5/18/07:The Planet-West Hollywood-9:30 P.M. (L.A. Time)

After two beers, she walked over to the blonde she had been eyeing all night. She took a seat next to her. “Hey.”

“Hi,” responded the blonde, without looking up. She was too preoccupied twiddling her fingers.

“Be careful, don’t tie your fingers together.” The blonde’s head shot up. She stared at the woman before her. “Sorry. Am I bothering you, cause I could leave.”

After a moment the blonde smiled and said, “No it’s okay. What’s your name?”

“I’m Vanessa, nice to meet you,” she extended her hand.

“Alice, nice to meet you too.” Alice reached out and shook Vanessa’s hand.

“So, Alice, what are you doing here?”

Alice sighed and picked up her beer bottle. “Just reflecting on my life and how crappy it is.”

“Why’s it crappy?”

“I don’t know. It just is. I guess it’s not as crappy as before since I’m already used to it. Used to people leaving when it’s just starting to get good.”

“Just get dumped or something?”

Alice hesitated, “Yeah, something like that.”

“Well, I think anyone who would leave a person like you is pretty stupid. I mean, I’ve only known you for like a minute or two and I already like.”

“Thanks.” Alice took a drink of her beer. “What are you doing here?”

“Taking advantage of my life. I just got back.”

“Got back?”

“From Ger-money. They call me ‘The Only Known Savoir’, or some shit like that.”

Alice got a confused look on her face. “Why?”

“I was stationed at a base over in West Germany and it got bombed and I’m the only person the found alive. Actually, I wasn’t found. I stumbled into this town and the military rushed to get me, healed me up, and sent me back home. There’s like five others M.I.A, and honestly, I don’t think they’re looking for them.

Alice looked the woman up and down. This was the woman she had heard about on the news. “M.I.A.?”

“Missing in action.”

“So, they’re not dead?”

“No one knows, only they do.”

“But they held a ceremony for the soldiers that died and every soldier was listed. Even you.”

Vanessa thought for a second. “They shouldn’t have done that. I mean, it’s okay for the ones they know are dead, not the M.I.A.’s. How can you honor the dead, if you have no proof they’re dead?”

“I have no idea.” Alice took another drink of her beer. “When you were stationed up there, did you, um…Did you know a Dana Fairbanks.”

Vanessa chuckled, “Did I know her? Yeah, I knew her. Bit of a goof ball. Our Drill Sergeant A.K.Aed her ‘Miss Pride and Joy’ cause she out smarted us all in basic training. I swear, man, I think she was smarter than our DS. And stronger, and a lot cuter.”

Alice sighed, “Yeah, she was cute, wasn’t she?”

“Did you know her?”

“Yeah, she was a friend of mine. But hadn’t talked in like a year or so. But we wrote eachother a lot, I guess that counts.”

Just then Kumbia King’s “Sshh” came on. “Wanna dance?”

“Sure,” Alice replied as Vanessa grabbed her hand and lead her to the dance floor. Once on the dance floor, Alice was able to see Vanessa’s face in the light. She was baffled at how much she looked like Dana. Something else about this girl reminded Alice of Dana, her body movements as she danced to the music. It wasn’t exactly the same, but close enough for someone who had seen Dana dance once to be mistaken.

Alice wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass, if this was as close to Dana Alice could get, she was going to take it. “Would it be alright if I gave you a kiss?”

Vanessa stopped dancing, surprised at how fast Alice cut to the chase. “Um, sure.”

Alice closed her eyes and leaned in.

TBC

Posted By:Stripes