Yes. I have to. *****, its the least I can do for all the damage Ive caused.

Candace watched with a sinking heart as Bette pulled on her shoes and grabbed her bag. She could see the light that came into Bettes eyes when she thought Tina was on the phone. Sure, it was mixed in with expressions of guilt and pain, but the hope was still there, even if Bette didnt realise it herself.

Ill call you, Bette said, about to run out the door. Candace steeled herself for what she was about to do, knowing that it was what was needed.

Bette, wait. She stood and walked over to Bette, who was occupied by a futile attempt to smooth her crumpled shirt.

Mmm?

When you see Tina, tell her how much you love her.

Bettes head snapped up in surprise. Wha?

I know youre still in love with her. I think that, right now, youre just confused and lost, and you probably dont know youre still in love with her. But you are Bette, I can see it in your face, in the way you cried when you first got here, in the way you jumped to answer the phone because you thought it was her.

She smiled humourlessly at Bettes stunned expression, and gently pushed under her chin with one finger to close her gaping mouth.

As much as this is hurting me to say, we will never work out. She took a big, shuddering breath. So, go home, and make sure Tina knows how much you love her. Apologise, give her time, go to therapy, do whatever it takes to get her back. But do it, Bette. Because you need her.

After a long pause, Bette managed to find the words she wanted to say. Thank you, she whispered.

Could you just leave now? Candace asked, knowing that she was only a few seconds away from breaking down, which she didnt want to do in front of Bette. Bette nodded and, shooting her one last grateful glance, walked out of the bedroom.

Candace held her breath until she heard the front door close, then she gave in to the sobs that had been building inside her.

*****

so what Im saying is, Im not in love with you, I never was, and it was a mistake asking you to marry me.

Tonya didnt even react to Danas words. She just looked at her, not moving, not speaking. She even appeared to have stopped breathing, and Dana began to get a bit worried that shed broken her as the seconds of silence stretched into minutes.

She was just about to speak again, when Tonya broke into a huge smile. Aww, Dana, this thing with Tina must have really got to you. See, youre talking gibberish! Its a good job I know how much you really love me.

Dana stared at her in disbelief. Shed kept it simple to avoid confusing Tonya, but it seemed even her harsh words hadnt got through her thick skull. No, Tonya, I

She was interrupted by the ringing of her cell. Shaking her head in despair at the grinning woman on her couch, she grabbed it, sighing when she saw who was on the caller ID.

Al, now is really not a good time

*****

I dont ***** care if youre in the middle of climbing Mount Everest. Get your ***** over to Bette and Tinas now, Alice shouted down the phone as she turned off the freeway.

Bette and Tinas, Tina repeated under her breath, staring out the window as they sped through her familiar neighbourhood.

~Why? What’s going on?~

Shanes disappeared, Alice told her, not wanted to get into everything right now.

~Ill be right there.~

Alice hung up just as they pulled up to the house. She released her seat belt and was about to get out the car when she noticed Tina wasnt doing the same.

Tina? You ok?

Tina shook her head, still staring at the empty driveway. Shes not here, she whispered. Her cars not here. Where is she?

Tina Alice began, then realised that nothing she could say would console her. They both knew where Bette had been, and it was pointless trying to deny it. Are you coming inside?

Tina shook her head. No, Ill wait for her out here. I cant go injust yet.

Ok, Alice said simply, and she sat back in her seat to wait.

******

As she turned into her street she saw Alices car already parked outside her house. She mentally cursed all the traffic lights in LA for holding her up and preventing her from getting there before Alice and Tina.

But, there was nothing she could do now, and after pulling into her drive she sat for a few moments to prepare herself for the onslaught that was about to come. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, trying to stop the bile that had risen into her throat from coming any further.

A loud tapping on her window brought her out of her thoughts. She turned to see Tina with an angry look on her face, indicating for her to get out of the car. Slowly and with shaking hands she did so, wondering if she was going to get another slap across the face.

Where the ***** have you been? Tina shouted as soon as she was stood upright. Have you been ***** your carpenter *****?

Bette flinched. No, T

Dont lie to me Bette, I can smell her all over you.

I wasnt, I swear, Bette insisted desperately. I just needed someone to talk to…

What? So you picked her? Just to talk to? Tina looked at her, disgusted. Whatever, I bet you were all over her as soon as youd got me out of the way.

T, it wasnt like that. We just talked

And you seriously expect me to believe what you say? You seriously expect me to believe the words of a filthy, lying, hypocritical cheater such as yourself?

Bette recoiled, those words hitting her harder than if she had been physically struck. She could feel the anger bubbling up inside her, she was about to erupt and it wasnt going to be pretty.

I dont expect anything, because you wont even let me explain! she shouted back, slamming the car door and moving closer to Tina. Youre not the only one whos hurt and lost and scared, Tina, its both of us. I know it was my fault, but my world has fallen apart too! So dont stand there and condemn me for needing to talk to someone!

But why her, Bette? Why did you go to her? Tina asked accusingly.

Who was I supposed to go to? You needed Alice and the others, and Kits disappeared off the face of this earth. Her voice broke, and when she next spoke it was in a near whisper. I was all alone, T. Who was I supposed to go to?

Neither of them spoke as they looked at each other, Bette pleading with her eyes, trying to get Tina to understand. After a long pause, it was Alice who came up behind them and broke the silence.

Guys, now is not the time. What are we going to do about Shane?

*****

The wind rushed through her hair as she soared through the air, reaching for the heavens then plummeting back to the ground as the swing came back down. She could hear giggling behind her as a pair of strong hands pressed against her back, pushing her up again into the azure blue sky.

The endorphins rushed through her bloodstream, making her throw her head back and laugh at the pure happiness she was feeling. She looked around at the world filled with colour and noise and sensation. Today, the world wasnt scary. Today, the world was brighter. Today, the world wasspinning?

She blinked in surprise as the swing she was on disintegrated beneath her and she fell, pain searing through her back as she hit the concrete. Black, stormy clouds suddenly rolled across the sky, blocking out the sunlight.

The world wasnt bright anymore.

Three people were appeared over her, looking down with identical amused looks on their faces. They opened their mouths and began to make a loud, shrill beeping noise that cut through her like a knife.

She shivered as it began to rain, soaking her in a matter of seconds. She closed her eyes, trying to make it all go away, but everything was imprinted on her eyelids so she opened them again. Her limbs wouldnt respond to her brains wishes, and she thrashed her head from side to side trying to stop the buzzing in her brain.

Can you hear me?

It was so quiet she hardly heard it, a voice, distant but soft and inviting. She stopped thrashing and listened hard, trying to ignore the beeping people.

Can you hear me?

There it was again, and a woman with a kind face and a nurses uniform materialised next to her.

Can you open your eyes? the woman asked gently, and she was surprised to find they were closed again. Struggling against the ten-tonne weights that had attached themselves to her lashes she managed to crack them open slightly. Her strange world evaporated and she found herself in a sterile white room.

Can you hear me? a woman in scrubs asked, smiling comfortingly. She nodded, and the throbbing in her head intensified. Can you tell me your name?

Shane, she croaked, her throat feeling like it was full of sandpaper. Shane McCutcheon.

Ok Shane, youre in Cedars emergency department. You were in a car accident.

That cant be right, Shane thought. I just fell out of swing, thats all.

Is there anyone I can call for you? the nurse asked as she finished fiddling with the tubes going into her arms.

My friend, Alice Pieszecki.

The nurse said something else, but Shane wasnt listening. The people had stopped beeping and they were calling her to come back. They had a dog, and they were going to play Frisbee.