Bette spent the evening with her husband. She had planned to go to an art discussion with some co-workers but when Paxton suggested they go for a walk and spend
time together, she looked at him and agreed. He looked so desperate, quietly desperate. Maybe he had been thinking about what she said last night. Or maybe not. Bette was never
great at guessing people’s motives or what people were thinking, except herself. Bette liked to think she knew herself, what a crock of *****. Anyways she went into the kitchen and
got out her jacket on the chair, put it on and put on her shoes and waited by the door, sitting on the chair of the sofa and flipped through some stupid magazine. She looked up
and saw Paxton trying to find his hat. Bette looked down and saw it on the couch, she took it and hid it under her. Pax cursed and fumbled with his coat, wandering aloud where that
hat was. Bette brought it up to his face, Pax’s face glowed and he kissed her on the cheek. Bette felt herself blushing and feeling like a teenager again.

 The walk was great. The night was clear and a little chilly…but refreshing. Bette and Pax walked slowly, their hips bumping into each other and Bette’s hand looped through
Paxton’s arm. He was talking about that stupid book he had to write a review for. Bette half-listened…she was thinking about her pact with Tina. No bullshit. Well that mean’t Bette
would have to come clean with Tina about her “show”. Would she be mad? Bette bit her lip and walked along with Pax, her mind in the clouds. “Hey you listening to me?” Bette came out of it,
Pax was looking at her. They were far from the house. “Yea i’m listening” She said…”Well what was I talking about then?” Bette looked at him, “Don’t be ridiculous Pax” Paxton
shook his head, walked a little faster. “don’t give me that horseshit Bette, you think i don’t have any feelings? don’t think i want the same as you? Bette looked at him again, she
was astonished..she had never seen Pax look so angry. “Bette….you say you want to close this chasm, well i’ve been think hard about it all day and i think your right, there has
been distance…but it’s coming from you…i feel fine, i feel in love and i want to spend the rest of my life with you maybe even have kids…but i’ve been thinking and the distance is you, maybe
you are changing..well i don’t want to be left behind, im not some dumb robot you know, i want to be there with you i want to know you i want to keep on knowing you…so why
don’t you make an effort to close the distance too? i get time out of the day to see how your doing to walk with you, but your always pushing me away…always…and say things
to make me look dumb……well why don’t you practice what you preach and help me help you close that chasm, lets do it together…but dont give me any ***** Bette, if your not
serious then…..maybe….” Paxton was red in the face after his monologue. Bette was pale, she never expected Pax to be like this anytime. She felt suddenly ashamed, so bad…she had been
beginning to view Paxton as a sober clown. So serious he was funny. Now she walked closer to him and nodded, wrapping her arm tighter and leaning onto his shoulder. Paxton
looked up at the clear night sky and spoke for both of them when he said ice cream sounded good right bout then.

 Later that evening Bette eyed the phone. She waited till Paxton showered and went into the bedroom. He called out to her but she said she was on the computer going over
stuff for work. Jesus she never tohught she would lie to Pax about a ***** phonecall to the neighbour. No not the neighbour….to Tina. So Bette sat on that chair and eyed that phone,
finally picking it up.

 A man’s voice answered, different from her brother’s voice. She heard Tina giggling and the man obviously did not want to answer the phone. Bette hung up quickly, feeling
her face burn. It felt like she stumbled over a line….and something else. Jealousy? Hmmmmm…this was her no bullshit friend. And Bette was married too, they were both straight. They
were friends like everyone else.

 So what was this feeling of utter black green solid jealousy? Bette wanted to smash that guy’s head in. She wanted tina to herself, yes that was it. she was being a selfish
friend. It happened all the time. Friends who didn’t want to share. Christ, and Bette used to be one of those people who thought she didn’t need anybody.