Bette took a sip of her drink, and unconsciously turned towards the area where the cocktail tables had been set up, where Tina had walked to, in order to join William’s group.

She turned back to look at Jodie, and gave Jodie another small smile, then signed, But everything changed.

I met someone.

“Ahh …” Jodie said out loud, then looked down at her drink to hide the sudden vulnerability she’d felt. Tina, she grimaced as she thought to herself. She thought jealously, Bette and that blonde looked like they had a good thing going, striking and glamorous as a couple, and evidently deeply in love, judging by how they looked at each other as they walked slowly down the wooden staircase, kissing and embracing each other.   It’s clear she’s the only possible reason why Bette would inexplicably throw away everything she had built in LA, move to New York … and… shit… anyone can see she clearly makes Bette glow even in star-light.

Jodie took a long swallow from her own drink.

After a minute, she signed to Bette, I used to think anyone who tried to console me for months after we broke up with stuff like “ Tis better to love and lost than never to have loved at all” was a loser. Or a jackass…

Bette had to laugh at that one, visualizing how Jodie would, indeed, react to platitudes like that.

Still have that ironic sense of humor, huh? Jodie thought.

She quickly shifted their conversation, and signed, Time made things worse for me, not better, Bette.

Bette stopped laughing, then pursed her lips in a half-frown half-smile. She threw a quick glance at Jodie’s girlfriend, who she saw was steadily losing her patience, and was shooting irritated glances their way. Bette judged that in a few minutes, if Jodie didn’t head back to her, the woman would probably walk across the circle, to reclaim Jodie.

Bette signed to Jodie, Maybe time helps, Jodie. In time we all find out the truth for ourselves. Give others who love you a chance…

Oh, yeah, Bette? Jodie signed back, her hand signals betraying sarcasm and growing irritation. What is this? Smugness? From Bette? Just because she’s found someone?

She signed angrily, And what was the truth, Bette? Is that what I was supposed to find out for myself? That you didn’t really love me? That all the years we were together … that none of that was real?