She stood under the shower with her hands on the wall, head beaten down by the warm water bearing down on her. She was deep in thought and did not even notice when the water turned cool, and then chilly. She was in shock to say the least.

Bette had never thought that she would find Alice in the arms of another, let alone a man. I thought Alice got her ‘bisexuality’ out of her system a long time ago, in college. I guess not, she thought bitterly to herself.

Still, what did she see in him? True, he was nice and friendly, but isn’t that a euphemism for BORING? To top that off, he was married. And to Tina—the one person Bette felt some responsibility towards. How was Tina feeling at this moment?

Bette shook her head. She could not afford to jump to conclusions without talking to Alice. Maybe all they witnessed was a friendly hug between friends. But why hadn’t Alice mentioned that she and Eric were friends or were meeting? Bette realized how far apart they had grown—they could barely keep tabs on each others friends.

Maybe it was his success; and her failure. Maybe Alice no longer desired her. Why would she? Bette had only made her life difficult since the accident.

She punched the wall in frustration, immediately recoiling as a sharp jolting pain went up her hand.

Images of Alice and Eric hugging and laughing together, close and intimate played over and over in her head. Was she jealous or merely angry that Alice had found an ‘out’ before her? She didn’t know.

“Damnit!”

She turned against the wall, and sunk down to the floor, feeling lost, confused and out of control.

Tina walked as fast as she could as far as her aching feet in heels would allow her. Her body was cold and numb, the wintery air and snow beating at her, but her cheeks were more flushed from her fury and embarrassment than anything else.

God, what must Bette be thinking? Fuck Bette, what is Eric thinking? Is he cheating on her? The hug between Alice and Eric, the laughter and closeness of their bodies as they joked seemed like that of lovers. There could be no other explanation, could there? She would have known Alice if she was merely a friend, right?