“What can I get you gals” Jenny was the waitress who everyone loved to hate.

“I want what she is having” Tina pointed to Alice’s drink.

“Ice Tea with a Lemon for me”

Jenny didn’t bother to write anything down. Instead, she turned back to the counter.

“Anyone hear from Shaney?”

“No Tina…did she know we were meeting up?” Alice sipped on her drink as she waited for an answer.

“I think so….Bette didn’t you tell her?”

“Yeah, I saw her in the parking lot after school. She was in her car waiting for Jill”

“Jill…..she’s such a cunt” Alice said abruptly.

“Heyyyyyy….I hate that word” Tina said.

“Fine…she’s a twat…a pussy….a douche bag….is that better?” Alice asked.

“Much” Tina laughed.

Alice looked at Bette and Tina.  They were two of the hottest girls in the school.  Almost everyone had known Porter's sexuality, but Tina had done a pretty good job hiding hers.  Although, rumors would be rumors, and the fact she hung with Bette often, only fed them more.

“Can I just tell you, that you gals have got to be the hottest lesbian couple that is in the closet” Alice remarked before sipping her drink.

“Now that is the strangest thing I think anyone has ever said to me” I offered back as I reached into my pocket to retrieve some money.

“Here you are” Jenny placed the drinks down in front of Bette, flashing her smile. “Is there anything else?”

“Um..I think we are all set”

I caught Tina glaring at Jenny out of the corner of my eye. There was some bad blood between them, as Tina was convinced that Jenny was after me.  There was some jealousy there too, because Jenny was "out" and as a result, Tina always felt Jenny could offer me that which she couldn't, an open relationship.

“Bette….are you all set?” Jenny said again, leaning her hip towards the table.  She was flirting, it was blatantly obvious.

“I believe she said she was fine” Tina answered for me.

“Tina, don’t you think Bette is capable of talking for herself? When are you going to take that leash off her?” Jenny could be crude, and this type of behavior was typical.

“Fuck you, you wouldn’t know what to do even if you had a girlfriend” Tina shot back.

“I certainly wouldn’t force my girlfriend to stay in the closet. I would love her openly in front of everyone”

That was a low blow, and I knew it was one that was going to cause a problem. Just as I tried to intervene with my own remarks, Tina was already up and leaning over me grabbing for Jenny. She just missed Jenny’s shirt as her arms continued to flail wildly.

“You’re such a fucking slut” I grabbed hold of Tina as her temper clearly got the best of her.

“Tina…stop” I said as I tried to calm her down.

“Jesus…..why does everyone have to hate” Alice piped up, holding onto her drink.

Jenny walked away from the table and back to the kitchen as I held Tina around the waist.

“I hate the bitch”

“Shh…let it go….you need to not let the fire in your belly get the best of you” I said as Tina sat back down aside of me.

“Yeah…that Irish will get you in a world of shit” Alice offered.

God there was something so hot about Tina when she got all worked up. Her face turned pink, her blue eyes looked like they had flames in them at times, and her neck….when she was really pissed it had this line that showed. It was cute as hell. The state I was already in, this wasn’t helping.

“I can think of much better ways of expending energy” I offered as I raised my brow to Tina.

Tina wasn’t happy in the least. I could tell by the way she completely ignored my offer that Jenny had really gotten under her skin.

“Tina…..don’t let her get to you. She likes to piss you off”

“I don’t like what she said Bette….I’m already very sensitive to the fact that I can’t be “out” with you in every aspect of the word. I can’t stand this…I just can’t stand knowing who I am and not being able to live my life”

Tina put one leg over mine and let herself out of the booth we were sitting in.

“Tina…where are you going?” I quickly joined Tina as she made her way out of the Planet. She opened the car door and sat in the front seat crying. I immediately joined her inside the car and put my arm around her as she cried.

“She makes me feel guilty……that I am not giving you all you deserve”

“Tina…..Tee…look at me” I placed my hand under Tina’s chin and raised her head so her eyes met mine. There was little fire in them now, for her tears hadturned them a crystal blue. “you give me everything I want and more”

“Bette…..don’t lie”

“I’m not”

“When I got in the car before, you told me that you were frustrated by it”

“Tina I do get frustrated. It isn’t because of you, it is because of the world….the way things are”

“But if you were with someone else you would be able to live outwardly. You aren’t in the closet…..regardless of the other obstacles, you would at least face them together…holding hands….putting arms around one another and kissing....reaching across a table in a restaurant besides the fucking Planet……I can’t give you that…..Jenny’s right”

Tina started to cry more. I leaned over and pulled her into me and held her tight.

“Shhh…….fuck Jenny okay? I don’t give a shit what Jenny says. I love you…..and you love me….and sometimes when you love someone things aren’t always perfect, things are not framed just like you want them to be. But I love you Tina Kennard….and I want to be with you….today….and forever. Don’t let some easy two bit tramp make you think otherwise”