Dana. Sweetie. Is someone calling my name? Dana! I jump, almost falling off the chair.

Huh, yes?

Where are you today? Youve been off in La La Land since we got up this morning.

Nowhere, Im right here. I cant tell her what Ive been thinking about. She wouldnt understand.

Well, I have to go run some errands. Ill be out all afternoon and I dont know what time Ill be back, so youre on your own for dinner. Her voice trails off as she walks out the front door.

I stand up and walk over to the sofa. Ill watch television until Alice calls. Is anything even on? I find myself mindlessly changing the channels, finally settling on some show about the different wines throughout Italy. I yawn, realizing I didnt get much sleep last night. That kiss. Why did you do it Alice? Did you think I would just leave Tonya? Just like that? But your lipstheyre so soft. Why didnt you say anything? You just planted the kiss on me then stood there. I couldnt help myself. Cant you see I just wanted to feel those arms around meto feel those lips again…to feel her tongue tickling the roof on my mouth. Oh what I would do if I had her here right now. I can feel her moist tongue blaze a trail on my neck from my collar bone up to my earlobe. Moaning with delight, I pull off her shirt. In return, she starts to disrobe me. Starting with my blouse, she undoes one button at a timeundoing me in the process. She opens my shirt and begins kissing my abdomen. Working her way down, she unbuttons my pantsthen traces the path of my zipper. She slides her body back up along mine, bringing her eyes level with mine. Would you like some wine, she asks. Without waiting for a reply, she reaches for a glass and pours a few drops across my chest. Then she leans her head down and licks it up, pausing for several seconds at each nipple. Now erect, my nipples scream with pleasure. She pours more wine, this time on my stomach. Again, she leans down to lick up every drop. She sets the glass down and slowly slides my pants down my thighs and off my legs. Without the aid of the wine, she begins kissing my leg, starting at the ankle. She looks up at me every few seconds, then returns to the delightfully pleasant kisses. Working her way up my leg, she lingers at my knee. Gently gliding her hand behind it, she kisses each side of my kneecap, stopping only when I squirm at the tickling sensation. She resumes her course, teasing mealternating between her tongue and lips. She painstakingly moves along my inner thigh. I can feel her breath rustle my hairthe warmth tormenting my center. God, Alice just get there already! Just as I think shes almost arrived, she takes a detour. Her lips are now on my hip as she leads a path to my navel and ever so slowly up to my breast. She once again pauses at my nippleteasingtantalizingfrustrating me to no end her hand gently massaging my other breast. She works her way up to my neck, where she lingers. I feel her hand move from my breast, down along my stomach, past my navel. Working her was past the tuft of hair, she separated my lips and begins rubbing her fingerup and downup and downalong my most sensitive skin on my body. The nerves are screaming at me, inundating my brain with signals of pleasure, delight, bliss, satisfaction, and gratification. My mind goes fuzzy as her lips make their way to my mouth.

BANG! Welcome to World War Two. Im startled awake by the television. Dammit! I reach for the remote, which now sits on the floor, and turn off the television. What time is it? 3:38 PM. The clock stares back at me. I better call Alice.

Its ringing, what am I going to say to her? Stay calm Dana, stay calm. Shes your friend. Just like she was yesterdayjust like she was last week. Who are you kiddingnothings just like it was yesterdaynot after that kiss last night. I cant even get her out of my head. Hello? She answered the phone! Quick Dana, say something.

Alice, its Dana, I spit out. Why havent you called me?

What? What do you mean why havent I called you? Doesnt she remember this morning on the phone? She said shed callor was I just dreamingthat last dream sure felt real. Compose yourself Dana, of course she said shed call you.

You said you would call me. Its almost four oclock! What is she thinking? Am I going crazy? I know she said she would call.

Okay, okayIm sorry. Can you meet me now? Now? I dont know. I dont know if I can look at you without remembering the dream I just had. I guess with Tonya out until who knows when, now is the best time.

Yeah, Tonya went out on some errands. Where do you want to meet? My mind is racingeverything is spinning. I cant make a decision like that.

Why dont we just meet at The Planet, she answers.

Okay, Ill see you there in fifteen minutes? I spit out before thinking.

Ill see you there. I wait just long enough to hear her response then hang up. I cant stay on much longer or IllIllI dont know what Ill do. God Dana! Pull yourself together! Calm down. Are you calm? Yes. Okay, think. What do you need to do? You have to meet Alice and The Planet. That means you need your car keys. Keyskeyswhere the ***** are my goddam keys? There they areright where they always are.

Im sitting at a back table at The Planet. Searchingwatchingwaiting. Can I just leave now? Shes not here yet. Ill just sneak out and tell her I had a flat tire. Thats it! Ill tell her I had a flat tire. Uh oh! Too lateshe just walked in. She smiles at me and starts in my direction. She approaches the table and takes a seat.

Sorry, about this morning, she says. Tina spent the nightshes really upset.

Tinawhat happened? Is something wrong with Tina? Or Bette? Is that why she came by last night? You should have made her talk last night.

Bette cheated on Tina, her words rip through me like a knife. Tina found out last night.

What? How? Who with? An endless stream of questions rushes through my head. Did it only happen once, or has she been doing it for a while?

Dana, calm down. Calm down! How does she expect me to calm down? I cant calm down until I know what happened. I dont know all the details. Tina was too upset to say much of anythingand Bette wasnt any better.

You saw Bette? You said Tina spent the night. Where did you see Bette? Everything she tells me fuels more questions.

Dana, calm down. There she goes againtelling me to calm down. Ill tell you everything I know. But you have to know that it isnt much.

Okay, I answer, trying to contain my emotions. What about Shane? We should call Shane. Should we call Shane? Shouldnt she know about this too?

I tried to call her earlier. I could get a hold of her.

Well, did you call her cell phone? She always has her cell phone. My mind starts to race again. Something is wrong with Bette or Tinaor both. Shane is nowhere to be found. Alice kissed me. My world is crashing down around me.

Dana, she snaps me back to reality, shaking my arm. Confused, I try to regain my senses.

Shane is fineyou know how she gets sometimes, she says in a soothing voice. Shes seemed a little upset lately. Shes probably just sorting through her own problems right now.

Okay, okay. Fine! I take my arm back. Her touch quickens my heartmore than it already is. Tell me what happened between Tina and Bette.

Well, she begins, when I got home last night, Tina was already there, sitting on my couch

To Be Continued