Tina watched Bette get up and pause momentarily before taking off toward the kitchen.  She thought it was odd, but figured she’d back in a minute carrying a glass of water or something.  When she failed to return, Tina went looking for her. 

She finally found her sitting on their bed.  “What are you doing in here by yourself?” Tina asked.

“Nothing, I’m not doing anything.”

Tina leaned against the doorjamb and began to tug at her bottom lip.  “I just told you that Dana has cancer and you”

“What kind of cancer does she have?”

She walked over and taking a seat next to Bette on the bed, quietly said, “Breast.” before reaching up and placing her hand on Bette’s shoulder.  “I know this is hard to hear”

“When?”

Tina: “You mean when did she find out?”

Bette nodded.  “Last week, sometime, I don’t know exactly.”  Tina became startled by Bette’s changing posture.  “Last week? Tinwe’ve seen her since then.  I just saw her the other day at the Planet.  She seemedhappy, she didn’t say a word about…”

Tina could empathize with Dana’s need to keep her feelings to herself and as her hand slipped free from Bette’s shoulder, she said, “It’s hard to admit the things we don’t like about ourselves.  It’s especially hard for Dana, you know that.  Please don’t take it personally.”

Bette shook her head slowly from side to side and said, “She’s so young.  What are they going to do for her?”

Tina leaned back onto her hand and said, “They’re going to give her a lumpectomy, next week I think.  I don’t think they’ll know anything until then.  She’s really scared, Bette, she kept apologizing for everythingI think it didn’t become real for her until Lara noticed it.”

“She didn’t even tell Lara?  Wellwhat about Alice?  Are you going to tell Aliceshe has a right to know, Tina?  I mean, my god, she’s her best friend.”

Tina slid onto her back and draping her hand over her eyes, said, “Oh *****, oh *****, I forgot about Alice, Bette.  With everything that’s been going on, I didn’t even give it a thought.”

Alice slammed the Mini into park and reaching into her clutch, whipped out her lip gloss, you know the one with the glitteralreadyinside.   Hey, nothing says class like a little smear of Mac’s finest!  Know what I’m sayin?