Tasha smiled, Tina smiled, and they all got some rest in the quiet, smiling atmosphere of the staff room.

%%%%%%

“That might work.”

Bette stood beside her bed mumbling and staring down at her laptop. She was reviewing some work from an artist she’d been considering, and it was beginning to grow on her. It was all about the evolution of thought, and the art of minds. She gave that some thought with a slight head tilt, her finger to her chin. Although seemingly mundane, when put in the proper context, she thought that the photography would complement the gallery. That made her smile.

“Finally.”

Bette looked up in surprise, but relaxed when she saw her friend Shane in the doorway of her bedroom. She often let herself in if her roommate, Carmen, had a woman over. Shane was obsessed with Carmen.

“I mean, it’s nice to see you smiling,” Shane continued, already biting into an apple she had found on the counter.

Instead of asking if Carmen had someone over, and probably hurting her friend further, Bette just let herself assume. “Sorry.”

Shane knew exactly what Bette meant, but she liked to tease the timid brunette when she could, with love, of course. “You don’t have to be sorry – just smile more often.”

Bette chuckled and rubbed her eyes again. “Ugh, is it late?”

“Nah, it’s early. Like one probably.”

“Jesus,” Bette laughed with hardly even a breath to do so. She flopped down onto her bed with exhaustion. “I don’t know how I’m gonna get up tomorrow.”

“Hey, don’t forget about that beach thing Alice invited you to,” Shane smiled, before taking another big bite into the fruit. When Bette just grumbled, Shane spoke again. “I know who she’s gonna come to if you bail on her again, and I’m too wrapped up in my own crazy shit to deal with it right now.”

Bette laughed, and tilted her head back to look at an upside down lothario. “You know … I didn’t bail on her last time.”

“But you’ll be there this time?” The hope in Shane’s voice made Bette sigh. She knew she should make the time.

“I work late tomorrow, so if she expects me to get up early for this …”