“Dana,” Alice tried once. “Dana,” a little louder. “DANA”. The athlete pulled away and blinked up at her grouchy girlfriend.

“What?”

“Turn that fucking thing off,” Alice retorted then turned away, pulling the blankets as far up her neck as she could muster.

“Jeez grumpy much Al?” Dana did as she was told and sat on the edge of her bed rubbing her eyes clear. She looked backwards at Alice. Must be PMS, she thought as she stood up and shed all clothing in favour for a cold shower to get her muscles as equally awakened.

Alice knew she had been rude yet could not bring herself to apologise or even look at Dana today. She was angry at the situation she had created out of one unimportant invitation. She was even angrier at the feelings it had aroused. Why couldn’t it just be happy and perfect forever? Okay she knew that was impossible but they’d just moved in and things were going good again, why was she having these sabotaging thoughts? Was she more like Bette than she cared for? Was she a self-destructing woman who was prone to fuck up because she couldn’t cope with normality or the mundane? She supposed a therapist would tell her these issues came from a feeling of abandonment that perpetuated when her father left her mother and that she coped by pushing others away first before they could hurt her. Why pay $200 just to be told what she already knew?  Yet she did not think she would do that with Dana. Sweet, sensitive, loyal Dana who definitely did not deserve to be on the end of whatever ire was working up inside her today.

Dana was soaping her toned body and humming softly to herself. She had forgiven Alice’s snappy remark instantly and was planning her day out in her head. In one week she had an important celebrity tournament coming up which would be an incredible opportunity to obtain more sponsors and increase her press coverage. She was ready. Her muscles were at their peak of the season. Psychologically she was prepared for whatever and whomever she would meet and with her trainer pushing her this hard she knew she could go all the way and win this thing. She had one more thing to do, invite Alice to the tournament in San Francisco. Although she did not indulge in good luck charms, she believed that if there were such a thing, Alice was definitely hers and without her it just wouldn’t be the same. Switching the knob to off she stepped out of the shower and reached for her towel.

Alice could sense Dana was starring at her even with her heavy eyes firmly shut. “What?”

“I have something to ask you.” Alice opened her eyes slightly and could see the shapely form of her girlfriend dripping wet, although most of her body was numb, one part definitely became more alert at the sight.

Dana took a seat on the bed next to the dozy blonde. “I was hoping you could make it to San Francisco next week for my celebrity tournament. Some major designers, car companies and influential manufacturers will be there and it’s a really big deal for me.” 

Alice unfolded her limbs and sat up a little, a small scowl danced across her face. She tried to contain it and in a more softened tone replied. “I don’t think I can Dane, I have too much work with the magazine to just up and take a week off.” Dana look dejected but tried again.

“It doesn’t have to be for the whole week, even if you could make it for a couple of rounds?” she suggested whilst lovingly pushing aside a few errant strands of blonde hair.

“I’ll see”. Alice kissed Dana’s hand lightly and lay down again signalling that this conversation was well and truly over for now. Dana just carried on as if nothing had happened, picking up yesterdays clothes and tossing them into the laundry basket. She hurriedly dressed into a pair of running shorts and a tank and within a minute or so was out of the bedroom and out of the front door hoping a long run would ease the slight pain of rejection. 

TBC