Alice can feel her consciousness bringing her to the brink of shaking.

Alice ”Lara…um…”

Lara ”When did you first see it.”

Lara’s eyes are wide.  She can sense betrayal.

Lara ”When, Alice…and how and why???”

Alice ”…It was…seven months ago.”

There is hurt in Lara’s voice now.

Lara ”You weren’t even talking seven months ago.”

Alice ”…You were working.  With Carmen.  And Francesca.  She had nobody to talk to so she finally came to me!”

Lara places her elbows on the table and her face into her hands for a moment.

Alice ”Lara…no.  Please.”

Lara looks up from her hands toward Alice.

Lara ”That night at Tile.  When you kissed.  …Was that really the first time?  The only time?  Did the two of you do more than just kiss…”

Alice cannot bring herself to answer, which for Lara is an answer in itself.  Lara’s voice is only a whisper.

Lara ”Alice…”

Alice ”…I…wanted you to be there.  It was never meant to be like this.  It was never meant to be just me and Dana…  It was…fuck.”

Lara ”…Did you?”

Both begin to feel the rush of emotions.  It is about to become worse as Lara’s cellphone rings.  Lara looks at it.  She looks at Alice.  Lara keeps it all in.  She will maintain composure.  She has to.

Lara ”Dana?”

Lara listens.

Lara ”No…no, it’s okay.  We’re just finishing up.  …We’ll be home soon to talk…in just a few minutes.”

Lara listens.

Lara ”…We need to talk.”

Lara listens.  She looks down.

Lara ”We’re on our way.”

Lara hangs up the cellphone.

Lara ”She’s not feeling well.”

Alice ”…Okay…I’ll uh…pay for dinner.”

Lara stands from the table.  Her expression to Alice is suddenly cold.

Lara ”…It’s the least you can do.”

Alice feels ready to break down.  She flags down the waiter to pay for the  meal.  Soon, she and Lara are on their way back.

Dana’s apartment.

They enter, having spoken no words since departing the restaurant.

Lara ”Dana?”

Dana is wrapped up in the blanket.  She is shivering.  She is sick.  Suddenly, Lara’s feeling of betrayal gives way to concern.  Alice’s feeling of letting Lara and Dana down gives way to concern.  All they care about is Dana.

Dana ”…My ears hurt.  I’m freezing.”