The memories are all in my mind

And now that we’ve come to end of our rainbow

There is something I must say out loud

Your once, twice, three times a lady

And I love you.

Yes, your once, twice, threes time a lady

And I love you, I love you

When we are together the moments I treasure with every beat of my heart

The touch you, to hold you, to feel you, to need you

There is nothing to keep us apart

Your once, twice, three times a lady

And I love you, I love you.

Bette’s voice is a rendition of rhythm and blues swirled with meaning of endless struggle and longing to find the one you were made to be with.  She found a way to depict the depth of the words she sang to firmly portray her message of love; her message of never letting Tina go.  Upon listening to the last symbolic note from Bette’s natural beautiful harmonious voice, Tina holds her head up and with absolute passion flaming in her eyes, she kisses Bette; a kiss to represent Tina’s acknowledgement that she has fallen in love with the same woman twice.  Tina would gladly fall for a third time.  Bette is weakened with the ravenousness of Tina’s kiss and is stunned as she is engrossed within the spiral wake of a gigantic tidal wave rushing back out to sea; she needs air.  Bette parts herself from Tina’s suction and hurriedly inhales to fill her lungs with oxygen.  Tina is magically soaring and holds onto Bette with all the strength she could muster.

Forgotten in the background is the violinist who is unable to keep her eyes off the display of public affection between the two women and for the life of her couldn’t remember witnessing a more erotic scene played before her.  She envisions each woman separately.  The blonde is visibly shaking in that she is in no condition to loosen her grip on the brunette; for she knew the blonde would fall at the brunette’s feet in a heap of rubbery lust.  The brunette is desperately trying to regain her breathing and the look of utter yearning for her beloved spins an enriched web around the both of them.  She smiles happily for them and as she does she remembers of what awaits her at home.  She glances at her watch for she can’t wait to leave once dinner is served.

Just then, Henry announces his presence for the second time that night by clearing his throat and declares, “Your food awaits my ladies”.  Bette looks at him and softly verbalizes, “Thank you, Henry” and turns her head in the direction of the darkened corner and speaks further, “Carol-Ann, thank you so much.  I appreciate it”.  Henry kindly helps Carol-Ann with her packaging and they both leave the lovebirds to their privacy.  Neither move for several minutes for fear of breaking the bewitched induced potion.  “Shall we eat, T?”.  Tina looks into Bette’s eyes and says, “We can do whatever you want”.

Movie Theatre – 9:25 p.m.

“By the way, did I tell you how scrumptious you look tonight?” Bette glances at Tina who is dressed in deep maroon colored pleated knee length skirt, a white cotton sleeved bloused (which has a zipper on the side to openly reveal vanilla skin) and black leather high heel sandals.  Tina’s hair was twisted up in unruly curls and Bette was tempted to munch on Tina’s neck the moment she opened the door.  Tina, still in awe from the dinner, has difficulty in piecing her words into a coherent sentence.  She finally enables her brain to work and replies, “Many times tonight, Bette”.  Bette has been conscious of Tina’s subdued mood since they left the Planet and wasn’t sure whether or not this was a good or bad sign.  She hoped Tina would have talked to her about what happened earlier today, but it never came up.  Bette visions the blank screen before her while she takes in the crowded atmosphere of tonight’s movie, ‘Four Brothers’; a movie they both wanted to see.  Unnerved by Tina’s change in mood she begins to feel that her surprise was a mistake.  Bette reaches for Tina’s hand and unable to look at her for fear of what she would see in Tina’s eyes, Bette asks, “Is everything alright T?  You didn’t enjoy dinner?”.

Bette’s question snaps Tina out of her impelled state and Tina replies “Look at me Bette”.  Bette didn’t move.  Tina repeats herself more forcefully, “Look at me Bette . . .  please, look at me”.  Bette finds the courage to do so and is relieved in what she encounters; undying love.  “Baby, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to have you think such a thing.  I am in complete awe of you.  Tonight thus far has been a dream come true for me.  You swept me off my feet.  I am sitting here wondering how I could possibly deserve you”.  Bette stroked Tina’s soft left cheek and conveys, “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.  I would travel to the ends of the earth to make you happy”.  Tina swivels her face to place a tantalizing kiss within Bette’s palm; a kiss so gently it sends shivers up her arm to strike her pounding heart.  With her lips still gracing her palm, Tina asks, “Doesn’t what we feel for each other scare you?  I mean, we have only known each other for six whole days and yet, you have me thoroughly under your spell”.  Bette stares intently into Tina’s eyes and for the third time that night, Tina falls again.  Bette answers, “It scares me to death Tina.  It scares me to know that I would give my life to protect you.  I love you so much that if I were ever to lose you, I would crawl in my own world waiting to die.  I never knew love could be so intense so quickly”.  Both came to the understanding that their bond was unique; a one of a kind love that shouldn’t be ignored because of misguided fear.

