Bette ran a soothing hand over Tina’s back: “So why don’t you do something about it then, I can see it is bothering you so much. Talk to them.”

Tina just smiled at Bette.

She got up off the lounger: “I’m going to head home.”

Bette curled her arms round Tina: “sure, what ever you need to babe. Will I see you later?”

Tina: “maybe, can I call you later?”

Bette: “sure, look call Fred and Loo ok”

Tina: “yeah”

Bette watched as Tina walked back into the house. She returned to her easel, fighting the urge to go after Tina. She had to let her love work this through herself. Friends were important.

Tina walked back into Bette’s bedroom, she hunted for her clothes that had been strewn about the room in a haste the previous evening.

Tina walked home oblivious to the hustle around her. She felt exhausted once she reached her front door, even though Bette’s was just a short walk. As soon as she got in she ran herself a bath, adding some soothing oils into the mix.

She walked through her house touching her things, and looking at her photos.

She stopped at one photo that was sat on her bookshelf. It was of Fred, Loo and herself. It had been taken last year, when they had gone away for a girlie weekend. She smiled at the memory.

In that moment she made a decision. She picked up her phone and called the number that was imprinted on her brain.

“Hello”

Tina: “Fred? It’s Tina”

Fred: “Hey you, long time no hear I thought you had fallen off the edge of the world.”

Tina laughed: “no I’m still around, sorry I haven’t rung before now. I’ve been so busy lately”

Fred: “hey girl that’s fine. I understand. So how’s things?”

Tina: “well that’s why I’m calling, I’ve met someone”

Fred’s voice went up to a squeak: “you have? That’s great…”

Then on a more serious note, Fred: “it’s not that Helena again is it?”

Tina sighed: “no Fred it’s not.”

Fred: “so who is it?”

Tina laughed: “hold up a mo there Fred, look why don’t we meet up, the three of us?”

Fred: “you mean?”

Tina laughed again: “yes Fred, lets have a girlie evening”