Her Portrait Is Black and White

Friendships

Bette looked at Alice who was starring at her with her mouth wide open. she couldn't deal with what she had just heard.

"You...Bette Porter are moving out of West Hollywood and out of LA to some hippy dippy ranch to be with a woman you barely know. Jesus Bette have you lost your mind," Alice said, she couldn't help herself. she wanted her friend to see how crazy she thought the situation was.

"Alice, it's not a hippy ranch, at the moment it's a burnt down ranch, but we are designing the place together."

"Does Tina own the land and house right out?" Shane asked, sipping her coffee, sitting back in the chair a small smile on her face. she was very pleased for Bette. she knew that Tina was right for her but the rest of the gang hadn't really reached that point yet, mainly due to how painfully shy Tina was.

"Yeah, she bought it with her inheritance when her mother and father were murdered."

"Murdered?" Alice sat forward. She loved gossip.

"I'm not getting into it with you. that's private. But yeah. she bought the house and land. the land area is massive."

"Why does she want to live out there?" Alice asked, "I mean come on, Bette you're a city gal. you love it in central LA. Your business is here, your house is here. you can't be seriously thinking of just moving out like that." Alice clicked her fingers.

Bette reached forward and picked up her mug of coffee and took a sip. She was trying to form the correct words in her head. she didn't want to lose her temper with Alice as that was the wrong way to go about things.

"I'm not leaving my business, the gallery will still need to be ran, but I have galleries all over the world and could have a home study if I don't want to drive into LA every day. Plus yes I have a nice house, filled with lovely art work but its not a home. It's more like a show home. It's horrible. I don't like it. When I build the studio for Jodi I thought I could make that house into a home, but it didn't and she left before I could even show the fucking thing to her. Tina uses and feels like it's not her own because it wasn't made for her. it wasn't made with her form of art in mind. Tina is not a city girl she wants to live a quieter life. I would get away from the judging eyes of the lesbian community and give Tina something she wants. A home. a studio, a girlfriend who loves her and maybe yes maybe one day a family." Bette said the whole speech carefully, choosing her words rightly as she knew she wanted to express to her friends how she really feels about the whole situation.

"You're joking right," Alice said slowly

"No, Alice I'm not. Tina wants a quiet life. away from LA. The noise even in my neighbourhood is districting to her. she hates that she can't recycle as much as she can at her place."

"She's turned your head Porter, what happens if this relationship breaks up like Jodi, you'd have give everything up. A house, that yeah you say isn't a home but you've worked for it. it's yours. What will you do if Tina suddenly decides she doesn't want to be with you anymore. What the fuck happens then?" Alice demanded.

Shane looked at Alice and saw the look on her face. Alice was scared for Bette but was being her usual overly loud self. Shane turned and looked at Bette who was eyeing Alice with a look that even Shane couldn't judge.

"I'm not selling my house yet, I'm going to rent it out. I'm not just upping and leaving the state you know I'm moving out of LA. It's important that Tina and I are comfortable. It's going to take a while for us to get the house designed and built. It's not an overnight project. Things aren't suddenly going to be done. there is a path we have to take."