Tinas eyes opened of their own accord. She rolled her head to look at the alarm clock on her nightstand: 6:57 burned bright red, illuminating the immediate environs of the nightstand. Tina wanted to turn over onto her stomach and wait for the alarm to go off in three minutes, but some indescribable discomfort in her stomach told her to just get up. She wanted to attribute it to her period, but it was too early in the month for that. She was still apprehensive about Bette. She had arrived home the night before to find Bette deep asleep, curled up on her side of the bed, as if not wanting to even come in contact with the section of the sheets that usually cradled Tinas body. Tina carefully stood up from the bed, deactivating the alarm, moving slowly so that she didnt disturb Bette into wakefulness. After making her way into the bathroom, she gently closed the door without making a sound. She braced herself on the edges of the sink and gazed at her own reflection for a few moments. She felt so tired, but not physically. This type of exhaustion had nothing to do with the few drinks she had consumed or her acrobatics getting Alice safely home. She was emotionally drained and not fully willing to take any of Bettes bullshit.

Jerking her arm to grasp her toothbrush, she resolved to get ready quickly, reset the alarm for Bette and then just head to work. For some reason she felt guilty, but she hadnt done anything wrong and she sure as ***** wasnt going to apologize to Bette; Bette was the jerk, not her. The bathroom door quietly opened and Tina cursed her bad luck; so much for leaving the house unscathed. She watched Bettes reflection sleepily shuffle to the toilet and relieve herself. Usually, Tina would find this quasi-somnambulant Bette absolutely adorable, but this morning it was downright irritating. Tina felt what was left of her patience wane as the last trickles fell into the water in the toilet bowl. Were out of paper, Bette croaked, her eyelids still concealing half of her eyes. Tina slammed her toothbrush into the sink and stormed out of the bathroom, returning a few seconds later with a roll of paper. She rolled it on the floor like a bowling ball toward Bette and then angrily plodded back to the sink. Bette was still too sleepy to register the significance of Tinas actions. As she walked out the bathroom, she gently grazed her fingertips across Tinas t shirt-clad shoulder blades and said thank you through a yawn.

Tina took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds. She wasnt sure if Bettes gesture took the edge off or just increased the sting of whatever hurt she was feeling. She decided to just continue with her plans and leave Bette to take the first step. Shes the one that got all pissed without a reason, not me, she thought, spitting into the sink. She noted with disgust that she had brushed so hard that shed caused her gums to bleed some. She showered quickly and then collected her clothes from the bedroom and got dressed in the bathroom, all without waking Bette. She reset the alarm for the next hour since Bette wasn’t needed at the gallery until later that morning. She was walking through the front door at exactly 7: 46am, thoroughly pleased with herself. She had gotten through the first part of her day without a confrontation, and she was happy about that. Turning the key in the ignition, she could literally feel her tension and anxiety ebb away. Maybe she had overreacted, Bette was just stressed about the show, as usual. Maybe she would call her so they could have lunch together.

Fourteen minutes later, Bettes head jerked at the sound of the alarm buzzing. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, reaching over to shake Tina and mumbling, Tinaturn it off But her palm only landed on the empty sheets next to her. Her eyes immediately snapped open to confirm what her hands were revealing to her. Unbelievable! she breathed. A million thoughts raced through her mind: Where the ***** was she? Why did she leave so early? Did she even come home last night? Suddenly, the fuzzy memory of the bathroom slowly came back to her and she exhaled with relief. Pushing the sheets aside, she got out of bed and wandered down the hall. Sniffing the air, she realized that Tina hadnt made coffee, which she usually did when she left the house before Bette. She splayed her hands on the cold countertop, scanning every surface for the note. Tina would always leave a note if she left before her, telling her to have a good day, not to forget a certain errand, or just scrawled with a hurried I love you. But today there was no note, and that was a bad sign.

***

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz

Hello?

Hey

Are you at work already?

Yeahyou were up early this morning

Well, I had some loose ends to attend toI didnt wanna get stuck in traffic

I figured you might be a little hungover from last night

Tina clenched her teeth. What is that supposed to mean? she asked crisply. NothingI just didnt hear you come in last night, so I figured you got in late. Tina pressed the phone in between her ear and her shoulder, roughly rubbing her temple with her now-free hand, I was on my way home when I called you. Bette exhaled slowly into the phone; she didnt like where this conversation was headed, I was just wondering if you were free for lunch. Tinas eyes darted wildly across her office as she thought about her reply, I dont know, she began hesitantly, if I can todayI have to go on-location for this indie film. Bette sucked her teeth loudly with disappointment, releasing a weak ok as her assistant poked a head into her office. I guess Ill just see you tonight then, Tina replied softly. Bette nodded her head, Yeah, and waved her assistant inside.

