“Tina” she could hear her voice being called…The soft humming voice.
“Tina” It whispered again. Tina knew exactly who it was.

“Bette.” Tina reached for Bette; She was merely inches away from her. Yet it was all but a hallucination.

“Babe.” She heard a deep and husky voice say. Tina’s eyes fluttered open, her vision not that clear, until she stared at one thing, which was Joel.

Tina met Joel at the drags. It was Tina’s first time there, when she spotted a big, dark, tall, handsome fellow who kept staring at her… They had been together for 8 months and yet she still couldn’t get Bette out of her head. She knew that she would never get out of her head. She yearned for Bette’s body, love and heart.

“Babe.” Tina squinted her eyes, for the sun was just coming up through her window.

“Hey tinnyie.” As many times as Tina had heard that nickname, she never got used to it.
“Babe, its 5:30pm. You have to start getting ready, I want to be a milk by 6:30.” Joel Nudged Tina’s bare shoulder.

Tina covering her mouth to disguise her yaw said, “Yeah babe, I’ll be up in a minute.”

Tina had finished her education and now was a fully-fledged lawyer. She was connected up with Adam and sons. Which was a very popular and distinct law service. What Tina loved most about the place was that she got to help the needy. I mean the real needy, people who needed the money, not people who would just throw it into their million-dollar account. The down side to her job, was that sometimes she had to work after hours, so that she would be fully prepared for the cases that were coming up. Tina had become a popularity figure, through the eyes of the media, She had been the saint, the saviour of the under privileged. Tina didn’t really care about the media, all she cared about was to help people that needed to be helped and she was happy to give her services.

As for Joel, he was a Mechanic; he toured the country, with his brother and there dragster. They didn’t earn a whole lot, but that was his dream and he’s stuck by it ever since. He loved cars and for Tina that made it even worse. It made it a little harder to try to forget about Bette.

Tina sluggishly turned over, her hand flopping over the side of the bed, landing inches from the floor. She could hear Joel in the kitchen. She smiled as she started to hear him sing.
Rubbing her eyes gently, Tina sat up right on the bed, staying there for a moment. Contemplating where to go next, until she heard Joels voice screaming out “Tina get your cute ***** out of bed and in the shower.”
Tina just shrugged her shoulders and shuffled towards the bathroom. Slipping into the shower, washing her face and hair.

“Tina.” The sweet voice returning in her mind. Images started to pass in her mind. From the initial shock of finding a woman under the car, to her smile, to her laugh, to the last time she saw her. Tina hugged herself hoping that if she did Bette would magically appear. Tear’s formed in Tina’s eyes as she slid down the back of the shower glass, sitting on the floor, crying her heart out for the thousandth time about the one that got away. The one that was meant to be hers. Her shoulders shaking, her knee’s tucked into her chest. She was heart broken. Physically it felt like it too. She loved Bette

BANG BANG BANG

On the door, Tina was startled, she finally found her voice. “What babe?”

“Are you okay? Youve been in there for a while now.” Even though Joels voice was deep, it could be so sweet.

“Everythings fine, I’ll be out in a minute.” Tina shouted over the humming of the shower.

Tina got out of the shower and looked into the steamed mirror, slowly wiping away the residue, Tina found herself staring at a young woman, a heart broken woman, an unfulfilled woman. Tina huffed her fears away, grabbing a towel and drying herself off.

Stepping out of the bathroom and into her room, she threw her towel on the bed, then went to the dresser in search for some under wear. Finally finding her silk thong, she slipped it on and then found her backless halter neck, silk, red dress. She looked so beautiful, her hair wet and slightly curled. Quickly applying mascara and lip-gloss, Tina was ready to go out physically. Mentally she just wanted to curl up into a little ball and never be seen again.

Walking out into the kitchen, she saw Joel standing there in his rustic denim jeans and black button up shirt. His hair spiked, his muscles flexed and his amazing smile. “Why aren’t I happy?” Tina questioned herself on the inside. She walked over to Joel, wrapping her small arms around his thick neck.

“Woe, Whats this for?” Joel questioned. Yet Tina wasn’t really listening, she was just think about Bette and imagining her arms being around Bette’s neck.

“Nothing, Just want to show you my love for you.” Yet really was it love? Or an appetiser? Deep down inside her heart Tina felt so guilty for using Joel.

“Are you ready to go?” Tina looked into Joel’s big, understanding blue eyes.

“Yeah I am.” Tina quietly replied.

“Lets take a cab. I don’t think either one of us want to drive home later. Okay?”

“Yeah thats fine.”

20 minutes later the cab pulled up in front of Tina’s apartment building. Joel peeked out through the window.

“Well the cabs here, you ready?”

“Can you give me a moment, I just want to be alone…I’ll meet you down in the cab.”

Joel quietly closed the door on his way out. Leaving Tina all alone. Tina walked back into her room and crouched over to the bedside table, pulling the draw open, she pulled out a yellow envelope. Opening the top and scratching around the bottom, to eventually find a tape. Tina placed it in her stereo and pressed play.

“Hey Tina…I haven’t seen you in six weeks and I was feeling creative, so I thought I might write you a little song.” Tina started to hear the antic Piano in the background, then she heard Bette sing. Tears dribbled down her cheeks, hanging off her chin. Tina didn’t care though, she didn’t want a tissue, she wanted to feel the tears, for thats all she could feel for Bette.

The song, finished and Tina cleaned herself up. Locking the door behind her. She huffed her troubles away. Walking down the stairs, out to the yellow cab that was waiting for her. And the boyfriend that she loved. Or did she?