For a moment, your world fucking implodes.

But she looks into your eyes and you can see the fear, so you swallow and nod. Then your brain catches up and her words fully hit her. She loves me. You can scream it from the rooftops – she loves me!

"I understand, baby."

She smiles. "Baby," she repeats, almost as if she’s testing the taste and sound of it. "I like that."

She tells you that you need to set up some rules to protect (basically, to hide) your relationship. That you both know that if Tina’s parents find out, you’re both done for. That you’ll never see her again.

You agree with her.

You hold hands on the way to school, in the car. You steal kisses behind the bleachers, in the bathroom (very quickly), in empty classrooms when the others have left.

The first time the two of you make love is just… epic. Your hands never want to stop touching her, your lips never want to stop brushing her skin. Your hands find their way all over her. You make sure to be gentle, sweet.

It’s all about her. You want her to feel good. You want to crawl into her and hug her core and love her so much that she physically feels it. The moment when you feel her crashing down from her first orgasm and she screams your name is magical. Just magical.

The tears are streaming down your face and you’re kissing her all over and you can’t stop. She’s intoxicating, addictive, mind-blowing. She’s your favorite drug.

When you’ve finally exhausted yourself, you cuddle into her, curl up against her. She holds you so tightly and you’ve never felt so safe and secure in your life.

Later, you teach her how to return the favor.

She becomes a pro.

In the beginning of your relationship, there seems to be a sadness in her eyes, but it’s nothing you’re not used to. It’s the Tina you know. When you see her changing, when you see her becoming happier – you’re sure you’ll never feel such accomplisment in your life ever again.

You never notice the way Dana looks at you. You only ever notice Tina (but you don’t notice that strange look of something that almost resembles guilt in her eyes when she looks at you – maybe you don’t want to notice.)

You, Bette Porter, have achieved your heart’s desire at sixteen.

You’ve made Tina Kennard happy and that’s all you’ve ever wanted. That’s all you’ll ever need.