When she came back out Shane was sitting on one of the chaise lounges and was hoping that her friend would finally open up to her, like she used to. Bette had a beer bottle turned up and another in her hand already topless for Shane. In that same hand she held her cell phone. She held out the beer for Shane to take, which she did, but her hand remained outstretched for Shane to take her cell phone as well. Shane took the cell from Bette and looked at her perplexed as she took a seat across from her.

Bette sat back and said “Read it.”

Shane turned her beer up as she let her eyes take in the small message displayed on the screen of the phone. The bubbles suddenly stopped flowing into Shane’s bottle as she took in the severity of the message. Shane stared at the screen for a little while longer and her voice found this “Shit.”

“My point exactly.” Bette said turning her bottle up and finishing her beer. Her eyes remained closed as her mind was trying so desperately to go into 30 different places at once. She slowly starting dozing off until “What the fuck does that mean?” Shane’s voice revived her.

“I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.” Bette said repeatedly as she shrugged her shoulders. The simplicity in the message was to much for one brain to handle. Bette’s long dripping hair was splayed out across her lounge chair and her body was shivering from the late mornings winds transforming into noon’s greetings. Still she didn’t want to move from the spot she had with her friend. Shane was still caught off guard by the impromptu message. After everything that has gone through these past weeks, she knew Tina had no contact with Bette and all of a sudden here is this loaded text message.

……………………………………………….

Tina’s mind was so preoccupied with thoughts of Bette. Maybe she’d been to harsh, maybe she should’ve been more receptive to the idea that Bette truly had her best interest at heart, maybe she should call her and see how she’s doing, maybe she’d ignore her phone call, they might not ever be the same, all the while all these thoughts were running through Tina’s mind she heard Bobbi Lee say “Stop right here, Chris.”