"I don’t know what’s going on" Dana said  chewing her sushi  "In fact I try not to think about it, it kills me to ponder upon all these details, you know, since recent times our talks became so trivial, well, Alice nags and I have nothing to answer, really, I just, I don’t think it’s necessary to report about every move you make"

"Well, it’s up to you to decide whether it’s normal or not" Lara answered " I think you are cool together"

"You do?" Dana said "But it’s like 4^th time you ask me out and well,  Lara, I really want to know where does this lead to?"

"Ok, I won’t deny the fact that I’m still in love with you, even when you left me for the first time when you weren’t prepared for coming out and stuff, I could understand you, and I didn’t blame you, because you know what? When you are in love you don’t care, I was dumpish, but I didn’t stop loving you, I knew you would need time. Then I met Gabby and that was just an effort to distract, but as I saw you at the Planet I knew I wouldn’t stop trying to get you back not for nuts. But then I realized you and Alice were so cute together I decided not to interfere but sometimes I really need to see you, just  to talk to you, to hear you speaking, at least I want you to taste my food" Lara smiled "And I suppose it’s not very difficult for you, to spend a little time with me, as a friend, though it’s up to you to decide.. if you don’t want to just tell me"

Dana got thoughtful.

"thanks for not pressing me. I appreciate it" she said "it’s really nice I have someone who doesn’t press me at all and takes me the way I am. We are just sitting here, enjoying our talk and your food and everything is so easy. Lara, I don’t want to think about anything serious now I am so tired of that , really. I enjoy your company very much. By the way, since when have  you been working  at this  Japanese restaurant, what about the Planet? "

"Oh.. well.. I decided to try  something new and they pay good,’" Dana bowed " and besides" Lara continued " I couldn’t work at the Planet knowing that you were always there with Alice, it was rather painful" Lara was silent for a few seconds "so now you promised to tell me about that dorky girl, Tonya or something"

"oh, yeah, that was really funny , so listen…"

*****

Shane was sitting on her bed. She was totally exhausted.

"I should find Carmen’ she thought "I should tell her everything and let her judge. She’ll never be able to forgive me completely but at least we could be friends". Shane didn’t want that something was left unsaid  between them.  Carmen should know that Shane loves her, and loved her and probably always will, but she is not ready to say that yet. To say so is to admit that Shane is ready to create a family. But she wasn’t. It was so difficult to her just to fight her weakness, everything was broken inside and the strong feeling of guilt was eating her away. 

Her phone rang. This was her new number but it seemed that everyone got it so easy, everyone, except Carmen. She didn’t need to look  at the display, she knew it was Cherie and she was sure that she wouldn’t compromise herself, she wouldn’t go at the Planet at 9 pm, she doesn’t love Cherie and sex wasn’t what she actually needed now.

 She will just stay at home and sleep off, and then she will put herself in order and call Carmen. No, better, she’ll find out where Carmen is playing now and come to that place and tell her… Shane didn’t notice how she managed to sleep.

*********

It was 8 pm and the whole L. A was preparing for going out, nightclubs were opening their doors and waiters in different bars were serving all kinds of drinks, the evening was getting more and more exciting.

Bette was sitting at some bar drinking heavily trying to get read of tiresome chicks who indeed unsuccessfully tried to draw Bette’s attention.

"hey, waiter, please another tequila!" she shouted.

"I think you’ve had enough" somebody said behind her

"You don’t have a right to condemn me" Bette mumbled not turning back.

"I don’t" Kit said sitting next to her sister. "And I won’t but I’ll tell you something"

"If you gonna teach me how to live you’d better talk to a chair or something"

" I was at this very place about two years ago, you probably don’t believe me, but I was sitting right here where you are sitting now drinking hard to forget about my problems" Kit said and closed her eyes.

"I am happy for you, I guess it’s our family peculiarity," Bette grumbled, drinking off her tequila "so weren’t you supposed to be at home now? With your husband and your kid? What are you doing here?"

"I followed you"

"very nice" Bette exclaimed "So now are you satisfied completely? You’ve just spotted your dear baby sister drinking like a fish, so yes I am goddamned weak and ok, you are nice I am shit, what else do you want?"

Kit tried not to pay attention to Bette’s words. It was tough time for her, and Kit was only going to help.

"ya know, my little girl, you never seemed strong enough to me, I know you have very vulnerable heart and you just don’t tell anybody about the pain that is torturing you, but I can see it, Bette. I always could. Recently you were struck down by all the problems imaginable and you didn’t deserve it, but you know it was about 3 months ago, the worst is over, now you really have to do something, and this" Kit took a half  empty glass of tequila ‘this doesn’t work. you may not listen to me now but I am sure that soon something important will happen to you, something that replace your misfortunes with luck, but you should do something to bring your luck nearer, believe me sister, I had nothing, but now my life is full of sense, everything changes. I am always here for you, you should know"

Kit stood up and was about to leave then suddenly Bette turned her head to her

"Kit," she said quietly "could you take me home?"


