What are you saying? Pause. Oh, no. No, you cant do that. Alice screwed her eyes shut, her hands tightening against her cellular. Shane! Fine! Okay. I dont know how you can have such a profound effect on me. Look, Im standing, drawn to my car, picking up my keys so I can get you guys for a day at the beach. Okay, okay; shut up already. Im coming.

Alice picked up her handbag, and stuffed the used handkerchief inside with a murmured, Ew, gross for Bettes sake. She pointed to her mobile as she stood up. That was Shane.

Yeah, I noticed, Bette said softly, staying seated as her curls lowered over her brows to conceal some ill-fated memory.

You wanna come?

Now, youre crazy. No. Thank. You.

Figured youd say that. So, you got the plan, right?

Clear as crystal in a puddle o mud, Bette said. Its not as appetizing as it sounds.

Bette, nothings ever easy these days, Alice said, succeeding in imparting some wisdom, despite the comedy which made her playful to a fault. So the girls and I are going for a day in the beach, very impromptu, very throw-it-out-the-window for everyone but me. So if you want to come, you may? But you might run into some people you dont want to run into.

Tina. Bette shrugged looking as though she was really missing out on something. Well, Long Beach was something.

Alice took pity and said, Yes. Im sorry; all this tacit exclusion makes me sick, really. For one, you dont come by the Planet when Im there because duh, Tina. For another, the time I come to the Planet is the time everyone else does, so you really miss out. On the brighter side, itd gratify the sizeable fan-club which had you within its radar -and lost hope some seven years back -to know that Bette Porter has tumbled and screwed her way back into the market, so to speak.

Bettes eyes narrowed. You havent told anyone, have you?

Bette, with the way the two of you are avoiding each other, its inevitable that the sharks smell blood eventually. I mean, Im surprised the frenzy hasnt started! Showing up at Milkwell, everyone loves to see perfection come down to their level; some sick perversion I unfortunately share. Alice sighed. Its all over the internet anyway, with the network and all and some very perverse people whod love to draw a line between your name and theirs.