Part 7

Shane had always avoided relationships because she found them to be messy, complicated and hurtful to at least one of the involved parties. It simply wasnt worth the trouble. ***** you could deal with, love was a totally different animal – a dangerous one. A fact of life she had forgotten for a short while, but the brutal reminder had been a serious wakeup call. From now on love were limited to friends only – as it should have been all along.

Now, feeling guiltily grateful that it wasnt her own, she was thrown into the middle of a whole lot of that messy, complicated relationship-stuff, with hurt and despair painted all over it. And it was involving some of the people she cared most about in the world.

One of them being Marina – the only one of her friends she had been close to crossing the line with. Okay, who wouldnt? A crush on this woman wasnt a rare sight in the ***** community of West Hollywood, but fortunately they formed a lasting friendship instead of ***** their brains out one obligatory time and never speak again.

And she was the one friend that Shane never really had a hold on. Elusive, reclusive, distant, mysterious, enigmatic. Those were some of the words you could attach to Marina.

And now this strong, always calm, cool and collected woman had turned into a mess of contradictions and weird behavior because of love. Yes, Shane had guessed that Marinas interactions with Jenny hadnt been predatory at all, maybe it had started that way, but things had definitely changed. Love got in the way of great ***** and all it left behind was pain.

Marina should have known better than to let this happen. Shane sighed and let her eyes wander between the two women sitting in opposite ends of the room.

She prayed to God that things were going better between Bette and Tina in the next room.

A sound of a car pulling up startled her – and Jenny too it seemed, because she threw out another ***** in surprise. Marina didnt even raise an eyebrow. She just got up and slowly walked to the door. Jenny followed her ***** with hunger and longing.

Not that Shane could blame her – no not really. Marinas ***** was certainly worth a great deal of admiration and drooling. And Jenny was lucky enough to know just how that ***** tasted! – Shane couldnt help but smirk leeringly at the thought, totally forgetting that there was a stranger at the door.

Hi, Im looking, the voice stumbled a little, for Bette Porter. Her office told me I might find her here?

The way Marinas whole body tensed, made Shane very curious – and suddenly very nervous. She joined her friend at the door. Holy *****! Oh *****.

Who is it? Jenny asked, noticing the two tense bodies blocking the doorway.

Candace the carpenter, I presume Marina said with cool politeness.

Shane swallowed hard.

Who? Jenny was thrown totally out of the loop, not knowing the full story to Bette and Tinas rift.

Man, this is a ***** soap opera! Shane muttered.

Marina – yes she actually DID – smiled. Now we just need a lame suicide attempt followed by a new face to an old character.

Classic, Shane shook her head, but ridiculous and a cheap cop out.

Marina nodded in agreement. And it do not happen in real life, but this obviously do, she gestured at Candace, who watched the two women like they had just arrived from space.

Excuse me, she said uncomfortably. Im not sure Im following you.

No, cant say I blame you, Jenny said, clearly irritated by it all.

Shane shrugged.

Marina well-used eyebrow rose very Xena-like, almost making her look just as menacing.

Im sorry, is this the wrong house? Candace asked, eyes flickered from one woman to another.

Yes, Shane said with all the authority she could muster.

No, Jenny said at exactly the same time.

Marina, could we Bettes voice trailed off in shock. Survival instinct kicked in and she quickly closed the door behind her. What are you doing here? she whispered angrily.

*****. Shane closed her eyes.

Meet your long lost sister, Marina mumbled, revealing a normally very hidden and very dark sense of humor.

What?! Panic and desperation poured from Bette in devastated waves.

Candace looked, if possible, even more confused.

I am sorry, Marina sighed. Wrong show. Then she focused on Candace looking very much like Xena now. I must ask you to leave.

Bette? Candace took a step forward. I have to talk to you.

No Bette shook her head. This cant be happening. If Tina sees her here Im totally fucked. She wont ever believe me! Oh, God.

Shane caught her, just before Bettes legs collapsed and she gently got her trembling friend down on a chair.

Jenny appeared beside Marina. What the ***** is going on here?

Marina ignored her. Candace, I must ask you to leave. This is not the time for you two to talk.

But Candace tried, tears appeared in her eyes.

What the ***** is going on here?

Everybody, besides Candace who didnt know what to believe, hoped and prayed that the voice belonged to Jenny – even Jenny herself, but unfortunately it didnt.

Tina stood in the doorway, looking much – to stay on the Xena-trail – like Callisto on the verge of going over the edge, eyes dark with anger.

Oh no, please no, Bette whispered, suddenly sickly pale.

Lets be reasonably now. Things are getting a bit overheated, arent they? Come on, guys, please. Shane desperate tried to calm Bette down and at the same time trying to get Tinas attention away from Candace, somehow make her understand that Bette was devastated and had no part in her arrival.

I think Im in the middle of a ***** nightmare, Jenny said. Cant get more nightmarish than this, can it?

Marina, honey, why wasnt I invited to this exiting party?

When Shane spotted the blond hair and the mocking grin of the newest visitor, all she could think was: Yep, pure soap.

tbc
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