Chapter 32

Alice ran her fingers through her hair for the third time in the last 20 minutes struggling with what to say to the woman that lay next to her. She chanced a glance in Kristen’s direction and upon briefly locking eyes with her, she quickly glanced back up at the ceiling.

“This is silly don’t you think?” Alice asked in an effort to break the silence.

Kristen’s response was a forced laugh and another awkward glance in Alice’s direction before her gaze looked at the same ceiling Alice was fixated on.

“It’s not like we’re strangers.”

“No,” Kristen agreed. “We’ve known each other for a long time.”

“We have a lot in common.”

“It’s not like anything even happened,” Kristen tried to rationalize. “We slept in the same bed.”

“And I mean really, not to sound like a freak, but I spoon a lot of people.”

“Spooning doesn’t mean anything.”

“Why are we so uncomfortable then?” Alice asked.

“Because we’ve never spent any quality time together.”

“Yeah we were always in a group when we saw each other,” Alice agreed. “Let’s break the silence and list the things that we have in common.”

“Why?”

“Because the silence that’s filling the air is choking me,” Alice said smiling. “I can’t stand silence.”

“You live alone.”

“Yes but I’ve had some of my best conversations with myself,” Alice said beaming.

Kristen burst out laughing and propped herself up on her elbow to look at Alice in a more comfortable manner.

“OK so we’re both lesbians,” Kristen started.

“Neither one of us currently has their God given hair color.”

“I take offense!”

“I took a glance Kristen, the carpet doesn’t match the curtains.”

“Oh my God!”

“Oh please,” Alice scoffed. “You’re beautiful and you know it. It’s natural for my eyes to wander.”

“But not to tell me about it!” Kristen screeched as she blushed from head to toe.

“Let’s see,” Alice tried to change the subject. “We’re both funny as hell.”

“We like the same shots.”

“Please don’t remind me how much we had to drink last night,” Alice rolled her eyes. “We both can at least laugh at it though right?”

“We can,” Kristen agreed. “We both are keeping a secret.”

Alice looked away as Kristen arched her eyebrow to prove her point.

“Come on Al, you promised!”

“I promised I’d try Kristen,” Alice said turning back to face her new friend. “And I will try, but it can’t last long before someone spills the beans and I can be off the hook because holding it in is killing me!”

“Why’s that?”

“It’s the reporter in me,” Alice said. “I need to help push the admission along for the sake of everyone.”

“What are you up to Al?”

“Whatever you do, just follow my lead at breakfast ok?”

“Oh I’m not going,” Kristen said as she got up out of bed and searched for her shoes.

“You need to.”

“Why? So I can torture myself seeing Bette and Tina together?”

“They won’t be ‘together’ if this is a secret,” Alice said as she made air quotes when saying the word together. “They’ll act like they always do.”

“But I’ll know better.”

“At some time you need to face it if you’re going to stay here.”

“It’s hard.” Kristen said blinking back tears.

“Ya know,” Alice started as she gave Kristen a soft smile. “I remember what it’s like to be where you are.”

“I forgot about that, you got a ringside seat to Bette and Tina didn’t you?”

“While nursing a slightly shattered heart.”

“That must have been hard.”

“You’ll find out,” Alice said winking at Kristen to illustrate the statement was said in good humor.

“It’ll be too hard to see them today.”

“She loved you,” Alice said as she got up and began to get dressed in different clothes for breakfast. “Want new clothes?”

“Please,” Kristen said looking grateful. “And that’s what makes it hard at times, to know she loved me but it wasn’t enough. It makes it hard to know that the person that is the love of your life has one of their own and it isn’t you.”

“You’ll get in a groove with a friendship, it took us a while but we did.”

“And if you want more?”

“You ignore it because you come to love Tina just as much as you love Bette as a friend.”

“Speaking from experience?”

“Yeah,” Alice answered honestly. “Not that Bette would have noticed.”

“You’d be surprised what she notices.”

“I hope she doesn’t notice that we’re going to blow the roof off her secret!”

Alice danced around until the spinning in the room caught up with her and she sat down on the bed causing Kristen to laugh.

“Not a good idea if you planned on joining.”

