“I don’t think that whether or not I go out and get new furniture has anything to do with me getting over Alice, Lara.”

“Can’t you see what you’re doing Dana?” Lara asked, her voice getting sharp again. “It’s like you’re waiting. Just sitting around waiting for everything to be alright again. Like your expecting her to come back. Well, newsflash, Dana.” Lara spit her name at her and Dana cringed at how much hate she heard in it. “If you don’t forgive her, she’s NOT coming back.” Lara’s words hit Dana as though she had been smacked in the face and she stood there speechless.

“I’m sorry.” She finally said in a quiet voice. “I’m sorry. I hate that it still hurtsI hate that I can’t seem to forgive her. I hate that I hurt you. I shouldn’t have”

Lara relented and her shoulders sagged a little as she relaxed and walked over to join Dana who had just taken a seat on their blanket form earlier. “Don’t be sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the oneI just thought thatit’s not important. I thought that I could handle it. Just being your friend. I mean the fact that Alice was gone had noI didn’t want to help you because I thought that you’d want me.”

Dana looked up quickly and reassured her. ” I know that you would never do that. I know that.” She repeated making sure that Lara understood her.

Lara smiled appreciating the amount of trust that Dana had for her. “Just spending so much time with you again. I started to remember why I fell in love with you in the first place.” Lara hung her head. “I remembered how incredible you areI spent so much time trying to push you out of my head and then everything just came rushing back. I’m sorry, Dana.”

Dana really did love Lara, but she loved her enough to know how much she deserved someone who loved her like they meant it. “I really do care about you, ya know. That’s why I can’t” Dana let her voice trail as she saw the understanding in Lara’s eyes.

“Look, Dana. I think that I need a while, to sort things out”

Dana understood and even though it pained her to do so she nodded. “Take as much time as you need.” Lara nodded and got off the floor and headed to the door leaving Dana feeling very much all alone, all over again.