Dana looked over at her clock, “*****! I’m going to be late.” She said to no one as she realized that it was already 6:15, she was due to be at Alice’s at 7:00, and she still hadn’t figured out what to wear. Tonight was their first official date. Though they had been together before she ended things with Tonya, they were yet to go out on a real date. In the week since her break up with Tonya, they hadn’t even been alone together. Suddenly, things had become very real between them. This was no longer about the fulfilling of a growing and palpable attraction, it was about a relationship. It was swiftly changing from friends who found themselves attracted to each other to friends who were ready to cross that line that cannot be undone. And that scared them both into inaction.

The day before, as they were leaving The Planet from coffee with the girls, Dana had finally broached the subject. She grabbed Alice’s arm as they were getting up from the table and asked Alice hang behind for a few minutes.

“Alice?” She said softly, the name coming out more of a question. “UmCan we talk for a second?” Her eyes instantly hit the ground, ready to escape Alice’s inquisitive glance.

“Sure, Dane. What’s up?” Alice answered. In the last week she had become quite adept at ignoring the growing tension.

“Well, you know Tonya is out of the house now.” She looked up briefly to glimpse into Alice’s eyes, to find some reassurance to go on. The grin forming on Alice’s face that she was trying, unsuccessfully mind you, to hide was enough for Dana to feel just a little bit more comfortable and that was enough for her to know she should go on.

“Alice, I know that things have been a little strange between us and that we haven’t we really spoken about anything. But do you want to go out with me tomorrow. Like really go out with me, you know, like a real date?”

“Hmm, you know, Dane, I’m not sure if that’s a really good idea. I mean you and I are like really good friends.” Dana’s eyes shot up to look at Alice as she heard these words. But Alice couldn’t contain the grin. “I’m joking with you Dana. I was wondering how long it was going to take you to ask.”