<b>Shane:</b> I do like a good rinse cycle.

Alice swatted at Shane’s hands that resided at her waiste before melting into her arms. She placed the back of her head against Shane’s chest while the dark and brooding woman nestled into the crook of her neck.

<b>Shane:</b> She shouldn’t be fighting my battles.

Alice bit her lip to supress her smile. She celebrated her small victory in her mind for Shane’s small step towards opening up.

<b>Alice:</b> She’s a teen…she has to rebell its in her nature…if she wasn’t fighting over you, it’d be Van, or what kind of shoes she has on, or whatever, kids are cruel and they’ll make any excuse to rip each other apart to climb up the heirarchy. They live on drama and chaos.

<b>Shane:</b> I don’t know if I’m too close, or not close enough..its like…

<b>Alice:</b> Just do what feels right..stop worrying about getting attatched or hurt and just go for it….what feels right to you Shane?

Alice was still leaning back into Shane, conforming to her body yet there was a large space between them. A space that was filled with what they were really talking about and that was each other. How were they going to balance the fine line of being long-time best friends versus passionate lovers without completely imploding.

<b>Shane:</b> Locking her in the basement and throwing away the key…throwing loads and loads of money at her ..and smothering her with our dysfunctional family’s attention.

Alice realized Shane quicky put them back on subject and smiled to herself.

<b>Alice:</b> There’s no basements in California cause of earthquakes, there’s never enough money to fix anyone’s problems, and as for our family there’s only so much you can take as an adult, how’s she gonna put up with being judged by nine mom’s and a dad

<b>Shane:</b> Al what the ***** are you talking about I was talking about the gang.

<b>Alice:</b> So was I.

<b>Shane:</b> So there’s like eight of us if you add it up she’ll feel like a charity case if we drag her along all the time.

<b>Alice:</b> I was being nice…I added Lara and Ivan…you said dysfunctional.

<b>Shane:</b> We might have better luck locking her in the basement.