“You know, Mel, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with your hair down.”

“Well Bette, I am a dancer and I’m often coming some dance class or another when you see me, so the bun is pretty much my standard hairstyle.”

“But you’ve had it up every day since we’ve been here, too.”

“Hmm. You’re right. I guess that’s my habit, huh? Besides it’s time you see this side of me, don’t you think?”

“Sure” Bette says finally returning to being comfortable with the closeness that the two shared.

“You know what, it’s late. I’m going to go to bed.” Bette says after a short time passes.

“Ok, sure. Goodnight Bette.” Bette thought she caught a look of disappointment in Mel’s face, but she wasn’t sure. Besides after Melinda mentioned dancing, Bette’s mind went back to the last dancer she spent time with and it was, well it was memorable.

“I’ll see you in the morning.”

Bette tossed in her bed, unable to find a comfortable position. After a while she gave up and walked over to her desk. Pulling out a book, she took a seat at her desk and started to read and take notes. She had just finished writing a note about a theory when she heard a knock on her door.

“See, knocking is good.” Melinda says standing in the doorway. Bette took an involuntary scan of the body before her. Melinda was still in her knee length night shirt, but Bette also noticed for the first time that Melinda wasn’t wearing a bra.

“Is everything ok?” Bette asks, truly concerned. When Melinda didn’t answer, she pulled her in the room, fearing that the noise would rouse her father.

 “I just couldn’t sleep and I saw your light on, so I took a chance.”

“Ok, is that all?” Bette asks skeptically. Something seemed off with Melinda. For starters, she had been unable to look Bette in the eye since she entered her room. In the past, Bette heard from Melinda that she plans on a becoming a prima ballerina and a prima ballerina never walks with her eyes cast downward.

“Wow, you’re perceptive.” She hesitated, then took a deep breath before continuing. “Just feel this.” She grabbed Bette’s hand and placed it on her heart and staring in Bette’s eyes.