Dana smiled remembering the first time she talked to Alice.  She never realized until now that she met Shane in the same class she met Alice.  She laughed thinking about those first few weeks of class.  She wanted to throw something at the girl in the front row to get her to shut up.  She just kept asking Mr. Homer so many questions and it was driving Dana nuts.  Shane wasn’t kidding the first day of class either.  Dana constantly kept an eye on her, making sure she didn’t snore as she dosed in class.  To this day Dana was still amazed that Shane could sleep through class and still make better grades than her.  Remembering more about Alice Dana laughed out loud again.  “I didn’t even know her name.”  Dana continued to laugh as the memory surfaced.  

Dana woke up early and decided to get ready for class.  She was afraid if she tried to go back to sleep for the thirty minutes she would sleep through her alarm and class.  As she gathered her books she remembered she had not done the homework for Mr. Homer’s class.  “Shit!  Shit!  Shit!”  Glancing at the clock she knew she didn’t have time to look up the answers before class started.  Dana gathered her stuff and headed down stairs hoping for some help.

“Hey.”  Dana said as she came around the corner from the elevator.

Alice was sitting half asleep behind the front desk.  “You’re early today.” 

Dana stopped at the desk, something she didn’t normally do.  “Yeah.  Did you do your homework that is due today?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you mind helping me with mine?  I forgot to do it.”  Dana said nervously. 

Alice saw the shyness and nervousness in Dana’s question.  “Sure.  Here.  Just copy mine.”  Alice handed Dana her answers and helped her with the homework.

No wonder I was so nervous asking about the homework.  Dana thought, remembering that morning.  “I didn’t even know her name and I was asking for her homework.  Smooth Dana, real smooth.”  That morning was the start of a wonderful friendship.  Dana intentionally woke up extra early on Tuesdays and Thursdays just to go down stairs and talk to Alice or work on homework together before class.  Dana would always wait until Alice got off work and walk with her to class.   Dana couldn’t explain it, but she was drawn to Alice.  She just loved being around her.  She liked talking to Alice and loved being in her presence.