She was going to make every attempt not to think about Tina tonight; not to out-of-the-blue think of Tina’s laugh or the half-smile Tina gave when she was only sort of listening.  She wouldn’t think of the softness of Tina’s hand in hers.  Tonight was about art.  Bette packed up her Prada bag, grabbed her car keys, and headed from the CAC to the parking garage.  She was going to enjoy the exhibition at UCLA.  As she turned off of Santa Monica onto Westwood Boulevard, she was still telling herself that she was going to have a good time.  It was imperative that she have a good time.  She needed to have a good time.

* * * * *

At six-twenty, Alice breezed into the sculpture garden.  It was a warm southern California evening and Alice wore a pair of hip-hugging red jeans, a rose-colored T-shirt that said ‘Bad *****’ and a tan waist length leather jacket.  She fit in well, looking like another college student on the prowl for a free wine and cheese reception.  Bette saw her as Alice took the few steps two at a time and ran onto the level grass where most of the people mingled. 

“Finally.”

“The 10 was *****.  Slow and go,” Alice complained about the freeway that brought her to the Westside of town.  “What’d I miss?”

“I’ll show you around.  Twelve new nudes.”

Bette and Alice circled the garden, looking at the new art and discussing its merits on a technical level as well as a personal aesthetic one.

“What’d ya think of this one?” Alice asked.

“Grandiose. A little over the top.”

“Cause of the *****?”

“The proportion, Alice.”

“The big *****?”

Bette rolled her eyes and moved to the next sculpture.  “Let me show you this one.  Now, this one speaks to me.  There’s a gentleness about it, like the eyes are reaching into your soul.  Do you see that?”

“Uh-huh.”

Bette’s face softened as she stared at the sculpture.  She’d gone back to it a number of times before Alice had arrived.  Something about it called to her.

“Even the way the artist has captured her stance.  She’s open, reaching out, but holding back at the same time.  All of this conflict.  Right?”