Drinking her second bottle of water, trying not to think too much, listening to Yo Yo Mas Bach Cello suite 1, Bette thanked the gods for being Sunday.
She was hangover and unable to move properly. Just walking from the shower to the living room felt like an impossible task. Unable to eat anything, feeling her mouth dry, all she felt like doing was drinking water and lay on the couch thinking about last night. Her memory was foggy, she could not remember much. Replaying the morning events, Bette tried to find the answers to the questions her mind was trying to process.

She remembered waking up as the sun was rising, she could feel it on her skin as the breeze was cold. She tried to find the sheets to cover up but by doing it she felt like a hundred men were jumping up and down in her head. Smirking, she tried to open her eyes. Slowly, feeling every part of her head hurting, she finally did, but then, just as she opened her eyes she saw Tina sleeping at her side. Closing them again, Bette gulped. That was no possible. She was dreaming. What was Tina doing there? what happened yesterday?. Slowly, very carefully, quietly praying for it to be real she opened them again.

It was true, there she was. Tina. Sleeping at her side, on their bed. Slowly, afraid to break the spell, the perfect illusion, Bette moved a bit closer. Having Tina so close, seeing her asleep, Bette felt her body trembling. She could not stop looking at her. Leaning on the pillow, she bent her right arm, resting the head on it. She looked at her for a long time before daring to move. She needed to touch her, to make sure it was real.

Slowly, feeling her fingers weak, trembling, Bette move her hungered hand to caress Tinas arm up to her shoulder. Afraid to wake her up, to disturb her, Bette stopped at her collarbone. Noticing the soft skin, the shadows the new day was painting all over Tinas pale body, Bette felt her heart aching as her hand moved away from Tinas body. She closed her eyes to deeply sigh, but opening them again she took another look. It was too real, too scary and somehow too painful. Sighing, resting the head on the pillow, carefully moving closer to Tina, placing her hand near Tinas head, she whispered before closing her eyes again;

“I love you Tee”.


***

Tidying the drawers for the second time, Tina laughed at the song she was listening to. It was Julieta Venegas s “Andar Conmigo” and by the little Spanish she knew, Tina could tell that there was no doubt that somebody in the universe was laughing at her.

Shaking her head, folding the t-shirts she thought again about the moment she woke up in Bettes bed. For a second she didnt know where she was, but then, hearing Bette breathing, she remembered. She didn?t know what to do, how to react. She could not believe that she fell asleep, that she spent the night on Bettes bed.

Opening her eyes again she looked at Bette. There she was, peacefully sleeping looking at her, with her left leg bent, with her arm hugging the pillow. Looking at her, Tina noticed Bettes soft skin, the sweet ***** lines close to her eyes, her messy beautiful hair. Afraid of moving, thinking what to do, she sensed Bette waking up. She could tell because she was used to Bettes sounds, to the way she moved, to the sound of her breathing. Waiting to see Bettes reaction, what she could do or say, Tina pretended to be asleep. But then Bettes reaction took her by surprised.

She didnt expected Bette to be so sweet, so tender, so timid. Feeling Bettes caresses, Tina had to look for all the strength she could find not to open her eyes. Feeling Bettes finger against her skin, Tina felt her body burning, her lungs closing. She thought she could not take it anymore but then Bette moved away, leaving a surprised Tina aching for more. Thinking about it, trying not to move, not to react Tina thank god because it was over, she wanted to run, to go, to leave Bettes side so she could clear her mind, her confused feelings. But then she heard Bettes words and Tina felt her heart sinking.

Placing the t shirts in the drawer, thinking about it all, it broke Tinas heart knowing, feeling, that Bette really meant what she said. It was so confusing, so painful that shaking her head, Tina tried to think about something else.

Seeing the flowers bouquet on the nightstand, she sighed. Sitting on the bed she thought about the message Helena left on her answer machine. She was all apologies trying to explain her behaviour. Just as she was listening to the message, the flowers arrived. It was a nice gesture Tina thought, but she was still not sure she wanted to see Helena today. Caressing the flowers, she heard a knock on the door.
Walking to open it, she wondered if life could get easier any time soon.

