Dana gradually awoke to the quiet tapping of computer keys. With forearm strewn over her eyes, she dreaded the thought of opening them to the morning.

Dana definitely overdid it last night, but then she always managed to when shots were involved. The pounding headache between her ears was a testament to just how many she had consumed. Lying there, she cringed internally, realizing she couldn’t remember much of anything from the prior evening.

I hope I didn’t make an ***** of myself, Dana thought.

She wasn’t so much worried about her general intoxicated behavior. Shane, Bette, Tina… if they told her she performed cartwheels on the dance floor, she would have been okay with it. Sure, feelings of embarrassment would surface, but she’d eventually get over it.

The tricky part of failing to recollect last night’s events involved the person whose couch she now slumbered.

All Dana ever wanted was simplicity. Discovering her precociousness with a tennis racquet early, the sport became her predominant focus in life. Dana learned quickly that playing tennis wasn’t complicated. Winning matches meant life was good, losing matches… not so good. Growing up, she never had time to ponder anything else really. As long as she was the best on the court, that was all that mattered. She was Dana Fairbanks, tennis player. Simple. Uncomplicated. Safe. Just as Dana preferred.

Confronting her sexuality was the major hurdle in Dana’s life. Staying in the closet had certainly been less complicated than jumping out, so Dana remained hidden as long as she could, determined to maintain the status quo for as long as possible.

Now, thanks to her Subaru ad, she was out and proud, but stubbornly determined to take the less strenuous path in all other aspects of her life. “Keep it simple stupid,” one of her coaches had once emphasized when Dana consistently attempted difficult shots during one match. From that day forward, Dana adopted it as her motto, and she adhered to it almost to a fault, especially when it came to relationships.

And Dana HAD kept it simple, mostly by not entering into relationships at all. Sure, her lack of romantic associations could at times be frustrating, but Dana always managed to ease the ache with a rigorous training session, a long run, or a tennis match. Her profession was her therapy.

Yet, Dana had also experienced the pain of heartbreak. Her crush on Stephanie temporarily devastated her at the tender age of sixteen, and the recent turmoil with Lara had suckerpunched her too.

But now she had found Tonya, or more precisely, Tonya had found her, and in her fiancee she finally found the simplicity she yearned for. Someone who asked nothing of her, who doted on her no matter what, and who made her feel secure. It was not an all consuming love, and Dana certainly understood this. But she was content. Her relationship with Tonya was simple, uncomplicated, and safe. Just as Dana preferred.

However, over the last few days, a detour had suddenly appeared in the safe and uncomplicated road of Dana’s life. A detour created by none other than her best friend. Suddenly, Dana didn’t know which direction to turn. Her burgeoning feelings for Alice were beginning to shake the tennis player’s foundation, and things weren’t so simple anymore.

Slowly sliding her arm away, Dana carefully opened her eyes. Blinking harshly against the early morning sun filtering through the windows, Dana took in her surroundings. Waking up in the familiarity of her best friend’s home should have brought Dana a sense of comfort, but not now. Certainly not now.

The heavenly scent of coffee drifted through the air to her nostrils, and with a sigh, she gingerly swung her knees over the couch and sat up for the first time. Elbows leaning against her knees, she rubbed her face with her hands and raked her fingers through her wavy mane.

The sound of typing returned and Dana discreetly turned to look over her shoulder, spotting Alice at her computer. The brunette couldn’t help but bask in the early morning sight of her friend. Concentration dominated Alice’s features as she stared at her computer screen. Freshly showered, hair still wet and slicked back, one knee propped up in her chair, the blonde bit her lip while fervently pounding at her delete key in frustration.

Dana looked down quickly, nervously rubbing her hands against her jeans. She decided to quietly make her way to the kitchen for coffee, but in her attempt to rise from the couch, stumbled over a large bowl resting next to the sofa. The sound of metal permeated through the apartment as Dana accidently kicked the container across the room.

“*****,” Dana cursed while trying to maintain her balance against the arm of Alice’s couch, the bowl now rolling loudly along the floor. She sat on the arm for a moment to gain her compusure, then glanced over her shoulder again. This time she garnered Alice’s attention, and the blonde was watching her, a silly grin implanted on her face.

“That was your emergency vomit bowl,” Alice deadpanly stated.

Dana nodded with clenched lips, briskly knocking curls away from her face. “I figured as much,” she grumbled.

Alice contorted herself from her seat and approached Dana slowly. She positioned herself on the opposite arm of the couch and propped her feet against her coffee table. Attempting to start conversation, she offered, “Well, at least you didn’t need it, ya know?”

