Jenny walked over and gave Shane a hug and a kiss goodbye.

Jenny: I’ll see you two at the Planet tomorrow afternoon?

Jenny skipped out the door, leaving Shane and Alice alone at the table.

Alice: Well,it could have been worse,you didn’t get slapped, or spit on and look, no drinks thrown in your face.

Shane turned to Alice with a scowl on her face. She held Alice’s gaze until she cracked a smile and burst out laughing.

Shane: Oh man,Fairbanks has turned into one ***** of a firecracker,but for real,I’ve got some serious ground to cover with her and Tina.

The serious note put a damper on the two and they just sat in silence.

Tina: Are you serious about that?

Shane and Alice looked up to find Bette and Tina standing at the table. They both had been crying but were attempting to hide it as they stood in front of them. Shane stood up and put her hands on Tina’s waist. She looked Tina in the eyes and ran a hand down the side of her face. Tina dropped a single tear down her cheek when she saw that Shane’s eyes were glassing over. She had never seen Shane let any of her emotions surface. Something as simple as tearful eyes made her heart break for Shane. Shane pulled Tina into a hug and held the back of her head.

Shane: I’m sorry,.I swear,I never meant to hurt you guys, I just needed an end to everything,things were just too,

Tina: Too much for you to talk to your friends? Shane I love you,we all love you,you have to stop running from life, and just live it,that’s the only thing I want from you,no apologies,no explanations, just from this moment on you have to give us Shane,not all of you but just something.

Bette reached out and took Shane’s hand as Tina continued to embrace her. She then began to lose the battle with her own tears as she watched Shane and Tina’s reunion. The three women stood there for a moment until Alice broke the silence.

Alice: Ok I look too ***** hot to be sitting in the corner crying, let’s have some fun.

Shane pulled out of the embrace and turned her head. She didn’t want anyone to see that she had began to cry. Tina grabbed her chin and forced her to look at her.

Tina: No Running and no hiding as well. Tina wiped away Shane’s tears and gave her a quick kiss. Shane smiled and gave her another hug.

Bette: You know what I feel like doing? Shane shot Bette a steely look. She knew exactly what Bette was going to say.

Shane: I don’t know but my back is killing me so I’m gonna sit down for awhile,I really hurt it at work today.

Shane said as she shot Bette a look that said ‘don’t even think about it’

Bette: Oh I’m sorry Shane, and I was just going to ask you if you wanted to dance, I guess I’ll just have to settle for my ‘ball and chain’.

Bette grabbed Tina and led her to the dance floor, where they wrapped each other in their arms and slow danced to a thumping dance beat that was playing. Shane sat down next to Alice and took a sip of her drink. She could feel Alice starring at her but she couldn’t look her in the eyes with the emotions she was trying to hinder. Alice grabbed Shane and kissed her, leaving Shane speechless. They both sat in shock, neither knowing what to say.

Shane: Al,what was that for?

Alice: For being you.

Shane: I guess I should be me more often.

Shane wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at Alice. Alice shoved her away and smiled.

Alice: Ok let’s get out of here, we can have more fun at my place and we won’t have to pay for watered-down drinks.