” I didn’t,” Kristen said sitting next to Alice. “Al I just wanted to thank you for everything. I know that we really didn’t know each other all that well so it means a lot that you helped me out last night when I was feeling low.”

“Anytime, like I’ve said, I’ve been there.”

“And the best remedy for a broken heart over Bette?”

Alice turned and looked at Kristen seeing a genuine person staring back. Alice smiled and Kristen returned it quickly.

“Dinner?”

“Please,” Kristen said laughing. “We aren’t at breakfast yet and I’m not sure my stomach can handle even that.”

“No,” Alice said seriously. “I mean, have dinner with me?”


Tina knocked on Angelica’s door harder in an effort to get her motivated to get to school on time.

“Let’s go Angie!”

Angelica opened the door and brushed past Tina and walked down the hallway without uttering a word.

“Well good morning to you too Angelica. I slept ok last night and thanks for asking,” Tina said muttering to herself as she walked down the hallway after her daughter.

“Glad one of us did,” Angelica muttered back.

“It’s called sarcasm Angie.”

“Oh,” Angelica said simply as she grabbed a piece of fruit and packed her school bag for the day.

“That’s it?”

“What?” Angelica looked confused but seemed thankful when the doorbell rang indicating her friends were there to head off to school.

“Nothing I guess. You don’t want a ride?”

“Cathy’s mom is going to take us.”

“I could have.”

“I know,” Angelica said. “Bye Mom.”

Angelica left a dumbfounded Tina standing in the kitchen wishing for Bette to magically appear. When that didn’t happen, she grabbed her briefcase and suit coat and headed out the door to meet the group at The Planet for breakfast.

“Where are they?” Dana asked irritated. “Do we need to wait for them to order?”

“Let’s place bets,” Alice said laughing. “Who will get here first, Bette or Tina?”

“Tina,” Shane said smiling and placing $5 on the table.

“Bette,” Kit answered throwing her money down. “I have to go with my Baby Sis.”

“And likely lose your money,” Helena said laughing. “I’m in for $10 on Tina.”

“Kristen who are you betting on?” Alice asked to try to envelop her into the group.

“Why?”

“Because you know Bette very well and if you pick Tina that sways my decision.”

“You know them both better then I do. I may know Bette, but I don’t know Tina well enough to advise you on your bet.”

“Not even a hint?” Alice persisted.

“Not one.”

“Then I’m on my own to figure out who I am betting on,” Alice said as she pondered the decision.

“Betting on for what?” Tina said from behind Alice causing her to jump out of her seat.

“Damn, we were too late to place our bets,” Alice muttered to Kristen while Helena dished out the money at the table.

“It’s a pleasure as always Kit,” Shane said laughing.

“You owe me part of that $5,” Helena said to Shane smiling.

“What was the bet?” Tina asked once again as she sat down next to Dana.

“Who would get here first,” Alice answered honestly.

“Please,” Tina scoffed as she picked up a menu. “Like there’s a question!”

Tina smiled as she looked at her watch and saw Bette was inching on being 10 minutes late. Her eyes glanced around The Planet to see if she had arrived and she missed her walking in. One of Tina’s favorite things was to watch Bette enter a room, completely oblivious that many women watched her as she gracefully walked to her destination. She missed being able to openly watch Bette’s body move as she walked, the sway of her hips, the strength of her legs, the confidence in her shoulders.

“I can’t wait,” Dana said putting a menu down. “I am so hungry my stomach is going to eat itself at this point.”

“Why are you so hungry?” Shane asked confused. “Don’t you eat during the day?”

“I do but I work it off,” Dana said in her defense. “Thank God Bette’s here!”

Tina looked up to see Bette entering The Planet checking messages on her cell phone unaware of the women that offered a smile in her direction to get her attention. She looked up long enough to spot the table and headed over in the direction of her friends.

“Good morning,” Bette said smiling as she put her phone in the pocket of her suit coat.

“Morning,” Tina said smiling from ear to ear as Bette scooted a chair near her and sat down not once taking her eyes off her.

“Piece of cake,” Alice muttered to Kristen smiling.

“Al, please,” Kristen pleaded quietly.