There she was, Helena in all her beauty. Looking sorry as if she really cared, Helena asked Tina if she could walk inside. Nodding, unable to stop feeling her cheeks blushing, Tina invited her in. Offering her a drink, Tina walked towards the kitchen only to be followed by Helena. As Tina was pouring a glass of water she felt Helena stopping behind her. Whispering sweet words, playing with her hair, lightly kissing Tinas neck, Helena broke Tinas reticence.
It was too much, too soon. Tina thought, not really knowing what she was thinking about or about whom. Feeling Helenas hand moving under her shirt, Tina sighed. It was beyond her strength to stop it. She needed it, she needed her, she liked her. Turning, facing her, Tina let Helena kissed her hard. Mischievously smiling, Helena undressed Tina while leading her to the bedroom. Seeing lust in Helenas eyes, Tina felt her knees weakening with desire. It was easy, it was hot and to Tina surprised, she realized that what make it even better was that it wasnt Bette. That made the whole thing lustier. Kissing Helena, getting lost in her touch, in her desire, Tina finally managed to forget, to stop thinking about the party, about that morning, about Bette.


***

Looking at the sky, watching the clouds moving, Bette sighed. She was feeling better. The afternoon breeze was calming her nerves, her worries, her memories. Moving outside was a good idea, Bette told herself. Closing her eyes she sighed again. Just as she was drifting away, letting Morfeos soft hands cradle her to sleep she heard somebody walking in. Opening the eyes, she saw Shane.

“Hey” Bette said, carefully sitting on the chase lounge.

“Hey..how you doing?” asked Shane, sitting at her side.

“You alone?” she added, looking around.

Surprised, not sure why Shane was asking her that, Bette nodded. Then, slowly realizing what she meant, she shyly smiled.

“Yeah…”

Nodding, not wanting to ask, Shane lit a cigarette waiting for Bette to talk.

“What happened yesterday?” Bette finally asked, trying to sound cool as her voice was breaking, it was painful even to talk, to think the words she wanted to say. Cursing alcohol, Bette gulped, waiting for Shanes answer.

“You dont remember?” asked Shane, smiling again.

Shaking the head, smirking from doing it, Bette took the bottle of water from the floor.

Watching Bette drinking water, Shane smiled before asking,

“You hangover?” not waiting for Bettes answer, she added,

“The best for that is to have a beer…wait…Ill get it”

Seeing Shane walking inside, Bette lied down again.

“You want me to help you clean all that?” Shane asked pointing to all the dishes from the party.

“No…Sonia is coming tomorrow” Bette said, taking the beer Shane was handing her.

“Ok” Shane said, sitting on the floor, drinking her beer.

“Did I make a fool of myself?” Bette whispered, not wanting to look at Shane.

“No…not at all…you were great…you dont remember anything?”

Shaking her head, Bette said,

“Not much…I remember drinking with you guys…and then I remember Tina arriving…but I dont remember much after that…”

Smiling, Shane nodded.

“Yeah…we were all pretty drunk…not just you…you remember Dana falling into the pool?”

“No…is she ok?” Bette asked, trying to remember.

“Yeah” Shane chuckled. “she doesnt know how to drink”

Nodding in agreement, Bette smiled.

“She is not the only one…., How?…why?… how come Tina slept here?” she shyly added.

“She did?, you saw her?” Shane asked, amused.

Seeing Bettes eager nods, Shane added,

“You felt sick…you puked…”

“Oh god!” Bette interrupted, hiding the head in her hands.

“Tina helped you…she took care of you…then she walked you to bed and I guess she fell asleep there”

“God!…did I say anything?…was I …was I nice?” Bette whispered, concerned and fear covering her words.

“Yeah…relax Bette! You were just drunk…you did nothing wrong!”

Nodding, Bette shyly smiled. Then, watching Shane quietly drinking her beer, Bette had to stop her desire to caress her face.

“Can I ask you something” She shyly asked.

“Sure…ask” Shane said, placing the beer on he floor, locking her eyes with Bettes.

“What happened to your face?”

Bettes words clouded Shanes face, painting a lost look in her eyes.

“Is nothing…am ok…dont worry”

Moving the chair closer, smirking by the painful effort, Bette leaned forward.

“You sure?” She sweetly whispered.

“Yeah…yeah…am sure” Nodded Shane, taking a sip from her beer.

“Ok…” Bette nodded, laying on the chase lounge again.

They drank their beers quietly till Bette said looking at Shane

“You know….we are a mess”

“Yeah…” nodded Shane, smiling at Bette