‘Sorry, I was just taking a few minutes when I dropped my bag. Wanted to catch my breath without freezing my ass off.’ She laughed as she turned expecting it to be the waitress or maybe even Jen telling her the room was off limits.

‘Really, that’s what you’re going with?’ Alice looked unamused.  She stood with her arms either side of her and palms outstretched. Bette’s face flushed.

‘What do you mean? I just wanted to.. umm.. well, I mean people were crowding me… just met Tina’s new boyfriend and had a drink… so.. I was just.. yeah, like I said… catching my breath…’ Bette’s eyes unable to meet hers, she shifted in her feet like a child.

‘You always were shit at lying, even if I hadn’t seen you. For fucks sake, her boyfriend’s right out there and you’re in here fucking her brains out?!’ Alice’s voice was getting louder as she became more and more angry.

‘Would you please keep your voice down, and I did not ‘Fuck her brains out’. Nothing happened.’

‘Really?!’ sarcasm dripped from the word.

‘Really’ I mimicked. ‘We just kissed.’ Bette’s voice dropped to almost a whisper, unable to believe it happened. Her eyes had dropped to the floor and she became very aware of her hands. Her normal confidence shaken as she desperately tried to compose herself. The party decibels seemed to have reached an all-time high and music was now streaming through the door.

‘I didn’t plan this.’ Bette said, moving closer to be able to talk to Alice without shouting.

‘Bullshit’

‘I didn’t. The fact that I’d been hoping for months that this may ever happen is beside the point. I’d made the decision that because A. I work with her, in case you’ve forgotten, she’s putting on a show in my gallery and B. She’s straight WITH boyfriend, I wouldn’t even try.’ Bette looked into her eyes, begging her.

She sighed ‘Alright, I know you wouldn’t be this premeditated… So, what happens now then?’ She sipped her drink she’d been holding in one hand. It was a different colour from the Martini earlier.

‘Dinner tomorrow. Right now, I have to stop myself from staring at her all night and imagining all the delicious things I’d like to do to her. Oh and avoiding Eric at all costs.’ Bette puffed out air as she realised that this evening had now become an even harder evening than she thought it was going to be. ‘Drink first, come on, like I said earlier, you’re helping me. Oh and thanks for the phone call, perfect timing as usual.’ Bette half laughed as she grabbed Alice’s free hand and got out of the room. At the bar Bette ordered more drinks, downing a tequila shot straight away and sucking in a sharp breath as the bitter liquid made its way down her throat. Alice was standing beside her and Bette frowned when she heard her chuckling, well, considering the party was so loud, it was more like guffawing. Bette just stared at her until she’d caught her breath and wiped tears from her eyes.

‘You alright there?’

‘Yea’ she sighed. ‘Was just struck by the humour of your little “predicament”’ She used her fingers and made air quotes. ‘She hasn’t stopped fucking staring at you since we got back to the bar.’

Bette knew exactly where Tina was. She could feel her looking; Bette had seen her the moment she came out of the private room.  She picked up her drink and turned around; with her back to the bar she took a sip and stared in Tina’s direction. Their eyes met instantly and the same jolt that had passed through them when their lips touched struck again. Bette inhaled sharply and could tell from the look in Tina’s eyes and the way she had to stop drinking that the same had happened to her. She was interrupted by Eric lightly touching her elbow. Bette’s heart ached and she grew angry at the public intimacy he was allowed and she was denied.

‘Fuck…ing…hell, you are in shit.’ Alice whispered in Bette’s ear. ‘Stop staring, you’re doing it more than usual, oh and I was totally right, you are now officially in a world of trouble and as my prize, you get to pay for the taxi home. I’m crashing at yours tonight anyway, a good thing too, you’d probably try and do something stupid.’

Bette stared at her drink, a frown crossing her forehead. She stirred it with the small red straw and focused on the ice as it chinked in the glass. Another shot of Tequila appeared in between her eyes and glass, breaking her trance.

‘Come on, you are definitely gonna need this.’ Alice handed Bette the shot and they simultaneously downed their drinks. A smile crossed Bette’s mouth when she sucked the lemon as she remembered the feel of Tina’s lips against hers.