“I’m happy you’re joining us,” Bette said turning toward Kristen to try to ease the tension she knew she must be feeling.

“Thanks for having me.”

“Can we order now or what?” Dana said impatiently.

“Tina, the script that was sent over the other day,” Helena started to talk about work as Tina intently listened.

“Oh no,” Alice interrupted. “We never get to have these breakfasts and we’re not talking work! Bette you really should shut your phone off speaking of work.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t I just explain it to you?”

“It wasn’t going off,” Bette seemed shocked at Alice’s request.

“It will, it always does.”

“Wow,” Helena said looking at Alice with questionable eyes. “Sorry I brought it up.”

“Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about what really is important.”

“What’s that Al?” Tina asked.

“You,” Alice answered. “And what you’re doing on Saturday night?”

“Me specifically?”

“Yes.”

“Ah well that’s easy,” Tina said as she handed Bette her menu. “I’m having a wild sex party since Angelica will be at my house this weekend. It’s always nice when she can take pictures so I can skim them later.”

“Funny,” Alice said sarcastically. “You may have sex, but not at a party.”

“What?”

“You are going on a date,” Alice said beaming from ear to ear.

Bette fumbled with her menu dropping it on the floor after a sad attempt to catch it. Shane picked it up for her, smiling as she handed it back to Bette. Bette’s eyes never left Alice’s face, glaring at her wishing she had heard her incorrectly.

“I’m what?”

“Going on a date. You remember what those are like right TK? A nice woman meets you at a stupendous restaurant and you have enlightened conversation. Does any of this ring a bell?”

“I’m aware of dating Alice,” Tina answered as she moved her leg under the table to be touching Bette’s in an effort to provide comfort without being obvious. “What I don’t know is why you think I’d be going on one?”

“This woman is amazing and perfect for you. She’s sort of a cross between Bette and Helena.”

“Oh dear God,” Helena said rolling her eyes as Bette’s darkened with anger.

“Kristen and I met her at the bar last night.”

“You what?” Bette snapped back at Alice.

“We met her at the bar.”

“I heard that, but what were you doing at the bar together?” Bette asked wondering what happened between Alice and Kristen.

“We didn’t go together we just were both there at the same time,” Kristen answered a bit concerned with Bette’s reaction.

“Is that Alice’s Gush t-shirt?” Tina asked surprised. She didn’t intend for that to be vocalized, but once it was out of her mouth there was no hope of censoring it.

“She stayed over,” Alice said casually.

“What the fuck is going on?” Bette asked annoyed.

“Nothing,” Kristen said biting back. “We had too much to drink so Shane took us both back to Alice’s to sleep it off.”

“I don’t think I’m too fond of you frequenting bars.”

“I don’t frequent bars Bette, but my plans for the evening didn’t work out like I thought they would so I went to get a drink.”

“Or several as it seems.”

“I’m not sure you have the right to be bothered Bette,” Kristen said feeling her anger rise at Bette’s behavior.

Tina sensed that Bette’s anger was nearing a dangerous level. She made a mental note to ask her about her reaction to Alice and Kristen sharing a drink later when they were alone. Now, however, it became clear that she needed to change the subject to cool the conversation off.

“I’d like to get back to the date,” Tina said annoyed. “The answer is no.”

“Well she’ll be meeting you at Andiamo’s at 8 o’ clock,” Alice simply stated. “You won’t want to stand her up now would you?”

“Call her and tell her I’m not going.”

“I can’t, we don’t have her number.”

“So I am going to meet some random woman that you don’t even know?”

“I know her well enough to know she’s your type totally,” Alice said. “She’s the best parts of Bette and Helena mixed into one.”

“I wasn’t aware we had bad parts,” Helena said annoyed.

“Why won’t you go Tina?” Alice said in a challenging tone.

“I have Angelica.”

“Bette can watch her,” Alice offered. “I can even watch her for that matter, it’d be fun.”

Bette’s hands were digging into her thighs under the table as she worked to reign in her jealousy at the thought of Tina meeting another woman for dinner coupled with her annoyance at the undefined relationship between Alice and Kristen.

