“Dana?”

Dana heard the voice but it didn’t register for a few seconds. As soon as it did she quickly whipped around. Unfortunately only the upper half of her body managed to move, and Dana ended up falling into a tangled heap on the floor in front of Alice. Alice quickly dropped her bag and fell next to Dana, helping her get into a less uncomfortable sitting position on the floor. The blonde couldn’t help but laugh at her friend’s clumsiness, which at first seemed to upset Dana, but eventually had her smiling too.

“Dana what are you doing here?”

Dana couldn’t quite make out whether it was nerves or whether it was the pure happiness that filled every inch of Alice‘s face that prevented her from telling Alice what she came there for.

“I um I just wanted to congratulate you Al,” Dana finally managed to get out. It was the joy in Alice‘s face that stopped her. Dana loved her too much to compromise Alice‘s own happiness for her own. Especially after two years where she had hardly done anything right for her best friend. “I heard the good news a few days ago and I wanted to tell you how happy I am for you in person.”

Alice looked at Dana quizzically, scanning the brunette’s eyes for any other reason. She didn’t really believe Dana’s answer, but looking into her eyes she couldn’t find any dishonesty.

“Dana you haven’t spoken to me in, what, two years and then you fly from LA to Seattle? To congratulate me?”

“I-I wanted to,” Dana said looking down at her hand which Alice had taken into hers. “I know I haven’t been the greatest friend for a long time Al, and I know it will take more than just a trip to Seattle but I just want you to know that I’m sorry for being such an idiot these past few years.” Dana felt Alice move, and was soon engulfed in a tight hug, one which she longingly accepted. It felt so right to her. Even their heads sat perfectly on each other’s shoulders. It was just so right and yet Dana was going to throw it all away. She quickly reasoned with herself that having Alice back as her friend was more than she could possibly hope for, but deep down she dreaded the feeling of pain that would wash over her once Alice was really gone from her. Alice pulled back from the hug to look into Dana’s eyes, which were glazed over with tears.