“No reason,” Shane said before taking another sip of her tea.

“Shane,” Bette said in her ‘don’t bullshit me kid’ voice. “You never ask, say, or do anything without having a reason.”

Shane chuckled softly. “Alright, that may be true, but I’m gonna need
some time to think this one over before I start bearing my soul. ”

“Okay. When you’re ready to talk, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks Bette.”

“Anytime.”

Shane reached into her pocket and pulled out her pack of cigarettes.
She took one out of the soaked box. “Shit,” she said as the wet
cigarette broke. “Would you mind if I…?” She motioned at Bette’s pack
sitting on the table between them.
“Go ahead,” Bette said.

Shane grabbed one. She held it between her lips, and using the flame of
the burning candle on the table, lit it. She took a drag and leaned
back in her seat.  “How are you doing?” She asked..
“Right now, or in general?”
Shane shrugged. “Either – both.”

“Right now…  I’m missing Tina. Seeing Dana propose to Lara
tonight… it reminded me of how in love two people can be… How in
love Tina and I were,” Bette said sadly.
“Are.” Shane corrected.

Bette smiled weakly at her young friend. “That may be true for me, but
its not for Tina. She doesn’t love me anymore, and the harder I try to
get her back, the further away she becomes.”

Shane took a drag and blew it out. “How are you in general?”

“A mess,” Bette said, shaking her head. “A total mess.”

“How do you think she is?”

“Based on the way she acts… fucking great.”

“She’s miserable Bette. I can see it in her eyes. She misses you.”

“Whatever you’re seeing in her eyes, it’s not love,” Bette replied. “Hatred, anger, disgust maybe, but not love.”

“You’re wrong,” Shane insisted. “She asks about you some times.”

“She does?” Bette said, her voice suddenly hopeful.

Shane nodded. “Little things. Like if Kit mentions that you’re out of
town, she’ll ask where you went – when you’ll be back. A couple days
ago she asked me if you’d quite smoking yet. I don’t think she likes it
that you’ve started up again. It might not seem like much, but it’s
something. She wouldn’t want me telling you that, but… I don’t know,
I guess I’m not ready to give up on you two yet, and neither should
you.”