“Can’t you take Angelica Bette?”

“I have to work,” Bette said smugly.

“Then I’ll take her,” Alice said. “It can be like a sleepover with her aunts!”

“I’m not sure she’d want to sleep over.”

“Please,” Alice scoffed. “From what I know she’d be happy to have some time away to herself.”

“It isn’t that bad,” Bette said in their defense. “How was she this morning by the way?”

“The same,” Tina answered ignoring Alice’s angry grunt at the subject change.

“Back to the subject at hand,” Alice said interrupting.

“I said no Al.”

“Then give me a good reason Tina so I can meet this woman and shatter her heart more then it has been already.”

“What?”

“She’s coming out of a 6 year relationship and just wants to meet a nice woman that’s honest and compassionate for dinner. You don’t have to marry her for God’s sake.”

“And you thought of me because I’m so compassionate huh?” Tina said getting slightly angry.

“Tina, there’s no reason you can’t meet this woman for dinner and help a poor, lost soul.”

“I really don’t want to Alice,” Tina said as the table focused their attention soley on her.

“Why?”

“I feel uneasy about it.”

“Well tell me why?” Alice pushed.

“She said no Al,” Bette interjected. “Can’t you be happy with that?”

“Not without good reason,” Alice said dismissing Bette’s statement.

“I’m going to the restroom, order me my usual please,” Bette got up in a hurry and weaved her way through The Planet to the restrooms.

“What’s her issue?” Dana asked confused.

“Nothing, she’s probably just annoyed over all this Angelica stuff,” Tina said. “Al, I’m not interested in dating someone.”

“Then meet her as friends.”

“Seriously Tina,” Kit intervened. “There’s really no harm in meeting her for one dinner. Each of you can pay your own way so there’s no hidden agenda.”

“I’m not into dating.”

“Then don’t think of it as that, think of it as meeting a friend for dinner,” Kit said casually.

“One that is looking for more.”

“She won’t pounce on you Tina,” Alice said. “It’s not like she’s so desperate that you’re fresh meat and she hasn’t eaten in years!”

“Nice visual,” Helena cringed.

“Give me one good reason you won’t meet her just for a drink?” Alice challenged.

“Excuse me,” Tina said walking the same path Bette did moments ago to the restrooms.

The group watched Tina make her way out of sight before conversation resumed at a comfortable pace. Kristen and Alice huddled together so that they couldn’t be heard over the debate the rest of the table engaged in.

“You’re screwed if she says yes,” Kristen said.

“She won’t. I’d bet anything she’s in the bathroom right now talking to Bette about how to get out of it.”

“And if it doesn’t work and they don’t spill the reason?”

“She will, Bette can’t hold in her jealousy that long. I guess if they call my bluff we’re likely to spend the rest of the day looking for a lesbian that’s a cross between Bette and Helena.”

“Bette’s mad,” Kristen said offhandedly.

“She seemed more mad that you were wearing my shirt,” Alice said smiling. “I think she has a little jealousy thing for you.”

“That makes me mad.”

“You’ll get in the groove.”

“Does it bother you?” Kristen asked Alice.

“That she’s protective of you? No it doesn’t bother me, I’m a little taken back at her expression of it, but it’s not a shock.”

“Why?”

“Think about it,” Alice began. “She has two of her ex’s hanging out and she has to know that she’d likely come up as a topic of conversation. She hates being talked about when she doesn’t know what’s being said.”

“Imagine if she knew we were going to dinner,” Kristen said smiling at Alice.

“Let’s skip that until she cracks and admits her own relationship.”

Tina opened the door to find Bette scrubbing her hands under the sink and glaring into the mirror.

“You want to talk about it?” Tina prodded.

“What the fuck is she doing?” Bette asked through clenched teeth.

“Pushing me to get out there and date.”

“Not just that Tina. She is getting all cozy with Kristen? Fuck her!”

“So are you upset by her pushing me to go on a date or her hanging out with Kristen?” Tina challenged.

“Both.”

“Which one do you want to take on?”

“Neither,” Bette snapped. “What I want to do is take her head off and teach her to stay in her corner of the world.”

