Second Chances
Chapter 3



Carmen and Jessica had just enjoyed a nice drive all the way from LAX to the Planet. In the car, Carmen was going on and on about how great it was to finally have Jessica in Los Angeles. They have both been talking about this moment ever since Carmen decided to move there roughly around 5 years ago. Sitting quietly by the passengers seat, Jessica was so amazed by everything the city had to offer, and although she had never been there beforeshe always knew she wanted to live in the City of Angels…

Besides what kind of person would turn down the chance to live near their best friend? In the best city in the world as Carmen described it nonetheless. Keeping these things in mind, Jessica just looked out the window as Carmen went on to talk about what she thought would be the perfect place for her Jessica to stay.

“Jess your going to love Shane and Jenny…. Well I dont know about Jenny, she is a little off sometimes but Shane, yeah youll love her, shes very cool…a little like you.” Carmen giggled.

“Ummm yeah You know I’m really looking forward to see some hotties” Jessica gave a small laugh, “I’m so ready!” she added finishing with a huge smile.

“Well uh about that You see all of the girls Im introducing you to today Jess, are either married or dating each other” Carmen waited for Jessica’s reaction to this.

“What? Damn Carm…. are you trying to keep me single???” she pouted.

“Jess you know I want you to get a woman” she giggled again; “Believe me there are lots of women for you to chase after, in LA… just not my friends” Carmen play punched her in the arm.

Jessica then punched Carmen back. “So what about you Miss Carmen? Are you seeing any of these so-called hotties?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

It seemed that Jessica was really interested in this particular topic; after all she had been crushing on her best friend for years now. In fact every time Carmen came to visit her in Texas the crush grew even more, but of course being the true player that she was, Jessica didnt want to accept any of it.

Deep down in her heart she knew she loved Carmen way too much to lose her as a friend, if by chance they did go out together and things didnt work out. She just hoped that her true feelings for her wouldnt start unraveling now that they would be living so close to one another. Careful not to space out, Jess tried to focus her hearing on Carmen’s answer.

“Yeah I guess you can say that I’m seeing someone” Carmen spit out really fast.

“Really? Wow… Jessica was taken aback, Thats great Carm… so whos the lucky lady?” she asked, trying to hide her disappointment.

“Yes really! You know the girl I was just talking about? Shane?”

“Uh huh.”

“Well its her… Its a long story. Carmen explained, her thoughts thinking back to all that she has been through with Shane. Lets just say, it took some work thats all… But I got her in the end.” Carmen said with a sense of pride.

“Ahhh I see….” Jessica giggled. Wow, thats the Carmen I know… always getting what everyone else wants… you remember Pacos girl right?” Jessica laughed as she remembered one of Carmen conquests.

“Ohh yeah…. that was fun.” Carmen laughed along with Jessica. She then turned the radio up when she heard Gwen Stefanis Hollaback girl:

“This shhhhhh is Bananas………….. B-A-N-A-N-A-S” Both girls sang along to Gwen as they continued on their way through West Hollywood and towards The Planet to meet the gang. Carmen just hoped that all the girls would be there to meet her best friend.

At the planet:

There sat Bette, Tina, and Giselle in her little baby seat. Along with Shane and Dana chatting away. Alice was working on this real big story for LA magazine, but Dana was convinced that it was just that Alice was too scared to be around Bette, ever sense she found out about the Richard Prince. She didnt tell Alice what she was really thinking of course, but if Bette brought it up she was going to defend her girlfriend, even though Alice totally broke it by herself.

“So you guys knew about this accident and didnt tell me?” Bette asked Dana and Shane.

” Umm yeah … well Bette we felt bad for Alice, she was so scared…” Dana tried to think of an excuse as fast as she could.

Tina was just listening to the exchange between her wife and her two friends. She knew not to get into it. She heard enough of the Richard Prince the day Bette came home that day from spending time with Giselle. Tina also kept in mind that no matter what Shane and Dana told Bette about Alice; Alice was certainly a dead woman. So instead of getting into it, she just sat there playing with Giselle as she quietly drank her Tea.