The theatre silhouettes into dimmed darkness as the movie begins and the room becomes hushed in silence.  Tina makes herself comfortable by leaning on Bette’s shoulder.  Half an hour into the movie Bette removes the barrier between them, encircles her arm around Tina’s shoulders and lays her cheek atop the golden tresses of her love; they snuggle closer.  Tina is unable to concentrate fully on the movie because Bette’s enticing body heat found a way to crawl into her being.  Tina’s mind travels back in time to relive opening the door to her apartment when the bell chime made Bette’s existence revealed at exactly 7:00.  Bette was dressed in a low buttoned silver shirt cuffed at the wrist and hip hugging black trouser pants to be tapered with enclosed high heel boots; she was more beautiful then ever with her hair tumbling down in waves at her back.  Tina argues with herself, ‘Watch the movie girl.  Right Tina!  How the ***** am I suppose to concentrate when Bette is streaming her fingers through my hair, covering my right hand with her left while her thumb gently strokes across my sensitive skin, to feel her lips brush against my forehead every time she laughs, to linger on the vibration of electricity that strikes my blood every time she squeezes me close.  My God, I want her’.  So in tuned with her own thoughts and feelings of unrequited desire, Tina didn’t realize that she moaned her aroused state into Bette’s neck.

Bette got distracted in watching the movie when she felt Tina compress her luscious body firmly against hers; tight enough to feel every sexual curve of her perfectly symmetric being.  Bette lowered her face to glance at Tina and what she saw completely took her breath away, Tina’s closed lidded enthralled face.  A face that painted a picture of essential longing that cried out for her lover to mate with her.  The only sound Bette could hear was the drumming of her heart; a heart pumping with the speed of light as Tina unconsciously draped her right leg over Bette’s left knee, her arched foot dangling in the air.  The sight of Tina’s smooth skin inflamed Bette’s passion whereby the rapid current of her blood pooled deep in the recesses of her erect clitoris.  With a mind of its own, Bette’s trembling hand approaches the ankle of Tina’s leg to trace a slow journey upward to savor the enriched texture of skin revealed; to pause at the hem of the skirt.  The hidden jewel concealed within the forbidden vortex was silently calling Bette’s hand to enter the dampened threshold of sweet temptation with her finger.  Bette’s hand crawls underneath the interfering fabric to encounter the sizzling skin of Tina’s thigh; to encompass the surreal sensation of holding an indescribable spark of virginal flesh.  Bette’s mind is losing a never ending battle against her body’s unsatisfied desire; fighting to survive the quicksand of Tina’s love.

With her decision made Bette is about to surrender her last breath at the precise moment the lights blaze to life to signify the ending of the movie.  Bette is awoken from her induced passion condition to observe the movement of her hand slide away from the comforting sanctuary of been at home; to land again on Tina’s hand.  When Bette is able to clearly gather her thoughts, she recalls the event of what happened mere seconds before, lays her head back against the cushioned chair to look at the ceiling and thinks, ‘I need a drink.  Scratch that, I need more than a drink’.  Throughout Bette’s private excursion, Tina was fully aware of the carnal touch of Bette’s hand; a touch that erected her sensitive nipples to resemble a statue carved from stone.  A touch that awarded Bette with the knowledge that Tina was just as affected as her.  Bette and Tina painfully realized that this was going to be a very long night for each could smell the dripping wetness of their perfumed appetite.  To divert her thoughts to a safer topic, Bette finds the strength to ask, “Did you enjoy the movie, T?”.  Without lifting her head, Tina responds by asking Bette a question of her own, “What movie?”.  This makes Bette smile.

The Embassy – 11: 45 p.m.

