Chapter Twelve Part One:

She was nervous.

Who wouldn’t be in her position? She was about to tell her best friend that she was in love with her. That wasn’t something that happened every day.

Alice reached forward and wrapped her clammy hands around the cup, taking comfort in the warmth. The only reason she’d ordered something was because Kit kept pestering her. There was no chance that she’d be able to actually stomach it.

Just as she was about to grab her phone and call Dana, she walked in.

“Hey…” Alice waved slightly, alerting Dana’s attention. “How are you?”

Dana wiped at the droplets of water on her forehead before looking pointedly at Alice, “What do you think? I had to walk through a thunderstorm to get here. It better be important.”

 Alice blinked several times, unsure of what to reply to that.

“I’m joking Al. I don’t mind.” She leant forward and tapped Alice’s hand, surprised at how damp it was. She quirked a brow before asking: “Are you ok?”

“Sure, yeah, I’m great. Fantastic actually.” Alice spluttered, snapping back into reality and quickly pulling her hands onto her lap. “Actually, I need to talk to you about something.”

“Hence why I am here…”

“Yeah…” Alice trailed off.

Dana wasn’t oblivious to the fact that Alice was looking at anything but her. It must be really bad, Dana thought miserably. Did she want to hear it?

“God, just tell me Alice.”

“Before I say anything, do you promise not to hate me forever?”

Her brow furrowed as she looked across the table at her friend. “Why would I hate you?”

“Just promise, Dane.”

“Fine… Fine, jeez, tell me.”

Alice leant back in her chair and looked down at her clasped hands. She’d been thinking about it all morning, working out what to say, but now that it came to the moment where she had to say it, she’d forgotten it all.

“Alice…” Dana poked, trying to urge Alice closer to telling her.

“I’m in love with you, Dana.”

“Excuse me?”

Alice reluctantly looked up at her friend, who was watching her with a rather blank expression upon her face.