The night when on in similar fashion, much laughing, dancing and celebration. Everyone had missed Alice and her bubbly personality over those three months, and having her back again seemed to motivate people to party. Alice herself was having a ball, and couldn’t remember the last time she felt so happy. She then recognised a figure in the corner of the room, laughing and joking with a few of Alice’s work colleagues but at the same time looking completely lost. Shane saw Al looking over in Dana’s way, and rushed over to her to explain things before anything got out of hand.

“Al, this was all her idea. She organised everything… she is really going through ***** not having you around to hang out with.”

Alice felt the original tinge of anger towards Dana subside as she heard all of this.

“She organised this?” Shane nodded and turned around, leaving Alice to contemplate whether or not she should talk to Dana. She decided to play on the little spark of hope that had suddenly found its way into Alice’s mind, and walked over with two beers towards Dana, who had grabbed her jacket and was making her way out the door.

“Dana.” Al called, not loud enough for her to hear over the music blaring from Shane’s stereo. She followed Dana outside and watched as she sat on the front steps, resting her head in her hands. Not knowing what exactly to say, Alice just walked over and sat beside her, grabbing one of the hands that covered her face and placing the cold beer in it. Dana looked up with shock, which if possible, double when she realised who had sat next to her. All Al did was clink her bottle against Dana’s and continued to drink, to which Dana eventually followed.

“I didn’t even realise you knew I had gone,” Alice said at last, surprised at how comfortable she was talking with Dana once more.

“You didn’t? But the n-note…” Dana trailed off as she realised Al had no idea what she was talking about. She had obviously not received the letter Shane was supposed to have given her. “Shane told me. The day before you left. I’m sorry that I didn’t come to say goodbye, I-I just figured that if I were in your position, I wouldn’t have wanted to see me.” Dana took another sip of her beer and looked straight ahead; very aware that Alice’s eyes were firmly fixed on her face.

“Hmm, well things got pretty fucked between us then,” Alice reasoned, trying to get Dana to look at her. “I guess in the end it was just foolish of us to risk our friendship for something so unstable-” Alice suddenly stopped as Dana jerked her face to look at Alice. Dana’s eyes were full of pain, she was almost shaking but she stared unwavering into Alice’s eyes.

“Don’t say that Al. I know that we- that I messed up our relationship. I know the way that I made you feel afterwards and I hate myself for it. But there was nothing foolish about it. I wouldn’t give up the memories of those seven months for the world.” Dana looked down at the steps, aware of what an idiot she must have made of herself. She got up, grabbing her jacket and bag and began to walk, stopping halfway down the path. “The only foolish thing I did was let you go,” Dana said quietly, without turning around. And then she left Alice to contemplate her words on the front steps of Shane’s.