Still trying to gain her equilibrium, Dana looked at Alice and sarcastically smiled, “Not yet.”

After witnessing Alice ***** her eyebrows in subtle panic, Dana quickly retracted her joke. “I’m kidding. But I feel like *****. My…my throat’s all dry… my hair’s greasy,” Dana grabbed her shirt and sniffed it, “and I smell like smoke.” She plopped herself back down into the cushions dejectedly.

Recognizing her friend’s surly mood, Alice stated, “You need coffee,” and strolled towards the kitchen.

Dana remained seated, arms folded dispiritedly. She stayed as is until Alice returned with a steaming cup of coffee in hand. Dana carefully retrieved the mug from Alice’s grasp, causing their fingers to briefly graze during the exchange. Each girl felt the electricity from the touch, but didn’t dare make eye contact.

Alice quickly returned to her computer and sat down, while Dana stayed on the couch, taking delicate sips from her coffee cup. Uncomfortable silence distended the air.

Moments passed until Dana’s voice broke the silence. “Alice?” Vulnerabilty was etched in the tennis player’s voice.

Alice tore her eyes from the blinking cursor on her computer screen and verged her eyes on Dana, whose head was cast down from Alice’s view. Finally turning halfway, facing Alice with an expression of insecurity, Dana asked sheepishly, “Did I say… or do…. anything really stupid last night?”

Alice blinked, unsure of a response. She instinctively knew Dana was subtlely asking if any mentions of the kiss were accidently made, and not just inquiring about her overall intoxicated behavior. This Alice was sure. Tempted to bring up Dana’s plea of “What took you so long?”, but thinking better of it, Alice responded to her friend with a grin of reassurance.

“Only your typical table dancing, but that’s it, I promise.” Alice teased.

Dana smiled timidly, maintaining her eye contact with Alice. The two girls were deriving a little too much pleasure from their early morning repartee. Realizing this, Dana diverted her eyes away from the blonde, placed her coffee cup on the table and rose briskly.

“I need to go.” Glancing at her watch, she continued nervously, “I’m meeting my trainer at eleven.”

“Well, your car’s still at Milk. I’ll have to take you there.”

“Do you mind?”

“Yes.”

Dana’s shoulders fell in exasperation. “Alice.”

“I’m kidding Dana. Of course I’ll take you.”

“Okay. I’m just gonna go get washed up a little.” Dana paused for a moment, and then strolled towards Alice’s bathroom.

“Sure.” Alice remained in her chair, wondering how long this charade would continue.

Ten minutes later, the two friends were on their way to Milk. Both girls remained silent the whole way. Every now and then, Alice would peek over at Dana. Every so often, Dana would steal a glance at Alice. But neither girl spoke. The persistent awkwardness was irking Alice into action.

The Mini finally pulled into the deserted lot where Dana’s Subaru was parked alone. The SUV was in clear view, but Alice was now intent on pushing Dana’s buttons. She slowed down her car, asking matter-of-factedly, “Where’d you park?”

The brunette did a double take towards her own automobile and glanced at Alice increduously. Realizing that the blonde was teasing her once again, Dana simply glared at her friend.

A mischievous smile appeared on Alice’s lips, and she finally steered her vehicle towards Dana’s. Stopping next to Dana’s car, Alice pushed her gear into park and leaned casually against her driver’s side door.

Dana sat for a moment, eyes directed straighforward, wondering if now was the time. Scared shitless, she dared herself to speak, yet possessed no idea of what to say.

“Dana?” Alice’s voice broke Dana’s concentration.

The tennis player couldn’t bring herself to look at her friend, and kept her eyes focused out the front windshield. “Yeah?” Dana managed to utter.

“Meet me at the Planet today.” Her sudden boldness surprised even herself, and Alice now wondered whether Dana’s late night confession prompted her own newfound confidence. She was suddenly tired of walking on eggshells around her best friend, and determined to do something about it.

“It’s time we talked don’t you think?” she added quietly, waiting patiently for Dana’s reaction.

The brunette looked down at the purse residing in her lap, and slowly nodded. Finally meeting her eyes with Alice’s, Dana emoted an expression of relief, as if a load had been lifted.

“Three o’clock?” Dana offered.

Alice gently smiled and agreed, “I’ll be there.”

“Okay,” Dana said with a rush and placed her hand on the handle to leave. She dared one last shy glance at Alice, and then exited the car.

Alice remained parked for a moment, ensuring that Dana safely entered her Subaru. She watched as the SUV exited the lot, and moments later, sped away herself. Alice immediately began counting down the minutes until three o’clock, and wondered if her best friend was doing the same.

To be continued….