Bette smiled again. “Thank you.”

“No prob. Gotta run.”

Emily walked off and as she did, Bette caught sight of Sidney entering the room.

Her dark brown eyes followed her former girlfriend and suddenly the VP candidate had a hard time swallowing. Every time Bette looked at Sidney, she missed her. It wasn’t for anything lacking in Tina, it was just a friendship-based longing that filled Bette’s heart. They’d had such fun together. She missed the art discussions, the politics discussions, the “let’s go out together and change the world” discussions.

She and Sidney held a gaze and both women shared shy smiles before their feet brought them close together. “Hey Sid,” said Bette.

“Hey. Are you as nervous as I am?” asked Sidney.

“More so.”

Sidney looked around the room. “You made posters? And buttons? I’m grossly unprepared here.”

Bette smiled. “That was the work of my campaign manager.”

Sidney tossed the bronzed young woman a smug look. “I should have known. You are Bette Porter.”

“Come on Sid. It’s just Emily. You know how she is.”

Understanding dawned in Sidney’s soft blue eyes. “Ahh…I should have known.”

“Yes. She’s my biggest supporter.”

Sidney’s eyes crinkled slightly and before she could catch them, a few words slipped across her lips. “I thought that would be Tina.”

Bette looked away. “I meant….second biggest. After Tina.”

A mixture of regret and concern coated Sidney’s next words. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to imply – – -,” she began.

“No, no. It’s okay,” said Bette.

“No, I’m such an idiot sometimes. I guess I was always sort of an idiot when it came to you, I suppose.”

Bette smiled softly. “Not….all the time. Maybe 95%.”

“Wow. That was close. Thanks for giving me back 5%.”

An announcement was made that the meeting was getting ready to begin and for everyone to take their seats. Bette looked around. In a short time the group had ballooned from 15 to 50+.

“Shall we?” asked Sidney.

“Sure.” Bette replied. They moved to sit near the front and ended up sitting next to each other.

The room quieted down and the meeting began. The ballot for president came first. Landon Turner, a tanned, blonde Junior, made her way to the podium. Again, Bette swallowed thickly as the presidential candidate made eye contact with her. Bette had not forgotten about Landon. Earlier in the year, Landon had had a crush on Ms. Bette Porter. At least according to Emily.

The young woman at the podium smiled and parted her heart-shaped lips before an enthusiastically feminine voice flowed out and filled the room. “Good evening everyone. I’m Landon Turner and I’m running for President of the Queer Alliance.”

She pointed towards Bette and said, “Granted, I’m not the actual Queen of the Lesbians, but still give me a chance.”

Chuckles and a few cat call followed her words and even Bette smiled.

Landon continued on with her speech when hers was over, she was followed by two more candidates. When the speeches were done, all the candidates left the room and ballots were handed out. The exec board quickly counted the votes before letting the hopefuls back in and then announcing Landon as the new President of the group.

The VP election was next. When her name was called, Bette wiped her sweaty palms on her tan capris and made her way to the front of the room.

“Good luck,” Sidney whispered, offering a small smile.

Bette mouthed her thanks and moved on toward her fate.

In a moment steeped in Déjà vu she looked out in the crowd and sea of smiling faces and Tina was no where to be found.

Tina had been rushing out of the dorm, trying her best to be on time for the QA meeting. She knew that her presence was so important to Bette. Important on levels that she didn’t quite understand. The dorm phone rang as she made her way to the door.

It was Tina’s intention to let the phone ring. It did. And when it finished, the answering machine clicked on.

“Hello Tina. This is Beverly Hawkins. Courtney’s mother. I uh…I’d really like to speak with you. It’s about Courtney. Please call me back when you can, my number is…..”

Time stood still. Images of Courtney’s smiling face floated around her mind. Was something wrong with Courtney? She loved that little girl and she missed her terribly.

She had to take that call. Tina raced for phone and picked it up in time to catch Beverly .

To Be Continued…