Bette woke up smiling and rolled over reaching for Tina. Her smile faded and she was stunned to find Tina gone. Bette got up thinking she may have been in another part of the house. She wasnt! Bette stood in the kitchen confused and alone. She paced the floor wondering what could have happened, and then went into the living room to call Tinas cell. Choking back the tears, Bette reached for the phone and saw the note. She picked it up and read it. The words slapped her in the face. Bette held the note to her chest and released the tears that she had been choking back. Her heart ached as she realized Tina had played her. It hurt her worse than the fight they had gotten into before Tina left. Bette cried uncontrollably and collapsed into the couch.

At Alices apartment

Tina lay in the bed writing in her journal. It was her new way of taking control of her thoughts and her feelings. She wrote down everything that happened with Bette and for a moment wondered if Bette was still sleeping. A part of her felt bad for what she did, but overall she was satisfied in having hurt Bette almost as much as she was hurting. Tina stared at her cell phone knowing that she intentionally left it off in case Bette called her. She didnt want to talk to her. She wanted Bette to realize that she was no longer the soft, meek, or timid woman she once was. She was no longer going to be complacent in her own life or a relationship. It was a brand new Tina and she was going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Tina put her journal down and closed her eyes.

At Bettes house

Bette finally regained her composure and put the note down. She got up and went back to her bedroom. She laid back down on the bed and tried to go back to sleep. She tossed and turned and pulled the pillow to her for comfort. A familiar scent caught her nose and her chest started to ache again. She held the pillow close to her nose and the scent of Tina overwhelmed her. A sexual rush ran through her and her loins yearned. Tears flowed from her still red, swollen eyes, as she held onto the pillow. Then without warning, Bette threw the pillow and jumped off of the bed. She ripped the sheets from the bed and threw them into a messy heap in the corner. She was yelling and cursing. Bette opened the closet and stared at her clothes. She located the ones shed worn when she was with Candace and threw them into a pile. She then ripped off her clothes, threw them into the corner and ran to the bathroom. She ran the water as hot as she could bare and stood in the shower crying. She cursed both Tina and Candace for what was happening to her. Bette collapsed in the corner as the water flowed onto her. She stayed in the shower until the water ran cold. She struggled to stand, then made her way out. She pulled on her robe and walked to the kitchen. She was trembling. Her body felt tight and sluggish, her head was aching and her eyes stung from crying. Bette put the kettle on and paced the floor until it boiled. She kept staring at the phone wishing she could muster the strength to call Tina. She prepared a cup of tea and took it to the living room. She held it close to her face, but didnt sip from it. In her mind, she replayed the evening and partly smiled, but began hurting again for herself and for Tina. She had underestimated Tina and now she had not only lost her, but now had a taste of what Tina must have felt the night that she confronted her. Bette threw the cup across the room and reached for the phone. She dialed Tinas cell. It rang straight to the voice mail. Bette waited, contemplating what she would leave as a message. The beep

Uhm. Tina! Its Bette. I. Uhm. I got your note and, and Im so sorry. I, uh, um, Tina, please call me.

Bette hung up and held the phone to her chest. She was about to put it down and changed her mind. She dialed Candaces number then hung up. She didnt know what she should say. She partially hated Candace at the moment and wanted to confront her and tell her that she was in part responsible for what happened, but she couldnt. She was afraid. Bette got up and paced the floor. It was now almost 2:00am.

Bette went to the kitchen to get some aspirin and went back to the living room. She refused to go into the bedroom so she curled up on the couch and put the TV on. She needed something to distract her from her thoughts and anxiety. It took a while, but she finally fell asleep. In the midst of her sleep, Bette began to stir as the vivid images of her making love to Tina flashed through her mind. She stirred as if responding to the images and woke up startled and calling for Tina. Bette sat up and held the blanket tight around her. She was flustered and shaking. For the first time in seven years Bette found herself alone and hating every moment of it. She thought of all the times shed taken Tina for granted or treated Tina without the respect she deserved. She mentally berated herself for giving in to Candace and cursed the day they met. She knew she and Tina had some problems, but cheating with Candace and having Tina treat her like a ***** wasnt going to make them better. She needed to make things right. She wanted Tina back.

Bette got up and reached for the phone again. She waited for the voice message to end.

Tina, its Bette again. I know Im the last person you want to hear from. I know youre hurt and its my fault. Seeing you tonight and making love the way we did made me realize that I really do want and need you in my life. Tina, Im so sorry for cheating and I want to make things right with you. When you get this message, please call me.

Bette hung up and then started dialing again. She was visibly nervous and contemplated hanging up again, but changed her mind. She had to make the call. The phone rang for the third time and Bette was about to hang up.

Hello? Came the sultry greeting.

Total nervousness took over and Bette hung up. She didnt mean to, but the sound of Candaces voice was more than she could stand. She paced the floor wishing she hadnt done that. She wasnt sure if Candace had caller ID or if she might *69 the call. She hoped Candace would just ignore it as a wrong number and let it ride. Tension took over and Bette sat down.

I have to do this. I have to fix this. Bette said out loud.

She stared at the phone praying it wouldnt ring. It didnt and Bette now felt comfortable trying to go back to sleep. She fell asleep on the couch and remained asleep until the sound of the doorbell woke her up. Bette woke up a little confused. She wondered who would be at her house so early in the morning. She peaked out the window, became overcome and fainted.