Alice: “You know I’m there for her, too. Don’t worry ok?”

Bette faintly smiles: “Yeah, that’s easier said than done.” Alice watches as Bette walks slowly down the hall and around the corridor. She returns to the gang and finds Tina missing.

Alice: “Is Tina still in the bedroom?”

Shane shrugged, “I guess…..she came in here a minute ago and said she was too tired to watch the movie and that she thought she would just go to bed.” Alice sighed, “Well, go ahead and get it started I’ll be back in a few.”

Alice gently knocked on the door, “Tina?……T? Can I come in?” After no response she decided to go in anyway. The lamp on the nightstand was still on and Tina was lying on the bed holding on tight to a pillow just staring into the distance. Alice sat down beside her and began rubbing her back, “Tina….are you ok?”

Tina was still crying but she managed to say “yeah”

Alice: “If it makes you feel any better she doesn’t know your here she just came by to talk to me.”

Tina: “That’s not why I’m crying. I’m crying because I miss her so much. I could feel her….standing out there. My love, my life. It took every ounce of strength not to run out there to her. I don’t know if I can live like this….without her….it hurts so much,” Tina was now sobbing and almost screaming. She was fighting to get the words out between cries, “I can’t breath….my chest feels like it’s closing in….I can’t do this…..I don’t know what to do…..” she buries her face in the pillow, muffling her sobs, “what am I gonna do?….what am I gonna do?”

Alice felt the tears sting the lids of her eyes as she truly felt awful for Tina. It was hard to watch her friend suffering and not be able to help in anyway. She only hoped her presence would be of some comfort. She waited until Tina had calmed her sobs to quiet sniffles she then whispered, “I’m going to go in there ok? But I’m just right in there if you need me.” Tina nodded and remained silent.

Later that night Bette returned home after eating dinner with Kit. She slipped off her shoes and sat on the bed looking around at their empty house. She layed back on the bed and took in the silence. Her hand rested on Tina’s pillow and Bette imagined it was warmed by Tina’s heat. She rolled over and pulled the pillow in close to her taking in the scent and letting the comfort of Tina wash through her. She dozed off until her cell began vibrating against her hip. She woke and thought, “*****! I forgot to call Kit to tell her I was home.” She pulled the phone from it’s case and looked at the caller id. The call was coming from Tina’s cell. It took a minute to register the number, she thought surely she was dreaming or her mind was playing tricks on her, but when the number continued to flash she knew she was very awake. She took a deep breath and answered, “Tina?” Silence. “T?….Are you there? I know it’s you I read your number.”

Tina: “I’m here.”

Bette gasped, “Oh my God, Tina….I…I”

Tina cut her off, “I didn’t call to talk.” This struck Bette as odd and her heart fell. She was too afraid Tina might hang up if she said anything else so she just waited for Tina to continue, “I’m not ready to talk Bette….far from it. I’m going to need some time.”

Bette: “I know…I’m not pushing you.”

Tina: “I’m still very hurt and angry with you just so you know, but that’s not why I called…..I called because I wanted to tell you….I love you, too. Incase you were wondering….”

Bette is terribly confused. She’s still relieved but none the less confused.

Bette: “I was wondering, but how did you know?”

Tina: “I was there, Bette….at Alice’s…..I heard the conversation between you two…I heard everything.”

Bette is shocked, but she is glad at least Tina now knows how she truly feels.

Tina: “I’m sorry if this makes it harder for you, but I couldn’t go to sleep without letting you know that I love you.”

Bette: “Thank you….I know I don’t deserve it, but thank you.”

Tina: “I have to go now…..”

Bette: “Tina wait….I just want to tell you…..” but Tina was already gone. Bette looked at the phone still flashing Tina’s number, now signaling the end of the call. She layed her head back on the pillow, “…..goodnight, baby.”