Alice strolled up to where Dana was seated at The Planet with the biggest grin on her face.

“Heyyyyy Al!”

Dana practically sung out her greeting to Alice and seemed perfectly confident even though deep down she was a nervous wreck.

‘Okay, I have to play it cool. I have to find out why she kissed me. I need to know she felt the same way I did. I have to be absolutely sure. I can’t risk loosing both my best friend and the woman I think I’m in love with at the same time.’

Alice was happy that Shane had told her Dana had felt the same way but she needed to hear it from Dana more than anything and that made her a nervous wreck too.

‘Play it cool Pieszecki. Play it cool.’

Unfortunately for Alice, to ‘play it cool’ was a bit harder today than usually expected. She practically squeaked out her “Hi” in a very high pitched voice before turning beet red and quickly looking away. At this Dana could help but reach out to Alice and touch her face before slightly lifting it to face her. When Alice’s eyes met hers she couldn’t help but let out a giggle.

“You gonna sit down Al?”

Alice couldn’t believe that Dana had touched her and she was still reeling from the aftershock of how she sounded before.

“Al?”

“Ummm uhhhh ummm yeah yeah… but ummm caffeine…. yeah caffeine first… uhh can I ummm like get you anything?”

Dana looked down at her cappuccino – untouched and cold.

“No thanks.”

She gestured to her drink.

“Guess I’m not in a coffee mood.”

Alice smiled at Dana before excusing herself and walking off to get her latte. While she was waiting at the counter she would occasionally steal a glance at Dana when she thought she wasn’t looking. Dana on the other hand didn’t hide the fact that she was looking at Alice. Every now and again she saw Alice glancing over at her and every time she noticed her smile grew wider. Although she was becoming impatient waiting for Alice she felt that nothing could spoil her mood right now.

Or atleast thats what she thought.

***

Bette walked in to the house feeling absolutely dejected. Never in her life had Bette Porter felt this way. She slowly closed the front door, rested her forehead on the closed door and slowly shut her eyes. The house was pitch black and there was a certain eeriness about it. It felt strange to come home to an empty house. A house without Tina. It didn’t feel like home anymore.

She sighed loudly, heaved in a deep breath and turned to face the emptiness before her. Bette just stood there, in the darkness, the darkness that seemed to be consuming her as she slowly gave into it. For once in her life she was afraid of what the future hold. Not excited. Not nervous. Just frightened and alone. She took a step backwards, leant against the door and slid to the floorbefore burying her head deep in her hands and crying like she had never cried before.

All hope was gone and the life she dreamt of with Tina was lost. Tina deserved better than her and Bette knew it.

TBC