“Why does it bother you that she saw Kristen at the bar and they shared a few too many to drink? It’s not like anything happened between them that I can guess.”

“How would you feel Tina if two of your ex-girlfriends began to be so friendly with one another?”

“You never seemed to mind that Al and I were friends.”

“That’s different!” Bette said as she threw her paper towel in the waste can and stepped back to survey herself in the mirror.

“Really?” Tina arched her eyebrow in question.

“We were dating when you became close to Al.”

“Bette, chances are that they’re just being friendly and they have a lot of other things to talk about other then you.”

Bette scoffing was her only response.

“Believe it or not Bette, their lives don’t all have to revolve around you!”

“Why are you yelling at me?” Bette asked annoyed.

“Because you care more about why Alice and Kristen had a few too many last night then you do me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous.”

“Excuse me if I don’t want people comparing notes in my failed relationships.”

“God you are so self-centered Bette!”

“Really?”

“Yes, to think that they’d spend all their time talking about you and how you are in relationships is ludicrous. Al and I never compared notes about you!”

“Really? Do I need to remind you about the time you talked to her about surprising me with a toy for my birthday?”

“That was totally different,” Tina defended herself. “I was so new to all of this that I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. It wasn’t about comparing notes!”

“She told you what I liked did she not? How would she know that if she hadn’t been with me?”

“I am not even going to dignify that with a response,” Tina shook her head as if saddened by the turn in the conversation. “If I didn’t know better Bette, I’d say you still have feelings for Kristen and that’s why this bothers you.”

“Well you’d be wrong.”

“I’m going back out there,” Tina said as she turned to leave.

“Suit yourself.”

“Well standing in here fighting with you isn’t getting me out of a date,” Tina said in anger.

“Well what will?”

“You tell me Bette.”

“Just tell her fucking no!”

“And when she pushes for a reason on why I am turning this woman down that seems to be hurting, which is not what I would likely do, she’ll want an answer as to why! Are you prepared to tell them it’s because we’re back together?”

“No, I think we need to consider Angelica first when we do that.”

“Then give me the answer Bette!”

“I don’t have a fucking answer!” Bette shot back. “I hate that she puts me in these fucking awkward positions.”

“Again, you’re making this about you.”

“She does it all the time Tina! Remember Joyce Wishnea? She sent you to a fucking piranha for a divorce instead of seeing that I screwed up but was working on fixing it!”

“That was more about me then it was you Bette!”

“I don’t want to fight with you anymore Tina,” Bette said rubbing her temples to ward off a stress headache.

“So what are you going to do?”

“Leave,” Bette said simply and stormed out of the bathroom and headed back to the table to gather her things.

“So if I can get the band to sign on,” Kit explained her dilemma regarding the next party she was hosting at The Planet for that weekend. “I can get the set divided into 2 and sing my part as the opener for Leslie.”

“Excuse me, it seems Al was right and I should have shut my phone off because I’ve got to run to the gallery now.”

Bette gathered her things in a hurry causing the table to watch in disbelief that she had just announced she was leaving.

“You have to go now?” Alice asked.

“Yes,” Bette said through clenched teeth.

Tina made it out of the bathroom in just enough time to see Bette wave to the table and quickly make her way into the parking lot and into her car. The level of anger Tina had regarding Bette’s reaction to Kristen getting close to anyone concerned her. She fought to regain control as she sat back down in her chair and took a sip of her coffee.

“Everything ok?” Helena asked.

“Yep,” Tina said.

“Bette had to go, but I’m guessing you already know that,” Kit said.

“Yep.”

“You OK TK?” Alice asked genuinely concerned that her plan had caused trouble between her two friends.

“I sure am Al,” Tina said as she put her mug down and plastered on a fake smile. “Where were we?”

“Alice was forcing you into a date you didn’t want to go on and demanded, rather rudely if I might add, an acceptable reason for you not wanting to go,” Helena said as she shot Alice a look of warning.

“I guess I don’t have one Al, so send me the details on e-mail sometime today so I know where I’m supposed to be when.”

The table began to, once again, engage in Kit’s conversation regarding the next Planet party when Alice leaned over to Kristen.

“Houston, we have a problem.”