Bette’s class went surprisingly well and she we feeling much better about this job.  They all seemed really excited about art and she had their full attention the whole time.  She went back to her office and started looking over the short essays she had her students write in class about what they thought art was.  When Tina came in.
Tina: “Hey, you ready”
Bette: looking up “Hi, yea, lets go.”  She locked the door and walked with Tina down the hall.
Tina: “So how did it go?”
Bette: “Really well, I think they were intrigued and really want to learn about art, so that’s a plus. How about you?”
Tina: “Well I had my advanced class this morning so I know most of the students already, they are a good group.  You want to go to this little café around the corner I know of?”
Bette: “sure sounds good”
Conversation flooded easily between the two women, like they had known each other for years.  They moved on from subjects about work and starting to really get know each other.
Tina: “So Bette, are you married, single, dating?”
Bette: “Single at the moment. How about you?”
Tina: “Same”
Bette: “What no cute young men at the whole University that has swept you off your feet?”
Tina: “um, no well I wouldn’t really be interested in them even if there were.   I’m gay.”
Bette: “Oh well then, no young women either I see.”
Tina: “haha, no I guess not.  I’m not very good at relationships so I try and keep them out of the work place, that way when I fuck them up I don’t have to see the person every day.”
Bette: “Well that’s smart.”
Tina: “I think so”
The ladies continued their lunch with light conversation. With Tina trying to get hints into Bette sexuality since she didn’t seem to declare herself one-way or the other.  
As the week went on Bette and Tina shared two more lunches together and many cups of coffee at the café in the building.  They got to know each other really well and people in the department came to see how buddy buddy the girls were.  They didn’t really talk about Bette’s sexuality and she tried to keep it that way.  As much as she found Tina attractive and really liked her, she was not in a place in her life where she could be with someone.  And she wanted to keep Tina as the great friend she had become.  They didn’t really spend much time together outside of work, even though Tina had invited Bette a number of times to join her and some friends out of drinks.  But Bette always declined, saying she had things she couldn’t get out of.  Tina knew there was something that Bette was hiding but didn’t know how to push the subject.  She had a bit of a crush on Bette but liked their friendship too much to act on it.  And there was that rule of not dating at the work place.  So she settled for friendship.  Which for now was plenty, Bette had turned out to be an amazing women and Tina loved spending time with her, just listening to Bette talk about art, or anything really.  
It was now a few months into the semester and Bette had really found her groove in the department.  She and Tina had become the best of friends and she was really enjoying her job.  
That Friday at lunch with Tina.
Tina: “Ok Bette it’s time you have to come out with me tonight and I’m not going to take no for an answer.  We have been friends for three months now and I don’t ever see you outside of work and that’s not going to fly with me, so whatever excuse you are coming up with in your pretty little head you can just can it because your coming.”
Bette: “Ok where are we going?”
Tina: “No Bette you have to com….Wait. What? Did you just say ok?”
Bette: laughing “Yes I said ok.”
Tina: “Wow I was expecting a better fight then that. I had my whole next speech all planed out.”
Bette: “Well I could go back and say no, so that you get to say it.”
Tina: “Funny! Smart ass.  AH! I’m so excited! Ok so tonight 8:30 I’m going to pick you up and we are going to go to this club/bar with a few of my friends. It’s ladies night, do you mind?”
Bette: “No not at all. Sounds great. So you are going to pick me up, does that mean it’s a date?”
Tina: blushing “Well you would be very lucky because I will have you know, I’m a great date.”
Bette: “Oh well I will be the judge of that.”
Both women smiled at the playful flirting that had began in the last few weeks.  They both knew what they were doing but didn’t care they liked it.  And tonight was going to be very interesting.