Tina: “Okay, okay, let me finish my mascara and I’m done.”

They arrive at the CAC and Bette is in a flurry of anticipation.

Bette: “God, Tina, I’m so nervous.”

Tina: “Why…I thought it was all under control….you seemed so confident when I talked to you earlier.”

Bette: “I don’t know….I’m just anxious.” She peers nervously around the lot almost expecting to be stalked by Helena, but instead she is nearly tackled by Alice.

Alice: “Porter, Where the ***** have you been?”

Bette: “I’m sorry, I can’t just part traffic to get here.” she says this while giving Tina the “this is all your fault” look.

Alice: “Well, why the ***** not? Considering how you think you’re God!”

Bette: “Oh, please, I do not.”

Alice: “Uh huh, whatever, but still how am I supposed to do interviews with only an hour left before the opening?”

Bette: “Alice, it’s not like you’re Diane Sawyer. Just ask a couple of questions, take a few notes, then you’re done.”

Alice: “You think that’s all I do, don’t you?”

Bette:(with a smirk) “Isn’t it?”

Alice: (knowing bette’s right) “Alright, whatever. So where do I start?”

Bette: “Just follow us into the center and I’ll introduce you to a few artists and let you take it from there.”

They enter the gallery and are greeted by the board.

Bette: “This is my partner, Tina Kennard, and my friend, Alice pieszecki, of LA magazine. She will be doing a small article on the opening tonight.”

The board responds with “ahs” and several members thank Alice for being there.

Helena steps from behind Franklin and Bette almost chokes.

Helena: “Lovely to meet you, Tina, I’m Helena Peabody.”

Tina is stunned by Helena’s beauty. After the way Bette described her, Tina always pictured her to be ugly, but in reality she was gorgeous. For a moment, Tina felt a tinge of jealousy, knowing that her wife was spending her days with this knockout.

Tina: “Uh…nice to meet you as well.”

Helena looking at Bette: “…and, Bette, as always, a pleasure to see you. You look absolutely ravishing tonight.” She, thoughtfully, leans in and kisses Bette on the cheek, then quickly rejoins the board’s conversation. Bette blushes in embarrasment. She hoped Tina didn’t notice Helena’s flirtatious antics, but when she looked at Tina, she knew that wasn’t the case. Tina’s face was flushed with anger and jealousy. Alice chimes in only to make matters worse, “Damn, Bette, she seems to enjoy kissing your *****.”

“Yeah, she sure does, Bette, and you never mentioned how ***** HOT! she is.” Tina says, trying to make Bette jealous. It worked. Bette cut her eyes at Tina, then replied, “Well, she’s been making my life ***** at work so I doubt she’s kissing my *****….and sorry, T, but I never noticed how “hot” she is….I guess I was too caught up in you, to think of anyone else.” Bette drives her point home with that last statement, making Tina feel guilty for getting angry with Bette. Afterall, Helena had been doing all the flirting. Bette had just stood there very reserved and professional. But it was too late, the damage was done, Bette’s feelings were hurt. Tina could see it by the look in her eyes. Tina thought to herself, “this is going to be a long night.”

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>