Alice didn’t say anything.

Shane sighed. “Fine, whatever.” She turned to leave.

“Shane wait. ”

Shane let go of the door handle and turned around.

“I’m sorry. I just – I don’t know what to say. Last night, kissing you like that… I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“It wasn’t all you’re fault,” Shane said. “I kissed you back.”

“Why did you?” Alice asked.

“Why did you kiss me?”

“I don’t know,” Alice said with a shrug. “I was feeling insecure about our friendship, and I got caught up in the moment.”

“So that’s all it was?”

“Yeah…” Alice looked down. “That’s all it was. What about you?”

“Same – Got caught up in the moment. ”

Alice nodded. “Right.”

“You know you have something,” Shane pointed at Alice’s hair. “Just…”
She walked over to her. “Right there,” she said picking a piece of lint
out of the writer’s hair. “There.” She showed Alice the small piece of
fluff.
“Thanks,” Alice said, blushing slightly.

Shane flicked it onto the floor. “No problem. ”

“So we’re good?” Alice asked.

“Yeah, definitely. It was just a kiss.”

Alice smiled. “Good, I’m glad it didn’t create any weirdness.”

“Should we, like…” Shane motioned at the space between them. “You know?”

“Oh,” Alice said, realizing what she meant. “Totally. Of course.”

“Okay…” Shane took a step forward, as they awkwardly pulled each
other into a hug. ‘God, she smells so good,’ Shane thought. ‘Fuck…
you didn’t just think that,’ she told herself. “Alright,” she said out
loud.
“Yeah,” Alice replied, as they broke apart. “Good hug.”

Shane cleared her throat. “So, what are you doing tonight? Because
Jenny and I were just gonna hang out at the house, order a pizza, watch
some movies –  you know, if you wanted to come over – Bette will
be there, and Mark, so it wouldn’t be just, you know…? I mean if
you’re not already doing something.”
“I would love to, but I uh, kind of, already have plans.”

“Oh…” Shane said, trying not to sound crestfallen. “Okay. No problem.
What’s his – her name?” She asked, knowing that ‘plans’ meant she had a
date.

‘How does she do that?’ Alice wondered. “His name is James,” she replied.

Shane nodded. “And what does James do?”

Alice swallowed hard. “He’s Bette’s assistant.”

Shane’s jaw dropped. “You’re going on a date with James – James? Bette’s James?”

“One in the same,” Alice said as though it wasn’t a big deal.

“How did that happen?”

“I stopped by the CAC a couple days ago to have lunch with Bette, and I
was a little early, so he kept me company until her meeting was over.”
Shane was looking at her with unreadable expression on her face. “He’s
really nice Shane,” Alice went on. “And funny, and sweet, and he asked
me out to dinner, so I said yes.”
“How does Bette feel about this?”
Alice bit her bottom lip nervously. “I, kinda, sorta, didn’t tell her.”

“What do you mean you didn’t tell her? He’s her assistant, and you’re
her friend, her ex-girlfriend. Isn’t that kind of a conflict of
interest?”

The bathroom door opened suddenly and Tina’s head popped in. “Guys…?”

Alice’s eyes went wide. “Tina, hi.”

Tina opened the door fully. “Hey, what are you guys doing in here?”

“Nothing,” Alice said.” We were just on our way out.”

“Yeah,” Shane agreed. “What she said.”

“Alright…” Tina said, looking at them both suspiciously. “Well we should probably get going.”

Alice nodded. “Right, because we have that thing to do – with the car.”

“Yeah,” Tina said, frowning at her friend’s flustered behavior. “Shane,
we’ll see you later.” She gave the young woman a kiss on the cheek.

“Sure, later,” Shane said, looking at Alice.

Tina walked out of the bathroom, Alice following behind her.

Shane stood there for a moment, staring at her reflection in the
mirror. ‘Don’t be an idiot Shane. You don’t have feelings for Alice.
She’s your friend, that’s it.’ She left the bathroom and walked back to
her table.
“Hey, are you okay?” Mark asked. “You’re looking a little pale.”

Shane sat down next to him. “I’m fine. ”

‘I’m fine,’ she told herself.