Alice’s evening just couldn’t have gone worse. She had confronted her best friend about her feelings, albeit not saying very much by way of explanation. Then she returned home to find Tina in dire straits over Bette’s betrayal. But Alice, being the trooper that she was, managed to juggle both situations with ease as she comforted Tina through the onset of her shock. Alice’s mind was there, for the most part. She couldn’t help but slide a thought or two of Dana to the front of her consciousness.

For Alice, her speech to Dana had been well thought out and planned. She was going to tell Dana not to marry Tonya because she had feelings for her. What she didn’t count on was getting a severe case of butterfly-itis. As she started to answer Dana’s question of “why?”, Alice was overwhelmed by nervousness and self doubt. Very uncommon for the usually confident outspoken one of the gang.

When she glanced up at Dana’s sweet searching face, she decided to use actions instead of the words that would not come. Alice kissed Dana. It was nothing passionately spectacular, but that wasn’t the intention. This kiss was meant to convey a very specific message. “I’m kissing you Dana ya dork, THAT is why you can’t marry Tonya, I wanna be with you!”. And judging by the reaction that she got back from Dana, the answer was a definitive “oh my god Al I had no idea, but I know I wanna kiss you more”. At least, that’s what Alice hoped it meant.

Tina pulled herself from Alice’s comforting snuggle, and went off to Alice’s bedroom, saying she wanted to lay down by herself for a while, maybe get some sleep. Alice made sure Tina was okay, saying she was going to go out for a little while to give her some space. Tina squeezed Alice’s hand in gratitude and curled up on the bed as Alice tucked her in, giving her a soft kiss on the cheek as she stroked Tina’s hair. “Call me if you need me okay?” Alice whispered, Tina nodded and closed her eyes.

As she walked out the door, only one word came to Alice’s mind… Dana. She needed to go talk to her, to really explain what was behind that kiss. Alice got in her Mini Cooper and headed for Casa de Fairbanks. Alice rounded the final corner and saw a cab pulling out of Dana’s driveway. Tonya was inside. She threw something out the window at Dana as the cab drove away. Tonya glared at Alice as she passed her, and Alice couldn’t help waving back with an eyebrow raised and a sly grin escaping the corner of her lips.

“Could this be what it looks like?” Alice thought, then focussed her gaze on Dana who was bending down to pick up the thrown object from the front lawn. She then headed to her car and opened the door to get in. Alice got out of her own car and shut the door quickly with a BANG that shook Dana from her daze and stopped her in her tracks.

Dana: Hey… Al.

Alice: Hey yourself… what’s going on? I just got a deadly stare from Tonya as she went by in that cab…

Dana: Oh… well… she told me to go to *****, so…

Alice: …sooooo that’s where you were going? Well if that’s the case I think you should reconsider that outfit.

Dana glanced down at her tracksuit and a smile crept across her face in recognition.

Alice: Oh… and tell Satan I said “hey!”.

Alice smiled as she heard Dana giggle.

Dana: Cute Al.

Alice: You better believe it!

Alice preened playfully and winked at Dana who couldn’t help blushing. There was a moment of silence before Dana spoke again.

Dana: Tonya is gone, the engagement is off.

She fiddled with the engagement ring that Tonya threw at her, keeping her eyes down until she heard Alice’s reaction.

Alice: Oh Dane… I… I’m so sorry. Was this my…

Dana: No… no no no. Well maybe. But no, I needed to think after we umm… and I just couldn’t keep going, you know? I told her what I had to, and she packed and left.

Alice: Well that explains the look I got.

Alice smiled and stepped closer to Dana so their conversation wasn’t broadcast through the entire neighborhood. Dana smiled coyly and blushed, looking down at her sneakers.

Alice: So Miss Dana… what’s going on in that pretty lil’ head of yours?

Dana: Ummm… so many questions that I don’t have answers for… and no idea where or how to begin.

Alice: Well, ironically, asking a question is a lot like ordinary talking, except there’s a question mark at the end. You can do it!

Dana: Al! Why are you always so sarcastic with me?

Alice: There you go Dane, see! I told you you could do it.

Dana gave Alice a playful slap on her arm. Alice yelped in mock pain.

Alice: Owww! Less slap… more tickle.

She grinned and wiggled her eyebrows up and down. Dana grabbed Alice’s hand and took her inside the house so they could talk.

Alice: Ohh… damn I almost forgot… major upheaval going on in lives other than our own Dana.

Dana: Oh my God, what Al?

Alice squeezed Dana’s hand as she became serious.

Alice: Bette and Tina…


~ to be continued ~