“Free?! I don’t understand. Dane, explain this to me.” Alice felt like her heart had stopped beating. She was sure Dana had feelings for her, the kiss was so intense – she had even called her and thanked her for it.

“Al, You never told me you were in love with me when you kissed me. You just told me that I couldn’t marry Tonya. I suspected there was something behind the kiss, but I just took it as an example of what I was missing in being with her. The kiss was the most spontaneous thing that has ever happened to me, I was caught up in the moment and I liked it. It flicked a switch in my head, and I knew then that I had changed.”

“But you called last night and thanked me for the kiss.”

“I wanted to elaborate, but you said it wasn’t a good time, so I had to keep it simple. I really wanted to tell you, I did. You see, I have always been vocal in my jealousy of the way you and Shane act like yourselves al the time and I have realised that there is no reason why I can’t do the same and I wanted to thank you for making me realise it.”

“*****” Alice just sat in her chair staring at her feet. “I have made such a fool of myself” A tear slowly rolled down her left cheek, not unnoticed by Dana.

“No, Al. Jesus. I love you so much, but you’re my friend y’know? I’m totally flattered, I really am. Please don’t cry. Come here.” Dana got up from her seat, sat next to Alice and pulled her in for a hug. Alice just stayed still silently crying as Dana hugged her from the side. They sat like this for a few minutes before Alice excused herself and went to the bathroom.

Dana sat alone waiting for Alice and began to feel upset about the way she had been so blunt with Alice. She soon reprimanded herself – ‘No Dana come on, this is the new you. Honesty is the best policy. She’ll be ok.’

On that thought, Dana’s cell phone rang. Seeing Shanes name on caller ID, she answered it.

“Hey Shane”

“Hey Dane, listen, I think I really need to get hammered tonight. Do you want to come to Radar with me tonight?”

“Shane McCutcheon, you read my mind! I’m in the planet now and was thinking about maybe just staying here all day. Im dressed ok for tonight. How about it? I’ll even treat you to dinner if you like?”

“I’ll be there in 30 minutes. Dana, you sound different, are you ok?”

“Yeah Shane, I’m definitely ok. Better than ever in fact. See you soon then?”

“Yeah, laters.”

As Dana put her phone back in her bag, Alice sat back down and sheepishly smiled at Dana.

“Who was that? Not Tonya already?”

“No, it was Shane. She is coming here in a half-hour and we are going to get drunk!

But Dana, its only 1pm. Knowing your drinking reputation, you’ll be home by 5!”

“Well, Alice, this is the new me. The one who will drink sensibly, play hard, and live life how I want. I think an afternoon drinking session is just what we need, don’t you?

“Dana, can we keep what happened to ourselves? I really don’t want Shane to know. I feel like a fool.”

“Al, stop giving yourself grief about it. I’m fine with it, if you want no one else to know that you have feelings for me, then its just between you and me, ok? Now are we going to order lunch or shall we wait for Shane?”

” I think we should wait. There’s something I need to tell you both about Bette and Tina and I’d rather just say it once…