Mark ”Alright.”

Mark stands from the table.

Mark ”Ladies, it has been a pleasure.  Alice and I are gonna go hang out.  Apparently I’m not living it up out here enough so…we’re gonna-”

Alice ”We’re gonna leave now…haven’t gotten good and shitfaced with a boy in a while so…fuck it.”

Mark ”Yeah.”

Mark shrugs.  The waiter soon arrives, informing Bette that her credit card has been rejected.  The moment is embarrassing as she had looked to pay for the evening.

Mark pulls out a credit card of his own.

Mark ”It’s on me tonight.”

The waiter leaves with the card.

Bette ”You didn’t have to do that.”

Mark ”No, but I really wanted to.  The fact that I can now, just…feels nice.  Really, really nice.”

Shane ”He’s feeding his ego.”

Shane winks at Mark, who both laugh afterward.  Alice is silent.  Ditto for Carmen.

Tina ”That’s really nice of you, Mark.  Thank you.”

The waiter soon returns, handing Mark his card back.

Waiter ”Thank you, sir.  You all have a wonderful evening.”

Mark leaves with Alice.  Carmen watches Alice leave and then looks over to Dana and Lara.  Lara catches Carmen’s eyes looking.  Lara looks down and back to Dana, who looks to Lara.  The two kiss.

Dana ”What a day, huh?”

Dana’s apartment.

Dana and Lara have returned from the restaurant.  It is the end of a day with another day approaching.  Lara can sense that Dana has something on her mind.  Dana has quite a bit on her mind.  Lara, Alice, whatever is in store for her at the hospital tomorrow, the tennis tournament she is about take part in.  Dana lies down on the bed.  Lara cuddles in behind her.

Lara ”Wanna talk about it?”

Dana ”…No.”

She can feel the rejection sting her.  It is an awkward, quiet evening of sleep for them.

Shane, Carmen, and Mark’s apartment.

Shane and Carmen have returned.

Shane ”Seriously, Carmen, what the fuck’s goin’ on?”

Carmen ”Don’t know.  I guess it’s up to Al to tell us.”

Shane ”Al?”

Carmen ”Yeah.”

Shane ”…I wasn’t talking about Al, Carmen.”

Carmen ”Then what are you talking about?”

Shane ”You.  You seemed…kinda weird tonight.  Not really worried about Mark and Alice having a drink somewhere.”

Carmen ”Then I guess nothing’s going on.”

Shane ”Carmen…I can tell when somethin’s not right with you.  Tonight’s one of those nights.”

Carmen ”Well…I don’t know.”

Carmen is no mood to get into this tonight.  She shrugs.

Carmen ”Who knew Mark and Alice could be drinking buddies, huh?”

Carmen grins with Shane finally grinning as well.

Meanwhile at a nameless bar, Mark drinks alone.  Alice did not stay very long, but he senses danger.  He senses Carmen knows something about the danger ahead.  For a moment, he wonders just what it is he has wandered into.

Alice’s apartment.

Alice’s only solace are the pills she takes.  The kiss felt so good, yet she can only feel bad.  She can only feel worse.  She is fearful that it is not about to get better.