Mark ”Sure.  Maybe.  What’s up?  You have a fight with someone?  One of the other friends?”

Alice ”…I think that’s a good way to put it.  Something happened.”

Mark ”And it wasn’t with Shane.  It wasn’t Carmen was it?”

Alice ”No.  No, it wasn’t Carmen.  It wasn’t Gabby or Robin.”

Mark ”I’m listening.”

Alice ”…I used to have a best friend.  I fucked it up.  You were there.  You saw me…bawl my eyes out on Shane that day.  That day Angelica was born.”

Mark ”Shane never really explained what it was you fucked up.”

Alice ”Yeah well…I don’t know if I’m ready to deal with it yet.”

Mark ”What was it you fucked up if you don’t mind me asking?  Was it this friendship with…whoever it was?”

Alice ”…”

Mark looks back at the Chart board.  He sees the connections from Alice’s name.
Mark ”Interesting.”

Mark looks back at Alice.

Mark ”Something happen with you and Dana?”

Alice looks down, refusing to acknowledge with her eyes what Mark has just seen with his.

Alice ”I miss my friend.  I miss having a best friend.  I miss having her…as a best friend.”

Mark ”I guess I shouldn’t ask what it was you did.”

Alice ”You can ask…just not gonna answer.  …Mark…can we keep this between us?”

Mark ”Sure.”

Alice ”I’m serious.  I don’t feel like havin’ an argument with Carmen.”

Mark ”Why would you have an argument with her?”

Alice ”I just would.  Okay?  I’m afraid to go tonight.  I’m afraid of what might happen.  At The Planet…for that Vegas party thing…I was able to do my best to ignore them.”

Mark ”Dana and Carmen?”

Alice ”Dana and Lara.”

Mark ”…Does Lara know?”

Alice looks grave.

Alice ”No.  Not as much as she thinks she does.”

Mark ”You’re being very…cryptic.  I just want you to know that.”

Alice ”Mark…what would you do?  I mean, what would you do if say…you found yourself so enamored with Shane and Carmen that it became too distracting for you?”

Mark smirks.

Mark ”Who’s to say I’m not?  They’re the two most fascinating people I’ve ever come across.  And they’ve opened me up to this whole new world here in West Hollywood.”

Alice ”Yeah, but I’m talkin’ about…all you ever do is think about them.  You always wanna be around them…always wanna be with them.  And then one night…you get your chance.  It’s with one of ’em.  And in that…that little moment…something happens.”

Mark ”Uh…no.  That’s not happening.”

Alice ”Well…for me it did happen.  And I’m startin’ to feel like it could again.”

Mark ”Lemme guess…with Dana?”

Alice ”…”

Mark ”If you’re crushin’ on someone, just say it.  Not gonna say a word.”

Alice ”It’s not just crushin’ on…some…one.  Mark.  It’s a little deeper than that.”

Mark ”You miss your best friend?”

Alice ”…Yeah.”

Mark ”This is just my opinion as still something of an outsider, but…if you wanna be someone’s best friend.  You can’t do it from your couch.”

Mark stands from his seat.

Mark ”So…your best friend will likely be wanting to see you there.  Because if she cares about you as much as you do her…there’s a chance she wants you back.”

Alice nods.

Alice ”What if I do somethin’ stupid?”

Mark shrugs.

Mark ”Then we’ll go to a bar and get drunk together.”

Alice laughs.

Alice ”That’s your solution?”

Mark ”More of an excuse.  I’m gonna go now.  I wanna see you there.  Shane and Carmen wanna see you there.  And I’m sure your best friend does, too.  Friends have a way of getting through their problems, especially best ones.”

Mark walks back down the hallway and exits Alice’s apartment.  Alice stands up, walking toward the Chart.  She looks at the line and for a moment, wishes she had never put it there.  Of the lines she has connecting directly from her name to others, one of those lines leads to Dana.  Alice closes her eyes.

Alice ”Dammit.”