Shane McClutcheon lifted her sunglasses out of her jean jacket pocket and placed the shades over her eyes. Leaning back in her chair at the Planet, she cursed the bright sun and the persistent headache between her temples.

It was 10:30 a.m. and Shane was recovering from another late night. Provocations had been an enormous success, and the after party had lasted well into the night. Shane had planned on a short stay at the exhibit to show her support for Bette and head out early, but she had made eyes with an attractive blond early in the night, so sticking around had become an intriguing alternative. Needless to say, Shane hadn’t gotten much sleep. She grinned slyly as she thought about her successful conquest last night.

Shane wasn’t sure if any of her friends would show up at the Planet this morning. Dana had left the exhibit early with Tonya, and Alice had been in a uncharacteristically foul mood most of the night. Shane glanced around the already crowded coffee shop as she drained her second caffeine burst. Just as the liquid was making its way down her pipes, Shane caught sight of Tonya, with Dana in tow, bursting through the cafe doors.

*****, Shane thought, so much for a relaxing cup of coffee this morning.

Dana caught sight of Shane seconds after entering and pointed Tonya to Shane’s table. Tonya, dressed in a business suit with briefcase in hand, waved enthusiastically and made her way to the table while Dana headed towards the counter.

Shane boosted herself in her seat, preparing herself for the onslaught of Tonya’s perkiness.

“Good morning Shane! And how are we this beautiful morning?” Tonya chirped while sitting down across from the skinny brunette. Tonya looked out the window and inhaled deeply. She let out her breath as if she was taking in beautiful scenery and whimsically said, “Don’t you just love California mornings?”

Shane, not particularly the peppy type, looked at Tonya amusingly and uttered, “Sure Tonya. You bet.”

Tonya continued to speak, totally unaware of Shane’s subtle sarcasm. “Guess who has a job interview for an events coordinator position at the Staples Center this morning?” Tonya grinned and waited for an answer from Shane.

Shane, not expecting she’d have to respond, stared at Tonya’s eager expression for a moment. “Um. You?” Shane anxiously looked at the counter and noticed Dana still waiting on her order.

“Yes indeed. Moving from Palm Springs to come live with Dana, I thought it would be really difficult for me to find a job in L.A., but low and behold, I get an interview for the first position I apply for. Isn’t that great?” “Wow Tonya tha…..”

Cutting Shane off, Tonya leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, “But I’m not sure about taking the job even if it’s offered.” She straightened in her seat and proudly announced, “I’ve got a wedding to plan for.”

Tonya’s eyes quickly darted to Dana, who was finally making her way to the table, and raised her hand to the right side of her mouth and again whispered, “I think Dana can support me until after the wedding, don’t you think?” Tonya hunched her shoulders with girly flair and giggled.

Shane, sunglasses still on, placed a coffee straw between her lips and chewed. She grinned at Tonya and nodded in mock agreement, “Absolutely.”

Dana made her first appearance to the table and set Tonya’s coffee in front of her. “There you go. Hey Shane.” Dana acknowledged Shane as she sat down next to Tonya, whose eyebrows furrowed as she noticed Dana’s bottled water.

“No coffee this morning hon’? You’ve gotta be exhausted.” Tonya mentioned with sugary sweetness.

Dana glanced at her water and shook her head. “Nah, practice might get rough today, so I’ll stick to the uncaffeinated stuff this morning.” Dana slung off her warmup jacket and twisted the cap off her water and took a healthy slug, all the while glancing nervously towards the Planet’s entrance.

Shane, ever observant, noticed Dana’s fidgetyness and was about to call her on it when a groan came by way of Tonya.

“Dana,” Tonya said sternly, while looking inside her coffee cup. “Did you tell them to add a raspberry squirt to my latte?”

Dana’s eyes darted away from the Planet’s door and she stared at Tonya’s annoyed expression. “I forgot,” she stated, almost childlike. “I’ll uh, I’ll go get you a raspberry squirt.” Dana looked embarrassed as she glanced Shane’s way. Shane casually watched the proceedings with the coffee straw hanging haphazardly from her lips.

Tonya’s stern expession quickly turned to glee as Dana got up from the table. “Oh thank you, sweetie. You know I’d go get it myself but I’d better look over my interview notes just one last time.” Tonya began rummaging through her briefcase as a chagrined Dana made her way to the counter once more. Shane watched in amusement as Tonya pulled a yellow notepad and several 8 x 10 cards out of her satchel. She began perusing over them, all the while humming to herself.

Time for me to go, Shane thought to herself.

She was about to say her goodbyes to Tonya when she saw Alice make her way into the Planet. Alice caught Shane’s eye immediately and waved. Shane lifted her head once in greeting and nodded in Tonya’s direction, as if to say to Alice, “Look who’s sitting next to me.” Tonya, now totally engrossed in her notes, had no clue of Shane’s subtle actions to Alice. Alice’s geniune smile upon seeing Shane quickly changed to horror at the sight of Tonya.

Alice panicked. Tonya’s here, so where the ***** is Dana?

Alice’s attention diverted itself away from Shane and Tonya. She frantically looked around the Planet for Dana. Her heart skipped a bit when her eyes rested on Dana leaning against the Planet’s counter with both elbows, her head down, and her back to Alice.

Alice glanced over to Shane, made a drinking gesture with her hand while motioning towards the counter. The vision of Dana standing there turned Alice’s insides to jelly. Yesterday, Alice could have gone up to Dana and smacked her on the arm and introduced her own presence with some snide and witty remark in her best friend’s ear. But now, because of last night, everything was different. Alice was now bewildered, confused, and nervous by the sight of her best friend.

Well, Alice said to herself, here goes nothing. And she bravely headed in Dana’s direction.

To be continued….