“I never did, let my guard down, thought he could be the one, bing bang boom, here I am again” said Lena, raising her arms out from her sides for a moment before folding them again. “Still I think he’s getting the message. Are you leaving?”

“YeahI think I’ve overstayed my welcome” replied Shane “I came to drop off your cell and end up encroaching on your company”

“Nonsense, company can be a nice distraction” said Lena

“Even the company of a stranger?”

“Doesn’t feel that way to me” said Lena matter of factly, as Shane slowly made her way past her heading for the front door

Shane paused and gave her a quick glance and smile as Lena followed her to the door, sidling up beside her to open it.

“Well it was nice meeting you, Lena” said Shane as Lena opened the door politely for her.

“You too” replied Lena, leaning against the open door as Shane made her way out. She stood thinking for a moment before standing straighter, Shane was heading for the stairwell. Lena stepped into the hall and leaned on the rails of the landing.

“Hey Shane, would you like to go to a party?” she asked

Shane paused a few steps down and leaned against the wall looking upwards with a questioning look to Lena. Lena ran her hands along the rail and gave a shy smile.

“I’ve been invited to a party, part of my job sort of, and well now that Cameron and I are no longerwell I can take peopleand my friend who I would have asked well her daughter sick and…” Lena found herself tripping over words, partly surprised at herself at asking a complete stranger to a party. “Well would you and perhaps some of your friends like to go?”

“That would be nice” said Shane with a smile, before inwardly kicking herself, ‘that would be nice?’ how lame an answer was that. ‘Yeah sounds, great’ or ‘Yes thanks’ but ‘that would be nice’?

“Great” replied Lena, “Oh, um give me a minute I’ll get the address for you”

She left the landing, back into her apartment and grabbed her bag from the table in the hall. Pulling out the invitation she’d been given by Charles, she quickly wrote down the address before heading back into the landing. Shane had moved back up the steps to the landing and stood patiently waiting. Lena held out the piece of paper.

“Starts at eight thirty” said Lena as Shane took the paper and glanced at the writing. “And like I said, bring some friends alongif you want”

“Sure, great” said Shane, flashing her another smile before heading down the stairs again. “See you tomorrow”

“Yeah, see you” replied Lena.