Dart’s where fired in a million directions as everyone glared at the person they thought was most offensive in this awkward situation.

“Sit?” Shane asked Marina. The tall French woman took a steady breath, closed her eyes, then opened them again with a fake smile and slipped gracefully into a chair that faced the small table by the couch. Brandy stood behind her with her arms crossed.

“So you two are together?” Jenny asked quietly. Not looking at anything except the book in her hands. Shane could see all her friend had worked for over the past months slipping from her grasp. She cringed, one look at Marina was all it took for Jenny to slip back into depression.

“Hmm,” Marina sighed at the heavenly sound of Jenny’s voice. “Oui, ange.” Marina bit her tongue as the endearing term slipped from her lips. Jenny blinked furiously at her book but didn’t look up. It was a blink that took over her cheek muscles and made her lips cringe upwards. The bell to The Planet rang. Alice and Dana walked in, looked up, and they tiptoed back out the door with their mouths hanging open and without tearing their eyes away from the small crowd of emotional women.

“Well, hmm. We should be uh, going. It’s not my intention to upset anyone.”

“Wait!” Shane jumped from her seat, sorry that Jenny was hurting but so happy about seeing her once great friend. “How how long”

“Only for a few weeks this trip. I was thinking of l- Well I’ll be gone two weeks from tomorrow. It was really, really good to see you, au revoir,” Marina said with a sweet smile as she stood up, her head bent down in a posture that was never hers until she broke Jenny’s heart. Before she walked away she seemed to remember something and turned around quickly to bend down and whisper in Carmen’s ear, “It was nice to meet you Carmen. Take care of my Shane will you?”

Carmen nodded and smiled at Marina.

“I thought so.” Marina smiled and let her eyes drift back up to Shane who was standing in front her of. They shared a warm look and Marina’s eyes caught on Jenny’s bowed figured, they lingered there till she felt it was time to leave and she excused herself quietly and dragged Brandy out the door with her. Drew jumped out of her seat and ran to where Alex and Dana were eavesdropping on Marina and Brandy yelling outside.