Chapter One:

The Planet was full already with its usual customers. It had just turned eight in the morning and already Alice, Dana, Shane and Bette were sat around a small table with cups of coffee in front of them.

They were discussing going to a party that night but Bette wasn’t up to it.

“Oh c’mon Bette, stop being so boring!” Alice whined.

Bette shot her a deathly glare and Alice immediately snapped her mouth shut.

“I’m sorry Alice but I’ve got loads of work to do and at the moment I just feel terrible. I think I’m coming down with something.” Bette lied; she picked up her cup and took a small sip of the delicious coffee.

Dana, who had been watching, finally decided to jump in, “Well Bette I actually think it’ll be good for you to get out. When was the last time you came out with us?”

“Around a month ago Dane and she went home at eight.” Shane replied bluntly.

Bette rolled her eyes and leant forward to rest her elbows on the table, “I can never win.”

The other three giggled amongst themselves, “Damn right,” Alice muttered.

“I have to go,” Bette said as she glanced up at the clock on the wall, “James suggested I go in early since he wanted to give me a few things. Bye guys.”

The others said their goodbyes and watched as she stood up and left the Planet. Once she’d walked through the door, Alice spun around on her chair to face Shane and Dana.

“We need to do something, this is getting insane!” Alice muttered.

“It’s been two years; I really don’t think Tina is coming back, well at least not anytime soon.” Shane whispered.

They all missed their friend. It was to be expected. Alice had tried to send people out to look for her but after a few weeks the authorities backed down. Anything could have happened. Bette had told them what the police officer had told her: that Tina was attacked and ran from the hospital. Bette had asked what had actually happened to her and the police officer was unsure. This was something else that tore at her day in day out.