“I’m Australian, but I’ve been in the states for a while- but I’ve been more up in San Fran, so just seeing what the tourists are going to want from LA diving”

As fate would have it Alice had arrived, after only two hours sleep and angrily spotted Kit- seeing as the line at the counter was far too long for her to consider joining. Marching up behind them, her hair unbrushed and shoved into a bun with her sunglasses still stuck stubbornly to her face along with her track pants Alice didn’t even bother to recognise the other present party

“Kit, I’m gonna need a coffee” exhaled Alice- exhaustion apparent in her voice as she slumped into a seat and slammed her bag on the table.

Kit looked up with a touch of embarrassment at Alice’s forwardness in front of a stranger

“Sure Alice, this is Annika- Annika this is Alice”

Alice barely heard a word that slipped from Kit’s lips, she was filled with fear, shame and a touch of lust as her eyes fell on that face that had dominated her night thoughts.

“Hey” whispered Al, smiling broadly and extending her hand

“Hi” grinned Annika, a little overwhelmed and excited by this string of new faces

“So where’d you pick that accent up?” questioned Alice, trying to act a whole lot more self-assured than she was at that moment.

Annika didn’t notice her table-partner’s nerves, so consumed was she with her own.

“Australia” she swallowed

“I’d better grab you that coffee” Kit interrupted discreetly and got up from the table

“Australian Annika, hey?” grinned Alice leaning back in her chair to observe this young girl.

“Yep” nodded Annika in reply, doing a few too many nods before stopping herself

“But I tend to go with Nik” as the nods started again she realised she’d have to keep talking to fend them off

“Or Nikka if you prefer” her gestures becoming more animated as she continued

“A few go with Ann…. Had Ik once- but pretty sure that was offensive… Really any variant sits pretty well”

Alice’s eyebrows were raised and her mouth open, could this bizarre creature really be the reason she’d been unable to sleep next to her girlfriend last night.