Alice loved the winter. Although winter wasn’t really winter in Los Angeles. As she made her way down the street, she took in her reflection when she passed a boutique window. Her dress was yellow and looked as cheerful as she felt, her hair was blonde and bouncy, and her cat-eye sunglasses were adorable, if she did say so herself. She smiled at all the strangers she passed and as she soaked in the colors and warmth of the sun, she wondered vaguely how people who didn’t live in such temperate climes got through the snowy doldrums of January. It was no concern of hers, however. Alice was a California girl through and through, and as she stepped into the doorway of The Planet, she resolved to get herself an unseasonal and fruity drink just because she could.

She took off her glasses and her eyes roved over the tables until she spotted her friends Dana and Tina sitting together. Dana spotted her and waved her over. Alice glided through the busy cafe and sat down at the table.

“Hey, girls. Isn’t it a beautiful day?”

“I’m loving it,” Dana said breezily. “I got in a workout this morning and I feel great. And I have nothing else to do today, so I’m probably going to go home and lay out by the pool and catch up on a little reading.”

“What about you, Tina? What’s up with you today?”

Tina grunted and didn’t say anything.

“O…kay. What’s her deal?” Alice asked Dana, nodding at Tina.

Dana shrugged. “She’s got the blues. She said she was tired of it here right before you came over.”

“I loathe LA,” Tina said dramatically, gazing mournfully out the window. “I don’t think I can stand it another day,” she added with a heavy sigh.

“Are you kidding me right now? Look at this weather! It’s beautiful out there! The sun is shining! Everyone’s happy!”

“So true,” Dana chimed in. “Just think, Tina, you could totally be in like, Buffalo or something, dealing with three feet of snow,” Dana looked at Tina reprovingly. “And wolves.”

“I was just thinking that,” Alice said excitedly to Dana. “On my way here I was like, I am so lucky I’m not in some miserable cold place trying to slog through dirty slush or whatever. Could I wear these shoes in Buffalo?” Alice raised her crossed leg slightly to show off a blue heel that Dana cooed over while Tina looked on, disinterested.