Tina stayed awake the rest of the night. She tried to sleep but could only toss and turn. She had no one to blame but herself for this mess. When she couldn’t take the pangs of guilt anymore she got up and went downstairs. The smell of fresh brewed coffee carried her down the steps. Her heart pounded with joy, Bette must have come home! She knew they had a lot to talk about and she would have to beg to get Bette to listen, but she didn’t care. Bette was home and they would work this out together. She ran to the kitchen as fast as she could.

Tina: God, Bette, I am so glad you came ho…

Tina stopped dead in her tracks. She could hear the crack that tore through her heart.

Tina: Oh, sorry. I thought you were Bette.

Ashley: Nope just me.

Tina took a seat at the island.

Tina: What are you doing up?

The blonde looked around the room.

Tina: And where are you’re friends?

Ashley: Oh, they couldn’t come and I couldn’t sleep.

Tina: Sorry to hear that.

Tina cursed Ashley under her breath, after all, the fight with Bette stemmed from the teenager wanting to have her friends over.

Ashley: It’s ok. They’ll come another time.

The two were silent, both waiting for the other to broach the unhappy subject. Ashley caved first.

Ashley: Where’s Bette?

Tina: Oh, um, she’s out.

She didn’t want to alarm Ashley.

Ashley looked over at the clock that flashed on the microwave.

Ashley: It’s 3:30 in the morning.

Tina: I know.

Ashley: Tina, listen, I’m sorry if it was my fault that you two fought.

Tina reached for Ashley’s shoulder.

Tina: I think this fight was long over due Ashley. It wasn’t because of you.

Ashley: Well, I’m still sorry that it happened. Do you think she’ll come home tonight?

Tina bowed her head.

Tina: I don’t really know.

Ashley: Will she ever come back?

Ashley was trying her best not to smirk.

Tina: Eventually. She’s just working out her anger.

Ashley: I have to tell you something. I really don’t want you to be mad.

Tina braced herself for another blow.

Ashley: I saw you.

Tina: I’m not following.

Ashley took a deep breath.

Ashley: I saw you with Daphne.

Tina wasn’t sure how this could get any worse. They had brought Ashley here with the intention of giving her a stable home life and now Tina had let her down. Tina hoped all was not lost and pried further.

Tina: Saw us talking?

Ashley nodded.

Ashley: And I saw you kiss her.

That was the one thing Tina didn’t want to here.

Tina: I don’t know what to say.

Ashley realized this was her time to seal the deal.

Ashley: You don’t have to explain yourself to me Tina. I’m just sorry that Bette’s selfishness pushed you two apart.

Tina felt awful. This poor kid had no idea that Tina was to blame.

Tina: No Ashley. Bette is a good person, a great person. It was my fault.

Ashley: That isn’t true. At least not about it being your fault. How long did she think she could keep this up anyway?

Tina’s brow furrowed in confusion.

Tina: Keep what up?

Ashley felt her heart race. This was it!

Ashley: The two shows.

Tina: What do mean two shows?

Ashley: Oh god.

Ashley placed her hand on Tina’s leg.

Ashley: You didn’t know.

Tina stood, infuriated. What had she not been told?

Tina: Know what Ashley?!

Ashley: I think maybe you should wait for Bette to come home to tell you. It isn’t really my place.

Ashley stood up from the stool and walked briskly toward the steps.

Tina: Hey! Get back here!

Before turning around to face Tina Ashley smiled from ear to ear. She erased it as she turned around.

Tina: If there is something I should know about then I expect you to tell me.

Ashley: Ok Tina. I’m sorry.

Ashley went back to Tina and stood right in front of her. She looked her square in the eye.

Ashley: Bette was offered a part in another show. A bigger one. And she took it.

Tina sat back down, her face white as a ghost.

Ashley: She’s been going to both your rehearsals and the other one.

Tina: I don’t understand. How was she planning on being in both shows?

Tina had a feeling she might not want to hear the answer.

Ashley: She wasn’t going to. She was going to leave yours.

Tina was right. She didn’t want to know. Her face now went red with anger.

Tina: Who else knows?

Ashley: I really don’t know.

Tina: Ashley?

Ashley bit her bottom lip.

Ashley: Daphne.

Tina: What? How?

Ashley: I don’t know.

Tina: Fuck!! How dare Bette prance around here acting hurt! As if she were the only victim!

Ashley: I’m so sorry Tina.

Tina dropped her head in her hands and sat back down. Things had gone terribly wrong.

Once inside her own room Ashley closed her the door. She sat down on her bed and tried to silence her laughter.

Ashley: Mission complete!





