1 day after the downfall…
*BEEP*
“Tina, it’s Bette. I swear to you,
the thing between Candace and I, it’s over. Can we at least talk? I
can’t live without you. I need you. I love you. Please, call me.”

The next day…
*BEEP*
“Tina, why aren’t you answering the
phone?! I know that you’re home. I’m sitting across the street. Your
lights are on… and you just closed the front curtains. Please, pick
up the phone.”

And the day after that…
*BEEP*
“T, how many times do I have to say
it? It’s over between me and her. I’m sorry! I don’t know what I was
thinking when I did it. I miss you. Call me.”

A week later…
*BEEP*
“Yo, TK. Alice here. Look, Bette’s
miserable, everyone else is miserable… can you guys just have a chat
or something, y’know, like civilised adults? Please? Oh well, gotta go,
bye.”

A month later…
*BEEP*
“Tina, it’s Shane. If you won’t talk
to Bette for her sake, then can you do it for the rest of us? We all
miss you. Especially me. You guys were like the parents I never had.
And now… *sigh* Whatever, man. If you won’t talk to her, then I guess
that’s your decision to make. Bye.”

Months go…
*BEEP*
“Tina, it’s Bette. I really, really
want to talk to you. I know that it’s been six months, but… can we
just get together, have some coffee? Or… something? I don’t expect
anything, I just want to see you again.”

Time flies…
*BEEP*
“Tina, it’s Alice! I heard that
you’re moving to New York. And getting married. To a guy. *sigh* Who
would have thought that a year ago, everyone was, y’know, actually
happy. Anyway, call me. I’d love to do lunch with you before you move
to the Big Apple and start a new life. Ok, bye.”

A few weeks later…
*BEEP*
“Tina, it’s Bette here. Don’t worry,
I’m not stalking you. Alice gave me your number. I know that you’ll
never forgive me, and that you have a life now, which is completely
different to your old one, but I’m in New York on Tuesday for a week on
business, and I’d love to catch up with you.

Huh. What do you know. It’s exactly one year since we broke up. Well, I have to go now. Bye.”

A year passes…
*BEEP*
“Hi Tina, it’s Bette. Wow, it’s been
two years now. How are you? How’s… um… what’s his name… Brian?
How’s he? Just thought I’d let you know, something really bad happened
to Shane. Gimme a call, and I’ll fill you in. Or you could call Alice.
Or any of the old gang. We’d love to hear from you. Ok, well, bye.”

Two years…
*BEEP*
“Tina, hi! Bette here. I know it’s
been four years, but I’m going to be in New York in a few days, and I’d
love to hear from you. We have a lot to catch up on. A lot has changed.
Especially me. Well, give me a call, we should sort something out. Bye.”

Almost four years…
*BEEP*
“Tina? Hey! Dana here. Dana
Fairbanks, remember me? Wow, what has it been, seven, eight years since
we saw you last? Time flies, doesn’t it? Ooh, guess what? Lara and I
are moving to Boston in about a month, ’cause I’m retiring from the pro
circuit soon. I know that Boston is a bit far from New York, but it’s
closer than Los Angeles, eh? Me and Lara would love to catch up with
you some time. Uh… speaking of catching up, I’d advise that you get
in touch with Bette as soon as possible, before… umm… well, I’ll
let her tell you what’s going on. Yeah. Call me! Bye! “

Almost a month later, and exactly eight years after the downfall of Bette and Tina…
*BEEP*
“Tina, it’s Bette Porter. I know that
I’ve left you a phone message on this day for the past eight years
since we split up, and you haven’t replied to any of them. I’m
wondering if you’re  even getting them at all, or if you really do
hate me that much. Anyway, this is the last message that I’ll ever
leave you, and then you won’t need to think about me ever again.

Tina, I… I’m dying.

It’s terminal cancer. The doctors
only found it a month ago. I don’t want you to do anything. I just
wanted to let you know that the eight years that I had the privilege of
spending with you, were the greatest eight years of my life. I am
truly, deeply sorry for everything I did to cause you pain. Believe me
when I say hat I never meant for any of it to happen. But I will leave
this world with some sort of contentment, because I once had the honour
of knowing someone as kind, loving and beautiful as you. Well, I guess
this really is goodbye. I wish you happiness and love for the rest of
your days.

*sigh* Goodbye, Tina.”

TBC