Previously~~~~~~~~~~

Bette knew the answer before Tina even opened her mouth to speak. But, hearing the response felt like a slap in the face. How dare you talk to me about love when you go running off to the first ***** you can find!

Tina looked back up at Bette, her tear-filled eyes begging for a reprieve. Bette could she the pain shed inflicted and instantly regretted the words that had come flying out of her mouth. T, I – Im sorry. I didnt mean to say that.

Tina didnt say a word. She turned around, finished changing her clothes, turned off her desk lamp and got into bed. Bette couldnt move. She just watched the woman she loved and felt her heart break at the pain shed caused. Shed struck a nerve with Tina. Shed expected the feisty blond to come out swinging. She had not expected her to retreat and pull back looking so sullen and defeated.

Bette changed her clothes quietly, her eyes still on Tinas back. She saw Tinas shoulders shake and rushed to soothe the wound shed salted. Bette kneeled beside Tinas bed, rubbing her back gently, whispering her heartfelt apologies to Tina. As she apologized, Tina shook even more and Bette crawled in beside her, pulling her close.

Dont cry, Tina. Im sorry. I didnt mean to get so upset.

Tina couldnt respond. The sobs shaking her body had also closed her throat and rendered her speechless. She just cried, letting Bettes soothing touch comfort her spirit.

Bette realized that something had hurt Tina worse than the words shed launched in anger. Something had deeply upset the woman lying in her arms and Bette had no idea what it was. She just held Tina tight and whispered soothing words as they fell asleep in each others arms.

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When Tina awoke at around 3 in the morning, wrapped in Bettes arms, she wondered to herself how they had ended up sleeping in the same bed for the second night in a row. As she lay there, her mind landed on the previous nights argument and a sudden grief settled around her. Bettes remark about Tina running off to find the first ***** she could find, though crass and cruel, was exactly what Tina had done. Tina was in the process of fighting her own reality and the last thing shed needed was for Bette to hold up the mirror of truth to Tinas face and force her to acknowledge that which she pretended not to see. Tina knew she was attracted to women and more importantly, she knew that she was in love with the caramel-colored woman in her bed. What Tina also knew was that she wasnt ready to face the world as a ***** and so she was also a woman on the run.