Bette sat on the edge of Avery’s bed feeling slightly out of place. It was dark and the apartment was very cold. She missed her bed, she missed her girlfriend and more importantly she missed the control she once had in her life. She stood up slowly so as not to wake Avery who slept right beside her. Walking as quietly as she could, Bette sat in the chair across from the bed. She watched the red head sleep soundly and wondered to herself what she was dreaming about. She could see the faint shadow of a smile on her face and Bette was jealous. She would have given anything to sleep that blissfully. Bette curled her legs up to her chest and closed her eyes. Silently she prayed to wake up from this nightmare.

Avery: What are you doing on the chair?

Bette’s eyes flew open in surprise.

Bette: I just couldn’t sleep.

Avery sat up, wrapping the covers around her slender frame.

Avery: I wish I knew how to help you.

Bette: Believe me, you already have.

Avery sighed. She wanted more than anything to make things ok for Bette. Until this evening she had no idea how frail the actress really was. She had seen her true colors and there was no going back.

Avery: What are you going to do about Tina?

Bette shook her head.

Bette: I don’t really know. I guess she’ll have to move out. I mean it is my apartment.

Avery nodded.

Bette: Is that too harsh? Should I leave the apartment?

Avery stood abruptly.

Avery: Are you kidding me? Bette, she cheated on you!!! Not the other way around, that apartment stays with you.

Bette knew she was right.

Bette: So I guess I’ll call her tomorrow and tell her she has a week to get out.

Avery: I think that’s fair. In the meantime you can stay here.

Bette: I’ve imposed on you too much already. I can just get a hotel room.

Avery: Non-sense. I will go with you to your apartment, help you grab some clothes and other necessities and then you will stay here. With me.

Bette: Avery…

Avery: Not another word Bette. You shouldn’t be alone right now.

Bette: Thank you, but…

Avery: But, nothing Bette. I know my apartment isn’t exactly the lap of luxury but it’ll do for a few nights. And it’s A LOT cheaper then any hotel in the city.

Bette agreed. A hotel for the week would cost her an arm and leg.

She gave in with a sigh.

Avery: Now, get back in this bed and get some sleep.

Bette slunk back under the covers next to Avery.

Bette: Can I ask you something?

Avery turned and smiled.

Avery: Anything.

Bette: Can I hold you?

Avery’s face was blank. She had no idea what to make of that question and Bette sensed this.

Bette: I just miss wrapping my arms around someone. Tina was always working late and by the time she got home I was already asleep. If not, it’s ok. I just thought I’d ask.

Avery was now smiling.

Bette: It’s completely innocent, I assure you.

Avery: I know that Bette.

Avery rolled onto her side and waited to feel Bette’s arms wrap around her. They were stronger then she would have thought, and Avery had to admit, it was a nice feeling. She sighed contented and fell right to sleep.





Daphne paced the wooden floor of her apartment over and over. She couldn’t help but want to call Tina. She wanted to explain why she had left. She wanted to tell her everything, but most importantly she wanted to tell that she was in love with her. She grabbed her phone and began to dial. She tried to think of the exact words she would use to tell Tina but when she couldn’t come up with any she hung up. She continued this for over an hour. It wasn’t until her phone rang that Daphne snapped out of her trance.

Daphne: Hello?

Tina: How could you?

Her words nearly threw Daphne to the ground.

Daphne: Excuse me?

Tina: Don’t pull that shit Daphne! You knew and you didn’t even think to tell me.

Just then it clicked. Ashley had put the finishing touches on her plan. Everything was out in the open now.

Daphne: Tina, it isn’t like that. There is so much that you don’t know.

Tina cut her off.

Tina: Apparently.

Daphne: Please let me explain.

Tina: I trusted you. Why would you do this to me?

Daphne: I didn’t do anything Tee.

Tina: Don’t call me that. In fact, don’t call me anything.

Daphne: What?

Tina: I never want to speak to you again.

Tina slammed the phone down, leaving a sharp ringing in Daphne’s ear.
Dropping down onto her couch Daphne cried. The tears stung as they rolled down her cheeks and onto her shirt.

Daphne: It’s over.






Alice watched Alex sleep. He always reminded her of a young child even though he was almost 8 years older than her. She brushed the hair out of his eyes and gave a kiss on the forehead.

Alice: Sleep tight little boy.

She stood up and walked toward her balcony. She knew it was freezing outside, but she needed the air. Alice hoped that one gust of strong icy wind would erase this whole day. She waited until the wind had hit her several times before giving up hope on that idea. She inhaled deeply; feeling the sharp pang of ice hit her lungs. Then, she did what everyone around her needed so badly to do as well, she screamed.

TBC…