Till We Meet Again | A Bette-Tina Beginning Chapter 1

Her body shook with the coming release of another powerful orgasm. Clenching the sheets and lifting her hips up to meet every thrust by her experienced lover, the stunning blonde was spiraling out of control into another world.

“Oh God, Bette! YES Right there!”

Bette came up and eyed her wife teasingly.

“You fool a lot of people into thinking that you don’t believe in God…But I believe people speak the truth under 2 circumstances. One, if they are drunk. And two, in the heights of orgasmic bliss. So my dear wife, was I comparable to God?”

“You know Bette. At least God is modest. Wait, I take that back, I must still be in orgasmic bliss land to be talking about God.”

“What? No religious thoughts about God or me anymore. You might be coming down…Let me make you cum out” Bette flashed a devilish grin.

“Goddammit it is way too early in the morning. We need the opposite of Viagra–you know a drug that stops people from having sex all the time.”

Bette acted hurt and pouted “Hey I don’t hear you complaining now do I?”

“No of course not, but I do need to be getting ready for work honey!”

“Oh no, I have all this extra energy this morning. How am I supposed to burn it off?”

“Well, you usually go for a run before we have breakfast.”

Bette nods and starts getting out of bed, putting on a white wifebeater, black track pants and gray sweatshirt.

WEDDING GARDENS

She sat starring at her bridal outfit in the mirror. She saw the reflection of the woman she was and tried to envision the woman she would be becoming in a few hours.

This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Then why did she feel like she was losing something.

Back to PORTER RESIDENCE

The blonde sat in bed admiring her beautiful brunette wife. “Are you going to be home early tonight?”

“Probably not, I want to finish this one piece I am doing for my next big show. What is the occasion?”

“Aha…Porter you are showing your age!”

“Whatever…”

What am I forgetting? She thought, as she gave her wife a quick kiss and turned to go for her run.

“Happy Anniversary Bette,” Alice said quietly, in a teasing manner.

Bette stopped.

Damnit! I knew it was something major!

She turned around and headed back to bed.

“Happy Anniversary Alice!”

WEDDING GARDENS

She had quietly stepped outside to get some air and clear her head, careful to avoid detection. She chose a bench, overshadowed by Palm trees and sat down in a state of melancholy and confusion. A clean-freak by nature, she glanced around and grimaced at chewing gum stuck on the bench.

Bette jogged through the Manhattan Gardens. The gardens were famous for elaborate functions, with a beautiful Cathedral for wedding ceremonies and a grand stage for reception. She slowed down to silently regard the beautiful surroundings, blowing out her bubble gum, only to collect the wad of gum in her hand and throw it behind her, absent-mindedly.

Tina was sitting on a bench in a hidden corner behind Bette.

“Excuse me, I just cleaned the garden. Please don’t litter!”

Bette looks around trying to spot where the objection came from, frowning.

Was the fake palm tree talking to her? Hello? I should seriously lay off the pot for a while

“Hi, over here,” she waved her hand to get Bette’s attention.

Bette finally spotted Tina, and gasped inaudibly. She looked like an angel, an angel to be captured by her canvas, her expressions to be forever immortalized for the world to see. Bette was drawn literally, and thinking about drawing figuratively, yet rendered speechless.

“Hello?!” Tina waved her hand to ward off Bette’s stare.

“Erm…Are you the gardener?” Bette finally recovers long enough to say something in response.

“What does it look like to you?” Tina retorts.

Bette steps closer to Tina. ” I think you killed the bride, stole her gown, disposed her body in the garden and are sitting out here thinking about how to marry the groom.”

Tina scrunches up her face. “WHAT?!”

Bette sits down on the bench, continues talking, ignoring Tina. “But I won’t let you go through with it. Now tell me, why you did it and maybe I can help.”

Tina looks at Bette, bewildered. “You are insane.”

Bette quotes Oscar Wilde: ” In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane. She chuckles quietly at her own joke. Maybe, but you are a damsel in distress, needing the services of the insane. And I am at your disposal. Talk to me, tell me your problems.”

“Why should I talk to you? I don’t even know you!”

“Sometimes it is easier to talk to strangers than people close to us. Maybe this insane stranger may have some words of wisdom to share. In a mad world, only the mad are sane…” She pats herself on the back. Damn I am good!

Tina rolls her eyes.  Great! Now I am taking advice from the clinically insane. “Are you married?” She eyes the ring on Bette’s ring finger.

Bette puts up her knuckles with the ring clearly displaying. “Einstein! Well, I am as married as I could be, I have been with my partner Alice for over five years. Today is our anniversary actually.”

“Wow…If you don’t mind me asking, what exactly were you thinking when you committed to her?” [Tina blushed] “I didn’t mean for it to come out that way, you know what I mean.”

Bette drew a serious pout and started laughing as she said, “What was I thinking when I committed…Who is thinking when they commit to someone?”

Tina lets out a giggle along with Bette. “No, I mean…How were you sure that Alice was the one for you?”

“We were best friends in college and after graduation we decided to give our relationship another name. Besides, what could be better than spending the rest of your life with a partner in a relationship that is based on friendship, loyalty and commitment to one another?”

“Sometimes friendship takes the place of love, as in romance…and then there is no place left for that kind of love in our lives.”

Bette nods with understanding. “So the person waiting for you down the aisle, is he your friend or your love?”

Tina is silent, contemplating.

“1…2…3…49778…You can’t take that much time to respond!”

