Tina sat with Val and Sue at a table at Milk. She was overwhelmed by all the women and understood why Val did not want her to come here alone. Val had told Tina that she would be eaten alive alone and now Tina believed it. Even though she was not alone, various women showed up at the table to ask Tina to dance. Tina looked a little stunned as Val and Sue shook their heads sternly at all the potential dance partners.
They had been there about an hour when Bette and Gillian made an entrance. Tina wasn't the only person that noticed Bette. Shane saw Bette, too, and was in a perfect position to see Bette and Tina notice each other. She saw pleasure on Tina's face and surprise on Bette's--but she saw a longing in both faces. But there was more than desire. And then Shane realized that Bette and the blond woman were in love.
Shane didn't know how she knew this, but she knew it wasn't just sexual desire. She had never been in love herself and had never really been around people in love. But she recognized this love as surely as she knew the sun would rise the next morning.
Bette and Gillian sat down with some woman, but soon got up to dance. Shane watched the blond woman watch Bette. Every once in a while, she saw Bette shoot a look at the blond. She decided to approach the blond.
Shane strolled over to the table where Tina was sitting and asked if Tina wanted to dance. The threesome assured Shane that Tina did not want to dance and Shane nodded politely. But she leaned down and said into Tina's ear, "Do you want to dance with Bette?" Val and Sue could not hear her, but Tina heard and looked up at Shane.
Tina decided that Shane looked trustworthy. She did not have the predatory look of most of the women who had hit on her this evening.
Shane nodded at Tina, "I can help." And held she out her hand.
Tina looked at Shane for a few seconds, took her hand and joined her. Shane told her what she was going to do and Tina laughed nervously, but agreed
Shane left Tina at the edge of the dance floor, walked up to Bette and Gillian who were dancing and tapped Bette on the shoulder. Bette turned around and her puzzled expression changed to a grin when she recognized Shane.
"I'd like to dance with this beautiful redhead; so can I cut in?" Shane asked.
"She's a friend," Bette smiled at Gillian. "Will you?" Gillian smiled, let go of Bette and put her arms out to Shane.
As they danced away, Bette felt another tapping on her shoulder and turned. "Come here often, sailor?" said Tina. Bette just stared. When Bette didn't move, Tina put her arms around Bette's neck, "Let's dance." As Tina started to move, Bette put her arms around Tina's waist. Tina moved in closer and Bette realized that she was not wearing a bra.
"Ahh," Bette said, reacting to Tina's body.
"Did you like my line?" Tina said into Bette's neck.
"Huh?" Bette managed, thinking only of the line of Tina's body pressing against her.
Tina leaned away from Bette so she could see her eyes. "Come here often, sailor?" she repeated. "You learn that kind of great line when you major in film."
That comment elicited a smile from Bette. "It was a good line," Bette agreed, gazing back into Tina's eyes. She was glad to have a moment when she was thinking of movie lines instead of Tina's lines. But Tina's body felt so good and so perfect for her. She moved beautifully, nothing at all like the "klutzy" girl who had almost fallen at the gallery.
Bette had been able to forget about Tina - a little bit - until now. She felt good, smelled good. Bette inclined her head a little so that her nose was against Tina's hair. She did not want to let her go.
Tina realized that she felt both excited and safe with Bette holding her. What a strange combination of feelings. But she remembered that she had felt a flash of that feeling when Bette had put her arm around her waist at the gallery exhibit. They just seemed to fit together; Bette felt perfect to her. She hoped the song would last forever.
But it didn't. The music ended much too soon and Bette held Tina a little longer than necessary. "Thank you," she smiled at Tina. Shane and Gillian materialized and Bette self-consciously released Tina. She turned to Gillian and led her back to the table. Shane took Tina's arm and escorted her back to join Val and Sue.
"I'm Shane," she said after she seated Tina.
"I'm Tina." Shane nodded, smiled and leaned down to Tina's ear. "You and Bette belong together." Then she moved away.
Tina watched Shayne in surprise. Who was this girl? Tina didn't know, but she liked her. She was the only one, besides herself, who thought she should be with Bette. Not even Bette seemed to think that.
"Who was that?" asked Val.
"I have no idea, but she's an angel," responded Tina.
As Shane looked for a place to sit, she felt a vice-like grip on her wrist. Before she could respond, Bette was pulling her toward the bar.
"What was that about?" Bette demanded.
"You and Tina belong together," Shane said calmly. "She loves you and you love her."
"Whwhat? Who do you think you are, Cupid?"
"Yes." Shane's face was completely serious and Bette let go of her wrist.
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Shane turned away from Bette. "I'd like a coke," she said to the bartender. Bette continued to stare at her as she got the soda, raised it to Bette and walked away to a table.
"Is that, uh, that baby player named Shane?" said Alice as Bette sat down at the table.
Bette confirmed that and took a drink of her wine.
"Bette," continued Alice, "this is Dana Fairbanks." Bette looked blankly at the pretty girl who had joined Alice while Bette was dancing.