As days pass, Tina wondered about Bette. It had been a week since they saw each other at the party and she hasn?t head from her. Being precise, Bette sent her a text message that night, the night after the morning after. It was midnight by the time Tina saw it. Walking to the bathroom, leaving Helena asleep in bed, Tina saw her cells light on. Checking it she saw Bettes message. “Apparently I made a fool of myself yesterday…am not as young as I used to be, or maybe alcohol is not the same… Thank you for taking care of me”.
It was short, light and kind but Tina could read between the lines. Placing the cell back on the table she decided to answer it another time. But then, the moment passed and she never answered the message. And it was now, a week later that she was wondering.


***

Closing the computer Bette smiled. Who could imagine Lee Simone to be so nice, so easy going. Used as she was to artist, it was refreshing to find one who wasnt full of himself, who didnt need constant attention and praise. Putting the computer in its bag Bette thought about the exhibition, how good it was going to be. She was anxious, happy to be working on it. It was strange to be doing it without the artist presence but Lee was finally arriving tomorrow. Taking some pictures and papers from her desk, Bette remembered the calls and emails. At first it was strange to work with her that way but then it became interesting, in many ways, easier. Lee was giving Bette total control “at least till I arrived” she teased, making Bette smile.

Just as she was entering her car, Bette thought about Tina. Its been a while since they talked, she remembered, but then after the party, after the message, Bette thought, decided, that maybe it was better to give her some time, some space.
It wasnt an easy task as the images of that morning, the look on Tinas face in her sleep, the shape of her body, the soft touch of her skin were memories that keep haunting Bette. But knowing that she was going to see Tina at the end of the week, at the doctors appointment was comforting her somehow

Sighing, feeling tired, Bette drove home. It was her routine, the natural thing to do. Just arriving home, finding it empty was what, still then, seemed wrong. She wasnt getting any use to it, deep down, unconsciously, every time she opened the door she hoped to find Tina there.
But now, as days were passing, it was a little less painful. Her senses were numb, she wasnt thinking about it as much as before. It wasnt constantly in her mind anymore. She was getting herself lost in this new project, this new exhibition. She was getting comfort in finding work inspiring again. That, and sleeping a lot. She was sleeping so much that for a second she thought she could be sick. But then, Alice, always the doctor said, “Thats the good thing about being depressed, you get rested”. Bette tried to explain to Alice that she was not depressed, but Alices nods showed Bette how little credit her friend was giving her.
It was what it was, she then kept telling herself. It didnt mean she didnt want Tina back…it was just that, maybe…she needed time…or fate to give her hand.


***

“Al!, you dont know her!” said Tina cutting the pictures

“Whats to know?…she is rich, she is beautiful…she is a *****…” Alice said, whispering the last words.

Running through the pages, Alice was trying to find the perfect picture of Dana. They were making an album for her. An album with pictures of all of them together, of their parties, trips, pictures of her career, pictures that appeared on the papers, pictures with her parents, with her brother… Her birthday was just a couple of weeks ahead and Alice thought it could be a nice gift.

Pretending not to hear Alices last words, Tina said.

“Even Bette is nice to her”

Looking up from the magazine, Alice said,

“Exactly my point!” Rising an eyebrow, she added, “dont you find it strange?”

“What you mean?” asked Tina looking at Alice.

“Nothing…I mean nothing…you know me…I know nothing…” Alice said, shrugging.

Noticing the time on the vcr, Alice screamed, throwing the magazine in the air,

“*****! We are late!.. We are supposed to be meting Dana for lunch!”

Checking the time, Tina nodded in agreement.

“Come on!… cmon!” Alice urged, already at the door, waiting for Tina.


***

“Really?…That explains the look on your face” Lee said, trailing the syllables.

“Yeah…you look nothing like the pictures I saw” Bette said, laughing.

“Those are old pictures…I havent been on the papers in ten years…” Lee said, her finger caressing the tea cup.

“Ive changed a lot these past years…” She added, drifting away.

Looking at Lee, Bette noticed how different she was from what she imagined. Not only was she more beautiful than she remembered from the pictures and books, she was younger too. There was something intriguing about her. The more she knew her the more she wondered how could such a tiny, sweet, fragile creature could create such powerful, bold sculptures. It wasnt just the look in her eyes, it was everything. A mystery, Bette thought, the idea painting a smile on her face.


***

Walking towards the Planet, Alice and Tina saw Dana talking on her cell. Whistling at her , Alice waved, getting Danas attention. Stopping at her side, Dana pointed inside just as she was hanging up.

“Whos talking with Bette?” She asked.

