Chapter 16

“T, you up to meeting some of my friends today?” Bette asked

“Sure” Tina shrugged her shoulders

“I have to warn you Alice, she’s a little intense just don’t pay her any attention ok?”

“I can take care of myself Bette” Tina smiled

“Ok, come on let’s get it over with” Bette grabbed Tina by the hand and led her over to the table.

“Porter, I thought you said you couldn’t it make it for brunch today, I should have known you hooked up last night, had a little company did ya” Alice said winking at Tina.

Bette shot Alice a deadly look.

“Alice be quiet and sit down” Dana said

“Alice, I would like you to meet Tina Kennard”

“Oh my God it’s you!” Alice said in astonishment

“Al” Bette said

“Dana, this is Tina”

“Tina, these are my friends Alice Pieszeki, and Dana Fairbanks”

“Hi nice to meet you” Tina shook Dana’s hand then Alice’s

“Dana Fairbanks? You play Tennis right?” Tina asked

“Yes, I do”

“I remember seeing you play doubles with Lindsey, you’re really good”

“Thank You” Dana smiled

“Oh my God it’s you” Alice said again

“I’m sorry have we met?” Tina asked

“Dana, this is Tina, Bette’s Tina the 18 year old hottie I told you about who made the great Bette Porter come un-done”

“Alice! Stop!” Bette yelled

Tina was now smiling her cheeks blushing a bit.

“Al, sit down and stop embarrassing Bette, and Tina for that matter” Dana tugged in Alice’s hand until she sat.

“I’m sorry Tina, Alice’s mouth tends to runoff before her brain has a chance to catch it” Dana giggled

“It’s ok, no worries” Tina smiled

“I’m going to go get us some menus would you like something to drink?” Bette asked

“I’ll take a coffee, black” Tina replied

“I know how you like it T, I’ll be right back” She gave Tina’s hand a light squeeze

Bette turned to Alice, and gave her a look.

“Alice, behave” Bette said as she walked away

As soon as Bette was out of ear shot Alice turned to Tina

“You, know she was moping around like a lost puppy, she was in such a bad mood from not talking to you, I’m so glad you guys worked it out, I mean she didn’t even go out to the clubs for like a month and that’s a long time for Bette, you know to go without taking a girl home”

“Oh my god Alice you really need to stop talking” Dana said as she slapped Alice in back of the head.

“Hey why did you do that for?” Alice squealed

“Ouch, Dana that really hurt”

“Good, listen you need to be quiet, your scaring Tina, besides if Bette heard you talking like that to her she would do more than slap you upside the head, so stop”

Tina was now giggling she was enjoying the banter between these two, she wondered if they were  more than friends.

“Here you go T” Bette handed Tina her coffee and a menu

“Thanks”

“So has Alice totally freaked you out yet?”

“No, Alice is sweet” Tina gave Alice a wink

“Humm” Bette replied

After placing their orders the 4 women continued talking Tina found both Alice and Dana to be super cool she liked them, she was glad Bette had such good friends and judging by their banter they were really good friends.

“So, Tina, I can’t believe your only 18 you seem so mature”

“It comes from hanging around with this one too much” Tina pointed at Bette

“So how long have you known Bette” Dana asked Tina

“Too long, I lost count” Tina replied

“I was very young”

“So, it’s safe to say you guys are like BEST friends” Dana asked

“I would like to think so. Bette’s been part of my life for so long I’m almost lost without her”

Bette smiled

“Well you should have seen her these last week’s that’s exactly how’s she’s been LOST” Alice replied

“Yeah, well I needed to see her, we needed to talk so I decided to fly down here and talk to her in person” Tina said

“Speaking of which, you haven’t even told me how long you’re staying”

“I have to be back on Monday night at the latest, I have orientation on Tuesday morning”

Tina saw the sad look in Bette’s eyes, Tina brought her hand underneath the table and gave Bette thigh a gentle squeeze.

Bette wanted to change the subject of Tina departure.

“Tina, you better call Steve and Alley and let them know you’re here I don’t want them to worry about you, I’ll speak to them if you need me too”

“Oh crap I forgot to call them, if you guys will excuse me, I’m going to go outside to make my call I have to call Shane too”

Tina grabbed her phone and walked outside.

