Bette sat on the sofa wringing her hands nervously. She checked her phone for about the tenth time in as many minutes. True to form, Jodi was running late. In all the months that they had been dating, the brunette was unable to recall a time when her girlfriend had been on time. She'd asked her to come by the house after work, determined to clear up this mess once and for all. But of course, the redhead was already half an hour late.
She glanced at the bottle of Scotch on the sideboard, her resolve to stay sober for this encounter weakening with every moment that Jodi failed to show. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine that Tina was there with her, the thought of the blonde sitting beside her always calmed her instantly. No matter how painful this evening was, Tina was worth it.
A knock came at the door, ending the brunettes silent contemplation.
Taking a deep breath, she rose from the sofa and moved to open the door.
"Jodi, come in"
She nervously led the redhead to the sofa, unable to make eye contact.
"What's going on Bette? I was busy at the studio you know"
"I think we need to talk" the brunette looked over at her girlfriend.
"What about?"
"Us"
"Is this going to take long?" Jodi asked, looking at her watch.
"It would have been a lot quicker if you'd been on time" the brunette muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing. Look, Jodi, the past months have been…great, and I really do believe we had something good going on, but…"
"But what?"
"It's just not working anymore" Bette said quietly.
Jodi just laughed "What, you think you can find someone better?"
"Actually, yes, yes I do"
"Let me guess, Tina? You're still pining over her?" the redhead spat.
"I don't expect you to even begin to understand"
"You think you can actually make things work with some slut who can't make her mind up whether she wants to be with a man or a woman?"
"Don't you dare speak about her like that!" Bette tried to keep control of her temper, a feat which was growing harder with each word that the redhead spoke about her love.
"Defensive aren't we? You really think she can give you more than I can?"
Bette got to her feet "Tina is worth ten of you! Jodi, I can't do this anymore. I'm sick of the constant put downs, the snide comments, always being late. I need to be with someone who sees me as an equal, not someone at their beck and call who has to fit themselves around your busy schedule"
"And you don't think that's exactly what you'll do to Tina? Funny how you hate it when the shoes on the other foot" Jodi retorted.
"I love Tina. Ok, I've said it. I love her. I thought I loved you, but in all honesty it was lust, it was excitement, it was admiration for your creativity. But it never came close to how I feel about her"
"You'll get bored Bette"
"Never"
"You've cheated before and you'll cheat again. Clearly she doesn't have enough skills in the bedroom to keep you interested for long"
"You have no idea"
Jodi stood and the two women stared each other down.
"I'm warning you Bette, you'll regret this" the redhead snarled, her nostrils flaring.
"No, I won't. This is the best decision I've made in a long time"
Without warning, the palm of Jodi's hand struck Bette's cheek. The brunettes hand moved to her reddening cheek, her eyes wide in shock.
"You really think I'm just going to let you leave me for that whore?"
"Showing your true colours now, aren't you?" Bette snapped back.
The redhead launched herself at Bette, a hand grasping her throat as she pinned her to the sofa.
"You picked the wrong woman to mess with Bette Porter! You think you're so high and mighty, that you're some Goddess that has women falling over their feet to be with her. Well let me tell you this" Jodi hissed, leaning in closer to Bette's face "I could never have stayed faithful to you anyway, you're just too boring. I've been fucking Amy for months now. I had to get my kicks from somewhere!"
Bette couldn't help but laugh.
"You find that funny?"
"Actually, yes I do. You want to know where I was that night at Jenny's party when you couldn't find me? I was in the bathroom with Tina, getting from her what you could never give me"
Jodi struck the brunette across the face again. With one firm push, Bette managed to dislodge the redhead from her position on top of her, causing her to land on the floor.
"Just get out" Bette hissed.
"Don't say I didn't warn you" Jodi threatened, getting to her feet.
"Stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours, you understand?"
"Are you threatening me?"
"You know fully well that I could ruin you, Jodi. You want to push me?"
"You're all talk"
"Try me"
With one last flick of her hair, the redhead stormed out of the house, slamming the door on her way. She waited until she heard Jodi's car pull away down the street before she allowed the tears that had been building to fall. There was only one person she needed right now. She grabbed her car keys and headed out of the door, not caring to pack a bag.
The tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she drove the route that she knew by heart. She could barely see for her eyes were so clouded over, but thankfully she made it in one piece. Knocking on the door, she was greeted by a shocked looking Tina.
"Bette? What the hell happened?"
The blonde pulled Bette into her arms, closing the door behind her, and the brunette dissolved into floods of tears once more. She let herself be guided to the sofa and clung to the blonde.
"Momma?" Angie came into the living room in her pyjamas.
"Angie sweetie, can you go back to bed please?" Tina asked gently.
"Why is Momma B sad?"
"If you go back to bed your Momma and I will come and see you in a bit ok?"
The little girl seemed satisfied with that, and made her way back to bed. The blonde then turned to the older Porter who was sobbing in her arms.
"Bette, honey, will you please tell me what's wrong?"
"T…" the brunette lifted her head to meet the blondes concerned gaze "I left her"
"Babe, your face!"
Gently Tina reached out a hand to stroke Bette's cheek.
"Did she hit you?" the blonde asked softly.
Bette could only nod.
"I'll kill her, I swear to God, I'll kill her" the blonde tensed up.
"No T, please. Just hold me" begged the brunette.
The two clung together, both shedding tears for the pain that Jodi had caused the brunette.
"I've got you Bette. And I promise, I'm never letting go" Tina soothed.
"I love you. She's out of our lives baby, I won't let her hurt either of us again. It's just me and you"
"And the litte one in there" the blonde nodded towards Angelica's bedroom "You fancy saying goodnight to our daughter?"
"I would love nothing more"