Shane: Bette that Simone IS absolutely hot what is her story.
Tina: Why is she here?
Bette: Well shes going through a rough time and she doesnt have anyone so James and I are helping her out a bit.
Tina: OH you mentioned this.
Bette: Yeah
Tina: Well I think its sweet that you want to help but be careful there.
Bette: Tina I will be but theres no need to worry. (Bette leans in and kisses Tina tenderly) Ill be right back.

Bette walks over to James and Simone.
****



Bette: So how are you feeling today?
Simone: Much better. I’m working again thanks to you. Youve inspired me (flirtatiously)
Bette: Oh no don’t thank me you were ready to work again you just didn’t know it.
Simone: Im glad Im working again but Id like to get out a little too. You know all work and no play. I dont want to get boring.
Bette: Well you met Alice the other day. She usually knows whats going on maybe she can help you out with your social calendar.
Simone: Well I was hoping you would be able to help me out with that.
James starts laughing.
Bette: Well Tina and I are kind of home bodies these days. We like it like that.
Simone walks over to Alice to get some info on the social scene in West Hollywood.

Simone: Hi, Alice, right? I was wondering if you could tell me what’s going on tonight? I’ve been in a funk lately and it’s time I get out and live a little. Bette, well at least Bette has me working again but I’d like to live a little too you know.
Alice: (smiling) Well there’s always Milk, but it can be kind of a meat market if you go alone so make sure you go with someone just to get acclimated. I would offer to go with you but I’ll be eating a little crow tonight. Maybe Shane here will be free
Shane: I’d love to go with you. We’ll have a few drinks and a relaxed good time. Bette and Tina do you think you’ll be able to join us?
Bette: Maybe. We’re working on this really important thing at home. We might come out afterwards.
Alice: You guys are making a baby. How exciting Bette I know you’re loving this more than Tina you can’t keep your hands off of her am I right?

Bette was a little embarrassed in front of Simone. Simone looked over towards Bette not meaning to stare but couldn’t look away. Bette could feel her cheeks flush with humiliation and if that wasn’t enough Megan walked in. Shane stood up nervously to greet her. Bette felt her tension subside momentarily but Simone’s green eyed gaze was still boring a hole through her Tina peered over towards Simone and Simone finally relented realizing she needed to get herself together. The thoughts of Bette and Tina together were wreaking havoc within her mind it was too much for her to deal with but she couldn’t help but to think of Bette’s hands touching her–she thought she was past this. She was really happy for Tina and Bette and what they had, wasn’t she?

Tina excused herself and left the group to their own devices when James approached the table to talk shop with Bette and Simone. Megan of course made her presence known by being her vibrant self.

Megan: So this is the Planet I thought I’d finally drop in on your morning ritual. I’m sorry I’ve been so busy but once you get in the zone it really is hard to get out you know?

Shane standing to introduce Megan to everyone well here is everyone, Alice, this is Simone an artist Bette’s working with, and Dana’s already left and Tina Bettes wife is around here somewhere–over there, that guy is James Bette’s right hand man and you know Bette
Megan Biblically
Shane and Bette shooting Megan death stares for that comment
Simone shook her head Ms. Porter must get around shes apparently been with Megan too. Maybe I do have a chance after all. Get a grip Simone shes happily married trying to get pregnant with her perfect wife”let it go.
Megan: Simone and I met at an artist retreat in San Francisco a few months back too.
Simone: I remember you were just beginning to work again and I’d just stopped working I thought I’d get inspired if I went to the retreat. It didn’t help lets just say Bette has inspired me again.
Bette: No lets say I may have encouraged you to find your own inspiration. Megan Shane tells me you’re working a lot these days too.
Megan: Yes. I am and I do believe that Shane is my muse she’s so free and open and easy to be around, you know?
Bette: I do know.
Shane: Well Simone and I are going out tonight and Bette and Tina probably won’t be joining us. Will you be able to go?
Megan: Should I–do I have to or will you be on your best behavior I would prefer to work that’s why I’m here now so I’ll be able to work later.
Shane: I’ll be good or good at it.
Megan: I’d prefer you to just be good.
Shane: I will if you will. Come here
Shane walks with Megan over to a more secluded table hey what was that comment about Bette”biblically? That was so disrespectful. I know we aren’t together but if you want us to become an item that’s not the way to go about it. I think you owe Bette an apology.
Megan: And do I owe you one too.
Shane: No just don’t do it again I thought you were classier than that. Please don’t prove me wrong. Everyone’s entitled to one mess up but thats it.
Megan: I understand and you’re right. Occasionally I like getting under Bette’s skin I only do it because I can. Think about it I know she dated Alice that made three of us in one place whove been with her that has to make her damn uncomfortable and an uncomfortable Bette is funny to me it’s a rare occurrence like a total solar eclipse. But I do realize it would also make Tina uncomfortable too and I’m sure she’s a good person. Bette’s even a good person she’s just Bette and I like to see her squirm sometimes but you’re absolutely right I was wrong and I’ll never do it again. Speaking of Tina where is the woman who was able to tame the wild woman who is Bette Porter?
Shane: Im not sure shes around here somewhere
Megan: I am looking forward to meeting her but may I change the subject? (not waiting for a reply) Do you find Simone attractive?
Shane: Um..Um Yes Im not going to deny the obvious shes extremely attractive.
Megan: Shane I know weve been taking this”whatever this is very slowly but I enjoy every moment we spend together. I like you a lot. Youre easy to talk to, funny, thoughtful, and sweet and I know we havent said anything about dating other people but are you interested in dating Simone?
Shane: Megan I dont know her I just know shes nice looking Ive never had a conversation with her and though in the past that may not have meant anything Im actually trying something new. I think its called yeah -getting to know the girl. Im enjoying getting to know you and yeah Im going out with Simone tonight I dont know what will or what wont happen but I do hear what youre saying and Ill keep your feelings in mind.