**********
  Just as Bette and her sister left the bar Bryce entered, sat at the table and ordered two margaritas while waiting for Carmen. Yesterday Carmen didn’t let her take her home though it seemed to Bryce that everything was fine with it. Something spoiled between them just after Bryce mentioned that she had lived with Shane in the same foster a long time ago. Bryce was really surprised to know that Shane lived in L.A. She remembered her perfectly because however Shane was the first person Bryce kissed. And when Shane had run away from foster Bryce was nearly heartbroken, because secretly though they were just children she liked her very much, and now once Carmen pronounced HER name Bryce felt  kind of trembling, she didn’t want to show Carmen that she cared about Shane though she hadn’t seen her for so long. And Carmen seemed not to notice her tremor, she really took her for just an old friend of Shane. "but we weren’t friends" Bryce thought. ‘we were just children, and probably she doesn’t remember me now, though we were rather close, we spent almost all of our time together…"

Bryce decided to know as much as possible about Shane. Carmen said that after this so -called Wedding Shane ran away somewhere and Carmen didn’t even want to know where was she now.

"That is so complicated"  Bryce thought "I should be close to Carmen, because only she can help me to see Shane"

Bryce liked Carmen, Carmen was really nice, hot and she wasn’t stupid. And Bryce was trying to make her fall in love with her but it was all useless. Bryce was getting more and more intrigued she wanted to know Carmen better and perhaps she could have sort of relationships with her or at least a one night stand but now everything Bryce needed was Shane, though she hadn’t seen her for ages she felt that her childish love was still rather strong

*****

"My god, I am completely ruined" Alice complained

"Now you feel it?" Helena asked enthusiastically "It’s just because you have been neglecting our yoga classes for about 3 months!"

"oh no, I am not quite sure whether those Medieval tortures were so awful in comparison with these yoga exercises!" Alice said "oh really I can not move!"

Helena smiled and helped Alice to stand up.

"C’mon, one should be physically attractive, especially if you are popular radio showman!"

"Shit" Alice grumbled " I feel like I was ridden down by truck, I wonder how Dana can train everyday and doesn’t look tired!"

"Well she is accustomed to sport, besides she doesn’t do yoga she just simply plays tennis!" Helena smirked.


"It is weird" Alice noticed.

"what do you mean?" Helena asked

"I meant that it was weird that Dana hadn’t answered my call" Alice explained pensively

"well you probably drove her to madness with her nags or may be she is just training or something" Helena shrugged her shoulders

"Do you also think that I don’t give her this so-called "free space" or in other words I don’t give her the opportunities to have a random sex with other hot girls?" Alice said in a serious tone.

"Alice, you are  paranoid" Helena gasped

"the only thing I know for sure" Alice said slowly "is that if she dash me some day, if she says that we are to split I… I don’t know I’ll die without her"

"Alice, stop it!" Helena said "nothing terrible has happened yet, stop dramatizing it!"

"Have you noticed that  I always dramatize things when I’m starving?" Alice tried to turn everything into a joke "So I’m about to eat up 5 pizzas"

"It is impossible" Helena exclaimed "We shouldn’t eat at least for 2 hours after our yoga class or these sadistic exercises will  have no  results!

 "Holy crap, I am not able to suffer for 2 hours!"

"Ok" Helena said "then we’ll go to some Japanese restaurant and have some sushi or fish but no pizza!"

"Ok, agreed ! Thank god" Alice mumbled.

—-

they entered laughing in the first more or less Japanese restaurant they found.

Alice was rattling loudly about some celebrities she wanted to invite to her show and Helena distracted a bit to find some free table, so firstly she didn’t notice that Alice suddenly had become silent.

"Hey, Al, why not occupy that nice table?" she asked innocently but when she saw the expression of her face she turned her head and followed Alice’s sight and then  she saw them. Dana and Lara were sitting here, laughing, having fun, obviously enjoying each others company.

"Oh no" Helena thought and turned to Alice but Alice wasn’t there she had already moved decisively in the direction of Dana and Lara’s table.

Helena instinctively came after her preparing herself for the worst.


*********

The door bell was ringing so loudly and repulsively that Shane couldn’t stand it any longer.

‘Fuck’ Shane groaned realizing that she hadn’t even managed to nap

"I am coming" she shouted walking up to the damned front door being half asleep.

she thought it was jenny who had forgotten her keys as usually but when she opened the door she saw Cherie.

"I’ve been waiting for you for two hours" she said "See, I really need to talk to you. I didn’t mean to interrupt your sleep. But please, Shane, here me out!"

Shane sighed and  let her come in.