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Till We Meet Again | A Bette-Tina Beginning Chapter 10

X-mas eve, NY Subway

Tina sat on the crowded train absent-mindedly thumbing through the latest issue of Diva. The magazine was littered with images of beautiful women, and a meaningful segment of it devoted to lesbian and bisexual lifestyles. She paused as she read the feature article on Rachel Shelley who was boldly stating that she preferred sex scenes with women.

“Oh no, not you too!” groaned a very familiar, gyrating voice.

Tina looked up to see Bette towering over her, in tight blue jeans, a white blouse and black overcoat. Her breathe caught in her throat and her heart beat seemed to have entered the cardiovascular training zone. Damn this woman!

“Hi…don’t tell me you are one of those Diva converts too!” Bette said looking at the magazine in Tina’s lap, not bothering to disguise her disdain for it.

“What…What are you doing here?” Tina finally found her voice.

“…” Bette smirked and glanced around the slew of passengers in the train and then looked back at Tina as if the answer should be obvious. Before she could make another sarcastic remark, Tina had recovered.

“Ok…that was a stupid question, my bad. Here…” she gathered her things to get up and yield her seat to Bette.

“No!” Bette objected, shouting over the noise of the train, preparing to fight Tina over it. There was absolutely no way she would let Tina treat her as if she was handicapped. She was more than capable of standing up in a train, even though her knee did hurt every time the train lurched to a stop and then started to move again.

Tina paused. She was not sure about the extent of Bette’s knee injury. “Are you sure?” she asked and then added softly, “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

“I am sure,” Bette gritted through her teeth, “I didn’t catch the last part. Speak up!” Did she just say she did not want me to get hurt? Too late for that T…Bette thought, shaking her head sadly.

“Oh nothing, just that should I be afraid of your weapon there?” Tina said, increasing her volume, eyeing the cane that Bette had used on her.

“Don’t worry, I have other weapons at my disposal that should worry you more.” Bette replied looking smug.

“Like your nice personality and charming people skills?” Tina teased sarcastically.

“Wow, you DO have a sense of humor.” Bette side-stepped, teasing back.

“How is Alice?” Tina said, ignoring Bette’s jab.

“Erm…fine. Lost in her Diva world.” Bette was certainly not prepared to answer questions about Alice. Should I ask her about Eric? I really do not care how he is, she mused.

“Well, she has a demanding career so it is natural that she would be busy and even stressed. And having you around probably does not make it easy for her.” Tina said, meaning to tease Bette.

“What are you trying to say?” Bette snapped. The last thing she needed right now was a reminder of everything that was wrong in her relationship with Alice.

“Nothing…I am sorry.” Tina looked down thinking uh-oh I hit a sore spot.

Bette decided to fill the awkward lull in conversation. “I just finished filing grades in college and going to meet Kit downtown for some Christmas shopping.”

“Wait, YOU are a college professor?! And YOU are doing Christmas shopping?! My my, the world has come to an end.” Tina feigned shock.

“Hey, I get to tell everyone how dumb they are and the Christmas shopping is gifts for myself, silly!” Bette said, rolling her eyes and going along with the self-deprecating humor.

“I am meeting Jack downtown for some last-minute Christmas shopping too. I still haven’t gotten anything for Eric. What do you buy someone who has everything?” Tina asked herself.

Bette thought back to the night of the Christmas party. She shivered as she remembered a very drunk Tina holding her, grinded against her on the dance floor, sexily swaying her hips to the music and flirtatiously asked Bette to call her T afterwards. “If you are asking me T (she emphasized)…I would say he would like nothing more than you drunk.”

Oh my God, why do I feel so good when she calls me T? Tina’s stomach did somersaults. She smiled nervously to herself and then frowned. “What do you mean?” She did not recall much about Saturday night.

“You on Saturday. Totally drunk with your hands all over me. Don’t tell me you don’t remember what happened between us?” Bette said disappointed that Tina might not remember the night they shared.

“Porter, did YOU get smashed too? I…I was too drunk. I don’t remember a thing, but please, nothing happened between us!” Tina rolled her eyes. Alright, that was not true, she DID remember SOME things but she was not about to admit anything to Bette.

“Wait…if you don’t remember a thing as you say then how can you be so sure that nothing happened between us. You don’t even remember! I cannot believe it.” Bette said dejectedly, wondering if Tina would bite into it.

“Because I am straight and even if I was into women, why would I be doing anything with you?” Tina shot back. She heard another voice in her head, “Ok, that was a lie Tina, if I was into women, Bette Porter would get some consideration, no?” As the debate raged on within her, Tina furiously shook her head as Bette looked on amused.

“Hearing voices in your head disagreeing with you?” she teased, not realizing she had actually hit right on the mark.

“Yeah, I hear someone saying you are crazy and talk nonsense.”

“Listen more carefully. You may hear schizophrenia.”

Tina scowled. Bette flashed another winning Porter grin. They both broke out laughing.

