“You never wanted to know why she did that?”

Bette smiled and thought ‘if you only knew’.  “I wondered for years why Tina did that.  Tina was the only friend I made all throughout elementary school and middle school.  It wasn’t until high school when I met a few people who were as outcasted and intellectual as I was.”

Their conversation was interrupted by Bette’s cell phone vibrating on the kitchen table.  Bette put her glasses back on and looked down at the caller ID.

“Hmm, I don’t recognize this number.”

(21 Years Ago; Johnson-George Educational Site)

“No, *YOU* get it!” Tina said in a more scared tone than an angry one.

Bette laughed out loud.  This little blonde cutie had NO idea who she was dealing with. “Tina Kennard.  You may be awesome and funny and the only friend I have in the world right now.  But I am NOT taking the top bunk.” 

Tina blushed, but stood firm.  She put both of her hands firmly at her side and shook her head ‘no’.

Bette’s mouth was agape.  “You see this Tina?” Bette said and motioned with her hand up and down her own body.  “This body DOES NOT do heights!”

“Well I guess there’s only one thing we can do then.”

“Yes,” Bette agreed.  “You take the top bunk.”

“I was going to say we can share the bottom bunk, actually.”

Bette’s body grew tense and nervous.  She sat down briskly on the bed and avoided looking at Tina.  ‘Is this what a crush is? This feeling? I have never had one before then, because no one has ever made me this nervous.’

“Um, on second thought, I’ll take the top bunk,” Bette said, with her voice shaking.

“Beeeeee-ttttte!” Tina exaggerated her name like they had known each other for years instead of hours. “Two seconds ago you said that body ‘does not do heights’.”  Tina said, poking her index finger on Bette’s knee.

Was Bette more scared of being close to Tina or plunging to her death?

“Yeah, ok. We’ll share.”

(Hours later)

“Pst, Bette.  Are you asleep?” Tina whispered, hoping not to wake Bette if she was asleep.

Bette could not have been anymore awake.  There’s no way she’d ever sleep being that close to Tina.  Something about being near her made her heart race.