Bye.

Yeah.

***

Tina poked the last couple of pieces of General Tsaos chicken with her chopsticks, languidly pushing them in circles around her plate. The humming of the VCR as it rewound the tapes of footage she had been watching lulled her into a trance-like state. It was nearly 8 oclock and Bette hadnt arrived home or even called. After watching nearly two hours of bad footage, she had resolved to just clear the air with Bette; but, she wanted to do it face to face. The jangling of keys at the front door startled her out of her thoughts and she quickly rose to her feet, still holding her plate and chopsticks. Bette? she asked in a small voice. But instead of Bettes tired frame shuffling through the doorway, a squat, tan man dressed in full Mariachi regalia and holding a trumpet suddenly walked in. He was followed by a taller, thinner man holding a huge bass guitar, who was followed by a medium-sized fellow holding a regular sized guitar, then another holding a very small guitar, and thenwell you get the picture. Once they had all filed into the living room, the man with the trumpet counted to three in Spanish and the group began a lively rendition of Abbas Chiquitita. Tinas mouth slowly opened until it was a perfect circle of awe. The raspy sound of the singers baritone resounded through the house, echoing all the way into the back courtyard accompanied by the notes of the guitars and trumpets.

Upon finishing the song, the men each removed their sombreros and bowed low, then exited the house, their boots noisily scraping against the porch outside. Tina was rooted, standing next to the couch and still holding her plate and chopsticks. Bette suddenly appeared around the door with her bags slung over her shoulders and a bunch of oriental lilies clutched in her right hand. Tina released an inaudible sigh as she watched Bette drop her bags by the door and walk slowly over to her. With a shy smile, she removed the plate from Tinas hands and set it on the coffee table, then replaced it with the flowers she had brought. It was a sign really, she began quietly, I saw the flower lady with the lilies and of course thought of you, but they just didnt seem like enough. She took a deep breath and then Tinas hands in her own, slowly lifting her eyes with some trepidation. And then I heard them, she smiled, turning her head toward the window, and they were singing so beautifullyand I just had to. A single tear broke free from its perch and slowly slid down Tinas cheek, Im sorry, baby, she sighed. Bette enveloped Tina in her arms and held her close as she whispered, We had a rough day, it wasnt anyones fault.

There was a soft knock on the open door, and Bette pulled away to look around at the squat man who was shrugging his shoulders. Bette gave him a quick little nod, then turned back to Tina with the sweetest smile Tina had seen on her face in a long time, They had a special: Two for the price of One! Both women giggled as they sunk deeper into one another and the melody of some Mexican ballad they didnt recognize soared on the evening air. They swayed slowly, shuffling their feet in unison with impeccable timing. Bette encircled Tinas waist with her arms as Tina settled hers comfortably on Bettes shoulders. Bette pushed Tinas hair aside and rested her chin into the newly exposed skin; Tina pressed her temple into Bettes billowy hair, disheveled from a frenzied days work.

***

The house was dark. The Mariachi had all gone, handsomely recompensed for their trek to West Hollywood. Bette and Tina finished eating dinnertogetherand then headed to a much needed nights sleep. Tina was resting comfortably on Bettes shoulder, with one arm tightly wrapped around Bettes torso. Bette also held tightly onto Tina, bringing her arm around so that it followed the same path as Tinas until their hands met, palm to palm, fingers intertwining.

I cant believe they knew that song.

They were a little stumped at first, but after I sang a few lines, it all clicked.

You sang to them? (smiling with amusement)

Well, Im not a consummate Abba fanatic, but I sang enough for them to get it.

Tina smirked in the dark; Bette loved teasing her about the fact that Chiquitita was one of her favorite songs, it was sort of an inside joke. How was filming today? Bette drawled. Tina yawned loudly, swinging her right leg over one of Bettes, It was ooooookay. A tired moan slipped passed Bettes lips and Tinas eyes fluttered closed as the warm breath caressed her face. Within a few more minutes, they were both asleep.