“Yup, you should have seen her Bette, a scared rabbit.” Shane said backing up Dana.

“Uh huh… Bette said skeptically, Well still… I have a bone to pick with her… its so not over until I say it is! she pointed out while leaning back into her chair.

Tina on the other hand just rubbed Bette’s back; doing the best she can to reassure her that everything would be all right. Bette just smiled at her wife.

“Thanks.”

“Youre welcome baby, its going to get better… You can always get another one.” Tina said as she picked up Giselle from her carrier.

“Yeah I guess youre right… Bette sighed, Hand her to me Tee…” Tina complied and handed the baby over to Bette

Giselle just smiled once she fell into her Mommy Bette’s arms… She just loved her other mommy.

“Yes baby… yesterday was not our day huh? We didnt get the Elmo I wanted for you and then I find out that one of my own toys broke… Giselles eyes focused on Bette intently as if to say she understood, Yup blame auntie Alice sweetie…” Bette told Giselle, as the baby giggled back

Everyone else just laughed at Bette’s conversation with her daughter, unaware that Jessica and Carmen had already made their way through The Planets doors. Jessica didnt know what to do, there were so many beautiful women seated throughout the place, also a couple of men, but Jess didnt really take the time to pay much attention to them. Carmen just laughed as she saw the expression on her friends face.

“Down Girl!!” she ordered.

“Huhwhat??? Oh yeah okay.” Jessica still seemed like she was lost in a trance.

Carmen saw her friends sitting by a table out on the patio… Her eyes almost automatically focused on Shane as she smiled to herself, and continued to walk towards them, almost leaving Jessica behind.

“Jess!……….Jessica! You can look later. Carmen tugged her by the arm, Come on my friends are right over there” she pointed to the table full of beautiful women.

“Holy shitCarmen! Those are your friends??” Jessica said with a little insecurity in her voice

“Yeah Now come on I cant wait for them to meet you.” Carmen nearly had to drag Jessica along until they reached the table where the gang was.

“Hi everybody!” Carmen said with a big smile.

“Oh hey Carm.” Shane said as she got up to kiss and hug Carmen, Jessica just stood back observing their display of affection.

” Hi Carmen.”

” Good to see you Carmen.”

“We missed ya.”

Tina, Bette and Dana said immediately right after they saw the new Shane display her feelings so openly towards Carmen. Everybody was just so happy for both of them Being as keen as she was, Bette quickly noticed that Carmen also brought along a stranger, who by now just standing off to the side and keeping to herself. Seeing how Carmen was just totally lost in Shane’s eyes, Bette figured to break their concentration and find out who this person was.

“So Carmen? I see you brought someone along.” Bette pointed out as she bounced the baby on her knee.

Carmen realized that she was at the planet in front of her friends and Jessica was waiting to be introduced.

“Oh… Im sorry… Carmen gave off an embarrassed chuckle, This is my best friend Jessica Garcia. She just moved here from Texas.

” Jess these are my friends. She continued, presenting the women by the table one by one, Bette Porter… Tina Kennard… and Dana Fairbanks… Carmen smiled to herself saving the best for last, And this is my baby Shane McCutcheon” Jessica greeted each of them with a simple hello and a handshake.

” Ohh wait where’s Alice?” Carmen asked when she realized that the quirky blonde wasnt in attendance.

Bette rolled her eyes “She’s hiding! Probably because she knows shes a dead woman when I find her.” Bette said as Tina swatted her arm.

“Ouch! Babe what was that for?” Bette said as she placed Giselle into her carrier.

Be good! No killing Alice well at least not when Im around” Tina teased.

The rest of the girls fell into a burst of laughter again, as Jessica and Carmen pulled up a chair to the table to join the rest of the gang.

“So Jessica how do you like L.A. so far? It must be very different from Texas.” Tina asked in her very sweet voice.

