Jodie looked at Tina for confirmation knowing the blonde wouldn’t be able to hide the truth. And when she saw it so clearly in the tearful hazel eyes, she let out a moan, and acting on pure survival instinct jumped up and ran towards the tent she was supposed to be sharing with the woman she loved.

“Jodie!” Bette yelled at her retreating back, even though she knew the sound would be lost on her lover.

“What the fuck Bette?!” Tom was on his feet and charging around the campfire towards the woman who had obviously hurt his best friend and employer. “Are you fucking cheating on her!?” he screamed as his anger boiled over. Max reached out to stop him, but Tom was moving fast and already out of his reach.

Unaware of those around her Bette didn’t hear Tom as she covered her face with her hands and murmured I’m sorry. Oh Jodie, I’m so sorry. Kit and Tina however could see the rage rolling off of Jodie’s interpreter and friend and were both up in a flash, creating a formidable wall in front of Bette. “Tom, you need to calm down now,” Kit said forcefully, holding her hand out in front of her.

“Fucking dykes!” he yelled as he leaned into the palm of Kit’s hand, the only thing stopping him from getting to Bette.

“Whoa, whoa, WHOA!!” Tina jabbed her finger into Tom’s chest. “Before you start throwing that word around in a derogatory manner you need to calm the fuck down and think about what you are saying!”

Tasha, who had stood up just in case she needed to break up a physical confrontation said quietly, “She’s right Tom. No matter how angry you are, as a gay man you’re the last person who should be throwing around the word dyke as an insult.”

He shuddered under the force it took to rein in his anger, but looking through the red haze he knew they were right and he had just taken a very cheap shot at all these women, when there was only one he wanted to receive his wrath. “I’m…” He stopped as felt his cell phone vibrate, letting him know he was receiving a text message.

“I’m going to go try to talk to her,” Bette spoke softly as she tried to move around her protective wall.

“No, you’re not.” Tom barked at her as he held up his phone. “She doesn’t want to talk to you. In fact she wants you to leave her alone!” Taking a step back, he turned and with one last glare at Bette he retraced Jodie’s footsteps up to her tent. After a moment’s hesitation Max stood up and followed him.

Bette’s eyes met Tina’s, both women wordlessly expressing their regret for the pain Jodie was feeling, but not for the love they shared. Bette’s face dissolved into tears and she gave Tina a slight shake of her head as she too turned and walked out of the light of the campfire and into the darkness.

The entire group was stunned into silence, horrified by what they had just witnessed between their friends.

“Well,” Kit turned and gave Tina a hug. “That’s my cue to head back to my tent. You come talk to me if you need to, ya hear baby girl?”

“Thanks Kit,” Tina whispered as she kissed her on the cheek. Tina watched Kit walk away, following her with her eyes until she disappeared into her tent. Once the flap was lowered she whirled around to Alice.

“What the fuck is wrong with you!?” she spat.

Tbc