They both burst out laughing.

“Eric and I have known each other since we were kids. We practically grew up together. After my parents passed away in an accident, Eric and his family took me in and were very loving and supportive. He loves me and I do love him but not the kind of love that I had envisioned for myself.”

Bette raises her eyebrows and cocks her head to the side.

“And what kind of love did you envision for yourself?”

“You know…how love is supposed to be…thrilling, exciting, sweeping you off your feet, making you have giddy feelings, butterflies in your stomach, sleepless nights…that kind of love.”

Bette smirks. “That kind of love doesn’t exist anymore…That kind of love exists only in good books and bad movies…and in our dreams.”

“So does that mean that you don’t love your wife?”

Bette sighs.

Tina cocks her head to the side and cheekily says, “You cannot take that much time to respond!”

Bette laughs. “Alice and I are happy. We have made a good home for ourselves and lead a satisfying life.”

“You didn’t answer my question though.”

“This is not about my answer, it is about your life. You are at crossroads in your life. Down one path is your aisle to happiness that I want you to get. And on another, is a long wait for a love that you may never find, a wait that may never end.”

“And what if I find that love after my walk down the aisle, after I get married to Eric?” Tina mused.

“If you don’t go looking for it, you won’t find it.”

Then she adds as an afterthought, laughing again. “You certainly won’t find it here, sitting on this bench.”

Tina laughs. “No, I guess not.”

Bette gets up.

“Now go inside, get married and be happy. Hurry up, now! Your wedding is inside and you are sitting out here talking to a stranger, a married lesbian at that! Shame on you, what would people say?” Bette says mockingly.

This brings another laugh out of Tina as she stands up and turns to go.

“Sorry, but I didn’t get your name.”

Bette turned around and regarded Tina seriously

“Bette…Better…Best,” she burst out laughing, putting her hands up in defense as she sought to control the outburst to her joke.

“Sorry, bad joke. I am Bette Porter, artist extraordinaire. For you, just Bette.”

Tina raised her eyebrow. So besides thinking she knows it all, laughing at her own jokes, she is also an artist? No wonder she is insane!

“Hello, ‘Just Bette’ I am Tina Kennard, nice to meet you.”

“Well, I would rather be sketching, but it was a pleasure to meet you Tina. All the best with your marriage. Goodbye!” she waved merrily.

“Wait. Never say goodbye. I believe it is inauspicious. I’ll see you later, Bette. Who knows, maybe we will meet again?” she added, not meaning to sound wistful.

Bette studied Tina in jest, but didn’t mock her.

“Later.”

Tina and turned around, walking away from Tina.

Tina turned around sighing softly, “Till we meet again Bette,” and walked towards her awaiting life.

Bette settled into a light jog, turning around one last time to look at Tina’s retreating figure, silently hoping that everything would turn out alright for her. She didn’t know why she was so drawn to this stranger she had just met, but she truly cared for Tina after their short tryst on the bench. Shaking her head, confused about her thoughts, Bette resumed jogging away. Maybe she could use this experience with Tina for a new series of paintings. That’s right, and she smiled at the thought.

Tina glanced back at Bette just as Bette had turned her back to her, smiling as she replayed bits and pieces of their recent conversation now ingrained in her memory. She wanted to stop Bette, saying something more, ask her to stay for the wedding, anything so that she could spend some more moments with her. She didn’t know why, but now wasn’t the time to think about Bette as she went inside the Cathedral, closer to her destiny than ever before.

Eric’s dad stood in front of her, awaiting Tina, nervous and excited. He seemed happy to see her, reached out and kissed her forehead, before he began to walk her down the aisle. Tina took one last to the life she was leaving behind, maybe trying to seek out Bette even though she knew that Bette was no longer in sight.

Bette slowed down as she reached the gates taking in the beautiful morning, not one speck of clouds in the sky and a light breeze cooling off her skin. She looked back in the direction Tina had disappeared. She wanted to believe that Tina was making the right decision and she wanted to be there, to be present to see Tina walk into her new life. But Bette knew that sounded idiotic. She knelt down to tie her shoelaces as she contemplated what to do. Tina had somehow inspired a new passion within her, questioning her life as she lived it, whether Bette wanted to admit it or not. The idea of a soulmate, a true love—was it radical in this day and age? Did it exist? And what if Bette had sent Tina on the wrong path? As an artist, Bette craved experiences—they served as a muse, a way for her to capture memories and experiences on canvas. And Tina was one memory that Bette seemed keen on capturing and framing forever.

Pastor: And do you Tina Kennard, take Eric Lively as your lawfully wedded husband? If so answer “I DO.”

Tina looked at Eric, searching his eyes for some strength. He smiled at her warmly, anticipating her affirmation. She thought about Bette. Alright Bette, I am going to do this and things better turn out right for me or else I will have to hunt you down and break your legs. She smiled at the thought and said, “I do.”

Bette stood up and backed out slowly, deep in thought. Her eyes didn’t leave the Cathedral and she never saw the wedding limousine rounding the corner at full speed as she stepped out onto the road. It was too late for the driver to stop the car as he never saw Bette coming. He hit Bette at 60 m/h. Bette let out a piercing scream and her body was momentarily launched into flight before landing with a loud thud on the ground. She lay there, motionless, her right leg bent under her, clearly broken. Her last thought about the angel in white, as her world turned black.

Pastor:  By the powers invested in me by the state of New York, I know pronounce of husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.