“Hello Al.”

“Can I come over for a while if you’re not busy tonight?”

“Sure Tina but I thought you and Bette would be going at it like bunnies tonight celebrating the success of the opening tonight.”

“No Al, I’m not celebrating anything I don’t know about Bette any way it’s a long story I will explain when I get there.”

“Thanks Al you’re a good friend.”

“See you in a few minutes.”

Closing her cell and tossing it onto the passenger seat she continued to drive the streets of L.A. at 2 a.m. wiping the tears off her face until she reached her destination.

Alice knew as soon as she hung up the phone that something was wrong and when she opened her apartment door to Tina’s tear stained face it quickly dawned on her it was very serious and Tina really needed a friend right now.

“Oh Tina honey come in.”

“Al…its Bette.” That’s all she got out before she broke down with chest heaving sobs. Walking over to the Chart on the wall she picked up the marker and drew a line from Bette’s name and began to write in the name of the carpenter. Dropping the marker from her hand her knees began to give a way and she sank toward the floor until she felt the two strong arms of her friend stop her downward descent and pull her into a hug comprehending the night’s events without further explanation.

After a while the tears slowed down and her breathing began to return to some semblance of normalcy she spoke.

“Al, can I stay here a few days. I promise it’s just for a short while until I can figure some things out.”

“Sure Tina stay as long as you need. You would do the same for me after all what are friends for if you can’t count on them when you need them.” She said pulling Tina into a bone crushing hug.

That night as Tina lay on the couch in the darkened apartment her mind finally accepted that it was over between her and Bette. She realized she was going to need help in starting her life anew. Although, her friends here in L. A. would be more than glad to help her she knew it was not possible because she would not put them in the middle between her and Bette’s break up. She had to remember they were Bette’s friends too and should not be expected to take sides.