Bette arrived back at kit’s house…and walked in with her things in hand…
“I take it…Tina wasn’t home?” asked Kit
“Yea…she was there…getting out of the shower…guess she had to wash him off of her

before I got home…but she didn’t…I could still smell his cologne on her…” said Bette

as she sat on the couch and fell into a sob.
“Dammit baby sis, I am so sorry….I don’t understand what the ***** is up with her…she

must’ve lost her ***** mind….you are so good to her…you provide for her….love

her…and give her anything she wants…I just can’t see her doing this without a reason..”
“Well, I can’t see a reason for her to pull my heart out and completely tear it apart

either…..I must’ve done something….and I have thought about what it may be….but I

can’t come up with anything…I guess I’m just destined to be alone…without her…” and

she sobbed louder…
“No..” said Kit as she sat next to her sister and wrapped her arms around her…”I don’t

think it is you…..”

For the next few weeks, Bette stayed with Kit and did nothing but go to work…working 15 to

16 hours a day…the CAC was a big success with the Provocations show..and Bette had even

been hastled by several prominent arts centers to become their managers…but she had

declined…she never even spoke to anyone except Kit…and that was only because she was

living in her apartment…
Finally, after several attempts to reach her, Alice showed up at Kit’s apartment one evening

around 10pm….knock..knock…knock…
“In..” shouted Bette from the kitchen..
“Bette, where are you at?”
“Kitchen…”
“Hey…stranger….” said Alice as she walked up and took Bette into her arms….”I have

been looking everywhere for you…I even left messages on your phone…why didn’t you call

me back?”
“I have been so tied up with work that I haven’t even had time to settle down and rest or

anything…”
“Bette…it’s none of my business..but you know that I always make eveything my

business…but what happened with Tina? I went by the house the other night hoping to catch

you there, but there was noone there…so I went in…the back patio door was open…and

some of your things were missing and alot of hers was too…”
“She’s not staying there?” asked Bette.
“I don’t guess so..I’ve been by there alot and she is never there…”
“You haven’t even seen her at the Planet or anything?”
“Nope…It’s just as if she vanished into thin air…I’m worried about her Bette…I mean

this is so out of character for her…”
“And so is ***** Eric..”
Alice was dumbfounded….”***** who?”
“Eric…you remember…..the one she was with when we met 7 years ago?” said Bette….
“You have got to be joking…what the ***** Bette?”
“I don’t know Al….I don’t know..” said Bette as she poured a cup of coffee…”Want some?”
“Na…I’ve had enough thanx…So what are you going to do?
“Nothing…I’m gonna work and come home….”
“Bette you can’t live like that forever…you are a go-getter….you can’t just hold up at

work and here…”
“*****…speaking of here…I guess I can go back home if Tina isn’t there…”
“Yea….come on…how about I help you…get your things together…and I will follow you

back to your house…”
“Ok…but you are sure she isn’t staying there anymore?” said Bette “Not that I know of

Bette…it didn’t look that way”…Bette put her cup in the sink and left Kit a note to call

her at home…

Once they arrived back at Bette’s…Al and her walked inside to a wreck….things were

thrown all around the living room…glass busted everywhere…
“My god Bette….she ***** destroyed everything before she left..”
“No…Al…I did that the night I left…”
“Dammit…you could have called me you know?…I am your friend Bette…”
“I know Al…but I didn’t want to be around anyone…”
“Well..” said Alice as she walked over to a couple of shards of glass and leaned down to

pick them up…”AL…leave them alone…I made the mess and I will clean it up…”
“No..I will help you…”
Alice cleaned it all up while Bette sat on the couch and stared at the wall…
“Bette…Milk is still open..come on..let’s go have a few drinks…it may make you feel

better.”
“Thanks but I can’t…I’ve got to be at work before 7 in the morning and it is already

almost 12..”
“Well……..ok…but do you want me to stay here with you?”
“Yea…please…I don’t want to sleep here alone just yet…”
Bette went to the hall closet and pulled out a few blankets…then got a tank top and

shorts to change into…..as she walked back into the living room…she tossed a pair of

shorts and a shirt to Alice…”This may be more comfortable…”
“clothes? you know I don’t sleep with clothes on…” said Alice as she smiled…
“*****..sorry…I forgot….” said Bette as she laughed..
“Here’s a blanket…” said Bette
Bette walked over to the big sofa and layed down covering up with the blanket…
“Al you are more than welcome to sleep in the spare bedroom…”
“Ummm…No..that’s okay…” said Alice remembering what had taken place in that room….on

that bed…
“That bed is really comfortable….”
“Ummm No thanks really…I can just camp out on the floor…. right here..” she said as she

patted the floor next to her.
“Are you gonna sleep in here because you are worried about me, AL? That’s sooo sweet…I

promise I will be okay….besides…I don’t want you to be uncomfortable…especially if I

am the one who asked you to stay…”
“Look Bette….I just don’t want to sleep in that room, ok? Just drop it…”
Bette took heed to the little bit of anger in Alice’s tone…
“Al…why the ***** are you getting so ill?”
“I just don’t want to sleep in that bed…”
“What is wrong with ‘that room’ and ‘that bed’?” taking emphasis on those words..dragging

them out a bit..
“Bette, I really shouldn’t be the one telling you this…”
“Telling me what?”
“Ummmmmm….well, u see, we…I mean Kit and I came by here looking for you right after you

left from here that night that you went to the hotel…and Tina said that her and Eric slept

together in ‘that bedroom’..on ‘that bed’.That’s why I don’t want to sleep in there..” said

Alice as she sat up…
Bette sat there quietly just staring at the floor…as tears began to stream down her

face…”She brought that ***** into my home…and fucked him?”
“Atleast she didn’t use your bed..” said Alice…not realizing what she had just

said…”*****…I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to say that…”
“I can’t believe this…and now I have no idea where she is..for all I know, she is with him

right this minute…”
“I thought he was leaving town?” asked Alice…
Bette looked over at Alice…”You don’t think……”
Alice just sat and stared at Bette……finding herself wondering also….if Tina had left

with him…

tbc…..