For a moment Bette just stared at Tina, wondering if she’d dreamt the fact that Tina had just kissed her. Then the reality of the situation dawned on her and she went into work mode.

"We’ve got to get out of the car" Bette said, unbuckling her seat belt "Keep low"

"Are you sure?"

"Trust me ok"

"Ok" the bravado that Tina had displayed previously was fading fast.

"We’ll get out your side, keep away from the road. You get out first, and stay behind the car. I’ll follow you out"

Tina nodded and followed Bette’s instructions. She slid out the door and crouched down behind the car. Bette clambered over the gearstick and out of the car, all the while trying to keep her head as low as possible. Once she two was crouched down she put her hand on Tina’s shoulder.

"Right, we need to get across the road and between the buildings. That way if the shooter comes back, we’ll be hidden"

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

"You’re gonna be ok. We’re gonna get out of here" Bette patted her arm reassuringly.

"I trust you"

"Right, are you ready? I’m right behind you"

The two women came round from behind the car and ran to the road. Bette quickly scanned in both directions and felt a weight drop in her stomach as she clocked a black motorcycle coming round the block.

"Tina, run!" she yelled.

Without any hesitation the two women sprinted across the road, as the motorcycle came speeding towards them. As they neared the far side of the road two shots were fired, and Bette launched herself at Tina, knocking her to the ground behind a garden wall.

"Stay down!"

Bette pulled the gun from her belt that she replaced in the car and fired in the direction of the motorcycle. She missed, and it screeched off into the distance. The two women lay there catching their breath, Bette’s body still half laid on Tina’s. When she came to her senses she rolled to her side and put her head in her hands.

"Fuck!" she muttered under her breath "Tina are you ok?" she turned to look at the woman next to her.

"I…I think so. But my back. It hurts a lot"