COME ON BETTE! IM NOT LEAVING UNTIL WE TALK! I yell through the door, hoping shell open it. I see movement through the sheer curtain before she opens the door.

With her hand still on the door, she stands there looking at me. Are you going to invite me in, I ask in a demanding tone.

Do I have a choice?

No, I say before shuffling past her. I walk into the living room and take a seat. You have a lot of explaining to do Bette Porterand Im not leaving until Im satisfied with your explanation.

Alice, she whines. I cant deal with anything right now. Tina was here this morning and Im not in the mood the talk to anyone.

I know she was here. I came to pick her up. Her demeanor perks up with my words.

How is she, she asks innocently.

Not good, I tell her, causing her countenance to dip again. What did you do to her?

Nothing, she insists. At least not anything to her.

What does that mean?

I saw her at Milk last nightshe was on the dance floorkissing some other woman.

I know, I tell her.

You knew about it? Is that why you called and left that message? You wanted me to come there and see her? A grimace forms on her face as tears begin to flow.

NoGod no, I reassure her. If I had known what she was going to do, I wouldnt even have taken her there. I swear to you Bette. My words dont stop her tears. She came home yesterday evening in a good mood. I thought she had gone to talk to you and you two worked things out. But then she said that she hadnt spoken to you. She told me she was moving on. After she kissed that woman, she pulled awayshe couldnt go through with itno matter how much she wanted to move on, Bette, she still loves you.

Yeah, well, not anymore, her matter-of-fact tone piques my curiosity.

Why not anymore?

After I saw her on the dance floor, she closes her eyes as if to block the site out of her mind, I went home with a stranger. I woke up this morning in someone elses bed, Alice