They continued to talk as they sat undisturbed other than the appearance of Hillary every once and while. The topics varied from relationships, to love, art, politics, artists, music and more. Bette felt comfortable as she conversed with the woman she was now eagerly trying to know, she couldn’t get enough of the blond and her humor. She found her eyes wandering every now and again from Tina’s eyes to her lips when she smiled to her eyes again when they began to talk of something that strongly interested her, Tina’s eyes would light up and movement would over take her hands as she spoke with animated expression. Bette couldn’t get enough of the woman. Tina felt like she had known Bette for years. She felt like she could say anything to her new found friend and receive no judgement. She enjoyed watching Bette speak and when she paused how she would hold a finger to her lips and her eyebrows would crease for mere seconds before she begin to speak again. Her voice alone sent shivers up Tina’s spine which thoroughly confused her.
    “You know, I could sit here and talk to you for hours….” Tina finally stated. Bette smiled and tilted her head slightly.
    “I know, I feel as if I have known you for such a long time.”
    “Exactly.” They both looked at one and other, which turned from looking to gazing, from gazing to imagining…..
    “Ladies, it’s two o’clock, we’re about to close.” Hillary stated as she shook the women from their reverie. Bette nodded.
    “Thanks.” Hillary smiled and wandered off, shooting glances back at them. Tina slowly pulled her jacket on along with her gloves. Bette stood and hadn’t realized they had been sitting for five hours until she felt her legs were partially numb. They walked to the till where Bette raised her hand to shush Tina when she was about to suggest they pay their own way. Before she had a chance to blink, Bette had already been given her credit card back and was leading Tina out of the café. They stood outside and Bette fumbled around in her purse looking for her pack of cigarette’s as Tina watched on curiously. Once she had a cigarette in her mouth and was about to light she noticed Tina standing with her.
    “Shit, would you like one?” Bette asked feeling stupid for being uncourteous. Tina shrugged.
    “Wouldn’t mind one actually…” Tina admitted as Bette handed over a smoke and lit her own and Tina’s.
    “I’m trying to quit.” Bette stated as she sucked the filter with such force that she was left with half a cigarette from her first drag.
    “I did quit…,” Tina said softly as she looked at the smoke wafting in the air. “My first one in 8 months.” Tina took a drag of her cigarette and watched Bette do the same. After they were done, Bette suggested she dropped Tina off at her apartment to which Tina had no objection. They drove in silence and internally Bette was dreading saying farewell to her companion and when she thought of it, a feeling of utter loneliness over took her being. Tina glanced at Bette a few times seeing the sadness in her eyes. As they pulled up Tina gazed out the window at her home.
    “So, this is it huh?” Bette stated. Tina nodded softly.
    “I guess so…,” Tina spoke softly. “Thank you for the coffee Bette.” Bette smiled.
    “You’re welcome…” Tina nodded once and opened the door but before she had the chance to fully get out of the vehicle a hand flew out of nowhere and grabbed her own. She turned back toward Bette.
    “Have dinner with me on Thursday…” Bette spoke strongly. Tina could just smile as the brunette gripped her hand almost desperately.
    “I know that it sounds like I’m asking you out on a date, but considering our situation we could just go out as friends… I don’t want to make you uncomfortable around me or anything but I would just like to talk to you again if you think that….” Tina cut across her entirely.
    “I would love to have dinner with you on Thursday Miss. Porter, and personally, I may have no experience with women whatsoever… but I would have to say, I would be terribly disappointed if it weren’t a date.” Tina smiled.

Bette’s face glowed in the darkness of her vehicle as she drove home. She felt different, almost as if she was put back together after being separated from the rest of the world for so long. She knew from the moment Tina looked at her as she stood in the darkness that she was going to be the one to change Bette’s life. But she would have to see in what way her life will change after the blond has now entered………

…-*To Be Continued*-…