Tina wrung her hands nervously in her lap as she and Alice pulled into the parking lot of The Planet a few hours later.

“Girl, chill, youre gonna give yourself an ulcer. Plus, you wanna look cool and collected. Make Bette be the nervous one, shes gotta fight for YOU anyway.” Alice encouraged. “Here, cmere.” Alice took Tinas chin and turned her to face her. She whipped out her Mac lipgloss and applied some to Tinas rigid lips. “Blot.” She commanded. “And breathe too. Dont worry, anytime you wanna go, just say the word and we can leave, ok?” Tina nodded meekly. “Alrighty then, lets move.” Alice stepped out of the car and walked over to Tinas side. She grabbed Tinas hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before heading over to the caf.

Alice glanced around once they were inside, and quickly spotted Bette across the room at an empty table. Her eyes were downcast apparently reading the beverage menu. Alice gave Tina one more quick reassuring glance. They walked over slowly.

“Hey Bette.” Alice said. Bettes eyes shot up from the table. She didnt even register Alices existence as her eyes came immediately to rest on Tina. Bette felt as if it had been years since they had seen each other, and her mind went completely blank as she absorbed Tinas presence. Tinas breath caught in her throat as well as she returned the stare. She tried to force emotions into her head. Anger, fury, resentment, hatred, but none took hold.

“Hey guys.” A voice sounded behind them. Dana quickly ambled towards the other three women. Neither Bette nor Tina noticed or turned to look as she approached.

“Hey, glad you could come.” Alice smiled at Dana and gave her a casual hug. Dana and Alice glanced back to Bette and Tina who were still staring at each other, attempting to decipher their thoughts. “I, guess well, sit down?” Alice looked to Dana, who just shrugged in agreement. Alice sat down and literally pulled Tina into the seat next to her. Dana sat next to Bette. Silence.

“Sooo, whats new?” Alice finally asked. Ok, maybe not the best way to start the conversation, but it was all she could think of.

Bette finally blinked, and seemed to realize there were other people besides her and Tina present. “Huh?”

“Never mind.” Alice said. “Dana, hows, umm the tennis coming along?” She hoped maybe they could start a conversation and Bette and Tina would have their own.

“Ummm, good, I guessbathroom?” Dana asked.

“Oh my god, we must be on the same peeing cycles! Lets go.” Alice quickly stood up from the table and hurried to the bathroom, Dana right behind her. Once in the restroom she whipped around to face a grinning Dana, who finally released the giggle she had been stifling. “Holy *****.” Alice started laughing. Dana just nodded and joined in. Alice sat down on the floor and leaned against the tiled wall. “Ok, now what, we spend the night in here?” Dana plopped down next to her.

“I have no idea.” Dana replied. They both stared off into space for a few moments, catching their breath. “Man, that was some serious tension out there.”

“I know! God, I hope they dont just sit there the entire night and stare at each other.” Alice said.

“Yea, I know. Well. this is exciting.” Dana sighed as she looked around the small restroom, picking at a small tear in the knee of her jeans. “You know, if we stay in here too long, they might start to get ideas in their heads that theres something going on with us.” Dana said after a few minutes, looking over to Alice, elbowing her and chuckling.

“That they might.” Alice smiled. She became aware that her hand was just barely touching Danas on the floor, so she took it and gave it a squeeze. “So what if they do?”

“Well, I wouldnt want to mislead them.”

Alice looked at Dana, “Youre right, misleading them would be wrong.” She held Danas gaze for a few seconds before involuntarily leaning in, and laying the gentlest of kisses on the corner of her mouth. Dana smiled, and shifted to face Alice, placing her hand on Alices folded thigh. She then leaned in slowly and returned the kiss, this time with the intensity that both of them secretly desired.



Back at the table, Bette had finally managed to utter a “hey” to Tina.

“Hey.” This was gonna take awhile, Tina thought as she settled into her seat and folded her hands on the table.

“I I dont want to say too much, just I well I love you Tina.” Bettes tongue tripped over her words. Her heart was racing and while she yearned to spill out her emotions and apologies to Tina, she didnt want to overwhelm her. She was willing to do anything to gain Tinas trust and love back. If Tina needed time, shed give her time, shed wait for her for the rest of her life if necessary.

“Bette I cant just I mean, you cant just This wont be fixed in a day, it cant be, you know? I dont know when, I dont know if it even I mean, I just dont know Bette. I cant think.” Tinas voice began to tremble and she felt tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. She stared at her napkin, mentally forcing herself not to cry.

Bettes heart crumbled as she stared at Tinas obvious agony, pain that she had inflicted. The thought that she had done this made her want to claw at herself, rip her body and flesh apart. Slowly she reached over and placed the tips of her fingers on Tinas tightly clenched fists. Tears were now trickling down her cheeks as well. Her touch caused Tinas wall of strength begin to crack as she saw a lonely tear drip off Tinas chin.