“Yes it is, but its a good kind of different, Ive always wanted to live here. I mean once Carmen left Texas for L.A., I wanted to move too.” Jessica explained, already feeling very comfortable talking to the innocent blonde.

“Hmm So how long have you two been friends? ” Bette asked as she sipped her latte.

“Me and Jess have been friends for about 12 years now, we grew up together in Euless.” Carmen said with recalling all the fond memories they had.

“Yup, 12 years.” Jessica agreed with a smile.

“Well you guys I really should get going… I have to go see Alice before I head off to my training session today. So Ill see all of you later, and Jessica it was really nice to meet you, I hope to see you around too. Dana rounded up her things before she faced everybody again, Bye guys!” she told them, kissing little Giselle on the cheek before waving as she made her way out of the planet.

It was then when Bette quickly realized that they should get going to, she knew that she and Tina had something planned for tonight. Slowly Bette turned and whispered something into her wifes ear, and as she did this Tina just listened smiling and nodding to every word to come out of Bettes mouth.

“Okay, well we should really get going too, Giselle is probably hungry And Tina and I have a date tonight” Bette stated as she got up from her seat with a huge smile on her face.

“Ohhh a date? Thats great…. You mean a cozy date with you two plus Giselle right?” Carmen joked.

“Well actually no, its really just the two of us this time. Angela will be watching over the baby. She explained, Bette asked me out and I just couldnt resist” Tina winked at Bette.

Bette just laughed at her wifes answer. ” Well honey you know I think we need a little free time… for me to take care of you and give you everything you need” Bette flirted.

“Ahem!”

“Oh sorry guys! I guess but we better get a move on then… Tina blushed. It was really nice meeting you Jessica, I hope we get to see you around some more, oh and welcome to LA… she said, taking Giselle into her arms. Shane, Carmen, well see you guys around…”

“Yes see you guys Jessica it was a pleasure to meet you.” Bette repeated her wifes sentiments, as she flashed her trademark million-dollar smile.

As Bette and Tina made their way out of the coffee house hand in hand with Baby Giselle in tow Shane, Carmen and Jessica just sat back and watched them fade out of sight, quietly thinking how much they wanted that for themselves one day.

“So Jessica, have you found a place yet?” Shane asked as she reached for her espresso.

“Well actually no, Im planning to stay with Carmen until I find a place of my own.” Jessica said as she smiled at Carmen

“Ohhh I wanted to talk you about that, Carmen cut in, Shane and Jenny have a room available, well actually a studio.”

Shane nodded her head in agreement.

“Wow, yeah that sounds cool…. Im very interested in that…maybe we can talk about that once I get settled?”

“Of course, just tell Carm when your ready then you can check it out.”

Cool Thanks… Jessicas smile broadened as she faced her best friend, Carm…can you believe Im actually here in LA with you?” Jessica asked with excitement

” I know! Its going to be great… we have so much to catch up on.”

Shane just sat there and giggled at these two beautiful ladies… She could see that they were very close, like sisters, and she was glad to see Carmen being so happy.


Bette & Tina driving home from The Planet:

“Babe, I cant wait for tonight…. Im so excited” Tina said as she moved around in her seat, her voice full of excitement.

Ohh I know what you mean Tee. Bette said as she kept her eyes on the road. Tonight is going to be great. I cant wait to just spend time with you baby, although dont get me wrongI love spending time with Giselle too, But I do miss just being alone with you.”

Tina looked at Bette intently and smiled, She knew that she also missed having some quality time alone with her wife. And even though tonight was just going to last for a few hours; to Tina any amount of time spent with Bette would be magical.

“I know babe believe me I know what youre talking about, tonight is our night. I love you so much.

” I love you too Tee, I love you and Giselle more then anything else in my life.” Bette said sincerely, leaning over to kiss Tina.

“Uh huh I actually have some surprises lined up for you baby, but you have to wait until to night.” Bette winked and continued towards their home.

” Ok Bette! Im so ready!” Tina smiled as she was looking forward to tonight.