Bette settled down in her chair. The gallery was deathly quiet. The only noise was the humming of the heating system. Sunday was not a sunny day, the air was chilly and LAs skies were cloaked in grey thunder clouds. It was perfect. Absolutely perfect for a good long hard days work. Bette smiled to herself while booting up the computer, thinking about last night. The nightclub was definitely good, much better than Milk where the same old same old happened every week. At least here the crowd was varied. And Bette made a new friend. Shane. There was something about her that made that woman trustable. Bette soon found that out after talking to her a little, then taking her drink she invited Shane to come sit with her and her friends. Shane nodded and swaggered over to the table, her body long lean and slender. For the next hour they spent laughing at stories and encounters. Exchanging numbers with Shane Bette told her about the Planet. It was arranged that they would have coffee sometime that week. Something about Shane made Bette feel protective, it was very obvious that the girl was hardened and being new to LA was quite wary. However she warmed up to Bette and her friends rather quickly. She was very young, only nineteen. While thinking about Shane Bette leaned back into her chair, liking the sound of the rain against the windows. The computer was still booting. For the first time in weeks Bette felt relaxed enough to enjoy being alone. She shook her head, thinking how foolish she had been. It was like she had been mashed into paste by the power of Tina. Well ***** her; Bette didnt even want to think about Tina for awhile. She had her own life, her own things to worry about. To be honest Bette was waiting for Tina to contact her; Bettes pride wouldnt allow her to make the first call. Even though deep inside Bette wanted nothing more than to hug her beloved and whisper sorry. A beep snapped Bette out of her thoughts, typing in the password Bette logged on and began to work. Working made the world easier, hard work that would pay off, hard work that soothed Bette. She was doing something, doing something she loved, that she was passionate about. It was a vital importance to her being. And it soothed the ache in her chest.


Walking to her Saab later that night Bette shivered in the cold. Wrapping her jacket tighter she grasped her briefcase over her head and trotted quickly to her vehicle. Indeed Bette was soothed by the work she had done, for hours and hours Bette slogged away catching up, arranging things for the week ahead. Appointments appointment appointments. A voice stopped her however. Looking down she saw a soaked skinny teenager huddled against a building, obviously homeless she held out a cup. Bette stared at her; she looked like a crystal meth addict. Bette kneeled against her heels and took out change from her pocket; the plunk was hollow as Bette dropped the nickels and dollars. The opening her briefcase Bette took out the sandwich she made but hadnt eaten. Handing it forward the girl snatched it quickly and ripping the foil open started to ravish the sandwich. It was like she had never eaten. Bette stood up, looking down again and tried to smile. She went unnoticed however because the girl was so out of it she kept missing her mouth and the sandwich hit her ear instead. Bette walked slowly to her Saab. Getting in she sat for a few minutes, the rain pattered on the windows. Thinking how lucky she was.Bette started up her vehicleheading for Tinas to try make things better, to try make herself better.