“I wasn’t bored,” Dana counters.

“Well I’m sorry if not everyone finds ‘I Spy’ to be a fun game to play for an hour straight in the same room. It kinda takes the juice out of it,” Alice says.

“Not that it had much to start with,” Helena adds still chuckling.

“Ok, fine… am I a person?”

“No,” Helena responds.

“Am I… alive?”

“Depends on when you last changed your batteries,” Alice giggles.

“I believe your responses are supposed to be ‘yes’ and ‘no’, Alice,” Dana informs her. “Alright, am I in this room?”

“God I hope not,” Helena snorts, almost crying.

Dana shakes her head annoyed. “Do you use me in the kitchen?”

Both Alice and Helena burst out laughing. Helena falls back on the couch holding her stomach. Alice whips her eyes from tears streaming down her face.

“I don’t know if I want to answer that,” Alice cackles.

“What? What do you mean?” Dana takes off the piece of paper. “Oh my god. ‘Dildo’, Alice? What are you, five?”

“Oh come on Dana, laugh!” Alice giggles. “It’s funny.”

“We should have got a picture!” Helena adds still chuckling. “You don’t know how silly you looked with that piece of paper taped to your head! I wish we got you to walk down the street with that on!” Alice joins in with Helena’s laughing and Dana finally gives in and giggles a bit.

“You guys are jerks.”

“Oh whatever,” Alice responds. “You know you love us.” Dana shakes her head. “Oh yes you do!” Alice says getting up and moving towards her.

“Alice don’t,” Dana commands firmly. Alice continues with a devilish smile on her face. “Alice!”

Alice jumps on Dana tackling her to the sofa, tickling her sides. Helena just sits watching and laughing at how goofy her friends are. Dana was right, sometimes they did seem like they were five; but that wasn’t a bad thing.

“Alice stop!” Dana cries out from laughing.

A knock at the door interrupts the laughter. Alice looks at the clock that read 12:45. “What in the hell? Who the fuck would be here this late?” she asks confused.

“A serial killer,” Dana responds in joking tone.

“That’s not funny!” Alice says in a hushed whisper, grabbing a tennis racket and creeping towards the door.

“Alice, don’t be silly, if they are knocking at your door and didn’t ring you, they must live in the building,” Helena rationalizes. “It’s probably just one of your neighbours.”

“Coming by at 1a.m. to ask for what? A cup of sugar?!” Alice retorts.

“We love you, Alice,” Dana continues. “Wait for us up there.”

“Shut up!” Alice says, nearing the door. She stands with her back to the wall near the door for a moment and then quickly looks through the peep hole and returns to her safety spot near the door. “Wait a minute…” She looks through it again. “Carmen?!”

“Alice?” she hears muffled through the door. “Alice is that you?”

Alice swings open the door. “Oh my god! What the fuck man!” she pulls Carmen into a hug. Dana and Helena glance at eachother in confusion and then look back at the two hugging. “What the hell are you doing here?!”

“It’s a long story,” Carmen chuckles. “Do you think I could crash here tonight?”

“Yeah sure, why not. You scared the hell out of me! I thought you were a murderer or something.”

“Is that why you have a tennis racket in your hand?” Carmen asks pointing at it.

“Yeah, it was the first weapon I could find.”

“Weapon, huh?” Carmen jokes.

“Shut up! C’mon,” she says leading her into the living room. “Carmen these are two of my best friends, Dana and Helena. Guys, this is Carmen.”

“Hey,” Dana and Helena greet simultaneously.

“So how do you two know eachother?” Dana asks.

Alice throws her arm around Carmen’s shoulders. “It’s a long story,” she laughs. Carmen smiles and shakes her head.