“Who … or what … did this to you?” Tina asked, ignoring everything else. Suddenly she was curious.

“Jenny. But I don’t really understand what happened. Not even now.”

“You think you deserved it.”

Bette shrugged. “I guess.”

“I hope you see now that it was cruel.”

“Others would disagree. I was cruel, too.”

Tina nodded and took both of Bette’s hands in hers. Without a word, Tina trusted her instincts, and slowly leaned in again, watching the worried eyes looking back at her. It was Bette staring back at her, but she knew that Callie was still inside, loving her like she always did. So Tina tilted her head up and watched the perfect face, wondering if it would feel like it did. Wondering if she would feel what she’d always imagined she would feel with Callie.

And just as they had always completed one another, Bette brought her hand up to Tina’s neck, leaning in just the same.

Surprised with her own excitement, Tina felt Bette’s lips on her own, and she melted. It was just like she’d fantasized. It was better. She moaned at the way Bette held her and the way she was kissed. She had always loved Bette’s spontaneity and strength and passion. As understated as it often seemed, Tina knew what was inside of Bette, so she kissed her back in the sweet way she’d always wanted to.

Others around them stopped and stared in confusion at the school’s most popular student kissed the shy outcast. It was a strange sight, but entrancing, too. The girls kissed as if no one was around, softly and heart-felt. No one understood, but that didn’t matter. Like Bette had learned, and as Tina had always felt, that didn’t matter.

When Tina pulled back for a moment to catch her breath, Bette steadied the girl with both hands on her hips. “You should go … you’ll miss … the trip.”

Tina opened her eyes and groaned softly at the thought of leaving Bette now. “I don’t wanna go.”

“Are you sure?”

The nod was subtle, but Bette squeezed her hand a little when she saw it, knowing they had so much to talk about, and also so much to be had between them. Tina was her match. Her reason.

“Where’s your bags?”

“Just the one.”

Bette followed Tina, ignoring the crowd and the many who had pretended to be her friends all along. When she saw Tina reach for the over-sized bag, she smiled and took it from her. The look on Tina’s face made her smile. “Let me do it for you.” She wanted Tina to know that there was nothing wrong with having some help when you needed it. Tina had been alone and independent for so long that it seemed to be all she knew. Bette intended to help her with that.

“K,” Tina smiled quietly, a little embarrassed but pleased when others looked at her and Bette to see the favor. No one had ever offered to carry anything for her before. It was flattering.

Bette would tell her everything, she knew that. But she was also scared. This relationship was so much more than she had realized. She felt stronger than she knew about Bette, and the feeling was starting to grow on her. She was spinning out of control with the emotions of love. She had to understand.

“I parked over there,” Bette said gently, one hand clutching the straps of the duffle, and the other hand over Tina’s shoulders. It was a loving gesture.

Tina tucked her hair behind her ears as others around her stared when she passed. It wasn’t easy to get used to the attention, but with Bette at her side, she knew she would be alright. And with as little confidence as she had, she still found the courage to slip her own arms around Bette’s waist, leaning her head on the stronger shoulder. She had to smile at what it made her feel.

Bette had been worried about what she would tell and how she would explain the situation, but when she felt Tina’s arms around her waist, she smiled too. She was confused and hopeful. She was happy.