The club was the most favored place for the old and new; for the experienced and not so experienced.  The Embassy is the establishment that accepted everyone for who they are and welcomed you with open arms; it was the spot whereby all walks of life came to have a good time.  The music is pumping and you could feel the bass vibrating through the building; a tingling sensation that was sending out contagious friction throughout everyone’s body.  Beautiful women and handsome men flocked the club on a regular basis, but the weekends were the most popular.  The atmosphere is pulsing with sexual excitement; overhead lights are flashing on a climatic crescendo, couples and individuals are enticingly climbing the highest orgasmic peak of the preferred ‘alcohol’ state and  committed lovers (either for the night or longer) consume the erotic dance floor with rhythmical sultry motions.  In the mix of it all are Alice, Dana and Shane anxiously awaiting Tina and her date.

“I can’t wait to meet Tina’s new friend”, Alice stated slyly.  “She really must be good in bed”.

“Is ***** all you ever think about?”, Dana queried.  “I swear, you talk about it more than you actually do it.  Talk is cheap, Al”.  Alice glared mischievously at Dana and said, “Haven’t heard you complain yet.  As a matter of fact, you scream out my name more than anything”.  Dana gave Alice her full attention and confirmed, “At least it’s your name that I am screaming out”.  Alice loved it when Dana was confident and assertive; it was a complete turn on for her.  She leaned forward to place a soft kiss on Dana’s lips, “You look good enough to eat Dane”.  Dana smiled and asked, “So when do you plan on eating?”

“Do you two mind?  I don’t need to hear about your numerous sexual escapades”.  Shane quickly interrupted.  “There is nothing to be jealous of, Shane.  There is plenty of me to go around”.  Alice couldn’t help her laughter when she saw the disgusted look on Shane’s face.  “There is not enough alcohol in the world to get me that drunk, Al”.  To bruise Alice‘s ego even further, Dana happily added, “Don’t worry, Shane.  I’ll get drunk for the both of us”.  While Alice displayed an unconvincing look of hurt on her face; Shane and Dana were laughing.

“Things must be going well.  Tina hasn’t called to say otherwise”.  Shane said before swallowing a mouthful of Bacardi and lime.  “That’s because Tina doesn’t have a phone in her bedroom”, Alice said.  Silence follows her comment.  Alice sees the twin looks of utter disbelief on Shane and Dana’s faces that she innocently questions, “What?  I’m just stating a fact”, while shrugging her shoulders and arching her brows in the process.  Dana shakes her head in bewilderment and mumbles to herself, “It must be the *****”.

“Don’t embarrass her, Alice“.  Shane reiterates further, “Behave yourself”.

“Tina has been through enough and she doesn’t need any lip from you”, Dana replies.  “Come on guys.  What would be the fun in that?  Besides, you know I can’t keep my mouth closed for more than five minutes at a time”.  Dana spies Alice with a naughty expression and says, “Actually, you can, you have and you will do so again”.  Shane conveys her sentiments on the subject at hand, “Gross guys; absolutely gross.  Isn’t there something else we could talk about?”  Alice and Dana smile.

“Sure.  We can talk about you.  How is that new honey you’re seeing?”  Moving the conversation away from herself, Shane asks, “Dana, how are your training sessions coming along?”.  Taking the hint, Dana replies, “Good, Shane.  My trainer is killing me and I haven’t looked better.  I have a tournament in three weeks”.  With a genuine playful appearance, Alice asks, “How am I supposed to survive without you?  I mean, who will keep me entertained in my time of need?”  With all the strength not to laugh in Alice‘s face, Dana speaks, “You can use my stick”.  Shane stands up from the table and says, “That’s it.  I’m going to the bar to get another drink”.  The moment Shane turns her back, Alice and Dana are heatedly locking lips.

As Shane makes her way to the bar, she notices Tina and her gorgeous friend walk through the entrance of the nightclub.  She waves to get their attention.  “T, that looks like your friend from Monday”, Bette states.  Tina is surprised that Bette would even recall what Shane looks like.  “You remember her?”.  Bette shyly looks at Tina and says, “Of course I remember her.  I thought she was my competition”.  Tina places a whisper of kiss on Bette’s lips and enticingly confirms, “I’m all the competition you will ever need”.  Tina grabs her hand and they walk towards the bar.  Shane inwardly thinks, ‘Wow.  They do make a beautiful couple’.  Shane and Tina greet each other with a tight embracing hug and plant a kiss on the other’s cheek.

