On Tuesday morning, Alice woke up with her leg draped over the arm of the couch and her left arm hanging off the side. She sat up stiffly and rubbed her eyes, trying to reorient herself. Tina had been staying with her for a week now, and she had been sleeping on the couch, graciously giving Tina her bed. She still hadnt gotten used to waking up in the new location. She reached up to stretch her arms.

“Owww, *****!” She winced when she became aware of the crick that had formed in her neck. “***** couch pillows!”

“Morning.” Came a voice from behind her. Tina reached over the couch and offered Alice a steaming mug of coffee. “Im sorry I keep stealing your bed, I promise, Ill try and get out of your hair soon.” Tina said apologetically.

“No, no, its fine, really.” Alice replied, trying unsuccessfully to turn around without wincing. “Take all the time you need.” She smiled sincerely back at Tina over her shoulder. “How are ya feelin today?”

“Better. Im actually considering calling Bette, I figure the longer I put it off, the harder it will be to face her.” Tina said.

“Hey! Thats great, I think its a really good idea. Communication is key, so Ive heard.”

“Oh Al, you give such sage advice.” Tina rolled her eyes. “So what are your plans for the day?”

“Hmmm, I think I might work on an idea for an article that I came up with for awhile, and I made some dinner plans for later.”

“Oh yeaaaa? With whom?” Tina asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Dana.” Alice said after a few hesitant seconds.

“Oh I thought you meant you had a date. Well, tell her to stop by later, if she has time.”

“Yea, ok.” Alice blushed at Tinas obliviousness, while also silently hoping that the night would end back at Danas house, not here. She had talked to Dana on the phone a few times over the past week, and seen her casually at the Planet, no more passionate encounters since the hall incident though.

“Well, Im gonna jump in the shower.” She eased herself off the couch, trying not to move her neck too much, and shuffled over to the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, clean and somewhat less stiff, Alice exited the bathroom, and saw Tina sitting on the couch. She was on the phone, and although her face was turned away, Alice knew immediately who was on the other line by the way Tina was nervously twisting her hair between her fingers. Alice quickly scurried into her bedroom to allow her privacy. She figured while she was in there she might as will pick out what she was going to wear on her date with Dana. Date with Dana, date with Danashe loved just repeating it over and over to herself. Never before had she worried so much about her appearance in front of the other woman, but for some reason, she felt that tonight she needed to look perfect. Ultimately she settled on a white knee-length skirt and a cute button down pale green blouse. She thought to herself, two or three buttons unbuttoned? Three, definitely. She chose a pair of dangly earrings and sandals to round out the outfit.

Alice glanced out the door to make sure that Tina was off the phone, and when she saw that she was, she quietly exited and walked over to the couch. Tina was sitting, twiddling her thumbs, her face a mixture of emotions.

“Howd it go?” Alice asked gently.

“Good, good. God, in the seven years that Ive known her, Ive never heard Bette sound nervous, it was so strange.”

“You do have that effect on people” Alice smiled.

“I told her Id see her today, get something to eat at the Planet.” Tina looked up at Alice with hopeful eyes. “I know you had plans with Dana, but, do you think maybe you could come with me, Dana could come too. I just think it would be a lot easier if we werent alone. Im sorry Al, I dont mean to ruin your evening.” Her pleading eyes left Alice little choice.

“Of course hun, Ill come, and Im sure Dana wont mind either. Let me just call her and tell her that well have to reschedule ourdinner.” Alice smiled at Tina, before turning away to go call Dana from her bedroom. As she walked away, she couldnt mask her disappointment. She had really been looking forward to this evening, just her and Dana. But hey, another night. If Tina needed her, shed be there.

“Hello?” Danas voice was unusually perky.

“Hey, its me. Look, Im sorry for the late notice, but I think were gonna have to reschedule our.ummm.date thing for another time.” Alice found herself involuntarily blushing at her words.

“Oh.ok.” Dana said in a disappointed voice. “Is everything ok?”

“Huh? Oh, yea. Its just, Tina asked me if Id come with her tonight to The Planet, well, you too actually. Shes meeting Bette and she doesnt want to go alone. You think you could come?”

Dana cracked a smile at Alices devotion to her friend. “Yea, I can go. I had a hot date, but I guess well just have to do it another time.” Alice blushed again, both at the reference to her as a hot date, and that theyd do it later.

“Hmmm, thats too bad, tonight would have been the perfect night to DO IT, but oh well.” Alice returned the innuendo.

“Haha, ok. What time should I meet you guys at the Planet?”

“Probably around 5:30 or so. See you there?”

“Yup. Later.”

“Later.” Alice hung up the phone and sighed. Bette and Tina, Bette and Tina. She had to keep reminding herself that this night was about Bette and Tina. Even as she repeated these words mentally, she couldnt shake the images of Dana that kept flashing into her mind. Even if this night is about Bette and Tina, I can still look cute, Alice thought as she scurried over to her closet to put on her date outfit anyway. Two buttons though, definitely.