Bette leaned down so Tina would be within earshot. “Thanks for Saturday night. I actually managed to enjoy myself,” she breathed softly into her ear, and drew back winking as Tina looked on a bit dazed.

Bette was so focused on her banter with Tina that when the train braked suddenly, she lost her footing, hitting her bad knee against the seat post, almost blacking out with the pain that shot through her leg.

“Bette!” Tina screamed and lunged for Bette trying to grab her and prevent her from falling. Bette reached out with her cane to support herself and Tina saw it too late as she tripped, lost her footing and they both ended up on the floor, much to the amusement of the crowd.

Tina lay on top of Bette with her hand cradling the back of Bette’s head protectively. Bette instinctively put her arms around Tina. They stared at each other, breathing heavily, soft hazel eyes melting into soulful brown ones as their bodies shivered with jolts of pleasure at the contact, their hearts beat rapidly, together.

Tina broke the spell. “Are you alright?” Tina asked tenderly smiling down at her. Bette smiled back, simply nodding as she swallowed the lump forming in her throat.

As Tina tried to get up, she felt her necklace tie her down, which was caught around a button on Bette’s blouse. Bette felt Tina move up and then push down against her crotch and almost moaned. Tina felt Bette’s knee rub up against her center and also stifled her moan.

Their bodies lay together, their centers emanating heat, her belly against hers, her breasts pointed up against her breasts, jarring them both a bit senseless.

“This is not how I imagined our first time, T…” Bette groaned out.

“Bette! Please…” Tina began, sounding breathless, struggling to control her breathing.

“NO T… not here. Lets get a room by the hour!” Bette teased.

“I see you are just fine!” Tina swatted Bette playfully as she tried to concentrate her efforts on freeing her necklace from Bette’s blouse. She pulled and tugged but it would not budge. It seemed happy to be stuck to Bette.

“Are you both okay?” someone asked, but Bette and Tina did not hear him. The train came to a stop at a station and passengers milled about, getting on and off the train, while Bette and Tina lay oblivious to everyone but each other.

“T…just unclasp it from your neck so we can get up,” she reached for the necklace trying to find the clasp. Tina closed her eyes and bit down on her lip hard to curb her moaning as she felt Bette’s fingers on her neck and tangle into her hair. She shivered inadvertently.
Bette finally found and unclasped it. She stared at the necklace tangled on her button as Tina tried to get up again. It was a simple gold chain bearing a cross.

“Oh no…somebody help, my gay blouse is being taken over by the religious ‘wrong’…” she looked up at Tina, and pouted, pointing to her cross.

Tina rolled her eyes. “Here, get up,” she held out her hand.

This time, Bette did not show any pride. She complied and took Tina’s hand.

Tina was taken by surprise as the train lurched forward again. She lost her footing and fell backwards, this time pulling Bette on top of her. The onlookers on the train simply laughed at the sight, and some even whistled. A lady howled out “Get a room!” and someone else shot her down, “and where is the fun in that?!” Apparently, the passengers were having a free show today at the expense of the two beautiful women who could not avoid getting horizontal with each other.

Tina groaned with embarrassment, her eyes tightly shut, her face flushed red from the experience and excitement. Bette shifted her weight on her hands and raised her head to look at Tina, who seemed so unbelievably sexy and desirable at the moment.

“T…”

“…”

“Tina….”

“Uh, yeah?”

“Do you have any other positions you want to try out in the train? Let me know and we can do so without being knocked about, preferably.” Bette teased.

More nonsense, but her nonsense is so adorable, Tina thought. She smiled and reached up, putting her hand on Bette’s face, stroking it tenderly. Bette sucked in a sharp breathe in response.

“Ok babe, how about you actually take a seat this time and I will straddle your lap?” she said lovingly gazing into Bette’s eyes, but her mischievous grin betraying her.

Bette swallowed hard. Her insides turned out and her heart beat furiously as if she had just finished a 50 mile marathon.

“Say…say that again,” she demanded breathlessly.

“Take a seat and I will straddle your lap.” Tina said, amused by Bette’s reaction.

“No…you called me… you called me babe…” Bette stammered, staring at Tina incredulously.

“Maybe…so?”

“T…I am not a pig!” Bette recovered fast and buried her face in Tina’s neck, chuckling softly.

“Bette!” God she is unbelievable, Tina thought. She chuckled along with Bette, loving how Bette felt in her arms, how natural this seemed. Her senses took leave as she inhaled Bette’s unique fragrance—the lemon-grass clean natural scent, combined with strawberry-scented shampoo—so she was not really listening when Bette said “you can call me babe anytime…”

Her heart heard it loud and clear though.

————————————————————————————————
Downtown Manhattan @ the Jamba Juice opposite the Subway Station

“You know, Saturday night I saw a different Jack from the one we all know as a dirty ol’ man.”

“Oh really, what difference did you see?”