“How are you Tina?  It’s good to see you . . . finally”.  Tina laughs before responding, “It’s good to see you to, Shane.  What have you been up to lately?”  Shane firstly looks at Bette and than back to Tina before saying, “Obviously, not having as much fun as you”.  Tina glares at Shane’s smiling face and tries to hide her discomfort by saying, “What am I going to do with you?”  Shane confesses, “Just love me, Tina.  All you can do is love me”.  Bette quietly watches the interaction between the two friends and can’t help but smile at Tina’s flushed embarrassed face.  “It’s okay, T.  You look beautiful when you blush”.  Tina lovingly gazes at Bette and claims her possession by putting her arm around Bette’s waist.  At the same token, Bette rests her arm around Tina’s shoulder.

“Shane.  I would like to introduce you to Elizabeth.  Bette, this is Shane; one of my best friends”.  Bette and Shane smile at one another while shaking hands.  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Shane.  Please, call me Bette”.  Shane warmly says, “Like wise, Bette.  It’s nice to meet the person who’s responsible for putting that smile on my friend’s face”.  Bette gazes to look at Tina, who just happens to be concentrating her attention to the tips of her shoes.  Bette places a finger under Tina’s chin and raises her face so that they are staring into each other’s eyes and promises, “I’ll do my best to make sure it stays there”.  Shane could instantly feel the mutual attraction between Bette and Tina and was truly thankful for Tina’s good fortune.  “Make sure you do”.

“Where are Alice and Dana?” Tina asks.  Shane nods her head in the direction where their friends are and states, “I left them at our table locking lips”.  Tina glances in the area Shane pointed out and barely makes out the images of Alice and Dana in the semi darkened corner.  “Do you think they plan on coming up for air anytime soon?”  Tina sarcastically adds, “I wouldn’t want to disrupt their private moment”.

“Please, since they got together, that’s all they do”.  With a wistful expression, Tina says, “I couldn’t be happier for them”.  Shane had to agree, “Yeah.  I’m happy for them to.  Come on, its time to interrupt the newlyweds anyway”.  Sensing that they were being watched, Alice regretfully leaves Dana’s warm lips to look in the direction of the bar.  “Seems as if we are about to have extra company”.  Dana, still dazed from the effect of her wife’s kiss, needs to take a few seconds for her brain to comprehend what Alice said.  “What are you talking about now?”  Alice replies, “Tina and her friend are here”.  Dana follows Alice‘s line of vision and simply says, “Oh”.  Without having to look into her wife’s face for she could feel Dana’s reaction to the striking woman heading their way, speaks the truth, “She is beautiful”.

Shane is the first to speak once they approach the table, “Guess who I found?”, as the three of them take their seats.  Being predictable Alice, she comments, “Where the ***** have you been, Tina?  Can’t call a sister to let her know that you aren’t dying in a ditch?”.  Tina rolls her eyes and calmly comes back with, “You always over dramatize things, Al.  Well, just the same, I’m alive and well.  Thank you for your unnecessary concern”.  Alice gives Tina the evil eye and answers, “I don’t know how we remained friends for so long”.  Tina responds, “We remain friends because you find my life so interesting”.  Alice looks at Bette and conveys, “I am sure your life, but more importantly your ***** life, will become very interesting.  If it hasn’t already?”

Bette is thoroughly enjoying the scene before her and can’t help but come to Tina’s aid, “If my memory serves me correct, I believe Tina mentioned the both of you disappeared for a whole weekend without calling anyone”.  Not deterred at all with Bette’s comment, Alice says, “That was different”.  Shane and Tina jump into the conversation by simultaneously asking, “How so?”  Alice patiently replies, “You knew exactly where we were and what we were doing.  You could have called anytime”.  Alice proudly turns to Dana and is caught with a look of discontentment on her wife’s face.  “How in the world did you ever convince me to marry you?”  Alice‘s cat like grin spreads across her face and says, “I was too irresistible for you to refuse, Dane”.  Dana arches her left brow and argues, “It really must be the *****”.  Bette bursts out laughing at the engaging couple.  “You two are perfect for each other”.

“Bette, now that the introductions are officially over, how about buying us a round of drinks.  My throat is suddenly feeling parched”.  Alice wasn’t one to be shy.  Taking the clue for what it was, Bette says, “Sure.  What would everyone like?”  Tina places her hand on Bette’s thigh and responds, “You don’t have to, you know”.  Bette squeezes her hand and with her most charming smile replies, “It’s okay.  It’s the least I can do from stealing you away from your friends”.  Before heading towards the bar, Bette leans in to give Tina a light kiss and says, “I’ll be right back”.  Tina watches her as she leaves; completely smitten.  While enjoying the delicious view of Bette, Tina is abruptly aware of all the other eyes that are watching her as well.

