There was a long pause.
Bette didn’t know what to make of Alice’s silence. Either it was true that
Bette had just been dreaming the “previous” night’s events or Tina was really
gone out of her life and Alice didn’t know how to deal with Bette’s sudden
memory lapse. Either way, the silence was deafening.

Bette: Alice Tell me the
truth. I really need to know.

Alice: Bette I It’s just
I think you need to call Tina yourself and talk to her. I can’t help you.

Bette: Alice! We’ve been
friends for how long? You mean to tell me that Alice Pieszecki is now tight
lipped (no pun intended) and has “no comment” on the matter?!?

Alice: Bette, you’re my
friend and I love ya, but you really need to talk to Tina on this matter.

Bette: (Irritated) Just
great just ***** great. Jesus Alice, it’s not like you haven’t spilled
plenty of secrets in the past. You mean to tell me that we’re back to choosing
sides?

Alice: (slightly annoyed)
B, that is so not fair. You know that I’ve always TRIED to maintain my silence
but this time I just can’t step over that line.

Bette: (exacerbated) You
probably don’t know the truth anyway. I mean, why would Tina confide in you.
She knows that you would just go and spill it to everyone anyway.

Alice: Jesus Bette! You’re
some piece of work today. I think whatever you’ve been doing has clouded your
judgment. You just need to calm down and go talk to Tina that is if she even
wants to talk to you

Bette: Al

– CLICK –

Before Bette could get in
another comment, Alice hung up the phone. Bette was left there holding the
receiver listening to dead air before the phone took flight across the room and
struck the far wall of Bette’s living room, made a an indentation in the
plaster and then shattered with pieces and batteries flying in various
directions.

Bette: *****!!!

Upon hearing the
commotion, Tina emerged from the guest bedroom and cautiously made her way down
the hall and materialized in the living room unbeknownst to Bette. Not wanting
to startle Bette, Tina guardedly walked up behind Bette to make her presence
known.

Tina: Bette

Bette: (startled and
turning to face the source) *****!!!

Tina: I’m sorry Bette. I
didn’t mean to startle you. I just I heard yelling and then a loud crash.

Tina was now eyeing what
appeared to be what was left of the phone sprayed across the living room floor.
A look of disappointment emerged on Tina’s face. Evidently, Bette hadn’t
changed much and was still able to let her anger get the best of her.

Bette: (noticing the LOOK)
T, Oh my god I’ve been looking all over for you. I thought that maybe you had
second thoughts about last night and decided to leave again.

Tina: Second thoughts?
Bette, you’re the one that ruined last night at dinner by totally ignoring what
I had to say and infringe on my comments with yours about how rough your day
was.

Bette: No T, I mean after
Tonya and Dana’s party. Remember making up? (That famous million-watt smile now
filled Bette’s face)

Tina: (Sarcastically)
Bette, I don’t know who you’ve been “making up” with, but it sure wasn’t me.
Besides, the party is tonight. Bette this is so like you to try and change the
focus away from your behavior. Did you think I would just wake up today and all
would be like it was before I left? I told you; I’m just here until I can
get a place of my own. And, by the way, smashing the phone against the wall is
such a clich. Jesus Bette, I thought you were trying to work on your anger
issues.

Tina turned on her heels
and headed back to the guest bedroom, closed and locked the door behind her and
left Bette standing in the living room dumbfounded.

Bette: What the ***** is
going on here? This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be? I know that Tina and I
made up last night.

Bette
furrowed her brow as her eyes danced across the air trying to contemplate what
was happening.

TBC…