"That’s… that’s great." Alice spoke with forced cheer. "Nice to see you again, Tina. How have you been?"

"I can’t complain." Tina answered. She wondered about Bette and Alice’s hand-holding. "Dana has been very hospitable, letting me stay until I find a place of my own."

"Are you staying here for good then?" Alice asked.

"That’s the plan." Tina smiled at Bette hopefully.

"Wonderful." Bette tugged at Alice’s hand. "Dana, Tina, could you excuse us a moment?" Without waiting for a reply, she pulled Alice out the room.

"Hm." Dana stared after them quizzically. Then she shrugged and turned her attention to Tina. "Are you having a good time?"

"The party’s great, Dana. You’ve been so kind. I’m so sorry I have to ask for another favor."

"Sure, what’s up?"

"Can I borrow your car, just for an hour tonight? I need to get a friend home."

"No problem. I hope your friend’s okay." Dana’s voice was warm with concern.

"She’s in a bar and apparently she’s drunk. She’s too drunk to look for a place to stay so I need to get her and check her into a hotel or motel somewhere."

Dana thought for a second, then decided, what the hell. Her house was already full of strangers. "Why don’t you bring her here? She can crash here for the night."

"Oh my God, are you sure?"

"Yeah, why not?" Dana smiled. She offered Tina some chips then remembered that Tina was probably waiting for her car keys. She put down the platter on a side table and waved her hand at Tina to follow. She walked to her room where she had hidden her valuable knick-knacks.

"So, Bette and Alice are together?" Tina asked as she followed Dana.

Dana scowled and flipped the light switch to her room. "Yeah."

"That’s nice."

"Sure is."

Dana grabbed the keys from her bedside table and handed them to Tina.

"Thanks so much, Dana. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me."

Dana waved off the comment and just smiled. Tina stood there for a beat longer than necessary. Dana made a shoo-ing motion with her hands. They both chuckled and Tina turned to go.

"I’ll pay you back." Tina said as she walked out of the room.

"Sure." Dana smiled wryly.

*****

Alice mutely followed Bette, having no choice as Bette was pulling her by the hand. They found themselves in what looked to be guest bedroom. Once the door was closed securely, Bette let her hand go. Alice walked to the bed and sat.

Bette looked at her helplessly.

"Come, sit." Alice had to force the invitation past the huge rock in her throat.

"I didn’t know she would be here." Bette started.

"Of course you didn’t. I’m not mad."

"Okay."

They sat there for several long minutes. Bette looked at the pastel wallpaper, the tasteful furniture, and the elegant lamps around the room. Then she looked at Alice.

She got off the bed and got down on her knees. She took Alice’s hands and caressed them, looking for words she knew she should say.

"Alice."

"Don’t, Bette."

"Alice…"

Alice stood up and walked to the dresser. She stared at Bette’s reflection in the mirror. Bette hadn’t gotten up from her knees. She was looking at the back of Alice’s head with an expression of plain anguish.

"I’ll be sleeping at Shane’s tonight. I’ll get my things in the morning."

Bette got up in a hurry. She rushed to Alice and forcibly turned her around by the shoulders. "What? Why?"

Alice felt her bottom lip trembling. "This is how it’s supposed to go."

Bette frowned and tried to follow Alice’s logic.

"This is how it’s supposed to go." Alice repeated before wrenching herself away. "Don’t follow me, Bette."

Bette watched Alice run out of the room. She shook her head, willing herself not to cry.

Alice. Tina. And what the fuck did Alice know anyway?

TBC