The brunette light-heartedly tilted her head to the side. “You don’t have to say, I know you’re into me.”

“Don’t be a smart-ass.” Tina faked a wince and whispered, her voice contained a smile. She could still hear her heartbeat under her ear drums. But it didn’t bother her. All she wanted to feel was Bette’s hand, Bette’s eyes, and Bette’s scent. And now she felt it all.

As they arrived, quite late, at the gym, the class already broke into two teams for volleyball. Tina tried to get away but the brunette squeezed her hand. “Bette, it seems we’re gonna be on opposite teams. If you don’t mind, I’d like my hand back to play.”

Bette laughed and bent a bit to print a kiss on the blonde’s cheek, almost in front of everybody in the gym class. But this time, she didn’t pull away fast; she instead turned her head slightly and kissed Tina fully on the lips, and she whispered, gently with a soft smile. “Wait and see I kick your very beautiful ass, blondie.” After that, she shot her eyes up to the beholders around them. She made sure that nobody was looking their way and let go of Tina’s hand.

The news that Bette Porter kissed Tina Kennard made it to the headline in Marymount even before gym class was over. Girls sent texts about the breaking news, whispered through lectures, passed notes, and some of them who did not believe it even hacked into the school security camera to find proof. And soon after the first bell of recession, Bette’s hard-core groupies’ crying filled in every corner of campus.

The brunette didn’t give a crap about those fussing, as a matter of fact, she was glad to clear out the air saying that Tina would be hers. Walking pass in front of Helena Peabody, she challenged her in the eyes and was happy that the green orbs dropped.

“I thought you were actually genuine about wanting me as your girl. Should’ve known you just wanted to irritate Helena.” The blonde stood at the end of the hallway with her arm on her waist as Bette walked up to her. She teased the tall brunette with a mocking voice.

“Bullshit, Tina,” Bette held up her hand to protest but then she saw the smugly grin on the blonde’s pink lips. “Oh… I see it now. You think you’re such a smart little kitty don’t you. Get over here!” She reached out to capture Tina. With little force, she brought the willing girl into her arm. Then she stared into the hazel pools. “You haven’t say yes, T. I am serious about you. I know I may have little credit when it comes to relationships and all…” Her hands went soft on the slender waist.

Tina ran her hands up the toned arms while she nodded. She enjoyed sharing Bette’s warmth. The brunette always felt warmer, almost as if she was having a fever. “I… You were right, I like you too, Bette. And I want you to be serious about me, about us.”

“So…?” Hearing the confession, the pools of chocolate stirred with expectation.

Standing on her toes, Tina kissed her. She tasted something sweet and cherry-like on Bette’s thin lips. So she pulled back to see the brunette had her big eyes closed in an absolutely sweet manner. Soon the big eyes shot open, filled with question why it ended so quickly. It had her smile. She needed to explain. “You taste… really sweet. What is it?”

“Lip gloss, ever heard of that?” Bette was a bit unhappy about the interruption. She brought her head down and pressed her lips back to Tina’s. “Now you can taste like it too.”

As they kissed, Tina felt her heart singing. She wouldn’t have to secretly think about the kiss they shared in Bette’s recess room, or those that the brunette “friendly” printed on her cheek. She had that all in her arms and on her lips now.