“Oh man. She’s wasted.” Shane observed.

Alice looked at Shane with an agitated expression and quipped, “You think?”

The five friends were exiting Milk a couple of hours later. Dana’s shot extravaganza had continued, and she was now finding it difficult to walk, even with Bette’s strong frame holding her up.

Shane came up alongside Dana and studied her friend’s inebriated pupils. “How many shots did you have Dane?” Shane asked with a sympathetic grin.

Dana tried to focus on Shane, but her hooded lids aimed towards the sky as she slurred, “Two.”

With a puzzled expression, Shane glanced at Bette, who discreetly mouthed “six” behind Dana. Shane nodded and suppressed a chuckle as she lifted Dana’s other arm and assisted Bette in the carrying duties towards the parking lot.

Tina strolled behind the other three with Alice, who carried Dana’s purse in her hand.

“I haven’t seen her this drunk since Shane’s yacht party,” Tina said to Alice. “I’m wondering if something’s bothering her.”

Just then, a cellphone ring permeated through Dana’s purse. Alice glanced at Tina and said, “Her phone’s ringing.”

“See who it is. It might be Tonya wondering where she is.”

Alice unzipped Dana’s purse and began looking for her mobile while stating sarcastically, “And we wouldn’t want that would we?”

With a glance of amused disapproval towards Alice, Tina reached for Dana’s phone and read the caller identification. She nodded and said, “It’s Tonya.”

Alice retrieved the device from Tina and confidently quipped, “I’ll handle this.”

She lifted the flip top and answered, “Dana Fairbank’s phone…. Yeah, hey Tonya we’re just leaving…. It’s Alice, yeah…. Mmm hmmm well, she’s a bit incapacitated at the moment…. Ummm yeah, several…. uh huh….. Yep…. Yep…. Okay…. Absolutely…. yeah…. okay then, roger that.” Alice forcifully closed Dana’s mobile with one hand.

“You handled that well.” Tina said.

Taking time to roll her eyes at Tina, Alice announced, “Okay. Just got off the phone with Cruella de Vil. She wants one of us to tend to Dana tonight and return Dana here in the morning to get her car.”

Shane and Bette stopped and turned around, Dana still slouched between them. Their expressions betrayed the fact that their future plans hadn’t involved taking care of their drunk friend.

Alice immediately keyed in on their hesitation and said, “Give her to me.”

Looking between Bette and Tina, she continued, “I know you two want to get it on after this.” And glancing towards Shane taunted, “And Lord knows what you’ve got going on tonight.”

Tina smiled knowingly and gently clutched Alice’s wrist, “Are you sure Alice? We don’t mind.”

Alice shook her head in defiance. “I’m sure. My place is the closest and she can crash on my couch. It’s fine.”

All of a sudden Dana blurted out drunkenly, “I’m spending the night with Alice.” She then chuckled to herself knowingly.

Panicked, Alice clapped her hands and stated hurriedly, “Okay! Let’s get this lush loaded into my car shall we?” She quickly led the group to her Mini, hoping Dana would not divulge anything more.

Shane, Bette and Tina helped Dana into Alice’s vehicle and said their goodbyes. The blonde fastened her seatbelt and glanced over at her best friend. Dana’s eyes were now closed and her head swerved back and forth against the seat’s headrest. She let out a hiccup and giggled to herself, totally oblivious to her surroundings.

Alice observed her friend and gently smiled, muttering affectionately, “Be still my heart.” She sighed contentedly while starting her engine, and made her way home.

To be continued….