Soon enough they pulled up to the house, where the butch was sipping a beer and smoking a cigarette. As Jenny parked in the driveway, Shane winked at Alex, raising her bottle to her. Alex smiled and laughed nervously as she got out of the car. “I see you’ve met Jenny,” Shane said, putting her arm around the other dark-haired lesbian.

            “Yeah,” Alex said, happy that she didn’t feel jealous, as she was worried she might’ve.

            “Do you want to come to dinner with us?” Jenny asked Shane, pulling away and readjusting her coat. “I thought we could talk about the house and get to know each other a little more. Alice and Dana will be there, too.”

            Shane opened her mouth as if to say something, looking between the both of her roommates. “Is, uh, Mark coming?”

            “Well, he can if he wants, I guess,” Jenny said, gesturing toward the studio. “Mark’s our other roommate –he lives in the garage over there. You want to…ask him, Shane?”

            “Actually I was hoping you would,” she said, not taking her eyes off of Alex. “I wanted to talk to Alex for a second, if you didn’t mind.”

            “Umm…okay,” Jenny laughed, taking the hint and going to get the other roommate. Alex exhaled through her teeth, burying her hands deep in her pockets, avoiding eye contact with Shane for reasons she didn’t know. Never did she act so meek…yet she wasn’t nervous like she thought she’d be. She was just…uncomfortable.

            “Are you okay?” Shane asked, stooping low to catch Alex’s eyes and bringing them to her level.

            “Yeah…I’m just not used to having people knowing my secrets so…it’s a little unnerving.”

            Shane smiled, taking a few steps closer. “I wouldn’t dream of telling anyone, just so you know. And I don’t want you to feel as if I’m…using it against you or anything. I’m not a judgmental person either.”

            Alex smiled, so relieved it was as if an icicle in the center of her chest had melted. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that,” she said, staring piercingly at Shane. “I think you owe me a secret since you know.”

            “Is that what you think?”

            Alex nodded. Shane smirked, putting a hand on one of Alex’s shoulders and bringing her ear to her mouth. “Is that your deepest secret?” she whispered, looking at her intensely, her grip firm. Alex contemplated lying, but in the end shook her head. Shane smiled, asking, “Your second?” Alex nodded again. Shane paused for a moment, resting her chin on the hand that was on the San Diegan’s shoulder, smiling at Alex. “I guess that means I should tell you my second, huh? Let’s see…when I was a kid, I used to turn tricks on Santa Monica Boulevard. I’m not proud of it…but there you have it.” Shane withdrew as Jenny came back outside the house, not accompanied by anyone.

            “He says he’s busy,” Jenny said, shrugging. “I guess it’ll be just the three of us.”

            “Dana said she’d pick us up at eight, so we have some time to kill.”

            Jenny’s eyes lit up. “Would you please, please read one of my stories? I want your opinion on it.” Alex nodded and allowed herself to be dragged into the house. Poor Shane, she couldn’t help but think. What a terrible childhood…

            Alex was sat in front of a laptop screen, Jenny rereading her own work over Alex’s shoulder. The work was presentable…good descriptions…lack of dialogue and character interaction…unsettling forthrightness…not very imaginative, thus most likely based on a life event…grammar and punctuality are flawless…just the right amount of compelling vocabulary…good descriptions, Alex thought, deeply intrigued with Jenny’s writing.

            “It’s really interesting,” Alex said exultingly. “Your descriptions are mind-blowing.”

            “Thank you,” Jenny said, swaying from side to side. “That means a lot.”

            “What is Shane like?” Alex asked abruptly, getting up and looking Jenny in the eye. “You are her best friend, right? What is she like, really?”

            “Well,” Jenny sat down, thinking. “She’s kind, quiet…very loyal. You two will get along, don’t worry.”

            “Right,” Alex said, furrowing her brow. “Thanks.”