TINA AND BRYANS HOME

Tina and Bryan arrived back in their LA home at approximately 10:30am Sunday morning. Throughout the whole flight back, all Tina could think of was Bette. The way Bette looked, touched, kissed, and how good she smelled. These thoughts had sent chills down Tinas spine. Whats wrong with me? Am I in love? Tina questioned herself. I cant seem to get Bette Porter out of my mind. Bryan on several occasions had asked Tina if she was okay because of how quiet and reserved she was, and that she was also being short with him. Tina was not in the mood to converse with Bryan at the time, she just wanted to be left alone.

Tina has been trying to look over some of the documents from the malpractice case that was in front of her for the past several hours without success. She glanced at the clock that was sitting on her desk and noticed that it says 5pm. Bette should be home by now Tina thought. Bette had told Tina last night when she would be arriving back in LA. Bette also gave Tina her business card and had written her cell number on the back. Tina took the card out of her purse and just stared at it as if she has been hypnotized.

Bryan: (stuck his head in the doorway) Honey, what do you want for dinner?

Tina: (sounding annoyed) I dont care.

Bryan: So what do you think about this case? Is it one of those slam dunk cases? (Bryan teased)

Tina: (Tina sighs) Honestly, I havent been able to concentrate on it.

Bryan: Why? Tina, this is a big case, you only have a week left to prepare. Get with the program! You cannot lose this case! Theres a lot of money riding on this case and we cannot afford to lose.

Tina: (sounding irritated) we? Is that all you care about is winning and money? Do you ever stop to even think or care how I feel? I am mentally exhausted Bryan! And all you could think about is the ***** money?

Bryan: Tina, stop being a ***** about it. You know as well I do thats what we thrive for.

Tina: (getting upset) what the ***** are you talking about? I am a lawyer because I love what I do, unlike you! And how dare you call me a *****!

Bryan: (moving closer toward Tina) No, no, thats not what I meant babe.

Tina: (standing up now with arms folding across her chest) then what the ***** do you mean Bryan Landers.

Bryan: (trying to smooth things over with Tina) Babe, Im sorry. I didnt mean for it to come out that way. Its just that I want you to do well, and remember our dream of opening up our own law firm?

Tina: Bryan, I changed my mind.

Bryan: (playing dumb) Change your mind about what? Tina I know we havent been communicating well these past few months. I promise itll get better. As a matter of fact, Ive been thinkingwhat do you think about us going to couples counseling? I meanI love you Tina and I know that you love me. Its worth a shot of saving our relationship doesnt it?

Tina: (looking at Bryan as if he was speaking in a foreign language) Bryan, I dont think its going to work.

Bryan: (raising his voice) WHAT?

Tina: Bryan, please calm down and listen to me for once. Yes, I love you, but Im not in love with you. Theres a difference. Ive been thinking a lot about us lately, and as far as Im concern, were not getting anywhere. We have the same old routine day in and day out. Its bad enough that we dont see much of each other, and when we do its always what YOU want to do, you have no regards for my feelings whatsoever. This relationship is all about YOU Bryan, and frankly, Im getting sick of it!

Bryan stood there for a few minutes with his mouth hanging wide open, his sweet Tina has never spoken to him in this way before.

Bryan: Babe, Im sorry if you feel that way. I wish you would have said something to me about it. Thats why I think if we could talk this through in couples

Tina interrupted Bryan before he could finish.

Tina: Its too late Bryan. I want out.

Bryan: NO! Tina… please give us a chance! Ill change, I promise, just dont give up on us yet. I know youre tired from the trip; do you want to lay down for a few hours?

(Bryan hesitated for a minute) Tinaare you seeing someone else?

Tina: What?

Bryan: Why else would you want to leave me? Its that Carter guy isnt it?

Tina: Bryan, does it ever occur to you that I want to leave because Im not in love with you?

Bryan: (sounding cocky) whatever, you know Im a good catch, and youll never going to find anyone out there like me.

Tina: (shaking her head in disgust) you and your ***** narcisstic personality. Yeah youre right; Im never going to find anyone else like you. THANK GOD!

Tina then grabbed her jacket off from the chair and stormed out of the house slamming the front door behind her. What a prick Tina thought, I cant believe Ive put with his ***** for this long.

Bryan thought about running after Tina, but his pride got the better of him. Bryan Landers dont chase after no woman, *****, women chase after me, Bryan conceitedly thought to himself. Bryan and Tina had fought many times in their relationship and the end result is always the same with Tina coming back home and they would end up having make up *****. For some reason, Bryan felt this ending may have a different outcome, and it was beginning to scare him.

Tina drove around in her BMW to no where in particular as tears were streaming down her face. She thought about all that had happened in the last couple of days. Now what? she ask herself out loud.

Tina had moved into Bryans house 4 months ago. It was Bryans idea, he thought they would save a lot of money, and besides Tina was barely living in her apartment at the time, so it was a good idea then. As Tina continue driving she reflected back on how her life has been within the past year, how much she had enjoyed having someone in her life, she was comfortable, content, or so she thought, and now that shes back out in this big bad world again as a single person it was starting to scare the ***** out of her as she wonder what the ***** she was getting herself into by falling for a woman. But Tina knew that she couldnt control her feelings or her heart.

BETTES APARTMENT

Bette arrived home from the airport at around 5:30pm, LA traffic was horrible as usual and that only made Bettes mood even worse as Bette was also tired from lack of sleep. The only good thing out of the trip was that she had met Tina Kennard, and just the thought of Tina put Bette in a better mood as a smile appeared on her face.

Bette noticed the answering machine light was blinking furiously, she had only been home for fifteen minutes and thought about taking a short nap but decided to listen to her messages instead.

The first message was from James.

James: Hey Bette, its James, a couple of paintings had arrived yesterday. They were the back order ones. I called a Bryan Landers and left him a message about coming by to pick it up. He was the one that paid cash and had specifically instruct me to let him know as soon as the painting arrived. Just wanted to keep you in the loop in case you decide to stop by the gallery tonight and he calls asking for it.

The other messages were from Kit and Dana wanting Bette to call them back, they wanted to hear all about her trip. Bryan Landers, Bette thought to herself, the name rings the bell. Where did I hear that name from? It was now 6:30pm, ***** sleep Bette mumbled to herself as she grabbed her car keys and headed out the door. She needed to go check on her gallery and besides this Bryan Landers might want to pick up his painting tonight. In hindsight, Bette considered all of her customers VIP.



TBC