More than a little annoyed, Shane reached in her pocket for her cell phone.  She would call Alice and have her let Marina know that The Planet was locked.  Her hands furiously dialed the number quickly and she was shocked when the phone beeped and flashed “no service”.

“No service?  Since when can’t I get service at The Planet?”  Mumbling she stuffed the phone back into her pocket.  Turning to the door she pushed against it again, exerting her energy and venting her frustrations. 

“That won’t help.”  A feminine voice came from behind her momentarily startling her.  Shane turned quickly and came face to face with Alice‘s ex-girlfriend Gabby. 

“How the ***** would you know?”  She spat out at the shorter woman. 

Pointing triumphantly at the sign on the door, Gabby pushed by the shocked young woman and into the caf. 

“Pull” Shane read the clear sign and shook her head at her own ignorance.  She didn’t know what was worse, running into a paranoid cryptic Clive or into a smug Gabby.  Sighing and shaking her head she turned and pulled on the door and stepped through The Planet’s threshold.

“Hey stranger!  How was your night?”

Shane looked down at the blonde sitting on the couch eating a bowl of popcorn and holding the remote. 

“I didn’t expect you home so early.” 

“Home…what?”  Glancing around, Shane took in the apartment she and Alice shared.  “WaitI was at The Planet” 

“ReallyHow?  They close at 7:00did Marina let you in or something’?”  Her best friend looked up at her with a small pout on her face.

“Nourmnever mind”  The teenager knew when to keep quite; she didn’t need Alice or any of her friends thinking she had snapped.  “So what are you watching?”

Alice grinned and patted the seat beside her.  “A comedy!”  Pointing at the screen she motioned toward the young girl standing in the playground.  “This is like the third time I’ve seen itwatch this part” 

Slumping in the seat, Shane smiled at the happy woman beside her.  Godshe smells so goodShe turned her attention to the screen and immediately recognized the little girl, who had now curled into a ball as the other children tossed balls at her and screamed ugly words in her directions.  Startled she stood and ran to the TV clicking it off, pale and in shock she turned back to her best friend.  “Where did you get that?”