Bette: “I will show you other places and then we will eat something”

Tina: “okay…”

Holding hands with the blonde, all the time, Bette drove Tina to different places, showing the historical markers, the sand sculptures and parks; Revere was the first beach in the US and got its name in memory of the American Revolutionary War patriot Paul Revere; after almost one hour driving, they stopped at a roast-beef and fish sandwiches fast food place, where they ordered roast chicken and drinks, Tina insisted on paying but Bette convinced her that she will let her pay the next time, because today Bette wants to treat her, after picking up their food they parked the car in other spot facing the sea to keep talking and knowing each other.

Bette: “tell me about the beaches of Texas”

Tina: “well…, I have been a couple of times in Galveston it is very nice, very hot in summer, the causeway to the island has a great sight of the gulf and the beaches are beautiful…, you have never been there, right?”

Bette: “no…, indeed, I have never been in the south, though my father is from Louisiana”

Tina: “is your father still there?”

Bette: “no…, he lives in Philadelphia with my mom…”

Tina: “oh…”

Bette: “but he started there in New Orleans…, he is a musician”

Tina: “wow…, really?”

Bette: “yes…, he has a group, the Timbers”

Tina: “WHAT…, are you kidding…, the Timbers, I heard them…, I love them…, you are…, hey you are the daughter of Melvin Porter”

Bette: (smiling with a little sadness) “yup…, he is my father”

Tina saw the sorrow on the brunette’s face and felt a lump in her heart, her hand squeezed Bette’s

Tina: “I’m…, I’m sorry Bette, I didn’t want you to feel bad”

Bette: (sighing) “no…, is not your fault…, is just that…, my father and I are no in the best terms”

Tina: “does he know you are a lesbian?”

Bette: “yup…, he knows, and he has no problem with that…”

Bette explains to Tina about her coming out when she turned 12 years old, and how her father was disappointed that she chose to study science, instead of being a musician as her siblings; Tina, of course, was astonished, science is also her life but fortunately her mom was happy for her to study anything she wanted, the blonde stroked Bette’s arm softly with one hand while still squeezing her other one; both girls felt emotional, especially the brunette, who looked, also, a little vulnerable, which produced in Tina a big pain in her heart, she admires the brunette, she has been falling for her since the first moment they crossed paths, she endured their rivalry for answering Maura’s questions in class, it was painful, but even though she wants to submit to Bette, she was stubborn enough to wait and answer the most difficult questions, knowing that it was keeping her away from the brunette; and now that finally she got her attention, and closeness, Bette is sad and the only thing Tina wants to do is to protect and console her, to remover the pain from her heart to give her joy and peace, she strokes Bette’s head moving the hair off her face with her hand.