Tina and Bette had a turn on the Wii.  Alice turned to Dana, “Shane really likes Carmen you know” she said nudging her and gesturing in their direction.  Dana smiled, Shane was fooling around trying to make Carmen drink beer from her mouth, “They seem cute, really happy”.  “She could be the one to change Shane’s ways, make her a one-woman woman”.  Alice laughed lightly. 

An hour later the girls found themselves right in the middle of a no holds barred game of truth or dare, a very drunk Tina had suggested it after losing badly to Bette at Bowling and Tennis!  So far Jenny had been screaming ‘I am Mizz Jenny and I love bondage’ out into the street from the front door, Bette and Tina had described in almost too much detail about their first date and how they couldn’t keep their hands off each other and Carmen and Shane had licked chocolate syrup off eachother’s necks. 

They were gathered in a circle watched the bottle Carmen had just spun make its usual rotations, Dana closed her eyes, “ALICEEEE!!” everyone shouted in unison.  Dana breathed a sigh of relief, “Fine, fine, do your worst guys, I’ll take a dare.” “OOOOooohhh” everyone chorused.  “I’ve got one already” Shane shouted, Alice rolled her eyes.  “Spend the rest of the night, or at least the game wearing the present Lenore bought you last Christmas”.  Alice writhed around in pain almost immediately, “Shut the fuck up McCutcheon, I’m not doing that.  That’s not fair!”  “You’re doing it Al, thems the rules.”  “Fuck you Shane”. 

Everyone waited for Alice as she disappeared into her bedroom, Shane sat the whole time with a huge grin on her face. 

Alice emerged minutes later wearing a full length pyjama suit, covered in images of teddy bears and rabbit, matched neatly with a pair of huge fluffy rabbit slippers.  Everyone burst out laughing, Dana was doubled over, clutching at her stomach.  “You look ridiculous” Bette said, “I can’t believe your mother bought you that LAST YEAR”.  Alice lapped up the attention, doing twirls and cat walking from one end of the room to the other.  “That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen” Shane said with tears in her eyes. 

“Enough, let’s get on with the game” Alice said settling down to her place beside Dana.  Dana put her arm round Alice, “Aaawww I think you look cute” she said rubbing her back lightly.  Alice’s stomach flipped as she started spinning the bottle again.  Dana’s concentration was back on the bottle, she closed her eyes as it slowed.

“DDAAANNNAAA” Shit, Dana thought putting her head in her hands.  Sitting up she said “Truth!” trying to sound more confident than she felt.  Bette leaned in, “I’ve got this one guys.  Dana… you’re gay right?” she said with a knowing smile.  Dana relaxed a little, this was easy “100%” she said without hesitation.  All the girls whooped and cheered, “I knew it!” Bette giggled.  Alice and Dana exchanged a shy glance and moved on with their game.

An hour later Bette and Tina headed home, taking Jenny with them.  Shane and Carmen had disappeared at some point, no one was exactly sure when.  “I had so much fun tonight Al” Dana said standing a little unsteadily by the door.  “Me too, I hope you realise that you’re not going anywhere.  There’s no way I’m letting you drive home, you silly tennis player.”  Alice grabbed Dana’s hand, laughing at her own joke and pulled her back into the living room. 

“I know what we should do.  Let’s watch my favourite film.”  Alice said pushing Dana onto the sofa, “Ok, what is it?” “You’ll see” Alice said putting a DVD in player, sitting next to Dana and pulling a blanket over them.  The opening titles to Finding Nemo started, “I love this filllmm” Dana announced.  She plucked up some alcohol-fuelled courage and leaned her head against Alice’s shoulder, loving the close contact.  Dana felt a warm inner glow, she was comfortable, more comfortable than she could ever remember being.  Alice relaxed beside Dana, revelling in the smell of the brunette.

Within the first ten minutes of the film both girls were sleeping soundly leaning into each other, the faintest of smiles on both of their faces.