Megan moved in closer to Shane and pulled her in for kiss their first kiss the kiss started off tender and grew more and more urgent Megans tongue parted Shanes mouth and Shane allowed her tongue entry and deepened the kiss. Megan said, keep that in mind too.

Shane breathlessly replied, okay; as Megan left the Planet. Bette, Simone, and James had witnessed the entire display. A flustered Shane turned around and faced Bette.

Bette noticed Tina was taking a while in the bathroom and decided to go check on her.

Bette: Tina, are you okay?
Tina: Yeah we use to have a signal”remember?
Bette: How could I forget”I was so wrapped up in what James was talking about.
Tina: Are you sure it was James you were wrapped up in?
Bette: T, are you serious?

Bette walks in the stall and gives Tina what she had patiently been waiting for—her.

The ladies leave and go about their days early the next morning entirely too early the next morning 5:00 to be exact there is a knock at the door and the phone starts to ring at the Porter-Kennard residence. Both Tina and Bette are startled and dont know whats going on.
Tina: Turn off the alarm babe.
Bette: Its the phone. (Answering the phone) Hello?
What time is it?
Alice (Crying in the phone) I dont know its early or late Im sorry. I really screwed things up with Dana can I come over?
Tina: The doors ringing too babe.
Bette (getting up) Ill get it. No Al Im talking to Tina. Someones at the door. Were up now”come over. Ok bye.
Shane?
Bette (opening the door) What are you doing here so early?
Shane: I really screwed up bad.
Bette: What does that mean?.
Tina: Whats going on”should I make coffee?
Bette: Please babe.
Shane: Tina I may need your advice too or you may need to calm Bette down after I tell her this.
Bette: OH ***** Shane what did you do?
Shane: Well I took Simone out to Milk. Well we had a good time. We had a few drinks and danced and she asked me back to her place and she has some awesome painting Bette. Shes really good, right?
Bette: What did you do?
Shane: She asked me to stay with her.
Bette: (Sighing) OK and
Shane: We were fooling around”Bette shes beautiful”I mean really beautiful I literally couldnt resist and she started it and then she stopped it. I was cool with it”I mean I was a little worked up but you know no means no but then she freaked out.
Bette: What does that mean?
Shane: She started saying it wasnt right I wasnt her”I wasnt her
Tina: You werent who?
Shane: I think she meant her ex. Bette I know you told me not to deal with her and I did and Im sorry.
Bette: You dont owe me an apology. Im sure she didnt know she wasnt ready until tonight. Its just sad”its so sad.
Tina: Bette, babe are you okay?
Bette: Yeah its just so damn sad how you think everything is okay or that your life is okay and then bam everything changes—nothing seems solid. I feel bad for her she has to try to start over and it wont be easy for her Tina. Shes alone and its scary.
Tina: Bette its her life shell figure it out”shes okay. Shell be okay. Shes a talented beautiful woman.
Bette: Beauty doesnt protect you from heartbreak Tina. Beautiful people get heartbroken everyday too T.
Tina: Touch Babe I just think you are getting to invested in this and I dont want you to get too close to this.
Bette: Tina I wont I just know what it feels like to feel your whole life crumble before your eyes and to feel so helpless to do anything about it.
Shane sat quietly and looked at Bette she too could remember that Bette, the broken one the one that Tina never really saw. A shiver ran through Shane as she remembered that version of Bette sitting on the floor holding Tinas picture crying unable or unwilling to open the door to let her in. She also knew Bette had changed for the better because this Bette was able to talk about her feelings and to be compassionate and empathetic towards someone elses pain. Shane still looked at Bette with complete admiration and if she was honest she had somehow managed to put her back on a pedestal but this time the pedestal wasnt about how things appeared to be she admired Bette for her heart. A slow smile crept across Shanes lips shed wait until she could speak to Bette alone about what had happened between her and Megan after she left Simones she really didnt know what to do about Megan. Yes she was interested but Megan was very high maintenance the question is -is she worth the trouble? Shane thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

