Lara kept her eyes focused on the ground, while Alice slowly unzipped the back of the suit.  Fragmented thoughts tumbled through her mind as she stripped to her shorts and t-shirt, and she willfully ignored the temptation to fire back a sharp retort.  It was astounding how they each viewed the situation so differently.  Lara had thought leaving LA was good for both herself and Alice.  It seemed that neither of them could move on with the other hanging around…so long as they continued their dysfunctional relationship neither had been free to fully process the gaping hole Dana’s death had left in their lives.  Lara hadn’t considered that her actions might appear to be avoidance of the problem. 

She finally attempted to bridge the icy gap between herself and Alice.  “Alice, I’m sorry.”  She turned and faced Alice, who was regarding her with a look of mixed anger and hurt.

            Alice didn’t seem to be ready to let go of the argument.  “That’s it?  A year with no contact and all I get is some lame-assed apology?  What the fuck happened, Lara?”

            Lara blinked.  “I’m not sure I understand why you’re acting so clueless, Alice.  Remember when I tried to get you to talk to me about what was going on?  Remember when I wasn’t interested in just fucking?  Remember when I tried to talk about Dana?  Remember how you shut me out and shut down?”  Lara’s voice rose as she continued in a voice that bordered on breaking, “Remember how you asked me to scratch you so hard you’d bleed…just so you could feel again?  Did you ever wonder how that made me feel?  To know that I literally played such an active role in your pain?”  Furiously, she wiped at her eyes, vainly attempting to staunch the tears that were beginning a steady flow down her cheeks. 

            “Uhm, ladies…is everything alright?”  Jonathan’s voice took them both by surprise and they spun to face him.  It was then they realized that several of the closest couples has stopped their wrestling and were openly gazing at Lara and Alice with interest. 

            “Jesus Christ, can’t anyone have a private conversation around here?”  Alice burst out angrily.  “We’re good, we’re good,” Alice narrowed her eyes and glared at Jonathan, “Don’t you have something to do munchkin?”  Jonathan pulled himself to his fullest height and walked stiffly away.

            Lara, by now, had composed herself enough to speak in a quiet, even tone.  “Alice, we obviously have a lot of unsaid things between us…but Jonathan’s right…this isn’t exactly the best setting for a serious talk.”

            Alice blew the hair out of her eyes with an air of exasperation.  “When and where?  You name it.”  

            “Tonight.  9 o’clock.  Down by the river where we were last night.”

            Alice nodded, the anger still bright in her eyes.  “I’ll be there.”

            Lara backed away, reluctant to leave Alice in such a state of frustration, yet wanting desperately to escape the curious glances from the nearby campers.  She was especially aware of the awkward glances that Bette and Tina kept alternating between Alice and herself.  Finally, she broke her eye contact with Alice, turned and walked quickly towards the kitchen.

            Jenny sidled over to Alice and said smugly, “So.  That went well.”