Food was ordered quickly – they both went for the burger and fries. Bette paid for the meals and asked for two more beers to be delivered with their meal. Five minutes away from the table was enough time for her to convince herself that if they were going to gain anything from this meeting she had to open up. How hard was it going to be to open up to Tina ?  
Bette returned to the table and sat down and looked at the blonde. Tina looked at her and for what felt like a long time they held one another’s gaze. Bette picked up her beer and took a long drink.
“You know it was hard when we went our separate ways. It hurt – I don’t think I had felt pain before or afterwards that compared to walking out of your parents apartment for that one last time.. I didn’t think I could survive without you – I didn’t want to survive without you and I cried a lot. For the first couple of days at college I was miserable and only left my room when I had to. I wrote you long letters that I never sent. I stared at the hundred odd photos of you on my phone. If I hadn’t pulled myself together I wouldn’t have made it to Christmas. So I made myself go out and socialise – even though I didn’t want to. What drove me on was anger – I was so angry at my parents and at your parents”
Tina smiled – she was still angry at her parents.
“I was angry and really determined to survive. And I was driven by anger – the anger at our  parents lasted a few months. The first Christmas I was home I got drunk and totally tore into both my mom and dad. I have never spoken to either of them the way I did that night. I was a fucking cow to be honest. It was a shitty Christmas – not helped by running into Kate one day. “
“She told me this morning “
“I cried – I cried like a baby. I wanted to ask her so much about you and looking back – maybe she was the only one who would have told me – your mom was on our side – Emma and Melvin weren’t. I lost my nerve – I didn’t ask her about you. That stayed with me and I started to blame myself. I had been a wimp. I should have stood up to Emma and Melvin and told them to go fuck themselves – we would go where we wanted to. I guess that had forged a steely side to me. I can be a bitch and I have been called cold “
“You are not cold “ Tina protested
Bette nodded “I can be – but it’s a defence mechanism”
“Tell me who has called you cold and I will bitch slap them “ Tina said
Bette laughed “Thanks – who has called me that ? “ Bette had reached her personal point of no return “ Mainly the women I have slept with who want more than a quick fuck”
Tina KNEW that Bette would have slept with other women but to hear it from her own mouth   –  that was less  easy to take. She gave Bette a “look “
“Its none of my business and you can tell me that if you want but “ she paused
“Yes there have been a lot of women “ Bette filled in the obvious question “ I am a bit of a tart “
“I can see you as a tart “ Tina said “I cannot accept that you are cold – you are one of the warmest hearted women I have ever known”
“Thanks – I will email you a list of the women who might argue with you “
“So “ Tina said “ if I can ask  – are you seeing anyone ?”
“No – a couple of women in New York I have a kind of friends with benefits relationship with but nothing that couldn’t end tomorrow with no hard feelings on either side “
“I always said you would be fighting them off – and seeing as you are more beautiful – well its hardly a shock Bette. “
“I am not proud of myself “
“You have nothing to say sorry for. We agreed that our relationship ended when we went to college. You weren’t cheating on me -and I wasn’t cheating on you “
Bette looked at Tina – she hoped she was over the hardest of the personal confessions. Tina smiled at her
“So you are a tart Porter ?”
“I am “ Bette replied smiling back. She really was aching for Tina – she swallowed “ I have a thing for blondes”
Well that was a come-on Tina thought to herself
“Do you now ?”
“I do – shamelessly weak when it comes to blondes “  
Another come-on Tina noted.
Bette picked up her beer again “ Your turn “