ago. Bette came home from a late night at the gym when she heard thuds and groaning. She thought it might have been an intruder or worse her girlfriend was hurt. She sprinted up the stairs noticing the sounds were coming from the bedroom and was getting increasingly louder. She threw the door open and her eyes came to rest on her half-naked girlfriend going down on one of the trainers she worked with. After that, Bette had felt broken and tried to fix it with one night stands and fuck buddies but she could never fill the void. She decided she would never give another her heart. She was successful until now. Tina had caused a bit of a stirring in Bette’s heart, like a re-awakening moment. Bette decided to just keep it professional and push whatever this is aside and soon it should pass. She rolled onto her back staring up at the ceiling, her eyes drifting shut. About a second later she had succumbed to the sleep.