Shane just stared at Al, who looked as if a big weight had been taken off her shoulders. Her first reaction was of course happiness, then sadness, then the emotions got all mixed up and Shane didn’t know what to think.

“Well Yoda, c’mon give old Luke here a little bit of wisdom,” Al joked, but the slight edge of urgency in her voice didn’t escape Shane.

“When does the job start?”

“I move in two weeks,” Al whispered, lowering her head as to avoid seeing Shane’s reaction. Alice didn’t realise it but she had begun to cry, her tears making tiny little circles on Shane’s jeans.

“And Dana?” Shane always had suspicions about Dane and Alice. They were inseparable, they knew the best of each other, and could tolerate the worst. The entire gang just assumed that one day they would move into a relationship, having already lived like a married couple for the last seven or so years, but somehow hearing this confession from Alice, it just sounded strange.

“Love her.” Alice replied. She saw no use in diddle daddling around with the truth. She needed Shane’s help, and therefore Shane needed to know everything.

“Then you need to tell her that.”

“I know.”