Lara slid behind the wheel of the jeep and looked over at Sadie who had successfully gotten her seatbelt fastened. She was sweating with the exertion, but Lara could tell the woman was pleased.

Just a few bruised ribs, and six stitches on your legpretty good for a hit and run, Thompson!

Its feeling pretty bad from where Im sitting! Sadie snorted, and then smiled at her friend. Lara, I still cant believe you were the one who stopped to help meIm so excited that you are living here in LA!

Yeahwhod a thunk, back in the day, that two Alpha Gams would be living the wild and crazy life in ***** land! Lara cranked the jeep and pulled into traffic. Alright, Im gonna run by the pharmacy and get this pain medication filled, and then get you home to bed.

Sadie wrinkled her nose. She hated taking anything stronger than Advil, but the pain was pretty persistent.
As they made their way through morning traffic, the two women caught up on the happenings in their lives since theyd last seen each other at the University of Georgia six years ago. Theyd become fast friends during their junior and senior years”their coming out years, as they called them. After a brief fling (and a major controversy in the Alpha Gam house), the two had settled into a close friendship, but had lost contact a couple of years after graduation.

Sous chef??? But you were an ace in your journalism classes! And you never so much as boiled a pot of water when I knew you! Sadie found it hard to believe that Lara was a successful chef at a country club in the Hills.

Lara giggled, Im a woman of many talents! She waggled her eyebrows. What about you? You were the serious English majorand now, a mountain bike racer, and bike shop owner??? I was certain youd wind up one of those curmudgeonly professors on some all womens campus, scoping out the young things while worshiping the likes of Flannery OConnor and Toni Morrison.

Touche. Well, life has a way of squirting out from under you, yknow? Besides it would have definitely been Annie Dillard and Madeleine LEngle that I would have worshipped! Sadie leaned back and closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of the sun. Lara pulled into the pharmacy parking lot.

Hopefully this wont take long Sadethe doctor called it in, and gave your insurance info over the phoneIll run in, flash your card, and hopefully be out in a jiff. Lara left the jeep at a lope. Sadie smiled, and reminisced about the good ol days.

-*-*-*

Lara, whats wrong? You look like youre about to throw up. Sadie had just given her address to Lara, and the redhead had blanched almost immediately.

No, Im okayits just, I know the neighborhood youre living in. Lara cranked the jeep and backed out of the pharmacys parking spot. I used to date someone who went to a coffee shop there all the time.

The Planet? I know the placethe owner, Marina, has been really nice to me since I got to town.
Sadie studied her friends face. Oh my god, youre not over this girl are you?

Lara sighed quietly and concentrated on the road. Finally she broke the silence, Nobut it doesnt really matter. Shes over me. Lara had spent the last month trying to forget Dana, but the tennis player wouldnt leave her mind in peace. She caught a glimpse of the woman almost daily, and it was a constant reminder of the funny, insecure, sweet goofball with the amazing body and beautiful face who had completely permeated Laras soul in just a few weeks.

Well, shes an idiot! Sadie declared. We should go out, like the good old days, and take this town by storm and her voice drifted off. Only, were not those girls anymore, are we? Her mind drifted back to Paige. Theyd been together for three years, when Paige had been diagnosed with leukemia. It had been a relatively short illness, but Paiges death had changed the course of Sadies life forever. Shed been a doctoral candidate in Southern Literature, but had dropped her thesis after Paige began her last round of treatments. Shed never found the desire to go back. Instead, shed thrown herself into mountain biking with a fearless energy that had made her a formidable competitor.

Sadie took a deep breathtime to look forward. Lara looked over at her friend and said quietly, Youve been through a lot of ***** these last couple of years. Im so sorry about Paigebut Im thinking that this is a new beginning for you.

Sadie nodded and thought of Marina. Beautiful, confident, and very *****, Marina. Im hoping so, she said.

Lara pulled into a parallel parking spot across the street from Sadies apartment. Right then, time to get you to bed. Lara looked at Sadies bike in two pieces in the back of the jeep. What about that?

Dont worry about itIll ask Mike or Steve to come out and get it later.I dont think anyone will reach in for it in that condition! Sadie had managed to get out of the jeep, but the effort had cost her, and she leaned against the hood, panting.

Lara rushed over and snaked her arm around her friends waist. Cmon then, take me to meet Mia.Im sure she can use a potty break about now!

Sadie smiled at the redhead and let her head rest on the other womans shoulder for a moment. Im so glad you were the one who found me this morning!

The two made their way through Sadies side entrance.

-*-*-*
Alice was standing near the entrance of The Planet when the jeep pulled up. She recognized Sadie as the cute blonde that Marina had seated with them earlier in the week. She moved to the door, and watched as a woman in a ball cap got out of the drivers seat and side-hugged Sadie. Shes a fast mover, isnt she? Alice snorted in disappointment to Shane and Dana who had joined her.

Youre only pissed because youre not the one holding her. Shane teased.

Sadie rested her head on the womans shoulder in a surprisingly intimate gesture, and Alice heard a sharp intake of breath behind her. She whirled to find Marina standing there, hands wrapped around a dish towel. Her knuckles were white, and her chocolate eyes were blazing.

Marina? Are you okay? Alice and Dana moved out of the way, and Marina took a step forward, her eyes never leaving the pair across the street.

Marina stood for a moment, then turned and strode across the room, leaving Shane, Dana and Alice speechless as they watched their friend begin to furiously wipe down tables. *****. Shane murmured. I think the bike chick has a fan.

A few minutes later, Sadies side door opened and the woman in the ball cap appeared behind an impatient border collie. Shane and Alice watched as the woman started down the sidewalk. Theres something really familiar about her, dont you think? Alice asked Shane.

Dana suddenly leaned forward, forehead banging into the window, What the *****? Lara???