“I don’t know. I sure as hell can’t go back to the apartment, not now. I can only go over to Rachel’s place. She’ll understand I need a place to crash.”

It was painful for Bette to see the hope in Tina’s eyes. She knew she couldn’t stop her, she wouldn’t believe her. It broke her heart to send Tina on a mission that would probably destroy her, give her the feeling she lost everything. Her life would change so much and Bette could only wish that she felt ready to admit her feelings, but even if she did, this wasn’t the right time. Tina needed a friend right now, not a lover. Being a wonderful person, she probably had plenty of those. Bette snorted. She didn’t need her, not at all.

“Is something wrong?” Tina asked at Bette’s snort.

“No, not at all. Uhm… good luck, I guess.”

She smiled faintly. “Thanks. You can’t imagine how much this meant to me, I mean, that you were there for me, held me… I really needed it and you didn’t have to – we barely know each other.”

Bette was very well aware of that fact. “It’s okay, really.”

They said goodbye and Tina left. Bette fell down on her chair and rested her head in her hands. She sighed loudly. What the hell was happening? She then remembered the incident with Allison and decided to call her in.

“Hey, Allison, can you come to my office please? … yes, now… I’m sure it can wait.”

A few moments later, there was a knock at the door.

“In,” Bette said.

Allison came in hesitantly, looking at the floor.

‘If she had been that hesitant a few minutes ago, that would one worry less,’ Bette thought, feeling a bit irritated.

“How can I help you, ms Porter?”

“Sit down, Allison. You realise as well as I do that we need to talk. I need to make something clear.”

Allison sat down. “If this is about you and Tina… don’t worry, I won’t tell. It’s Tina’s job to tell Rachel about it, and yours.”

“This is about me and Tina. The most important fact being that there is no me and Tina – what you saw was a comforting hug.”

“Of course.”

Bette could see that Allison didn’t believe her. She put her pen down and looked Allison directly in the eyes. “Something really bad just happened to Tina and she was here to see Rachel about it. Rachel wasn’t here and she needed someone to talk to, hold her and just be there for her. I was that person and it ends there. Tina and I are not having a relationship nor do we have any sort of feelings for each other that go beyond friendship. I would even say we aren’t friends as I barely know her.”

“Everytime you meet her, I can see it in your eyes, ms Porter. Excuse me for being so free, but you cannot hide it. Every time there has been a party or an opening at work, everybody talks about it afterwards.”

Bette froze. “Talks about what?”

Allison fidgeted in her seat. “That you have a thing for Tina…”

“That’s ridiculous,” Bette answered, blushing furiously. “I mean… no, I’m not, I don’t… I don’t have a thing for Tina.”

“Well, I won’t tell anyone about what I just saw…”

“There was nothing to fucking see!” Bette leashed out. “Damn it, Allison! There’s NOTHING going on between Tina and I, absolutely nothing.”

Sadly enough, that really was the truth.