Tina stood and started walking in the direction Bette went. “But Tina,” Alice whined.

Stopping she turned back to Alice one more time. “I’m sorry Alice, I just don’t trust you anymore.”

The group of friends sat in silence as they watched Tina disappear into the darkness. After a minute when it was clear that no one was going to say anything, Alice looked around. “Daum!!” She exclaimed with as much bravado she could muster. “What the hell was that?!” Rocking back and forth on the log she was sitting on Alice tried to ignore Tina’s words which were echoing in her head. Pasting a smile on her face she looked over to Shane. “So, what do you think is really going on between Tina and Bette?” 

“God Al, it’s none of our business,” Shane spoke up, disgusted by Alice’s behavior.

“But..but,”

“No! Not our business!” Shane barked. At this Shane and Molly had finally had enough and stood up to leave, which was the signal for Jenny and Nikki to also get up and silently follow Shane and Molly into the night.

“Wait, where are you guys going?” she whined.

“Where do you think?” Shane shook her head in frustration. She had been just as shocked as everyone else when Tina went after Alice. But the longer Tina had talked the more she had made sense, and Shane was running out of patience with Alice playing the victim. She took ahold of Molly’s hand and started walking in the direction of their tent. “We’re going to bed. Maybe you should spend a little more time thinking about everything Tina just said.”

Alice looked around at the empty seats surrounding the campfire and wondered how a night filled with such love and laughter could go so awry.

She turned to Tasha who was looking at her with an unreadable expression. “Can you believe…I mean, did you hear what Tina…?”

Tasha took hold of Alice’s hand, bringing it over to her lap. “I love you Alice,” she said, not answering Alice’s questions. Lifting Alice’s hand to her lips, she said, “I’m going to bed. It sounds like you have some stuff to think about.”

“Don’t you go too,” Alice whispered desperately.

Tasha gave her a gentle smile. “I’ll be right over there in the tent and will have the sleeping bag all warmed up for you.” She wrapped her arms around Alice and squeezed, then quietly walked the twenty yards to their tent.

Alice’s started into the fire, her eyes filling with tears as a bevy of emotions whirled through her body.

Could Tina possibly be right? Am I a hypocrite? She wondered. All of a sudden a huge pop came out of the fire and sparks rained down in front of her.

“Oh shut up!” She snapped. “I don’t need your opinion too!”

Tbc