Summary of the previous chapter: Bette awakes in Alexs hotel suite where they share memories of their childhood. Alex meets the gang, less Bette, at the Planet.

Alex, Tina, Shane, Alice, and Dana spent almost two hours at the Planet sipping drinks and laughing as Alex shared her most recent adventures and got caught up on all that had happened in her friends lives since she had seen them last. The subject of Bette and Tinas relationship was carefully avoided.

At last Alex asked her friends how they planned to entertain her that night. Naturally, she was informed that they would be going to Milk.

Sucks for you home girl. Alex grinned at Shane.
How is that?
Competition, my friend.
You dont scare me. Shane laughed.

Alex turned to Tina. I hope you will be bringing a date. I am waiting to meet the famous Lady *****.
Must you have an odd nickname for everyone?

Of course, T-bird. I study history. Do you know how many Johns, Roberts, Marys, and Elizabeths there were? You have to create a distinctive nickname or you get confused. I would hate to get Mary the Bald confused with Mary the *****. Further, it adds to my image as an eccentric. You know how I value my image as an eccentric. Besides, I thought you would be happy that Ive stopped calling her The British *****.


The group split to go their ways until they would meet later that night. When she returned to her hotel, Alex called Bette and told her to come to the hotel preferably discretely packed with her clothes for the night. Alex planned to warm up Tina before having Bette come along. She was sure that she could charm T-bird into a good mood so that she would be more tolerant of Bettes nearness. At times Alex had the tendency to display a hint of romantic naivet.

Bette had no problem getting out of the house without an inquiry from Tina. They may have shared a roof, but Tina made it clear that she didnt give a damn what Bette did as long as Bette didnt do it with her.

Naturally, it being Bette and Alex, a bottle of wine appeared as soon as they were together in the hotel suite. Most people would have categorized Alex as a drunk given the amount that she could put away. In Alex’s mind, she may have been, but in truth she had a high tolerance for alcohol and a firm belief in its ability to get people to open and say what they might otherwise choose not to reveal.

Alex sat on the couch with Bette at the other end, her legs resting on Alexs lap.
So, tell me about the strumpet.

Who?

The *****, the *****, the harlot, the woman of loose morals, the lady of ill repute, would you like me to continue?

I didnt visit a hooker, Alex.

True, but how do you characterize someone who sleeps with a married woman?

Candace did nothing in which I was not a willing participant.

True, youre trash and should be shot. We decided that last night , but tell me about her. Why her? Why now?
She was available; she was willing; I was weak.

Come on, do better than that. Look, Betty, be honest there arent many women out there who wouldnt fall on their knees for the opportunity to be with a broad that looks as good as you. I dont buy that you chose her just because of availability or willingness. *****, if that were the criteria, youd have slept with half of the world.

She made me feel like I didnt have anything to prove.
How did she do that?

We saw each other; we wanted each other it was as simple as that. I live in a world of image and images. With Candace, I didnt have to worry about my image. She is a carpenter; she sees no shame in getting her hands dirty or not having an Ivy League background. She accepts people as they come without a superficial hierarchy.

So, you felt safe with someone who isnt a snobby *****.

Exactly, she didnt ask anymore from me than I was willing to give and I didnt have to worry about whether I was good enough.

What about T-bird. How does she compare to that?
Well, Tina is hardly a snobby ***** as you phrased it, but I stopped feeling like I was good enough.

Did she make you feel that way or did you make you feel that way?
I dont know.

You are your own worst critic, Bette, always have been, well except for your father at times. You tend to run a certain streak of the paranoid.

Im not paranoid.

Yes, you are. You see threat where it doesnt exist. I would bet you my prized Russian Muskrat hat that Tina never stopped worshipping the ground on which your three inch heels tread. I would also bet that you were always afraid that she was going to stop worshipping and so you got paranoid over little issues that could have been resolved if you werent such a stubborn *****.

Alex, tell me again why we are friends. Being with you is a total affront to my ego.

Were friends, Betty, because I love you enough to tell you what I see as the truth and you love me enough to let me. Out of all the people in your life, I am probably, for some strange reason, the only person whose love you feel that you dont have to earn. With everybody out there, you live in fear that they are going to stop loving you if you disappoint them. Ive never figured it out, but somehow youve realized that I wont stop loving you even if I figure out that you are less than perfect. You gotta realize that T-bird isnt going to stop loving you either.

She already has.

No, she hasnt. She has stopped liking you, but Id stake my passport on the fact that she still loves you. And you know how much I value my passport.

Yeah, that is why you still love me. You use that passport to stay as far away from me as possible.

You are right. I have planned my entire adult life around avoiding Bette Porter. You have figured it out; Alex Novacks deep, dark, secret.

Your sarcasm is still duly noted.

Shut up and refill our glasses.

It is so easy for you isnt it Alex? Anytime someone gets too close, you simply finish your research and move on to the next place. Dont forget, I know you as well as you know me.

I know you do, Betty. You are my strongest weakness; you always have been. What is it about us? What is this bond we have so that we are the only people in the world with whom we totally let down our guard? Other than Catherine, you are the only person with whom I have ever felt totally at ease.

That is how I wanted to be with Tina. That is how it almost was.

Then you gotta get it there.

Too late.

No its not.

Shes with Helena.

You mean the British *****? Piece of cake.

What makes you so ***** sure?

I saw T-birds face when I asked about her. It wasnt love. The British ***** is a grudge *****. Lady ***** Bells is going down.