Tina walked nervously into the cafe where she’d arranged to meet Alice. She scanned the room and saw the blonde waving wildly at her from a table in the corner. You can do this, she thought to herself, she’s Bette’s friend, you have to get her to like you.

“Tina, hi!” Alice greeted her with a smile.

“Hey”

“I took the liberty of ordering you a coffee, I hope you don’t mind”

“That’s fine” Tina smiled gratefully.

They both took a sip of coffee.

“So, you and Bette, hey?” Alice enquired.

“Yeah, is it weird for you?”

“Not at all, we’re way in the past. But the way she acts with you, that’s weird”

“What do you mean?” Tina was confused.

“Well…our Ms Porter has always been a bit of a…shall we say, player. She’s never really been the kind to settle down”

“Oh” Tina looked dejected.

“I mean, she’ll stick with a girl for a few months and then it’s on to the next one. Bette doesn’t play for keeps” Alice said sincerely.

Tina didn’t respond, instead she just sipped on her coffee.

“And I know loads of women like to get married these days, but that so isn’t Bette’s thing” Alice continued.

“Really?” Tina’s face fell.

“Oh, well I’m sure she’s changed, you know. I haven’t seen her for three months, I’m sure things are different with you” Alice didn’t sound convinced.

“Right” Tina got up “I’m sorry, I forgot, I have somewhere to be” and with that she left.

Alice smiled to herself. She’d done her job. Tina would definitely be surprised by Bette’s proposal. She congratulated herself on her fantastic ability to lie. Bette was going to be chuffed.

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

Bette opened the door to her and Tina’s home having spent a couple of hours at the gallery. She’d spoken to Alice, who’d said everything had gone well and that Tina definitely wouldn’t think a proposal was too soon.

“T?” she called “baby?”

She got no response and so moved towards the bedroom.

“Tina?” she called again.

“In here” came the quiet response.

Bette found Tina packing a small holdall of clothes with tears falling down her cheeks.

“Baby? Where are you going?” Bette put her hand on Tina’s shoulder.

“I’m just going away for a couple of days. I need some time, Bette”

“What’s happenend? Baby, talk to me” Bette took hold of Tina.

“I just have some things to figure out. See if I’m doing the right thing here”

“What do you mean?” Bette was panicking.

“You and me…I’m not sure if we want the same things” Tina looked into Bette’s eyes.

“I don’t understand”

“If you’re gonna move on to someone else soon then I’m not going to sit around and let you hurt me. I can’t do that, not after everything I’ve given you. I want to be with you forever, and if you don’t want that, then I don’t see much point in us”

Realisation dawned on Bette.

“Alice” she muttered.

“I found out some home truths today, that’s all”

“T, please don’t go” Bette pleaded.

“I’m going Bette. I’ll be at my parents house” Tina picked up her bag and walked out.

Her parents? She must really be serious about this, thought Bette. She hit the bed in frustration. ***** you Alice, she thought. You think you’re so clever, but you might just have lost me the one person I really loved.

Her plan was going to have to come into action sooner than she had anticipated.