Tina’s eyes travelled from Bette’s, down to her luscious lips, the long, lean neck, enticing collarbone and rested on the black onyx pendant nestled precariously on Bette’s décolletage.

Bette, having decided what she was going to order, looked suddenly and once again caught Tina’s eyes.

"Um, that’s a… beautiful pendant, i-is it onyx?" Tina stammered. Flustered at having been caught staring again.

"huh? Oh, yeah it is, um is everyone ready to order?"

Tina and Alice both nodded in agreement. Bette signaled the waiter and they all placed their orders then sat back and sipped their wine. Bette decided that getting conversation started would help her mind stop racing.

"So Tina, Alice says your moving out here to produce a movie?"

Tina picked up the conversation, glad to have something to talk about and remembering she needed to ask Bette about shooting at CU. One of her main characters was an arts student and a part of the movie took place on a college campus so she had already had CU on her list of locations to scout but a contact at the university would be helpful.

The conversation flowed freely, as did the wine. They chatted about the movie. Bette talked about her gallery in New York and her position at CU. Alice had the least to say – both Tina and Bette knew almost everything about her already. She was enjoying watching her girlfriend and dear old friend get to know each other. Soon they started to talk about how they all met and Tina and Alice were regaling Bette with stories of college and dirty secrets about Shane and Dana. The wine was going to their heads and their laughter was getting louder.

"Hey, do Shane and Dana know I am here?" Tina enquired

"Yeah I told them – hey I don’t know your schedule but we’re all meeting for breakfast at the Planet tomorrow at 8 if you can come?"

"Yeah tomorrow is all about location scouting for me so breakfast sounds good – I can’t wait to see them! And uh, would you mind if I came over to CU tomorrow as well Bette? See if you can sneak me a meeting with the Chancellor?"

"You know what? Tomorrow is perfect actually, I only have one meeting in the afternoon so my day is pretty free. I can drive you over to CU after breakfast and see if we can snatch a few minutes with Phyllis and I can show you around campus and the art department…" Bette trailed off, realising she was probably sounding a little too eager. She glanced over at Alice but she seemed to be happy that Bette was showing an interest in Tina.

"That sounds like a genius plan, thank you so much Bette"

"Great, so how about I swing by your place around 7:45 Al, and pick you both up and we can head to the planet? Alice, I can drop you off at the radio station on the way to CU after breakfast?

Alice’s face dropped. Bette registered the disappointed look immediately. Shit, what did I say? What did I do? Am I being to eager?

Tina excused herself to visit the bathroom.

"Al?"

"Yeah that’s sounds fine."

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, it’s a great plan"

"Al, c’mon"

"No, it’s silly…"

"Tell me"

"I just thought, well, I mean, if you don’t want to, then that’s fine, but I just thought you’d be staying over tonight is all" Alice rushed to get the words out.

"Ohhhhhh" Bette was relieved that was all that was on Alice’s mind.

"hon, I just thought it would be awkward with Tina sleeping on your couch and all for me to be there. It’s not that I don’t want to, and I still will if you think that’d be ok, I just didn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable and I wanted to give you guys some space to catch up."

Alice was relieved too and her face lit back up at Bette’s words.

"Tina’ll be fine, stay, ok?"

"Ok" Bette flashed Alice her bright smile, glad that was settled.

Bette signaled for the bill as Tina rejoined them at the table.

Bette sighed. She had thought it was going to be a long night. Looks like it was going to be a long 5 days. She could not wait for Tina to go back to San Francisco.

Then the blonde smiled, and all the thoughts flew out of Bette’s mind.