For the second time, in at least an hour, I’m crying over what I’ve ‘done to Grace.’ Now with the other guilty party here, it hurts more. It’s more real. And I can’t control my limbs anymore. Yet, before I faint or collapse in a pathetic heap, Bette grabs my waist and leads me to the couch in the livingroom.

With my boxes, I’m crying harder realizing that I haven’t even unpacked and I’m having a nervous breakdown. God, I hope Bette’s gone. I can’t have another human being see me like this.

“Tina?” *****, she’s still here. Will this nightmare never end. “Tina, please look at me.” Ok, fine, but don’t be surprised to find a complete ***** mess in front you. Not the person you met at Mel’s that couldn’t stand you. Just a frightened woman completely out of her element.

“I am not Grace’s possession. I’m not a thing. I’m a goddamn person….And this isn’t a contest.” This can’t be right. She’s not looking away. She’s not afraid of what it could mean to be with me and all this guilt that’s strapped to my back. Who is this woman?

“I really didn’t expect to act like this. But last night wasn’t just about *****.”

“Really?” Not that we did anything, but the opportunity and temptation certainly was there.

“I don’t know, Bette. What about Eric?” Got to get this out in the open. The way those two started to act at the club definitely deserves an explanation.

“I know. I thought about that, really.”

“And.”

“What does that have to do with how you feel? You’ve only known him a day and even then, you really didn’t get to spend that much quality time together.” Good, put this all on me. ***** that.

“Is that what you would call last night, quality time?”

“What would you call it?”

“A drunken mistake. A big… big mistake.” Keep telling yourself that. If she’s not going to be completely honest and answer my questions, we can keep playing on this see-saw of ‘Truth and Denial.”

“So in the clear light of day, last night meant nothing?” How does she always manage to throw to hard questions at me. All she does is respond to what I say with another question or a short answer. Why isn’t she telling me anything?”