“Open the door?” She said, her voice breaking, her hands trembling.

“Open the door” she repeated, feeling the tears rolling down. “Please?” she added.

It was cold outside, windy, even in that humid weather. Knocking harder, she whispered again,

“Please! Open the door!”. Resting her face on the door, caressing the closed door, she mumbled, sobs closing her throat, “pleaaseeee!!”.


***

“James, have you got it?” asked Bette through the ajar door.

“Yeah, done!, you will have it at home by six” he said.

“Good, thanks!” said Bette opening the door, throwing the cell in her purse.

“See you on Monday then…”she added, unable to hide the smile on her face.


***

“He is piss off” Sandra said, taking another coke from the machine.

“I know, am too…but he will get over it” Tina said, checking the time again.

“Did you know he called Marco?…Marco called me, he doesnt understand whats with him…he is worried..”

“I know, he called me too…you know Paolo…sometimes he is just a spoiled kid…I dont know…I told him the truth…is just…” Tina said.

She was nervous and tired. She wanted to go back to LA, she wanted to see Bette, wanted to know what the knot in the stomach meant. She was scared. And she was piss off too. She was angry at Paolo, angry because she knew. She knew him too well not to know that he was playing with her, with her feelings, with her mind. It was, as always, his way of doing things, his way of saying what he was afraid to say. It was his way of hiding her true feelings. But she was tired. Tired of him, of his games, tired of the doubts.

Looking at her friend, Sandra could see how tired Tina was.

They just finished the shooting a few hours earlier and she didnt even wait for the party. They usually have a party after a good shooting but not this time. Since the moment she arrived, Sandra noticed how cold Tina was with Paolo. She also noticed how childish Paolo acted during the shooting. It was something the other models noticed too. He was famous for his professionalism and easiness but not this time. He acted like a spoiled diva, making everybody, but mostly Tina very uncomfortable. But Tina, always the calm one, didnt show what was going on inside her head. Sandra noticed how hard it was for Tina not to lose her patient, how hard it was to be her usual self. She had a reputation and she proved it once again.

But only Sandra knew what a nightmare that job has been for Tina. She was the one who Tina called the night before, asking her to come to her room, to sleep with her. Walking to Tinas room at three in the morning brought many memories to Sandra.
Way back to when they became friends, when Tina was a nervous rack, when she was going through the phase. The never mention phase. It only lasted a couple of months and it occurred the first time Tina and Paolo broke up. It took Tina a couple of months and many talks with Marco and Sandra to realize what her feelings for Paolo were. Once she saw the light she never fell in that phase again. Not till now. That was what was worrying Sandra looking at Tina now.

“At what time does your flight take off?” she asked, handing Tina the coke.

“In half an hour…I should get going” Tina said taking her bag from the ground.

“Yeah…let me help you…”Sandra said, taking the bag, handing Tina the magazines.

“You will check on him, right?” asked Tina.

“Sure…he is coming to New York with me…we have a few shows to do…then I will send him to Venice, with Marco…and I…” Sandra said, taking Tinas arm, “… Im going to visit you again…hows Dana by the way?” she finished, making a face, putting a smile on Tinas face.

“She is better…, Bette said she looks good…but they are not sure if she will make it to the Masters?” Tina answered, pointing to the gate that was just in front of them.

“…so…Alice, eh?” Sandra said, putting the bag over Tinas shoulder.

“Yeah, seems so…but I havent seen them yet…”

“Oh well…hope they are happy…” Sandra said, shrugging.

Smiling, knowing that her friend was just half joking, Tina took Sandras hand in hers. Tightening, she said,

“Ill see you in a couple of weeks, ok?”

“Ok…you take care…and dont think too much…” Sandra whispered, hugging Tina tight.

“Ok” nodded Tina, finding comfort in knowing that her friend knew what she was going through.


***

The music was loud, the doors were open, and if only because it wasnt her style, Bette wasnt dancing around. She was happy, feeling like a kid, wanting to scream, to jump. Everything was ready, everything was packed. She wanted to call Tina and tell her all about the plan but she restrained herself. It was going to be perfect she told herself once again.

Waiting for the Chinese food to arrive she thought about their last conversation. Tina told her about the shooting. She sounded tired and a bit over the edge Bette could tell. She was sweet as always and asked Bette about her work too but she was not her usual self. Bette noticed, as happened all the times they talked during the week, how elusive Tina sounded, it wasnt like she was lying, it was more like she was not really telling. The conversation was long, long enough for both of them to star getting to know their silences, their tones, their laughs?but even so Bette was dying to talk with her in person. She talked with Sandra early in the morning and asked her when they were coming back. Tomorrow afternoon, Sandra said. They were going to have a party tonight and tomorrow they were going to sleep late and without rushing, leave to the airport afternoon. Perfect, it was perfect for Bette. She had plenty of time then. Looking at her bags at the door, she smiled again. Happy, walking like Dorothy over the rainbow, she went outside. Laying on the chase lunge she closed her eyes, trying to imagine the look on Tinas face.


***

It was raining. Hot thick rain that was making everything a blur. She rang the bell again. Nothing. Her clothes were glued to her body, her hair dripping on the floor. Knocking on the door, Tina said,

“Hello?”

No one answered. She didnt want to yell. It was three in the morning and she didnt want to wake anybody up. She was tired, wet and scared. She didnt know why she was there, at that time of the night. She just knew that she could not stop herself. Closing her eyes, she knocked again and then, sighing, on the verge of crying. She rang the bell again.

***

Rolling over, Bette opened her eyes.

“What was that?” she could hear the rain outside, but there was something else. Without turning the light on, she checked the time. It was not the time yet. Was her mind playing with her??. She was used to her body clock, on exams and important meetings, but tonight she was calm. She was sure about her decision.
She didnt know why her mind was wakening her up. She had set two alarms, just in case. She was not going to oversleep. Rolling over, covering with the sheets she closed her eyes again. Just then, as she was hugging the pillow, she heard it again. But this time she recognized it. The doors bell.

“What the?” she mumbled, jumping off the bed.

Barefoot, without turning any light on, she walked towards the front door. Slowly, a bit scared, wondering who could it be she looked through the curtains. At first she could not see what it was. It was dark and the person was looking down to the floor. But then, a thunder light illuminated the porch.

“Oh my god!” she whispered, astonished.

Unlocking the door, she opened it.

“Tina!, what are you doing here?” she asked, taking Tinas wet hand in hers, pulling her inside.

“I…I…” Tina mumbled, the words barely escaping her tired lips.

Taking Tinas s Bette placed them inside. Closing the door, she looked at Tina for a brief moment before taking her hand again.

“Are you ok?…god you are soaking!!…come here…” Bette said.

Turning the light on, Bette looked at Tina again. Tina, trembling and soaking wet , noticed Bettes bags at the door.

“You leaving?” she asked, fear and confusion drawn on her face.

Looking at her own bags, Bette shook her head.

“No…come here…you have to change…come here” Bette whispered, hugging Tina, leading her towards the bathroom.

Letting Bette guided her pace, Tina started feeling better. Sitting on the bathroom tub, she saw Bette getting a t-shirt from the closet as well as a couple of towels.

“Where were you going” she asked again.

Looking at Tina, seeing the look in her eyes, noticing the tone of her voice. Bette sat at her side.

“Tina, what is it? are you ok?” she tenderly whispered, wondering about her words but loving the look in her eyes, her trembling hands, her wet hair.

Nodding, Tina asked again,

“Were you leaving?”

Shaking her head, Bette smiled. Taking Tinas wet face in her hands, she whispered,

“…