“This should never have happened, Al, I’m sorry. I should go.” Shane got out of the bed and started searching the floor for her clothes. They must have been spread out all over Alice’s apartment, because she didn’t see them anywhere. Memories of the last half hour passed before her eyes, and she realized she probably lost her jeans somewhere out in the hallway. She found her underwear on the floor by the door and put them back on, suddenly feeling Alice’s hands on her narrow hips.

“Please, Shane…” Alice whispered in her ear. “Come back to bed, can’t we at least talk about this?” It hurt so much to see Shane in pain, feeling like she inflicted it.

“It’s not gonna work, okay?” Shane shook her head, exasperated. ‘I don’t want to start feeling like there’s hope when I know there’s none.’ “It’s never gonna lead anywhere…”

“So you’re not even gonna give us a chance?” Alice turned her around, put a finger under her chin and tilted it up so she could look into her green eyes. Tears formed in her own when she saw the hurt in Shane’s. ‘How can I make her believe I am not going to leave her? Why does she even think that?’

“Look… You said it yourself at The Planet,” Shane persisted. “You have feelings for someone else, that’s why you broke up with Dana. Please, just let it end now before it gets any further, it’ll just hurt even more the longer we wait, okay?” Shane tired to pull away to go and look for the rest of her clothes, but Alice wouldn’t let go of her that easily. She held Shane’s hand in a firm but yet gentle grip and when Shane realized there was no point in fighting it, she looked back at her with a startled expression.

“I meant you, Shane.”

“What?” Shane stared at her in confusion and Alice put her arms back around her waist where they fit so nicely, making Shane swallow nervously when she felt Alice’s naked body pressing against her own. It wasn’t fair that Alice could still make her feel that way, like she had no control of her emotions at all. Or her own body, for that matter…