“How did I let you convince me to come here,” I ask Shane while staring at Dana’s house from my parked mini cooper.

Shane smiles at me, “Actually, it didn’t take that much convincing.” She grabs my arm, “No come on, let’s go see Dane.”

Is she doing drugs again? How am I just going to show up on the doorstep of my ex-girlfriend whom, up till last night, I hadn’t spoke to in months. I shake my head, “I dunno Shane. Maybe she’s not home.”

“Al, her car is parked right there,” Shane reasons.

“Maybe Lara took her to practice?” I protest.

Shane sighs, “Fine, I’m going in Al. You can stay here if you want.” With that she opened the passenger door on my mini cooper and headed towards Dana’s door.

*****. I have to go. No, I should stay here. Damn. I miss her. I need hershe needs me. I open my door, yelling to Shane, “hey, hold onI’m coming.”

After cleaning myself up, I managed to throw on a vintage pair of jeans and one of the shirts that Dana described as fitting in some places and hanging off in others. I pull my sunglasses off, looking at Shane, “You know, I think I’m either going to love you or hate you for making me do this.”

“Yeah, yeah Al. Just knock on the door already,” She said giving me a nudge.

I gently hit my fist against the door. This is weirdme knocking on Dana’s door. It had always just been open to me, well excluding the Tonya days but I didn’t frequent Dana’s house often then.

A second late, “Whelp, doesn’t look like anyone’s here. We tried. Let’s go.” I try to maneuver myself off the porch.

Shane jumps in my way, “whoa, let’s give em a second.”

Sure enough a minute later the thick oak door opened to reveal Lara.

“Shane, Alice what a surprise,” the red head invited us into the house.

 I look around the living room. Memories of Dana and I come rushing into my mind. This spot where we shared so many moments. Our first time, our three-month anniversary, the place where I gave my all to her, my heart aches, but then I hear her.