“Tina?” Bette nudged her gently in the shoulder, trying to awake her from her thoughts. Tina blinked a few times as she tried to focus. “Are you ok?”

She looked up at Bette and smiled weakly. Of course I’m ok, well, now I am… I can’t say that! She’d freak out and run. I sound like some lunatic. Some love-struck lunatic. Tina leant into Bette’s body and closed her eyes. She was unaware of Bette’s body freezing at closeness. What am I supposed to do now?  Bette thought.

“Bette…” Tina mumbled into the soft material of Bette’s jacket.

“Yes Tina?” She moved her hands up her back and drew her closer.

“Can you please hold me?” She buried her face in the crook of her neck as she wrapped an arm around Bette’s midriff.

This time however, Bette didn’t freeze at the contact – she welcomed it. Bette obeyed Tina’s request and wrapped her arms tighter around the blonds’ body. She could spend hours doing this. Just holding her. Bette felt Tina’s body shake as she started to cry again. Instead of crying alone, Bette was there to help her through it.

^^^

“Would you like some coffee?”

Tina pulled her head back to look clearly at Bette. She had to squint her eyes to see her features through the darkness.

“Yes, that would be nice.”

“Come on then,” Bette held Tina’s hand as they walked through to the kitchen. “White or black?”

Tina put her hands on Bette’s shoulders and pushed her backwards onto a stool. “How about I make the coffee since you just took care of me so well, yeah?”

Bette smiled widely, “Sounds good to me.”

She watched as Tina bounced around the kitchen preparing their drinks and getting some food out that they could pick at. She put them down on the island and sat beside Bette. They talked about their day. Work at the CAC, cleaning, everything. They were having a good time, until there was a knock at the door.

“We always get disturbed – I bet that’s Alice.”

On the way to the door, Bette looked at her watch, it read 12:34. Alice had been known to turn up at this time, but it was only on rare, important occasions. Or when she was drunk and was walking back from Jenny’s house.

She opened the door was jumped back as Eric stumbled inside. He crashed to the floor. The can of beer that was in his hand tipped over, sending the bubbly liquid everywhere. Bette hurriedly closed the door and crouched down to help him up.

“Eric! What the fuck is going on?” Tina shrieked as soon as she saw Eric’s condition. “I can’t believe you were drinking.”

Tina picked up the can and rushed back through to the kitchen to grab some towels to clean the mess up. Bette helped Eric to his feet and stepped back. She wasn’t so happy with him now. She clenched and unclenched her fists at her sides, trying to control the anger that was bubbling inside of her.

“I thought you wanted me to go?” Eric slurred.

“I did want you to go, it doesn’t mean you had to go drinking, does it?”

Bette watched the interaction between them. They were throwing insults back and forth, leaving Bette no time to intervene. Tina stepped forward so she was inches away from his flushed face.

“I want you to go. Go stay at a motel or something. Please."

He was embarrassing her so much. I wonder what Bette thinks of me now.

Eric went to walk past her, chuckling sarcastically, but Bette stepped forth and placed her hands on her hips. See? She could be intimidating. Eric grinned widely and went to push her out of the way, but Bette pushed his arms, sending him reeling towards the door.

“Eric, you’re a nice man, but you’re drunk and I think you should go. If only for tonight, please?”

That seemed to get through to him. He looked at Tina once more before quickly leaving Bette’s house. The brunette sighed with relief and turned back to face Tina, who was now covering her face with her hands and sobbing uncontrollably.