“I think I really do like her.”  Dana said quietly as she looked down at her shoes with a smile.

“Well then, operation Dana-and-Alice will commence immediately!”

“Operation Danish!”  Dana excitedly said.

“What?  You’re hungry??”

“Huh?  Well, I guess I am a little hungry but it’s okay since school is almost over.  I always have a yogurt before tennis practice.”

Tina stared at Dana in confusion while Dana happily smiled back, oblivious to her friends confused state.

“So you don’t want a danish to eat?  Would you rather have a muffin?”  Tina asked slowly.

“A muffin?  Why would I…OOHHH!!!”  Dana giggled.  “No, not that kind of danish.  I mean me and Alice!  Our names combined.  DANISH!!”  Dana was all smiles as she turned to skip through the gym doors leaving a loss-for-words Tina behind.  After a few moments Tina shook her head and, smiling, jogged after Dana in time to watch Dana manage to trip herself and fall in her own tangle of arms and legs before bouncing back up to her feet in embarrassment.  Tina laughed at her goofy friend’s antics and wondered just how anyone could not fall in love with Dana Fairbanks and her charming innocence.  These thoughts immediately led Tina back to how she could help Dana with Alice.  As scenarios raced through her mind she considered a future in which Dana and Alice skipped down hallways referring to themselves as ‘Danish’ while an army of squirrels and birds followed in their wake.  Tina shook her head at the mental image.  At least that Bette friend of Alice seemed rather sane, she thought to herself.  But then again, she IS friends with Alice.  How sane could she actually be?

+++++++++++++++++

“So, you know, that would work out if we kept that rotation.  I know you’re not fond of overly cheesy family trips, but Disneyworld is a must at that age!  And it would have to be Florida’s Disneyworld.  The Epcot Center, Universal Studios, and The Animal Kingdom are all vital to every child’s emotional and psychological development.”  Alice looked at Bette expectantly.  The final bell had rung marking the end of the second day of classes and the two were in the room designated for use by the school newspaper staff.  As editor of the paper Bette was absorbed in several articles turned in by freshman hoping to join the prestigious paper.  Over the years Bette and her fellow writers had won a number of awards for their work on the paper.  To keep up the level of writing the paper had been recognized for editors were selective in choosing new writers to join the staff.  As the current editor, Bette was currently going through the process of weeding out prospective writers.  At the moment a Jenny Schecter had caught her eye a possibility.  The freshman’s writings were a bit on the strange side, which said a lot considering who Bette’s best friend is.  Regardless, she had talent and so Bette jotted down her name and made a note to interview her in the near future.  At last Bette looked up at her blonde best friend.