"There’s something I have to do" Bette said quietly, taking a step away.

Tina looked up at her, the fear evident in her eyes.

"Wait here for me, ok?" Bette pleaded, not wanting to let go of the blondes hands.

Tina just nodded her head, and Bette could tell that she was fighting back tears.

Bette leant in and placed a soft, lingering kiss on Tina’s cheek before whispering in her ear "I love you"

***********************************************************************************

Feeling the tap on her shoulder, Jodi turned round to see Bette stood behind her. She reached for her hand, and frowned when she was brushed aside.

"We need to talk" Bette said simply.

"Can it not wait til later? I’m having fun" Jodi gestured at Alice and the group of women that they were talking to.

"No it can’t" Bette told her firmly.

"Fine"

An exasperated Jodi apologised to Alice and followed Bette to a vacant table.

"I don’t know where to begin…" Bette wrang her hands.

"You’re the one that wanted to talk, Bette, so spit it out"

Bette could feel the anger building in her chest, but knew she had to control it to make this easier in the long run.

"Jodi, you and me" Bette started, her hands clasped, looking her girlfriend straight in the eyes "Recently I, well I just don’t feel like we’ve been working so well"

"So we’ve been having a few problems, they’ll sort themselves out in time" Jodi shrugged her shoulders.

"You see, that is the problem. For me, they’ve just been getting worse" Bette tried to explain.

"I see, she’s put you up to this, hasn’t she?"

"Who?"

"Tina" Jodi spat out her name as if it left a bad taste in her mouth "I know she doesn’t like me"

"No, she hasn’t" Bette could feel her temper flaring and struggled to keep it under control "I’m just not sure that this is working any more"

"Don’t be so ridiculous Bette. We’re fine"

"No, we’re not" Bette’s voice started to rise.

"Look, just stop being so stupid Bette. This will all blow over and we’ll go back to being good again"

"That’s just the point, Jodi. We won’t. I’m not so sure we ever were so good"

"You’re being ridiculous"

"I’m not in love with you any more. In fact, I’m not so sure I ever was"

Jodi stared at her, rage evident from the expression on her face.

"What the hell are you saying? This is bullshit, Bette"

"I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. And I swear to you I did care for you, a lot. But my heart…well, it’s always been elsewhere"

"Her" Jodi seethed.

"Jodi, I could never really give you my heart because it never really left Tina" Bette tried her best to explain.

"You’ve been cheating on me. After all that bollocks you spouted to me about monogamy, and then you cheat on me! You bitch!"

Bette felt a sting across her cheek as Jodi slapped her. She clenched her fist but refrained from striking back.

"I never cheated on you" she said quietly.

"You know what, I don’t believe a word that comes out of your lying, cheating mouth Bette Porter"

"Well that’s your choice, but I’m telling you the truth"

"You know what, I hope you two are happy. You deserve each other. Both as two faced and nasty as the other"

"It’s things like that that make me sure that I’m doing the right thing. I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you Jodi…"

"Hurt me? For me to be hurt I’d have to care" Jodi interrupted.

"I’m sorry" Bette said simply, getting up from her seat and walking away.

Bette walked straight to the bar and ordered herself a scotch on the rocks, which she drank in one. She then picked up her coat and headed back to the corner where she left Tina.

"Bette, are you ok?" Tina moved to her, concerned.

"I’ll be ok"

"You sure?"

"I’m here with you aren’t I?"

Tina smiled and took hold of Bette’s hand.

"T?"

"Yeah?"

"Take me home"