Seeming unfazed by Bette’s criticism, Brenda gestured to the rust colored pointed ears on her head before angling her body to reveal a puffed tail of matching color sitting comfortably on her rear.

“A fox and yeah. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to put much effort into my costume seeing as how I’ve been at the hospital for over thirty-six hours. You know, saving lives and everything”

Bette rolled her eyes though Brenda hadn’t noticed the gesture, her blue eyes instead fixated on a waitress in the distance and the tray of hors d’oeuvres she carried.

“Excuse me for a sec. There’s a tray of pigs in a blanket with my name on it”

She was off without another word, leaving the brunette with her mouth open.

Bette scoffed as she watched Brenda make her way through the crowd, “How do you even stand her? She’s so fucking obnoxious”

“She’s my friend, Bette” Annoyed, Tina rolled her eyes as she sipped on her drink.

“Is that why she’s here?” Bette sneered, her eyes narrowing as she met Tina’s gaze. “I told you that I didn’t want her here”

There was a moment frozen in time between them where Tina just stared at Bette in disbelief. Whether or not the brunette saw any error in what she said there was no indication, her face as firm as ever.

“I know what you told me” Tina mocked with an attitude that urged the brunette to be cautious. “I also told you that I didn’t want to hang around while you and Emma were making heart eyes at each other. I needed a buffer, Bette. That’s all Brenda is. I don’t want anyone else but you”

Bette stared, speechless as her mind went to war with itself. She felt compelled to give in, Tina’s words dissipating the anger that coursed through her body. Unfortunately her pride and jealousy got the better of her and Bette couldn’t actually find it in herself to let the subject go.

“It’s not you that I don’t trust” She replied stubbornly, “If you needed a buffer that badly why not ask Shane or Alice? Brenda’s been here less than five minutes and she’s already drooling all over you. She made damn sure that I noticed it, too”