Alice glummily sat in her office at L.A. Weekly, chin in hand, tapping restlessly on her desk with an unsharpened pencil. A meeting with her editor had lured her into the magazines headquarters this morning, and Alice hoped the professional setting would inspire something productive. Yet her mind continuously leapt back to the events of last night, and to her confrontation with Dana this morning.

Her first glimpse of Dana since the kiss had unnerved her more than she had anticipated. Seeing the tennis player slumped against the Planet’s front counter endeared her to Alice even more. Alice could read her best friend like a book, and could tell just by the athlete’s body language that the events of the night before were weighing heavily on Dana’s mind.

Alice’s insides were twitching as she approached the counter, but she forced herself to play it cool as she made her way behind Dana. Not knowing what to do or say, she hoped the quick wit others saw in her would produce some sort of clever remark to Dana, hopefully lessening the guaranteed awkwardness of this first meeting. Alice casually approached the counter unbeknownst to her best friend, who was still waiting for Tonya’s raspberry squirt.

“My girl Alice. What’ll it be this fine morning?” asked Seymour, one of Marina’s more devoted employees who knew every loyal Planet patron by name. Alice was usually ready with a quirky retort back to the affable Seymour, but not this morning.

Alice had just pulled along Dana’s left side when Seymour announced her presence, and she nervously observed Dana’s immediate reaction at the mere sound of Alice’s name. Dana’s shoulders tensed, her head lowered, and she attempted no eye contact with her best friend.

Rattled by Dana’s demeanor, Alice quickly glanced Dana’s way but gathered herself long enough to smile at Seymour and say, “Just the usual Seymour, thanks.”

Alice plopped her keys down on the countertop and drummed nervously on the surface. Not knowing what to do, she simply stood next to Dana, staring at the Planet’s overhead menu, as if in deep thought about ordering something else.

Jesus Dana, at least acknowledge my presence, Alice thought pleadingly.

The hairs on Dana’s neck stood on end as she continued her deep observation of the Planet’s countertop. She hadn’t slept a wink last night, the cause of her insomnia now standing at her elbow. How things had changed. The mere presence of her best friend…. Alice….roused something inside she had never felt before. Dana was jolted from her thoughts and forced to look up as a waitress approached her with Tonya’s newly flavored latte in hand.

“Sorry it took so long,” the young staff member said. “We were out of raspberry and had to refill.”

“Oh, that’s okay. Thanks alot.” Dana carefully lifted the steaming cup with both hands and turned in Alice’s direction. Full of fear and intent on making her way past Alice without one gesture her way, she hesitated for an instant after a stolen glance towards the blonde.

Slightly bouncing on the balls of her feet and biting her lower lip, Alice was still staring at the overhead menu as if in a quandary over what to order next. Dana observed Alice’s unsteady disposition and her heart smiled.

I’m making her nervous, Dana thought.

It was supposed to be just one stolen glance, but ultimately Dana couldn’t take her eyes off her.

Relief flooded Alice as she sensed Dana pause, and she finally tore her eyes from the Planet’s menu to make eye contact with the tennis player. Alice’s breath caught as she took in Dana’s expression. A slight grin was planted on Dana’s face, and her blue eyes flickered with tenderness. Alice gazed at her best friend, taking in the disheveled hair pulled back into a ponytail, the gentleness of her stare, and Alice couldn’t help but slightly grin back.

They stood that way for several seconds, blissfully entranced with each other. The smiles, however, quickly receded as serious thoughts simultaneously crept into each girls’ mind. Dana and Alice continued to gaze at each other, fully realizing that everything was now different. The attraction was forever planted, and it couldn’t be ignored.

Now later on that afternoon, sitting alone in her office, Alice humphed out loud as she absentmindedly tapped on her laptop’s keyboard to deactivate her screen saver. She still hadn’t typed one word this afternoon.

“Damn you Dana,” Alice thought, “you’re gonna try like ***** to ignore this, aren’t you?”

Alice recalled how Dana had snapped out of their mutual reverie in an instant, quickly returning to the table where Tonya and Shane were waiting. Alice joined them fifteen seconds later, thankful that Tonya’s constant babbling deferred attention from the sudden awkwardness that consumed the two friends. After five minutes, Shane made her exit, presumably unaware of Alice and Dana’s flustered behavior.

Tonya began gathering her things shortly thereafter, chastising Dana for not alerting her to the time. The couple quickly collected their belongings and scooted their chairs under the table. While leaving, Tonya made a subtle remark about Alice’s late night visit.

“Next time you have a crisis, can it wait until daylight? I mean really Alice.” As Tonya hastily retreated, Dana snuck one last look towards Alice, who remained alone at the table. It was a look of embarrassment, regret and longing.

Not one word had passed between the two best friends.

Dejected and frustrated by Dana’s behavior at the Planet that morning, Alice slammed her laptop shut and began gathering her things, preparing to leave the office. It was only 2:00, but she desperately needed some fresh air. Nothing creative was spewing out of her this afternoon, and she needed to take a drive. Windows down, music blaring… instant therapy.

A few yards from the blonde’s office, standing in the narrow hallway between offices and cubicles, Alice’s editor caught sight of Alice’s hasty retreat and called her on it.

“Pieszecki!”

Alice whipped around, laptop tucked under her arm, and offered her editor a winning, and innocent grin. “Taylor!” Alice returned while wiping bangs from her eyes.

Taylor fleetingly looked at his watch and playfully snarled, “Leaving the office a tad early today?” He couldn’t help but be won over by the girl. “Hitting the streets for research purposes I presume?”

Alice continued smiling while backing her way out in the opposite direction. “Absolutely. One cannot untangle the mysterious origins of tofu sitting at a desk.” She saluted her editor and made her way out of the office. Alice couldn’t help making one last comment before backing out the door. “Wait til you read it Taylor, it’ll blow your mind,” she yelled.

Alice’s befuddled editor stood in place, a puzzled expression on his face.

“Tofu?” Taylor muttered. “She better be kidding.”

To be continued…..