She holds up her hand and gestures for me to sit on the toliet lid. "Don’t say another word. C’mere."

Wordlessly, she picks up the eyeliner pencil and takes my face in her hands. I can smell her perfume, which is a mixture of green tea, roses and something that is simply Alice. Without being totally aware of it, I breathe her in. The scent is so familiar I want to bury my head in the crook of her neck and it takes all my self-control not to brush my lips against the sensitive skin there.

In a moment, she has deftly lined my eyes and is dusting my cheekbones with bronzing powder. She is so close I have to avert my eyes which have automaticaly drifted toward her cleavage.

Cleavage. Something which I will never really have again. All at once, I am feeling sorry for myself and I guess Alice notices, because her hands still on my face and she tips my chin up slightly so I meet her gaze.

"Sweetie," her voice is soft, concerned. "If you’re not ready for this party, we don’t have to go. You know that, right? Nobody will be disappointed or anything."

"No, no…I want to go. I’m fine." Alice looks unconvinced so I add, "Really. I’ve been holed up in this house for a week and half now. I feel like I’m in the witness protection program. I think getting out for a couple of hours will be a good thing. Even if it’s only to Bette’s house."

"You sound like me." She laughs and I can see her relax. "That’s what I’ve been thinking but I didn’t…"

"You didn’t want to push me to do something I wasn’t ready for," I finish for her. "Al, you’ve been nothing but patient and sweet and accomadating. And I know I can be a pain in the ass." You’ve been tip-toeing around me, I silently added.

"Sometimes." she smiles, but her expression turns serious. "There’s nowhere else I would rather be, OK? I am so glad you’re here."

There is no reason to elborate and all at once, the pads of her thumbs slowly slide over the curve of my jaw. I shiver as our eyes lock. She is so damn close and all I have to do is bride the gap between us and press my lips against hers. My body is still so attune with hers that I know her hands are shaking. All I have to do now is lean in…