“The Jack I have heard so much about runs after girls. The Jack I had dinner with runs after memories. You really miss your wife very much don’t you? You pretend to be the greatest playa in the world, parade around with bootiful young girls, but underneath it all, you are trying to ease the pain of her loss. I can understand that; I also lost my career, my son, my family when the fame got to my head…”

Jack smiled ruefully as Kit careful tore down the walls around their hearts. It was the Monday after his grand party, two days before Christmas and they were standing outside Jamba Juice, Lexington, Downtown Manhattan sharing smoothies while waiting for Bette and Tina. Tina had called earlier to ask Jack for help in buying presents for Eric; she was out of ideas and Jack had suggested that since he was already downtown, it would be easier for her to meet him there as well. For now, he and Kit were happy in each other’s company.

“You hit the nail on the head Kit. So tell me, what do you do to ease your pain and loneliness?”

“Not much. I keep myself busy in LA, put my nose in my sister’s business and seek the support of my friends.”

“I have very few real friends in my life.”

“Not from today, you don’t,” Kit reassured him.

“Oh, so you will accept my offer of friendship?”

“Absolutely.”

They both smiled.
“So friendship means no touching?” Jack confirmed.

“All you are going to get is this.” Kit engulfed Jack in a comforting hug. They pulled back and Jack handed her a rose from the nearby table, Kit laughed and accepted the gesture only to find Bette and Tina gaping at them in the distance, as a very familiar scene played out in front of them.

——————————————————————————————–
The four of them—Bette, Tina, Kit and Jack—sat at the table in an awkward silence. Bette looked from Kit to Jack sternly, tapping her cane menacingly, chewing gum. Tina sat sipping her strawberry nirvana smoothie, quite amused by the tension in the atmosphere. She did not know why, but Bette did not intimidate her anymore; in fact, she felt comforted by the strength emanating from the brunette. Maybe it had something to do with what happened in the train or maybe Saturday night—the blonde was unclear as to what had happened, she only had vivid images of herself and Bette on the dance floor having a blast together. The rest of the night was a blur and Tina had difficulty separating fiction from fact.

Jack cleared his throat.

Bette immediately pounced on him, verbally.
“What are your intentions, Jack? What are you doing with my sister?”

“Bette, what was to be done has already been done and over with.”

Bette looked at Kit for an answer. “Kit! What is he saying?”

Kit deflected to Jack. “Jack! What are you saying?”

Tina rolled her eyes. “What are all of you saying?”

Bette turned to Tina, ignoring Kit and Jack for the meantime. “Nowadays I am scared to even come out of the subway. Who knows what I would get to see today? First, Eric and Alice, then your father-in-law and my sister, what’s next?”

“Bette!” Kit interjected. “We…”

“Oh, so now YOU (pointing her cane at Kit) and YOU (pointing her cane at Jack) are ‘WE’?”

Tina stifled a giggle. Watching Bette in action with that cane was definitely better than anything she would view as a Broadway or Hollywood producer. She did have several scores to settle with that cane though, she mused.

“No baby sis it’s not what you think. Please listen. Jack and I, we are two lonesome people with few close friends at this point in our lives, few that can understand our pain in this age. We lost our true loves years ago….”

Jack continued. “…And when two people go through similar trials and tribulations in life, they connect on some level through mutual understanding and respect. They find themselves sharing secrets and confiding in each other about things they cannot communicate to anyone else. They can grow close and form a friendship to help them ride out the rough waves…”

Bette and Tina exchanged knowing glances.

Kit finished. “It is a simple formula. Two strangers. One circumstance. Friendship and then problem solved. What say Tina?”

Tina simply bobbed her head up and down. They both sat lost deep in thought mulling over what Kit and Jack had just told them, picking up to drink their smoothies at the same time. In-sync once again, they sneaked glances at each other from time to time, only to look away and pretend to be part of the conversation.

“Anyway, Kit, I think Tina and I must get going if we are to get any shopping done in rush hour,” Jack said, standing up and breaking Bette and Tina out of their silent hide and seek game.

Kit and Jack hugged again as Bette sat scowling up at them. Tina simply smiled as she watched Bette.

“Call me before you leave for LA and we will get together”

“I will.”

“Nice meeting you Bette…Tina… Tina?!” He called out again as she seemed to be paying little attention to him.

“Oh yeah, lets go.”

Tina smiled and waved a quick ‘cya later’ to Bette, following Jack to his Ferrari. Bette watched on, suddenly feeling empty and lost without Tina by her side, not knowing when they will meet again. She looked to the seat that Tina had left abandoned beside her and noticed she had left her Diva magazine on the seat. Raising her hand to wave for attention, Bette was about to call out to Tina but caught sight of the writing on the back cover.

It contained a phone number and below, Tina had written “Merry Xmas. Call me. - T” Bette looked up rapidly to sneak a parting glance at Tina, only to see the Ferrari pull out and speed away.

Tina turned around in her car-seat as she saw Bette find her magazine, and subsequently, the phone number she had sneakily left for her. Both the women were grinning madly at no one in particular.

“Bette…Bette!” Kit called out a little louder to get Bette to pay attention.

“Oh yeah, lets go.”