“And I’m not?

“Well Alice, you’re special in a short yellow bus kind of way.” Bette jokes

“Okay Porter, I’ll get you for that one. When you less expect it.”

“I like that you bring that side of me out.”

“What side is that? Because I’ve been known to bring many things out of you. Things such as a scream, a whimper and even a reverence to a higher power”.

Bette playfully swats Alice’s arm. “I was talking about the joking carefree side of me. I spent most of my day serious and intensely concentrated on my tasks at hand that I forget to laugh. I need to laugh.”

“Yeah it helps you live longer. Besides that it makes your ass tolerable to be around.“

“So when is your first “real date” with Tina?”

“She working on a project right now and wouldn’t be freed up for at least two more weeks. So hopefully as soon as that’s over.”

“Got anything planned?”

“No, not yet but I have two weeks, don’t I?”
If she is a special as you think she is you’re going to have to do something special. Not the crap you pulled with me.”

What do you mean?”

“Porter you can be as romantic as a can of beans at an anti gas convention. Please. You seriously need to work on your romance skills. I‘m just saying as a friend. You suck.”

“You never complained about my sucking abilities before.”

“Ugh! I think I’ve been rubbing off on you.”

“Well you used to rub yourself off on me. But we’re just friends now remember.” Bette laughs.

“Okay Port Dog cut it out. Really you need to step up your game on the romance end.”

I know. But I’ve got two weeks. I’ll spend the time planning and learning her likes and dislikes. I’ll hit the book stores for some books on romance. I’ve studied art, a love of my life. Now I’ll just study Ms Tina and find out what make her happy. Boy this is going to be hard.”

“Well I would suggest that you get to cramming.”

‘I do what I set my mind to. And I am set on wooing Ms Tina Kennard.’ Bette thought to herself smiling.
Over the next two weeks Bette gathered her information to prepare for her