“What?” Alice asked innocently. Shane just looked at her expectantly, knowing that if she kept her gaze long enough, Alice was bound to talk. She knew her that her plan had worked of course when she saw Alice shrug her shoulders to signal her defeat.

“Okay… I’ll tell you but you have to promise not to freak out.”

Shane just nodded her head.

“Well, remember that night at the Provocations opening…” Alice inquired.

“Mmm-hmm.”

“I kinda had this urge to tell Dana not to marry Tonya so I went over there to tell her.” Alice noticed the disapproval on Shane’s face, and expected that Shane would grow even more disappointed at her after hearing what she had to say next:

“And I kissed her…”

Shane’s eyes looked as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. “You what?”

“Kissed her… and we kinda talked it over and decided that maybe it’s better for all of us to stay friends.” Alice finished her statement a little out of breath.

Shane tilted her head to the side and decided to cut to the chase:

“So why were you acting all strange around her?”

“Because… Oh god this is sooo…. embarrassing!” Alice replied, covering her face with her hands.

“Tell me.” Shane said reassuringly.

“I had this dream okay? We were getting all hot and heavy, until Tina called. Thank god she called, or else I wouldn’t be able to handle being in the same room with Dana again!”

“How long have you been having these feelings for her?” Shane wondered out loud.

“What feelings?” Alice asked, in a state of complete denial.

“You love her right?

“I” I don’t know…”

Shane grinned, “Of course you do!”

“All right, all right I do, okay? Happy?”

Shane ignored Alice’s sarcasm, choosing instead to give Alice some advice.

“Talk to her about it Al.”

“I can’t…” Alice said weakly.

“You have to. Maybe you can do it tonight over dinner.”

Alice turns to Shane and smiles. “Sounds like a plan.”
_________________________________

“Hey guys did you see anything?” Tina called out all the way from the kitchen.

“Zilch!” Shane yelled back.

“You did check here before didn’t you?” She asked Alice, realizing that she hadn’t been doing much searching since she got there.

“Yeah, I checked here before you arrived, I haven’t seen a thing. That stupid ring sure is pesky!”

“Hey it means a lot to Tina.” Shane reminded Alice.

“I know. I know.”
________________________________

The gang searched around every corner of the house, only to come out empty handed. Tina finally decided to call it a day and one by one her friends got ready to leave. Shane and Dana gave her a hug.

“Thanks guys.” Tina said, expressing her gratitude.

“Don’t mention it T.” Shane said, “I have to go I got a 2 o’ clock appointment. See ya.”

“Yeah I gotta get going too.” Dana said, kissing Tina on the cheek and slowly making her way out.

“Dana wait! Alice shouted, trying her best to catch up to Dana.

“What Al?”

“Are you busy tonight?”

“Yeah actually I have to pack for my flight tomorrow.” Dana said, searching her bag for the car keys.

“Flight? Where?”

“Las Vegas. Tonya’s gonna be following me there in a couple of days. Why?” Dana finally managed to find her keys and opened her car doors.

“Oh nothing I just thought we could catch up with some dinner, but I guess we could just do that when you get back.” Alice said as she watched Dana get into her car.

“Yeah sure, we’ll have plenty of time for that when I get back.” Dana said starting the engine.

“Okay, have fun.”

“I will.” Dana said as she drove away. Alice just looked at Dana’s car get farther and farther into the distance, slowly disappearing into nothing.
___________________________________

Meanwhile Tina continued like mad, searching for her ring, not really realizing that it was almost 6:30 in the evening. She decided to look in the bedroom, lifting the sheets, and pulling the covers off the pillows. She didn’t notice the front door open until she heard a familiar voice saying something over her shoulder.

“Looking for something?”

Tina turned around and saw Bette looking at her waiting for an answer.