“T, I’m serious, all I need to know is that she is ok. When she’s
ready, she’ll talk to me.” Alice said sadly. “I just need to know she’s
ok. I don’t ever remember seeing her like that.”

“I’ll do my best Alice. Promise.”

“Thanks, T. Listen, I need to go get changed. I’m going to be late
to meet Bette and you know how pissed she gets if you’re late.” She
smiled at Tina, got up from the table, kissed Tina in the top of her
head, and left the kitchen.

About thirty minutes later the doorbell rang as Alice was running down the stairs, “I’ll get it.”

She opened the door to find Dana, standing awkwardly, with her hands in her pockets.

“Hey Dane. Why are you ringing the bell? This is your house.” Alice
said, grabbing Dana’s arm, pulling her into the house. She went to hug
Dana, but Dana pulled back away from her. She walked into the house and
shut the door behind her.

“Hi. I don’t know, Al. I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure what to do. So I
guess, I went with the safe bet and just rang the doorbell. I didn’t
know if you would want me just walking in here.”

Alice was a bit put off by Dana pulling away from her hug and her
ringing the bell. As a whole, she thought she was being unbelievably
good about the break up and the situation they were in. As hard as that
was for her, she was doing it because she knew something was going on
with Dana. She knew that Dana wasn’t acting like Dana. And more than
anything, she knew that Dana loved her and would never hurt her if she
thought there was any other option. But that didn’t mean that Alice
wasn’t hurting, that she wasn’t resentful, or that she wasn’t scared
that she was truly losing the woman she has thought of as her wife for
the last five years. So Dana pulling away from her, quickly and
vehemently, didn’t sit well with her, and if possible, made her sadder,
more resentful and angry.

“Whatever Dana. Do what you want. It seems to be the new trend. Tina
is in the kitchen with Julia. Tell them I said good-bye.” Alice spat at
Dana. She grabbed her bag off of the ledge and turned towards the door.

“Wait, Al.” Dana reached out to grab Alice’s arm. Alice moved away from Dana.

“What?” She asked Dana, impatiently waiting for a response. “What do you want?”

Dana started to shake. It wasn’t the violent shake she had earlier
at Shane’s, but it was a noticeable shake. “Just wait, Al. Please.”

Alice tried to keep her anger level up. If her anger was, her pain
wasn’t. “Why Dane. I’m late.” She turned to open the door and Dana put
her hand over Alice’s and physically kept her from opening the door.

“Dana, if you have something to say, please just say it. I really am late. And this isn’t amusing.”

Dana looked at Alice. She could see the pain and anger in her eyes
and the guilt she felt knowing that she caused it was growing
exponentially. She wasn’t sure if she would ever get a good night’s
sleep again. Every time she closes her eyes, she sees images of Alice
crying mixed with images of Alice hurt. “I’m sorry, Al.”

“You seem to be saying that a lot recently.” Alice drawled at Dana.

“Al…” Dana said hopelessly. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to upset
you. You know that right? You know I would never do anything to hurt
you intentionally?”

Alice signed in response “Yeah, Dane, I do. But to be totally honest
with you, it doesn’t make it any easier. I really have to go. Have fun
tonight.” Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked out of
the house.

tbc