“Bette, she pretty, and she’s so mature for her age, You could tell she just adores you”

“Really” Bette asked

“Yup, Dana’s right the way she looks at you when you’re not looking she’s got it just as bad as you do” Alice smiled

“I like her” Dana said

“Me too” Alice shot back

“I’m glad, it means a lot to me guys”

“Hey how about you bring her to TOXIC tonight” Alice said

“Alice you forget she’s only 18, TOXIC is 21 and over”

“Don’t worry Bette, Max is working the door tonight that won’t be a problem”

“We’ll see Al, it’s just that Tina and I really have a lot to talk about, she just got in this morning and we really haven’t resolved anything yet”

“SO……. are you going to sleep with her?” Alice asked

“ALICE!!” Both Bette and Alice said at the same time

“Geez, Alice” Bette said

“So are you? I don’t think she flew all the way from California just to talk you guys could have done that over the phone, I’m telling you Bette I can tell she wants you, and you want her too, I don’t know why your hesitating, God I would have jumped her bones the minute she walked in through my door Ms. Tina is fine”

Dana just sat back and rolled her eyes at Alice, there was no sense in telling her to behave.

“Alice I swear if we weren’t in a place full of people, I would so kick your ass right now” Bette said

“Hey I’m just saying”

“Look Al, I don’t know what going to happen, yes I want her, I want her like I’ve never wanted anyone before, it’s just complicated” Bette paused

“She’s my best friend, her parents they’re like my family I love them dearly, she lives 24 hundred miles away and let’s not mention the age difference, she’s only 18 she’s getting ready to start college, you don’t think she’s going to meet someone there?  Someone who shares her same interest someone her own age, besides she’s very attractive she’s going to be tempted, curious.” Bette took a deep breath

“Things at MOMA are very hectic right now I don’t think I can handle the distraction of having to worry about my young ‘girlfriend’  24 hundred miles away, I just don’t see how a long distance relationship would work.”

“Wow, Bette so many cons, I guess you should just put her on a plane, pat her head and send her back home huh.” Alice said sarcastically

“Come on Al you know I’m right”

“Bette, what about all the reason why you should at least try” Dana asked

“The first one being the obvious, that you two are crazy about each other” Dana said

“Dana, she’s great” Bette smiled

“She understands me, she relaxes me, we have so many things in common sometimes I think we’re one in the same, she fricken gorgeous, and  she has the biggest heart” Bette smiled

Just then Tina walked back to the table with a smile on her face.

“How’d it go?” Bette asked

“Well they weren’t too happy, that I hopped on plane and flew 24 hundred miles on a whim” Tina smiled

“They were relieved when I told them I was with you”

“Good, did you call Shane?” Bette asked

“Yeah, I left her a message it’s still kinda early for her she probably just went to bed a few hours ago, she might not even be home yet, probably still at Carmen’s”

“Who’s Shane?” Alice asked

“Shane is my roommate, she rents and apartment with me close to the college” Tina answered

“What college are you attending Tina?” Dana asked

“USC, I’m a film student”

“As in motion pictures, Hollywood and stuff” Alice asked

“Yeah” Tina laughed at Alice’s description

“It’s a very prestigious program, the best there’s a very long waiting list, and Tina got in her first try” Bette added

“Wow, congrats! Tina good for you” Alice said

“Thanks Alice”

“You ready to leave T?”

“Yeah”

“Ok guys maybe we’ll see you tonight, I want to show Tina some of New York before she goes back home” Bette said

“Tina it was great meeting you” Dana got up and gave Tina a hug.

“Yeah, same here” Alice hugged Tina as well

“You guys should come down to California, I have a this great beach house, we could all have some fun”

“Yeah, that sounds like fun, we have to make plans” Alice smiled

Tina waved at her new friends as she started walking towards the door.

“Porter, Ill call you on Monday, better yet try and make it tonight ok?”

“We’ll see Al we’ll see, Bye Dana”

“Bye Bette” Dana winked

Alice and Dana watched Bette help Tina with her coat as they walked out the door.

“So cute” Dana smiled

“Yeah, Porter has it bad”

Chapter 17

Bette and Tina walked around all day taking in the different sites, Bette gave Tina the tour of the MOMA, Tina was at awe with all the wonderful art that was on display. Tina now knew why Bette felt the need to be here why she loved New York, this city was so Bette.

It was finally dinner time, Bette decided to take Tina to her favorite Italian restaurant, they enjoyed a great meal and good conversation, Bette was so comfortable talking to Tina, they knew each other so well, their conversations always flowed easily.