Chapter Seven Part One:

“Do you like your food?” Bette whispered across the table to Tina, who was happily tucking into her pasta Carbonara.

“It’s delicious, Bette.” Tina said as she put down her fork and reached for her glass of wine.

“I’m glad that you like it.”

“How is yours?”

Bette’s pasta didn’t look that appealing but from the moan that she produced, Tina figured that it tasted a lot better then it appeared. Instead of continuing conversation, they settled into a comfortable silence whilst polishing off their meals.

“So, I’ve been thinking…”

“Oh God, are you going to stop seeing me already?” Bette asked in horror.

Tina instinctively reached across the table and placed a hand on top of Bette’s. Instead of allowing it to rest there, the brunette easily entwined their fingers and gave her hand a small squeeze.

“I’ve been thinking,” She continued, “That I don’t know much about you, I’d like to know more.”

Bette seemed to visibly relax but the statement that Tina said, made her think. What would Tina want to know? About her childhood? Her friends? Her work?

“I don’t know what to say, hmm, where to begin?” Bette looked down at their joint hands and smiled slightly. It was then that she realised: Why don’t I just tell Tina everything? She wanted to tell Tina everything. “My father is called Melvin, he knows my sexual orientation but he doesn’t accept it. I know, deep down, that he loves me. That’s what is important. My sister, Kit, works at The Planet. She owns it, actually.”

“Really?” Tina asked in awe, “How come I’ve never met her?”

“Haven’t you?” Bette frowned at the realisation of Tina and Kit not knowing each other. It seemed absurd, to say the least. “Anyway, I’ll continue. My mum left when I was little, so I don’t know her. Sometimes I wonder where she is and if she’s ok, but most of the time I think ‘you’re not worth my time because you walked out on me’… I feel bad for thinking that sometimes.”

Tina remained silent, but gave Bette’s hand a small squeeze.