This Is Me Trying

Chapter Twelve

Betty

"Marissa. Nice to meet you." I stuck out my hand and she shook it.
"Piper. It's really nice to meet you too."

"And cut! Awesome work ladies." The director yelled.
Someone handed us our masks and we quickly put them on.
"Where did you act before? You have a real talent for it." I asked as we walked off set.
"Nowhere. This is my first job." Elizabeth said.
"Your first Tv show job?"
"No, like my first job in general. I don't have any experience really. Unless you count the musicals in high school." She laughed.
"What? That's crazy! You're so talented."
"Thank you. You are too. We should really hang out sometime. Outside of work I mean." Elizabeth smiled at me from underneath her mask.

"I'll ask Danielle. I don't know if I can though, with the pandemic and everything."
"You live with Danielle? Are you two sisters or something?"
"No. It's a long story." I fiddled with my hands.
"I'd love to hear it. Can I get your number? So maybe I can FaceTime you later?"
"Uh yeah! Give me your phone and I'll type it in."
She handed me her phone and I typed in my number, and saved me under 'Betty💛'.
"Great. I'll call you later?" She asked as she stepped away.

"I'm looking forward to it." I smiled under my mask and knocked on Danielle's trailer door.
"Come in!"

"Hey, are you two finished for the day?" I asked as I plopped down on the couch.
"Yep. What about you and Elizabeth?" Danielle teased.
"Yes we're done." I sighed.
"What's up? What was that face for?"
"Nothing."
"Fibber. Come on kid. Let's go home."

Danielle

We arrived at home, and I threw my purse on the couch. Work was exhausting with all the new covid protocols.
"Hey Dani? Stef? Can I talk to you two?"
"What's up bella?" Stefania asked.

"Well, Elizabeth wanted to know if me and her could hang out after work sometime. I told her I'd have to ask, but I didn't know with covid and everything going on." Betty said nervously.
"Well... we get tested every day at work. So I really don't see an issue with it. Stef?"
"I get a say?"
"Betty, can you give us a minuet alone?" I asked.

Betty nodded and went to her room.
"Of course you get a say. I mean... you're here all the time. You help her when she's having a bad day. I consider you her guardian too..." I trailed off.
"I just didn't realize you wanted me to have a say bambina."
"You're my fid-zata. Of course I do." I wrapped my arms around her waist.
"Fidanzata. So, what do you think?"
"I mean, I'm okay with it. Like you said, we get tested every day at work. If one of them was positive, they wouldn't be able to work. I'd just prefer Elizabeth to come to our house instead of them going out." She kissed my forehead.
"Okay then. We'll tell her yes as long as Elizabeth comes to our house."

"Bella! You can come back now!" Stefania called.
"So? Please? Can we?" Betty asked as she walked in.
"Sì. But, there is some rules. Elizabeth has to come to our house."
"Okay! Deal! Thank you guys so much!" She ran over and hugged us.

"You're welcome kiddo. But, we need to have a serious talk." I said awkwardly.
"About?"
"About uh... Stef?" I looked at her, hoping she understood what I was saying.
"About staying safe during intercourse." Stefania finished.
"Ew, I'm not going to have sex with her guys. I've never even kissed anyone." Betty made a face.

"I'd still feel more comfortable if we had the talk with you." I sighed.
"Okay, okay. Explain the birds and the birds." Betty said.
"The what and the what?" Stefania asked.

"In America they call it the birds and the bees when they're giving the sex talk. But in my case, it's the birds and the birds." Betty laughed.
"Americans are so weird."

"Elizabeth! Hey!" I answered the face time call.
"Hey, how's it going?"
"It's good. Dani said you could come over to our house if you wanted to hang out."
"Awesome. Are you off tomorrow?"
"Let me check my schedule real quick."

I opened the schedule on my phone, "Yep I'm off."
"Awesome. Me too. I can ride over if you want?"
"Let me ask Dani and make sure that's okay." I walked into the kitchen.
"Hey Dani? Can Elizabeth come over tomorrow? Please?"
"Sure. I'm off work too, so you two will be stuck with me."
"Thanks Dani!" I ran back into my room and plopped down on the bed.
"So I'll come over tomorrow around ten?"
"That sounds great."

"Are you finally gonna tell me why you're living with Danielle?" ElizaBeth asked.
"Like I said, it's a long story."
"I got all night, if you wanna tell me." She laid back on her pillow and propped her phone up.

"Okay... my Mom wasn't too great of a Mom. She was... abusive. She made me work acting jobs so I could bring her and my step dad money. They're drug addicts and alcoholics. They put their hands on me a few times. I started working with Station 19 and Danielle and I had an instant bond. She's like... the Mom I always wished I had. She gave me a place to stay, and when covid started she convinced my Mom to sign her rights over."
"Wow, that's just... wow. You're so strong to go through all that."

I smiled and buried my head into my pillow.
"You're cute when you blush." Elizabeth teased.
"I'm not blushing."
"Uh huh. Sure. I'm gonna get some sleep so I can come over early to see your beautiful face."

"Goodnight Elizabeth."
"Goodnight Betty."