ONE AND ONLY

Chapter 87

Tina woke up around 7am – Bette was moving around the room. Tina rubbed her eyes and tried to focus on her girlfriend.
“Bette – what are you doing  ? Will you come back to bed ?”
Bette turned “Go back to sleep “
“What are you doing ?”
“Going for a run”
“Have you got to – can we not have a cuddle and maybe make out ?”
“Last night wasn’t enough for you ?”
“I am 17 – nothing is EVER enough for me “
“I shall take that as a slur on my sexual skills “ Bette said dryly and sat on a chair to put on her running shoes.
“That’s not what I meant “ Tina objected
“Go back to sleep “ Bette said smiling at Tina
“Are you mad with me ?” Tina asked sitting up
“Of course not “
Tina sighed “ I am sorry for what happened yesterday “
“We agreed to move on from yesterday – plus you have to have a conversation with Emma and you didn’t think you were going to get an easy ride from her “
“But we are okay ?” Tina asked again – she had been awake for a while after Bette had fallen asleep. Early mornings were not the best time to reflect on your faults – and Tina had given herself a torrid time. She had uttered fucked up what had been supposed to be a simple game of tennis. She had annoyed her mothers – who were being more than decent about her and Bette sleeping together. She had also been forced to admit to Bette how scared she was that she wasn’t smart enough to go to the same college as her. Bette made everything look so easy and Tina was struggling to keep up with her. Tina rarely went running with Bette anymore because she just couldn’t keep up with her – running was just a metaphor for the rest of their relationship.
Bette finished tying her laces and walked across to where Tina was sitting. She was naked – her long blonde hair was barely being held back in the pony tail she had put into last night. Bette touched Tina’s face and stroked her cheek
“We are fine but we have a lot to talk about – a  lot of things came up last night when we were talking. I guess I have been as bad as you because I knew that you were wound up about college. We do have to talk about it – I don’t know what is going to happen. But I know it will be easier if we talk and understand one another”
Tina nodded “ I just feel a little battered at the moment”
“And that’s before Emma has a chat with you “
Tina nodded “I know – she’s not going to understand a lot of things that I told Kate”
Bette raised an eyebrow “Want to talk about what you said ?”
“Its too early  – maybe we can got for a walk later  – just the two of us”
Bette nodded “That sounds like a good plan – you get some more sleep and when I get back maybe we could take a long shower together and you might get lucky again. I think I need another opportunity to satisfy you “
“That isn’t what I meant – I meant that “
Bette kissed her on the lips “ Ssshh  – go back to sleep. You  need to sleep and I need to run. Do you want me to bring you some proper coffee back ?”
Tina smiled “ I don’t deserve you “
“And you need to stop saying shit like that. Go back to sleep”
Bette kissed Tina on the brow and left the room and closed the door behind her. She needed time to think through everything that had happened the day before. She had known that Tina was worried about what college they were both going to go to. What she hadn’t known was that Tina felt so inferior – that was a real problem because Bette couldn’t understand where it had come from. She needed to run and clear her mind – maybe then she would know what was the best way to deal with Tina. She was worried that if Tina couldn’t get over her feelings it would become a self fulfilling prophecy and they would split up.