Tina got up and answered

Alice immediately hugged Tina.

Alice: I really messed up with Dana. She said its too late. She thinks we should just be friends and I never really liked her more than a friend anyway. She thinks I just knew Tonya was wrong for her and didnt want her to go through with marrying her. She said if I was really interested in her I would have taken her out by now. Is she right”on some level even I think shes right. But guys were always together so I never made a big deal about taking her out. Bette I know youre going to say I should have and youre right I should have. I miss her already. I love her. Oh my God. Did I just say I love her out loud? See I do love her and not like I love Shane or Tina or even you Bette. I think Im in love with her but she wont believe me. Bette I know what youre going to say. I gotta make her believe me”show her. How do I do that? Yoda I know what you would say too treating her the way Ive always treated her doesnt let her know that I think shes special. Tina you think I should do what? Wine and dine her but keep it simple nothing to extravagant. The little things”notes, cards, flowers, what else? What does she like other than tennis and cats”how can I combine tennis and cats? Theres gotta be something special I can do.

Alice walks around and gives everyone a hug and leaves.

She comes back and opens the door.

Alice: By the way thanks you guys are the best friends anyone could ever have.



Shane: Id better go too. Id like to stop by the CAC a little later today to talk to you if you have time?
Bette: Im free this afternoon but only for a few minutes what is it about?
Shane: (whispering) Well despite my little run in with Simone last night Im considering giving this thing with Megan a go”but I want things to be different. Yesterday when she kissed me at the Planet. That was our first kiss.
Bette: NO Way. Youve been hanging out with her for weeks theres no way that was your first kiss.
Shane: Yes it was stop embarrassing me.
Bette: Im just shocked thats all.
Shane: You told me to take things slow.
Tina laughed and then excused herself seeing these two needed their privacy she went to go make breakfast.
Tina: Shane stay for breakfast.
Shane: Only if its no trouble
Tina: Its no trouble.
Shane: Thanks Tina. Look Bette. I see what you and Tina have here and its special and I know your story and I know good things come to those who wait. Megan isnt straight”far from it. But Im trying to get to know her see what shes about before we just make it all about a physical relationship. Do you know how many girls Ive been with but how many I really, really know? I dont want to do that anymore I want more than just a warm body I want this”a home breakfast with someone who loves me.
Bette: I think its good to at least know what you want Shane. Thats great.
Shane: The thing is”how did you do it? (Whispering again)
Bette: Do what?
Shane: Well you waited until Tina was ready but were you totally celibate until then. I mean Bette you could have been with a number of girls. I know girls were probably hitting on you and calling you before you guys made it official so did you fool around before it was official?
Bette: (laughing) No I didnt. The day I gave Tina her earring back. The day I kissed her I threw out my phonebook—actually I gave it to Alice. I informed anyone who called me that I was seeing someone, same for anyone who approached me. It was hard and not hard waiting until she was ready. I really would have waited forever because I knew she would be worth the wait”she was. I took a lot of cold showers but I wouldnt have done anything any differently. When you know you know”with Tina I just knew.

Despite Shanes whispering Tina heard it all. She heard Bettes response shed often wondered but never asked she smiled and was so glad Shane wanted to bend Bettes ear on that particular subject. Just hearing Bette recount their early days more specifically what was going on with her during those days was an instant turn on for Tina.

Tina: Shane your breakfast is on the table. Bette yours will be lying in our bed in about fifteen seconds.

TBC