“I can’t.” Bette frowned. “She’s not exactly gay plus, she seems to be getting pretty serious with some guy that’s she’s been dating. I don’t want…”

“No wait. What do you mean by not exactly gay?”

“Well, it’s complicated. She used to date girls and all but then came the issue of wanting her parents’ approval and you can figure out the rest…”

“Ah… Sucks for you. I’m sorry.” Sierra was somehow half sincere about what she had said.

“Yeah… I can’t confess to her. It’ll just make things too weird and awkward.” Bette shrugged. “I’m just so mad at myself for letting things end up like that.  I’m so pathetic. I want to let it go but then again I don’t want to. Ughh… I don’t know.”

“Come on, you’re not pathetic.” Sierra reached out to give Bette’s hand an assuring squeeze. “I know how you’re feeling.”

“I’m in no right to tell you what to do but you know, if you and this girl are meant to be, then things would work out and you two would eventually end up together. But for now, maybe you should just let it go. Go with the flow, you know?  You can never hold onto something that isn’t yours. It just makes you more miserable.”

“Yeah…” Bette replayed Sierra’s words in her head.

It made perfect sense. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. There’s no point in worrying or getting upset over it. Easier said than done but she was, I guess, pretty much determined to try.

“Thanks.” She smiled.

Bette arrived back at her apartment at about a quarter of eight. She pushed the front door open to find Helena and her friends lounging around in the living room.

Her friends quickly made their way to Bette who stood still by the door. They all started talking and questioning her simultaneously.

“You okay?” Shane jolted towards her.

“Where have you been?” Dana asked.

“Where in the world have you disappeared to?” Alice said, frowning with her hands on hips.

“We were worried that something bad may have happen to you.” Helena gave the cutest worried facial expression in the world.

Bette smiled meekly, “I’m sorry for getting you guys so worried but I’m back in one piece.” She straightened her arms, as if to show that she wasn’t injured.

“What kind of errand were you running for Kit?” Helena asked, puzzled by the fact that Bette took an entire day to run an errand.

Bette was confused.

Alice managed to have eye contact with Bette. She frowned at Bette, nodding and doing weird eye movements, hoping that Bette would play along with the story that they had made up when she was gone.

“Uh… Yeah. Well, Kit’s kinda… uh… planning to renovate her café so she asked me to check out new furniture and stuff for her.” Bette finished off lamely.

Her three friends shot her a that-is-probably-the-lamest-excuse-that-I-have-ever-heard-look. Bette raised her eyebrows, as if to say, what do you expect from me when I have less than a minute to come up with an excuse?

“Okay, well, we’re just glad that you’re back safe.” Helena smiled warmly, barely even noticing the looks that others were giving Bette.

“Thanks.” Bette smiled at Helena and then at all her friends.

She realized how lucky she was to have such great friends who always had her back.

“Thanks, you guys.” She repeated, thanking them for always being there for her.