Later that evening

Bette passed Tina a plate. “Oh yum, cannelloni, my favourite. Thanks Bette” They sat down together and began to eat.

“How was your day Tee?”

“Good. Everything on the Wilder set is crazy. I’ve got some great creative control though. I never thought a dead writer and newbie director would work out so well. She just agrees with all my production suggestions. Its great, especially considering I have to fight tooth and nail over every little thing with Kate on Jenny’s book.”

“How is Kate? You must be seeing a lot of her recently”

“Yeah” Tina rolled her eyes

“I thought you two were dating?”

“No, remember I had that whole messy theory, turns out I was totally right. I mean seriously, I never even slept with her, and she makes everything so awkward and difficult! All we did was kiss a couple of times and, ughhh! Its just so frustrating. Enough about me, how was your day?”

“Weird. Jodi and I had a weird discussion.”

“About what?”

“You actually” Bette then began to rehash the scene in the kitchen earlier. Tina listened, completely silent the whole way through. “So what do you think?”

“Well what do you think?”

“Well, Jodi seems pretty adamant that I should go on a date with you. I totally understand if you ..”

Tina cut Bette off.

“Bette will you go on a date with me?”

“You just asked me out.” For the second time that day Bette was left speechless.

“Yes I did. But there need to be some basic ground rules. Five dates, then we have a serious discussion about how we really feel and reassess the situation. Since I asked you, I will plan the dates”

“Ok Tina, this really isn’t the response I expected from you”

“Yes or no Bette?”

“Yes. Yes I agree to your date and your rules”

“Ok then, first date is next Wednesday. Excuse me for a minute, I have to use the bathroom” Tina left the table and sat in down on the edge of the bath. “Holy crap.” Tina’s inside felt like they were being swirled around in an ice-cream mixer. She tried to gather herself, and process the fact that she had a date with Bette. Her Bette. “Listen brain, I’m not sure where all that stuff I just said out there came from, but thank you! Seriously, no reality TV or trashy magazines for a whole month!” Right there, sitting on the edge of a bath where she had shared some seriously good times with Bette, she felt her whole body might just spontaneously combust with excitement and hope. Then suddenly it hit her. “Oh God, what if Bette doesn’t really want a date at all? What the hell am I going to do on these five dates? Oh crap, if I make one bad decision it could ruin everything!!! What if Jodi was joking? What if something happens and I cant get out of work or I die before I get to go on a date with Bette?” Tina began to hyperventilate, as her hands gripped the side of the bath so tight her knuckles turned white. Bette knocked on the door.

“Tee, are you Ok?”

“Um, actually Bette, will you get me a Xanax? There’s some in my purse. Bette brought Tina a glass of water and her xanax. Tina took two pills and closed her eyes, waiting for them to kick in “Jesus T, you’re white as a sheet, what the hell is wrong?”

“Oh…. Work! Problems, big problems, serious problems I have to go” Bette grabbed Tina’s hand

“Just sit for a minute sweetie, just relax” The doorbell rang. Bette went and answered the door.

“Hi Bette!” Alice hugged her friend hello. “What’s up?”

“Tina’s here. She came over for dinner with Angelica and I but she’s in the bathroom now. She had some work crisis and then a panic attack” The two then walked into the bathroom where Tina was now standing, fixing her hair in the mirror.

“Hi Alice. Sorry to have to run, but I really have to go.” She kissed both friends on the cheek, went into the kitchen, grabbed her purse, keys and blackberry and kissed Angelica goodbye and left.

“What the hell? That was way weird”

“Believe me Alice, this whole day has been really weird!” Bette then told Alice everything that had happened.

“Wait, wait, wait! Let me get this straight! Tina pushes you towards Jodi, who now is pushing you towards Tina, all the while still wanting to date you.” Alice punched Bette in the arm. “I told you Tina still loves you!!!”

“Ok, oww! And secondly Tina probably only asked me out because Jodi said to. I mean she got all wrapped up in work two seconds later!”

“Oh my God woman!!! How can you be so clueless!! That freak out was so clearly over you!”

“What? No. Why would you think that?”

“Bette her freakin blackberry was on the table! Do you think one of her assistants just magically telepathically told her about some “crisis” at work, which she was distinctively vague about? How is it you can see so much in one little painting and yet nothing at all in the huge smoke signals Tina throws at you every time you’re together?!?” Bette put her hands in her head and groaned.

“Shut up Alice!”