Through the glass windows in the kitchen, she could see that the lights were on out back.  She opened the door and saw Bette sprawled across the daybed, a bottle of liquor balanced on her stomach.

“Bette?” she called, causing Bette to turn her face towards her. 

“Did you have a good time?” Bette asked, her voice monotone and slightly slurred.

“Are you okay sweetie?  Why you didn’t you tell me you felt sick, I would have come home with you.”

“Did you have a good time?” Bette repeated, as thought she hadn’t heard Tina at all.

Not only was Tina confused as to why Bette would further intoxicate herself while feeling ill, but she was also beginning to wonder if maybe she didn’t have a slight concussion.

“Uh, yeah.  Yeah I had a good time,” she answered cautiously. 

“Brenda, huh?” Bette said coldly.

Tina looked at her with eyes squinted, as if she were a puzzle that she was trying to put together with vision alone.  “Yeah…  Bette are you alright?” she said, walking closer to the daybed.  Bette sat up as she approached, taking another swig from the bottle.  Bette waved her hand dismissively, avoiding the question.  They sat in silence for a moment.

“Did you fuck her?” Bette asked coolly, looking right at Tina.

“What? No,” Tina said, shocked.

“Are you going to?”

Tina deliberated over her answer.  “If you’re asking if I’m going to see her again, the answer is yes, probably.  I have no idea whether we’ll sleep together or not.”

“Well that’s just like you, isn’t it Tina?  To spend the whole night flirting with somebody and making them believe that you want them, but the next day pretending that it never happened?  Just find somebody new?”

“Oh yeah, that’s me, Bette,” Tina answered sarcastically.  “Is this a fucking joke?  What the hell is going on with you tonight?”  This was more of a demand than a sincere question.  Not only were Tina’s feelings hurt, but she was also offended.

“Me?  I’m not the one who was all over some random chick that my friends hooked me up with!” Bette slurred.

“You told me to let them hook me up! And don’t act like you’re so innocent.  You knew that girl for less than a minute before you had your hands on her.”

“Actually—” Bette started.

“Oh, that’s right.  I’m sure you’ve fucked her already, you two probably go way back.”

“Who I choose to sleep with is my business,” Bette shouted.

“Well then stay the fuck out of mine!”  Tina turned angrily, walking quickly towards the house.  She turned after a few feet.  “I don’t know what the hell is going on with you tonight, but you better snap out of it.  You don’t get to talk to me like that.”

Bette continued to glare at her.  “You should have never even moved here, Tina.  All you’ve done is make my life harder for me.”

Tina’s eyes instantly filled with tears.  “How can you say that?” she whispered.  “Where is this even coming from?”

Bette stood up, carrying her bottle of whiskey by the neck.  She saw Tina’s reaction to her words and it softened her immediately.  The alcohol had all but numbed her entirely, and Tina’s tears had begun to affect that small sliver of sanity. 

“Don’t worry,” Tina said.  “I’ll be out of your hair by morning.” 

With that, Tina turned and walked into the house.  It was late, and she wouldn’t have enough time to pack, so she decided to see if Shane would let her spend the night at her house.  Her heart broken, she dejectedly walked the short distance between Bette’s house and Shane’s.  When Shane answered the door and saw the mascara running down Tina’s face, she didn’t ask any questions.  She just ushered her inside and sat with her while she cried herself to sleep.