Chapter 3
Returning to her office, Bette was once again plagued by decisions made by the board,(Helena), that just made her cringe. She had to do something, and that something was to give her notice. She could no longer go into work everyday and hate what she was doing.
Helena was more than happy to settle her contract. This was something she was considering for quite a long while. She just had no idea what she was going to do.
It finally came to her, so she started to put her plans into action.
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With the knowledge that Tina was dating Helena, all Bette could do was to work on making her own life good and to make the changes that would bring to the surface that Tina loved Bette and no-one else.
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Sometimes taking the low road and proceding quietly can make a bigger impression than all the 5-star resturants,huge flower arrangements and ostentatious gifts put together.
Bette had passively goten back in touch with their friends and had earned back all
of their respect. Everyone hating Helena also helped.
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When Bette had gone to Yale she had recieved her teaching degree along with a degree in art history. She really had no problem geting a job teaching part-time at UCLA. She was very excited to be working with all the young students. Her passion for art shone through and and was passed on to her students.
She was also volunteering at some after school programs working with underprivileged children who would not have the opportunity otherwise. Sometimes she even paid for art supplies out of her own pocket.
She was having the best time of her life, and there was no pressure to be the best, drive the best car or wear the latest designer clothes. Most of the time now she wore comfortable jeans and soft cotton blouses. Before she would have never been caught without her designer power suits on. The only thing missing was her Tina. Soon. Soon.
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In working with her students she had the craving to dig out her old 35mm camera and to start shooting some film. She started taking pictures of anything and everybody.Bette was driving her friends wonderfully crazy.
Her life had turned around to something that was so much more simple and relaxing than the driven and A-type personality that had caused Bette to slip and forget what was really the most important lesson in life.
To love and to be loved in return. Nothing more. Nothing less. She had had that before but got caught up in trying to be not only the best , but also the most recognized.
Now she was relishing in the tranquillity offered by the scholarly lifestyle.
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Meanwhile, Tina had not even known that Bette had quit the CAC. For months Helena had neglected to aprise her of this fact. After Tina found out she started noticing subtle changes in Bette and how she was being very accomodating to Tina and Helena. In fact Bette actually spoke with the girls and and got them to accept Helena, even though they all still hated her. But it was so that Tina would feel comfortable.
This did not go unnoticed by Tina, or Helena. Helena was still trying to show up Bette and to buy everyone’s affections. This did not bode well with the group.
Tina was growing weary of it herself. Her anger was starting to subside and she was starting to think things through a bit more.
She came to the realization that all her and Bette’s problems were not caused exclusively by Bette.
Bette was the one to cheat, and that was something that was going to take time to forgive, but how they got to the point where Bette was in so much pain and anguish to break her own code of ethics was not Bette’s fault by herself.
Many things left unsaid and undiscused led to that point. The lack of communication and the excuses used to not communicate led to that point.
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Bette and Tina were now able to have civil conversations and were starting to feel that comfort level thay used to have.
Helena was livid.
Tina was not enjoying all the perks that came along with Helena’s possessiveness and controlling attitude.
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Bette could feel the changes in the air, and she could not help but to throw her fist in the air and yell hallelujah.
Many conversations were yet to be had, but at least not the chance of those conversations were possible.
Double-pump in the air and the biggest and brightest smile that Bette had let grace her gorgeous face in eons.
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Onward and upward, there were still frays to be won, but now the battlefield had gotten a little bit leveler in favor of one Bette Porter.
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Several months later.
The weight of the camera in her hands felt very welcome. It gave her a feeling of familiarity and comfort. She lifted the camera and focused on her subject. You could hear the slight clicking sound of her adjusting the lens to find the correct aperature. This just felt so right. Sometimes when you are taking a picture you can just feel how right it is going to turn out.
Pressing on the shutter button there was just enough sound to awaken the beauty that was to be her next portrait. Tina slowly piiked through sleepy eyes only to find there was a cold empty spot in bed whereher Bette should have been. Bette shot more of Tina waking and stretching.
She lowered the camera and just gazed at her.She was the most lovely and bewitching creature she had ever come across.
Bette took a deep breath and did not realize that she had been holding it in.
She was so enraptured.
She could not believe that this was not a dream.
The vision in front of her was not only flesh and blood but also hers to love forever.
Tina was Bette’s.
Bette was Tina’s.
“I love you” Tina said.
“And I love you till eternity” replyed Bette.
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The trials they both went through to get back to the place they both belong were painstaking and at times ruthless, but oh so worth the battle.

Aloha