"Bette, don’t… I…I can’t." Tina backed away, but Bette followed each step until Tina’s back was against the wall.

"Tee,” Bette breathed, "why can’t you?"

"God thinks it wrong, Bette."

"What is so wrong with love?" Bette inched her body closer to the timid girl.

 Bette loved how long Tina’s caramel colored hair was. She loved how the rich, bright blonde was interrupted by very few darker blonde streaks. Bette loved everything about Tina and had for a year. Tina’s hazel eyes were searching Bette’s face in anticipation. Tina was thoroughly terrified.  Their breath had become shallow for the intensity between them was far too great to deny, even though Tina was trying.

Tina was, up till now at least, everything the good little Christian girl should be. She led the children’s youth group, she helped with Sunday school, went on missions… She loved God and would talk about him to anyone who would listen. She loved her church family and saw them as her own family…she was probably closer to them then she was her real family. She knew deep down she was different.  She knew she had thoughts and feelings that would have been considered an abomination to her friends and family. She kept praying that God would give her the answers or take those feelings away.

Tina was so sure in her God, but so sure in her different views.  She kept praying, especially since the previous Sunday that God would remove those feelings and desires. The pastor spoke on sinning and how Satan could place impure thoughts into a person’s heart. She prayed that she’d have the courage to stand up to Bette and not be affected by her overwhelming desires. But now, being here, face to face with her own demise…she couldn’t understand the line between right and wrong. How could something that felt so right, so pure…be considered so wrong to her god? And why didn’t he take those desires from her?

Bette stared at Tina’s lips briefly and then trailed her vision back to Tina’s eyes. She put her hands against the wall on either side of Tina’s head and rested her own lips just short of Tina’s.

"Bette," Tina breathed. Her heart was pounding loudly. She felt like her entire core was going to combust under the intensity.