These were exactly the kinds of thoughts she had been struggling to keep out of her head for the last three weeks. Bette pulled out of her parking space in the now almost vacated parking lot. Before driving off she glanced in Erins direction again, only to see Mike hard at work creating a hickey while Erin leaned back against her car. Bette was surprised to see that Erins eyes were open and she looked as if her mind was nowhere near the school parking lot. Those dark blue eyes shot over in Bettes direction and for a moment Bette saw a slightly despondent expression on Erins face before she noticed Bette pulling out and gave her a quick smile. Almost as soon as the smile flashed across Erins features, it faded again and she closed her eyes.

Fifteen minutes later Bette pulled into her driveway, got out of the car, dumped her books in her room and glanced at the clock. She decided not to call Erin for at least another twenty minutes, she didnt want to interrupt her time with Mike. Bette knew that Mike and Erin had been together almost constantly the previous year and that he was not happy about the fact that that changed this year. He was only in Erins AP physics and AP calculus classes, and he was not seeing her as much out of school since she had become better friends with Bette. Their group had always hung out together, so there little conflict between friendships and relationships. Bette and Erin usually went places together without the rest of the group, meaning that Mikes time with his girlfriend was seriously curtailed. To avoid irritating Mike who, Bette kept reminding herself, really was a good guy, she had resolved about a week ago to try and avoid calling Erin or talking to her a lot when she was with Mike.

Bette began to throw stuff into a bag to bring to the beach and to go through her drawers to find a suit. Just when she picked out a black halter bikini she heard her cell phone ring and ran to answer it. It was Erin. Bette was surprised, it was still fifteen minutes before she had planned on calling her.

Hey, Bette

Hey, I was just about to call you.

Beat you too it. So Ill be right over.

Really? The word burst out of Bettes mouth before she had time to think.

Yea what, did you think I would stand you up?

No no I just thought

What?

I thought you would hang out with Mike a little longer, thats all.

No, tonight is a very welcome girls night on the beach.

Welcome?

Yeah Ill be there in a minute

Okay, bubye

Bye

Bette hung up with a smile on her face and pulled out a book to read until Erin arrived.

TBC