She stepped out into the front yard and almost went right back inside. It was stiflingly humid. Tina rubbed at the back of her neck and glanced upward. It was overcast, and the annoying ache in her knee was explained.

She glanced across the street and saw Bette, washing her car. Tina stared for a minute as she watched the woman swab the surface of her convertible. Her hair was up in a ponytail but a few curls had escaped. There were suds on her arms. Tina was once again struck by how free and easy Bette looked, and what a contrast that was with how Tina felt now. After her recollections of the day she and Eric met that morning, her mind drew the obvious parallel. Bette looked the way Tina used to, a long time ago. Back before her first dream was shattered to pieces.

Her knee throbbed again and Tina pulled the door shut behind her. Before she realized it, she was half-way across the street. She could hear Bette half-singing under her breath as she worked. She looked up and smiled when she noticed Tina approach.

“Hey, neighbor.”

“It’s about to rain,” Tina said, then felt embarrassment, her constant companion when she was around Bette, warming her face. She couldn’t even manage a simple greeting properly. “Um. Hi,” she added.

Bette looked up at the sky. “It’s a little overcast, but I doubt it’s going to rain,” she said cheerfully. “You can see the sun through some of the clouds, still.”

“Trust me, it’s going to rain,” Tina replied.

“It never rains in southern California,” Bette said. “Remember that song?”

Tina shook her head. “I’d hate to see your car get ruined. The interior, I mean.” She gave the convertible an appraising look. It was in great condition. “You should put the top up.”

“I will. How have you been?”

“Me? I’m okay.” A silence fell before Tina remembered the polite thing to do in these situations was to return the question. “And you? Getting settled in, I guess.”

“Yep,” Bette said. “By the way, I was thinking about going to the farmer’s market this weekend. Have you been there bef–” Bette broke off and looked skywards with a frown. Tina felt a fat droplet land on her arm. The rain picked up incredibly quickly and Bette let out a yelp, jumping into the car and putting up the roof. She climbed back out and beckoned to Tina.