“T, please, Im sorry, Im so sorry. This is killing me, I love you so much. I cant lose you, I just cant. Ill die, Im not kidding, my life will end.” Bette choked on her words. She was now desperate, pleading, something she rarely did, if ever.

Tina could sense her desperation, and part of her wanted to pull Bette tightly to her, kiss her tears and tell her that she wouldnt lose her. Yet her anger was still raw, Bette betrayed me, dont forget. Tina continually had to remind herself. Still, when she felt Bettes hand, she couldnt help but relax her fists to the touch. Bettes slender fingers traced a path on Tinas palm, moving in until their palms were touching, until they were squeezing each others hands tightly.

Slowly Tina, her vision blurred with tears, looked up from the table and over at Bette, whos gaze was locked on their intertwining fingers. She couldnt help but be moved by the look in Bettes eyes. Complete vulnerability.

“Im still here Bette.” She whispered. Bette smiled, her lips trembling as tears began to flow freely down her face at Tinas words.



“Dana” Alice gasped. Danas lips traveled to the corner of Alices mouth, across her jaw line, and worked down her neck, kissing and sucking lightly as she went. Alices hand slid down Danas thigh and grabbed the back of her knee. She pulled Dana into a straddling position over her lap, soft lips still gently caressing her neck. Dana pulled back for a moment, pressing her forehead against Alices and looked into her eyes. What was happening? Was she really sitting here making out with her best friend? Her mind was spinning. All she knew was she had never enjoyed kissing someone as much as she did Alice. She leaned back in, her hands on Alices flushed face, and pressed their eager lips together again. Her tongue moved against Alices forcefully, pressing her body in closer until their chests were flush against each other, rising and falling in unison.

Alices fingers and hands grazed over Danas *****, lower back and hips, which had begun to slowly grind rythmically into her lap. The motion set her body on fire, and she could feel a rapidly intensifying heat between her legs. Alice trailed one hand up to Danas neck, fingers gliding through the silky brown locks. She took a handful of the hair and held it firmly in her fist, as she gently bit Danas lower lip. She heard Dana moan softly, and felt goose-bumps tingle all over her body.

Suddenly, the bathroom door opened. “Alice, Dana, are you guys in.” Marinas husky voice trailed off and her jaw dropped when she saw the two women on the floor. She couldnt believe what she saw, was that Alice and Dana.MAKING OUT? Alice and Dana shot up off the floor the moment they heard Marina enter the room. Marina had immediately spun around so that she was facing the door, but she had yet to exit. She was about to, when Alice called her name, causing her to freeze mid motion. Slowly, Marina turned around again, facing the woman. Her eyebrows were a mile high up, and there was as small smile forming at the corner of her mouth. Alice looked at Dana and back at Marina. Dana just stared at the floor, her cheeks burning.

“Hey Marina, Im sorry, you had toumm” Alice began bashfully.

Marinas face broke into a huge grin. “Please, you dont have to apologize, nothing I havent done in here before!” Marina laughed, folding her arms in front of her. “So this is new.”

“Yea, ummm, its so new actually youre kinda the only one who knows.” Alice replied. “And we kinda want to keep it like that, until the Bette and Tina thing cools out a little.” Marina nodded in semi-understanding.

“Ahhh, I see. Yea, I saw them out there, and then I saw you two run in here. Thats why I came in looking for you two. I was just wondering what was going on.”

“Long story, but basically, Bette sorta went astray on Tina, and Tina found out. This is their first time seeing each other in a week, but you didnt hear it from me.” Alice said while wiping the seat of her pants and looking in the mirror, quickly smoothing down her ruffled hair.

“Wow, thats big. No wonder you guys ran from that table like it was on fire.”

“Yea, I think theyll get through it though, I mean, its them.” Dana said looking up, her blush finally receding.

“So Marina, how about gittin out there and sneaking us a few drinks in here, we could have a little potty party, youre invited.” Alice said wagging her eyebrows, her sarcasm returning. Marina just smiled and shook her head, chuckling.

“Im gonna leave you two alone, I have to get back to work. Keep me updated on the Bette and Tina situation.” Marina winked at Alice and Dana and left the bathroom.

“Holy *****, I cannot believe that just happened.” Dana finally started laughing as she brought her hands up to her face, shaking her head. Alice joined in with her until they were both near tears in hysterics. Alice sat down on the floor again and leaned her head against the wall catching her breath.

Dana sat down next to Alice, taking her hand and holding it tightly. Gently, she rested her head on Alices shoulder, breathing out a long sigh. Alice smiled, and leaned her head on Danas, before sighing herself and closing her eyes, the cool wall soothing against her back.

“At least we know how to put on damn a good show!” Alice chuckled.

“Yea,” Dana giggled. “We sure do.”