Alice looked inquisitively to her tennis-playing friend and shook her head. "What’d I tell you about those Boost bars…they’re like taking a friggen upper. What’s your beef?"

Dana’s lower lip nearly quivered at this and she fiddled with the strings on her hoodie, all but throwing her keys and cell phone onto the cafe table. "Sports Illustrated wants me for a photo shoot."

Bette smiled and looked in the direction of her friend. "Congratulations, Sweetie, that’s quite a reputable magazine."

"Yeah, Dane, why so sad? That’s fucking awesome. I can like, put your picture on my mirror at work." Shane raised her espresso in the direction of Dana.

Dana lowered her head into her grey-sleeved arms and stroked at her ponytail, letting off a defeated sigh. "No, they want me in a swimsuit." Came her muffled response.

Alice whistled and patted Dana’s shoulder, hoisting her friend back up to her normal sitting position. "Okay, come on…listen, Dana, you have a really great bod, and I’m sure, you know, they’ll airbrush it all smooth and deity-like, so just calm down, it’s going to be just fine."

Dana’s eyes bugged a little. "You think I need airbrushed? Great. Great!" She slid her hands through her hair, mussing up the ponytail it was in. "First a bikini wax, then airbrushing…fantastic."

"Whoa, slow down there, tiger. A bikini wax? Is that what you’re so worked up about?" Alice’s thoughtswent from her own self-pity to the predicament of her friend, always finding Dana’s problems to be a good way to get her mind off of her own.

"Yes…YES! Okay. I have an appointment in like a half and hour to get my wooter waxed."

"Wooter?" Tina asked, nearly choking on the coffee in her mug.

"You know what I mean." Dana whined in response.

"Dane, a bikini wax isn’t all that bad, I got one done once…I mean, it’s like a haircut for your pussy…"  Shane said nonchalantly, breaking apart another muffin on the table, watching as countless crumbs rolled all over the surface.

Bette laughed at that and took a dignified sip of java. "Really, Dana it’s no big deal, I get them all the time. As long as you tell your waxer it’s your first time it’ll be fine, trust me." The curly-tressed one shot her a wink and Tina nudged her gently.