"It doesn’t matter" Tina turned around.

Bette was surprised and hurt at Tina’s response. Her eyes widened, "What are you talking about? Of course it matters"

"Bette-"

"No. Look at me. Look at me, Tina" Bette waited until the blonde hesitantly raised her eyes, "There’s nothing going on between Jan and I okay?"

Yeah. Tina could see that much in Bette’s expressive brown eyes. She could see the sincerity in those chocolate orbs, she could feel what Bette was trying to say and that was making it so much harder to stand her ground.

"Bette that’s not it. That’s not the problem"

"Then what is the problem? Is this about Angie? T, I would never hurt Angie. You know I’m crazy about her"

Tina’s resolve was melting away. She almost didn’t know if she could carry on with what she had originally wanted to say.

"Bette-"

"Is it you? You still don’t know how I feel about you? Tina, I lo-"

"I’m moving out Bette!"

Thick heavy silence.

Bette felt like she had been slapped across the face. She took a step back from Tina, her heart feeling as if it had stopped beating.

"What?"

"I mean we. Angie and I . . . we’re moving out"

There was no other question to ask other than the obvious, "Why?"

"I don’t know . . I guess its time?" Tina chuckled nervously as she ran a hand through her hair, "I . . I got a job at the studio I told you about. They’re giving me a more than generous bonus and I was able to get a place for Angie and I. Its four times bigger than my old apartment"

Bette could literally feel her heart sink to her stomach. It was beating so fast it was making her nauseous, "Tina . . you don’t have to leave. There’s no rush. You and Angie can stay here for as long as you like"

Tina was torn. She hated the pain she was causing Bette, the anguish on her face was enough to make the blonde want to take it all back and apologize . . but she knew she couldn’t. It was something Tina had thought long and hard about, something she convinced herself was the right decision for everyone. She needed the time and space from Bette to sort out her feelings and Bette well . . Bette could go back to her old ways if she wanted. The thought alone made Tina sick but she figured without her and Angie holding the brunette back, that was exactly what Bette would go back to doing.