Bette didn’t wait for an answer as she stiffly rose to her feet and with the solid weight of the cell phone in her pocket headed for her bedroom.

She didn’t go to bed.

She waited until she heard the front door close and then closed her own bedroom door. She settled herself onto the bed and leaned back against her pillows.

She had a little trouble pulling out the cell phone having forgotten she was using her less dominant hand.

She pulled up the voicemail menu again and this time completed typing in her own birth date.

The welcoming voice of Helena’s voicemail service greeted her.

“Not in love with me, huh?” Bette muttered. If Helena wasn’t in love with her then it was something else, but what it could be Bette couldn’t even guess at. Helena had thirty-five stored messages and one new one.

She pressed a button to listen to the newest one.

“Helena it’s me, Alice. I’m kinda stuck at the station right now, so Tina said she’d stop by. So um…I’m glad you told her. Call me back, okay? And let me know if Bette’s pissed off. Because if she is I’ll just stay outta the way until she calms down. Because Bette’s got that temper and it– Shit! Here comes my boss. Gotta go. Call me back.”

She didn’t give herself time to think about Alice’s message as she went onto the stored messages.

“Okay. I said I wasn’t going to call. Because really you’re taking this to a ridiculous level, Helena. I mean come on! You’re taking this too personally. I’m dating her. We’re together. But that doesn’t mean I can’t spend time with you too. I shouldn’t have to choose between the two of you. You shouldn’t even put me in that position of choosing–“

Her own voice was cut off abruptly as the message ended.

Choosing between Helena and Tina? Is that what she’d meant?

Had she been cheating on Tina with Helena? Or cheating on Helena with Tina? She could still spend time with Helena she’d said and that implied to her that something fucking fishy had been going on.

And what had Helena been taking personally?

And why had her tone been so condescending and arrogant? What kind of person had she been?

Why was Alice afraid to come over? Alice had mentioned something about her temper and it seemed she was maybe even afraid of Bette.

This was all so fucking confusing.

“Bette! You up? Tina said you ran her out. We brought food if you’re up to it,” Shane’s yell pulled her from her brooding.

“Who’s we?” Bette yelled back closing the phone and stuffing it under her pillow.

She could deal with Shane. But she wasn’t sure if she was up to anyone else.

“Jenny!” Shane yelled back.

“Are we going to yell the entire CONVERSATION,” Jenny yelled adding strength to the last word.

“Are you mad Bette? We can’t leave you alone, you know that,” Shane added.

“What kind of food?”

“That Cuban place you like,” Jenny answered.

“I guess I can eat,” Bette responded. “Even though it’s technically breakfast time.”

“Bitch, bitch, bitch. Be glad we came to feed your sorry ass,” Jenny’s voice was closer and soon Bette’s door was flung open.

“I did not invite you in here,” Bette muttered with a little smile.

She supposed just this once she could forgive them for not calling ahead of time.

“You did not,” Jenny acknowledged. “But I am not a fan of yelling unless it’s profanities. You’re the same way Bette. So you’re up for food, right? And don’t worry if you’ve got questions then we’ve got answers.”

“Jenny you shouldn’t have said that,” Shane said as she came up behind Jenny.

“Why not?” Jenny looked genuinely perplexed.

“Because–“ Shane began sighing and running a hand through her hair.

“Because Jenny’s right. You are going to tell me everything I want to know. How’s that sound?”

“Like a plan,” Jenny said clapping her hands.

“Shit,” Shane muttered.