“Fine. You got me.  But I wanted you to have this”

Karen shook her head “Bette I wouldn’t be where I am today without you pushing me to be better.  You are the dancer I strive to be and  I’m not going to be upset sharing the stage or giving up the spotlight to you. So stop feeling like you are getting all the cookies and leaving me with crumbs.  Those crumbs taste good too” Karen smiled and chuckled

Bette who was standing beside Karen’s bed leaned over and gave Karen a hug “I love you Fields”

“I love you too Porter” she says and pushes Bette away “Now get out of here and pack and  kill it on stage”

Bette chuckles and turns to Greg “I know you will take care of her but if you don’t I’ll come back and kick your ass.  Those 15 years of martial arts classes I took are still fresh in my mind”

Greg throws his hands up “Duly noted”

“Alright then.  I will call you often.  You get well you hear” Bette directed to Karen who nodded She blew a kiss and waved at them before leaving out of the room

**************

The next morning Ollie was standing outside the tour bus with his clipboard in hand checking off items as they were being placed in the holding compartment of the bus

Bette approached him from behind with one duffle bag over her shoulder and another in her hand.

“Hey Ollie” she greets setting her duffle bag down and taking the other off her shoulder

Ollie whips his head around and smiles “Good morning.  Right on time.  Go on and get on the bus.  I’ll put your bags up.

“Thanks” Bette said slipping off the backpack she strapped on her shoulders to hold as she stepped onto the bus

She smiled when she saw familiar faces sitting towards the front and let out a big grin

“Hey guys”

The five dancers turned who were occupying the first three rows looked up and a chorus of “Hey Bette” sung out from each of them

“Well it looks like I didn’t need to make any introductions did I”

Bette heard the voice behind her and turned to see Tina behind her smiling and looking amused