Alice recaptures her attention by saying, “Okay, Tina.  I want to know everything”.

“There is nothing to know, Al.  We have only been seeing each other for six days”.  Tina’s eyes don’t reveal a thing.

“How is the *****?  Is it as good as she looks?”

Shane and Dana scream, “Alice!”

Ignoring the outbursts, Alice continues with, “Inquiring minds want to know”.

Tina frowns at Alice and expresses, “If I didn’t love you already, I would truly come to hate you”.

“Please.  That is the reason why you love me”, Alice determines.

“Don’t worry, Alice.  I plan on catching my prey very soon”, Tina reiterated as she watches Bette cross the crowded club with their tray laden drinks.  “And when I do, you will be the last person to find out”.  Alice, not to be outdone, comes back with, “Well then, Tina.  I’m even more curious.  Which one are you, the hunter or the fox?”.

Bette eventually makes her way back to the table after being bombarded by numerous women.  As she rests the tray on the table, Alice notices small bits of papers surrounding the drinks.  “What’s with the paper, Bette?”  Alice grabs two handfuls before Bette even has the opportunity to warn Tina.  “Susan, 555-2853.  Crystal, 555-6778.  Rebecca, 555-9041.  Jeez Bette, how many are there?”, Alice asks as she continues to open the folded pieces of temptation.  “I don’t know, Al.  I wasn’t paying that much attention”.  She looks at Tina’s worried face and stated, “I told them that I was happily committed”, which brings a smile of relief on Tina’s face.  “Well, I’ll tell you right now.  Toni is not the type of woman who gives up so easily.  She always gets what she wants”.  Bette reads the challenging message in Alice‘s eyes and with a sincere look responds, “Don’t worry, Al.  I only have eyes for the one and only beautiful Tina Kennard”.  Alice nods her head in approval and gives Shane a sinister stare, “Shane, do you want any?”  Shane regards Alice with a mischievous look and replies in earnest, “I already have Dana’s cell number, thanks”.  Everyone was laughing except Alice; if looks could kill.  A new circle of lifelong friends was created that night.

Laguna Beach – 3:00 a.m.

The cool sea breeze was a refreshing breath of air after being in the cluttered club.  The stars and moon were shining bright in a blackened sky, the coral pink sand hiding the sounds of their footsteps, the silence of the waves crashing against the shore and the force of the wind was broken by the shadows of the palm trees whispering in the night.  Bette wanted to prolong the death quietness of stepping through the doors of her ghostly home and suggested the idea of coming to the beach.  The need to be consumed in Tina’s presence was a sensation that Bette couldn’t live without.  Looking at the beauty at her side and holding hands like love struck teenagers was a feeling that portrayed the essence of being safe.  Walking along the beach was a romantic solitude that she wanted to repeat with Tina as often as possible.

“You know, I believe you had every female in the club lusting after you tonight, with the exception of my friends, of course”.

“Did I tell you how much I enjoyed dancing with you?  The way our bodies moved to the sound of the music; two bodies that had become one.  I could have taken you right there and than”.

“Plan on ignoring what I said?”

“No.  Just don’t see the importance of it.  As far as I am concerned, there is one particular lady who I want to lust after me”.

“Believe me, I was.  Still am as a matter of fact”.

“Does it bother you, T?”

“I know it shouldn’t, but it does.  There are so many other women who are more experienced, more . .”  Bette pulls Tina towards her and silences her with a lingering kiss.  “This is new for the both of us, T.  I’m just as inexperienced as you”.

“Do you want to talk about what happened today?  You haven’t said a word”.

“For now, I just want to forget the events of the day for tonight, okay.  I’ll rather talk about it later”.  Tina squeezes Bette’s hand for comfort.  “Whatever you want, T”.  Tina suddenly stops in her tracks and with the most incredible look of hunger in her eyes stares intently at Bette and says, “What I want is for you to make love to me; to feel your luscious body against mine.  I’m tired of dreaming about us, Bette.  I’m tried of imaging of what you taste like.  I’m tired of hearing the sounds of my own pleasure while I fantasy about you kissing me, touching me, molding me to your touch, putting your tongue on my throbbing flesh.  I need you”.  Bette breath escapes her for the desire to claim Tina as her own is too great to deny any longer.  “Is that want you really need, T?”  Tina shakes her head yes.  “Than let it be so”.

TBC