“Guys, guys!” Bette said interrupting them from the show they were putting on “I still need your help.” Alice and Shane breathlessly flopped down on the couch beside Bette, Alice still with her hand around Shane’s shoulder reached over and took the phone from Bette’s grasp. She studied it for a while and her reporter instincts began to kick in “Do you recognize the number at all?”

“The area code I know. Her brother lives in Marshall, that’s the only thing I recognize.” Bette said as seriousness found its way back into their circle.

“You haven’t even replied, what the hell!” Alice said sitting up and looking at her reply log.

“What the hell am I gonna say Al? I don’t even know who this is, or where I’m going. For all I know Tina may know nothing about it and I’ll be left there wondering who the hell sent this to me and why.” Bette said finally adding a voice to the fact that she was scared that it wasn’t really Tina at all and that Tina still refused to see her. If it were true the rejection again would kill her.

Alice scoffed as she stood and looked at Bette like she had a third lip hanging from her face. Alice was in complete disbelief that this was the same person she’d known for so long. As she crossed her arms and prepared to speak; she looked past Bette and saw the computer still lit waiting for a reply. She quietly walked over to the computer and began typing away furiously. Bette and Shane sat not knowing what to do, Bette looked over to Shane and mouthed “What’s she doing?” Shane shrugged and shook her head.

Alice retrieved a paper from the printer and handed it to Bette as she said, “You got a flight leaving at 5:15 in the morning to Dallas from there you’ve got a reservation for a rental car at the hertz.” Alice said so sternly it shook Bette a little bit. “It’s a standard mid size.” Bette was looking up at Alice not knowing what else to do other than accept the paper from her.

Alice sat down on the coffee table across from Bette “Look Bette, I know you’re scared and you should be, I’m not going to lie to you.” she said picking up Bette’s cell phone and typing a quick message while still talking to Bette, she started to reach for the phone but Alice turned away from her to quickly “but you love her. Yes?” Alice looked up briefly and caught the nodding confirmation from Bette who was still a little shocked by what was just planned out for her. “So you’ve got to let that be the driving force that carries right to her door. She loves you, we all know it. Otherwise it wouldn’t have hurt her so bad when she found out.” Bette closed her eyes as the tears from hearing that statement made her ache again, her head dipped down and she felt the pain begin the burn again “ hey” Alice said softly lifting Bette’s eyes to hers as she put the phone back down on the table “and it’s because she still loves you that she keeping you at arms length. Get her to put that guard down and the two of you need to accept what you’ve been fighting for to long.