Tina: “BETTE!”

Bette: “You and youruh, just call us if you need anything.”

Alice saluted and smacking Tina in the ***** just before the door closed behind her, said, “Aye, aye captains, I’ll um, I’ll call you if I need you.  I promise.”

Alice waited for the car to pull out of the driveway before grabbing for her purse.  Looking out of the window one last time to make sure Bette and Tina were splitsville, she reached deep into her bag and pulled out a bunch of small items, lining them up just so across the coffee table.  When she was content with their placement, her version of Feng-shui to be exact, she got down on her knees and resting her chin on her folded arms said, “Hey baby.  Who needs Shane and Carmen when I already have you to keep me company?”

Bette was talking as Tina applied her lipstick in the bright light of the overhead sun visor.  “Are you even listening to me, Tina?  She’s totally lost it.  Kit told me she went into the Planet the other day while Dana and Lara were eating lunch.”

Tina stopped applying long enough to lower her eyebrows and shoot of a confused glare in Bette’s direction.  With lipstick still suspended a few inches from her perched lips, she said, “So?  Alice goes there too, Bette.”

As Bette pulled the car to a slow stop, she threw her arm over the back of Tina’s seat and said, “She was dressed in a long, blonde wig, her Jackie O’s, Timberland hiking boots, a backpack, and let’s just say a little something strapped to her leg, if you know what I mean.”

Tina smiled and retracting her lipstick, said, “Oh boy.”

Bette retrieved her arm and as she began to pull away, she said, “Yeah, you’d think she’d at least get a new disguise, mix it up a little every now and then.  Hah, (Shaking her head) jackass.”

Tina reached into her purse and pulling out her cell phone, began to forcefully punch at the numbers.  “Who are you calling?  We’re making good time.”

Tina, placing the phone to her ear, said, “Shane, just um, ya know, just to be safe.”

Alice had been lying on the couch, twirling her hair in one had as she covered a school girl giggle with the other.  “Oh Dana, you always know exactly what to say to make me feel better.”

Just then, a tap at the back door forced Alice quickly to the floor.  Shane cupped her hands to the window and laughed as Alice‘s arm could be seen swiping things quickly from the coffee table.  “She’s right there.  Alice, come on man, open the door.”  Alice tightened the buckle on her Prada hand bag and standing up, began pulling down her shirt as she smoothed any wrinkles that may have occurred as the result of lunacy.  She pulled at her sleeves, gave the living room a once over, and made her way over to Shane and Carmen, now smiling brightly.  Carmen, through her smile, said, “Well, she looks okay.”  Shane, taking Carmen’s lead, said, “Looks are deceiving, we are talking about Alice.”

As Dana walked into her childhood home, she collapsed into the waiting arms of her mother.  Sharon new something was terribly wrong, the harder Dana held onto her.  “What, Dana what is it?”  Without letting go, Dana said, “Nothing, everything, maybe nothing.  I don’t know.”  Sharon gently pushed Dana away and reaching out to close the door, said, “Dana, where’s your car?”