Looking inside, Tina shook her head, shrugging just as Alice said.

“Lee Simone”

Taking another look, Tina said, “Thats not Lee Simone!!”

“Of course she is, I met her yesterday” Alice said, proudly smiling.

“She is adorable!” Dana said, unable to move her eyes from the artist.

Tina and Alice, surprised, looked at her in unison. Noticing their stare, looking at them, Dana said,

“What?”

Noticing the look on Alices face, half surprised, half jealous, putting her arm around her waist, Dana said, her voice deeper, trying to sound sensual,

“You are *****, funny…beautiful (biting her ear)…adorable…(kissing her on the lips)…just another kind of adorable”

Smiling, feeling silly, Alice nodded, taking Danas hand. Following her friends inside, Tina took another look at the artist



Seeing her friends coming in, Bette waved, inviting them to their table.

“You mind?” she asked Lee.

“Of course not” whispered Lee, smiling at the girls.

“Hey” said Alice.

“Alice..” nodded Lee, widely smiling.

“This is Dana, Tina..Lee Simone” said Bette doing the honors.

Sitting down, Dana shyly smiled while Tina, smiling too was unable to move her eyes from Bette.

“So?” said Alice looking at the crowd.

Seeing that no one was talking, she added,

“So Lee…when is the big opening?”

Shyly smiling, Lee turned to look at Bette.

Smiling, Bette said,

“In two weeks…is going to be incredible… you wont believe it!…its edgy, sensual…”

Watching Bette drooling, excited as she was about the exhibition, Tina felt her stomach tightening. Caressing her belly, she sighed.

“I dont know…is nothing like Ive done before…Bette here is very enthusiastic but…” Lee said interrupting Bette, her shyness all over her blushed face, making the image even more adorable.

Hearing a cell vibrating, all the girls except Lee checked their purses, which didnt go unnoticed to Lee, making her to smile.

“Its mine…excuse me..” whispered Bette looking at Lee.

Watching Bette walk to the terrace, Lee smiled, something that didnt go unnoticed to Tina. Alice, noticing Tinas look, looked at Bette and then at Lee, trying to understand what was going on.

Looking at Tinas belly, Lee smiled before sweetly ask,

“When is the baby due?”

“In a month…more or less” Tina said, trying to sound normal but noticing how the words were coming out harsher that she intended.

“You know what is going to be?” Lee asked again.

“Its a boy…” Tina answered, hoping for Bette to come back soon, bothered by the inquiring.


“You still live in Berlin?” asked Alice, trying to change the topic, noticing Tinas strange behaviour.

Nodding, looking from Tina to Alice, Lee smiled.

“Yes…I do…but now am here” she said, the accent harder.

“Here? You moving here?” asked Alice, surprised.

“Yes… I dont know for how long thou”

Just as Lee was finishing the sentence, Bette appeared.

“Am sorry…that was Leo” she explained rolling her eyes.

Sitting down, after quickly glancing at Tina, she turned to look at Lee again.

“So… you ready to go? (to the girls)…we have to see the photographer…for the catalogue”

Nodding, Dana and Alice smiled, noticing how relaxed and happy Bette looked.


“Will you excuse me a second?” Lee asked standing up.

Watching Lee walking towards the bathroom, Dana sighed.

“She is adorable!” she said again, making Tina rolled her eyes as Bette smiled.

“She is very nice, very easy going…” Bette said, nonchalantly putting some papers in her purse.

“And the accent…wow!” added Dana, blushing a little.

“Hey!” teased Alice, pinching Danas arm.

“What?…is very *****… is like…”

Marlene Dietrich?” said Bette, more to herself than to the others while trying to find something in her purse.

“She looks like Jean Seberg…” Alice added looking towards the bathroom.

“Thank you!” said Bette looking up. “Ive been trying to remember who she looked like…god! It was killing me!!” she added, laughing.

“Jean… what?” asked a confused Dana looking from Bette to Alice.

“Its a French actress…” said Tina, her face blank as a sheet.

“Shhh…” whispered Alice seeing Lee walking back to the table.

Nodding, nonchalantly smiling, the girls welcomed Lee again.

“Ok, am ready” she said, taking her bag. Looking at Dana and Tina, she added,

“Nice to meet you”

Nodding, Dana smiled while Tina nodded, unable to move her eyes from Bette, who leaning back, was letting Lee walk in front of her. As she was walking pass Tina, Bette leaned forward, and sweetly, lightly patting her on the shoulder, whispered,

“Will call you later about tomorrow, ok?”

Ok…” Tina nodded, feeling her lungs closing for a second.