Ever since they bumped into each other at the Planet, Dana and Lara had built up a steady friendship. It was not like Alice didn’t want them to be friends. In fact, she felt that it was good that Dana had found a friend in Lara. Dana’s social circle wasn’t very big and Alice had always encouraged Dana to be more out-going and make more friends. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable about the friendship between Lara and Dana. Maybe it was the way Dana acted towards Lara. Dana never acted this way with anyone else, it was almost as if she was flirting. But Alice knew that Dana had no romantic interest in Lara whatsoever, at least not any that the athlete herself recognized. Dana probably didn’t even know she was acting this way.

            Alice chuckled. Dana could be so unaware of her own actions at times, it was amusing.

            ‘Can we have a Stuffed Chicken Marsala and a Capellini Pomodoro, please? Thank you.’

            They were at a new Italian restaurant. Bette and Tina (and Angelica) had come last week and recommended it. (‘Is it because all the waiters came around to tell you how absolutely adorable Angelica is?’ Alice had asked jokingly, much to the chagrin of Bette.) But now Alice could see why – the ambience was great, the service was impeccable and judging from the queue, the food was probably of a pretty high standard too.

            After the waiter took their orders and walked away, Dana asked Alice quizzically, ‘How did you know I wanted the Capellini Pomodoro?’

            ‘Baby,’ Alice leaned closer to Dana and cupped her chin, ‘you were making invisible circles around the words Capellini Pomodoro on the menu with your fingers. I think even the waiter noticed.’

            ‘Oh god.’ Dana smiled sheepishly at the silliness of her own actions as Alice planted a wet kiss adoringly on the athlete’s cheek.

            That was Dana. She always said what was on her mind and did what she felt was right. That was the problem. If Dana had always been so straightforward with her emotions, did the ‘flirting’ mean something? Did Dana still have a bit of romantic interest towards Lara, even though she might not realize it herself? Alice did not have the answers to these questions. She remained convinced though, that whatever it was, Dana treated Lara as a friend. She had her doubts on whether these platonic feelings were mutual though. Lara definitely seemed to want something more than a friendship with Dana, or it could be that Dana’s actions encouraged such a response.