After Alice left, Bette decided to get a salad and some coffee and took the food back to her table. She began to eat quietly, thinking about Gillian and Tina and Myst when someone came up beside her..

"Excuse me."

Bette looked up and saw this girlwomangirl.

The girl had a very pretty face and eyes, but was skinny with dark hair that was indescribable. It looked like it had been caught in an egg beater. Bette, who was no cook, didn't exactly know what an egg beater was but she knew it could scramble things. The girl was holding a drink and a bowl of salad.

"Yes?" said Bette looking up at her.

"May I join you? I'm Shane" This was said in a low voice, sexy even if it wasn't intended to be.

She looked a little lonely and Bette felt a little lonely herself. Bette smiled at the girl and gestured for her to sit. Shane sat down and attacked her salad. Bette thought she seemed a bit too hungry.

For a while Shane was silent and totally focused on the food. She finished quickly, took a drink of soda, smiled contentedly and turned her attention to Bette. "You are the most beautiful woman in West Hollywood."

She's hitting on me, Bette thought with amazement and some delight. This must be my week for attracting young women. This one was definitely not as old as twenty-five.

"Thank you," Bette said with a genuine smile.

"I'd like to go home with you tonight," Shane said candidly with a level gaze.

Her directness took Bette's breath away. The kid was brazen, but respectful, kind.

"You don't even know my name," chuckled Bette.

"You're Bette Porter. Everybody knows you."

"Are you asking to sleep with me because everybody knows me?" Bette asked.

"Anybody would want to sleep with you. You're the most attractive and exciting woman I've ever seen." Shane said matter-of-factly.

"I'm flattered." Bette paused.

"Oh, fuck," Shane said, before Bette could continue, "when someone says, 'I'm flattered,' you know you're going to be shot down."

"I am flattered and that's the most direct line I've heard in a long time, but it was good."

"Not good enough," replied Shane

"Well"

"Am I too young?

"How old are you?"

"Eighteen," Shane responded.

"Yeah, right," commented Bette skeptically.

"Am I too young?" Shane repeated.

"I have a girlfriend."

"If you break up with her, should I approach you again?"

"You're too young."

After this exchange was over, they settled into an easy conversation. Bette learned that she had last lived in Austin and, because of her unruly hair, was startled to be told that she was a hairdresser. Bette knew that one had to be licensed to be a hairdresser and probably had to be 18. Either Shane was 18 or had pulled the wool over the eyes of somebody at some California state licensing office. Bette decided that she would put her money on Shane and a bunch of wool.

Bette excused herself from the table and went to the counter to order dessert and brought back two huge wedges of Better Than Sex cake.

"My treat," said Bette as she put one of the slabs in front of Shane.

Shane looked a little unsure about letting Bette pay for her food.

"I always treat people to this cake if I turn them down," Bette grinned.

Shane grinned, relaxed and turned her attention to the cake. Bette watched her surreptitiously as they both downed their slices of cake. Shane finished first.

Shane asked Bette about the art world and Bette gave her an introduction. She also gave Shane her business card and told her she would put her on her gallery's invitation list.

"Give me your full name and mailing addressfor the invitation list."

Shane wrote the information down in a notebook that Bette put in front of her.

"I really don't have clothes for that kind ofart thing," said Shane.

"Do you ever wear skirts or dresses?"

"No."

"That's OK. I can tell you where to go and what to get and it isn't expensive."

Shane looked at her with a little frown.

"I'll take you to the place, OK? Just call me. I'd like you to come to events at my gallery. There'll be punch and food. Bring a date."

"I don't do dates." explained Shane.

"You don't.? OK, but I still want you to come to my gallery events."

Shane nodded.

"Call me and I'll give you a personal tour of the gallery. Next week would be good for me."

When they left the Planet, Bette volunteered to drive Shane home, but she refused, saying it was good exercise for her to walk.