== Early Sunday morning ==

Helena winced and held the phone away from her ear.  When the noise subsided, she tentatively brought the handset back within speaking distance.

"I have to say I am impressed by your constitution Alice.  A skinful and up and at ‘em by 7.00am."

Helena grimaced as more invective whizzed down the wires.  She tried ineffectually to deflect it.

"I know…"

"…you’re right.  I should have kept my mouth shut.  Is she very angry?…"

"…not angry – well that’s good…"

"…oh but you are angry with me.  Why are you angry Alice?…"

"…I didn’t tell you first!"

Helena rolled her eyes and smiled as Alice continued to give her hell.

"Look Alice I was drunk and I didn’t really mean it…"

"…well I did…"

Helena bit her lip as Alice jumped on her statement.  She sighed.  "No it is true…I just don’t expect anything to come of it you know?  I didn’t mean to say anything."

At the other end of the line Alice was getting critical.

"For Chrissakes Alice can’t I have a hopeless crush – I thought you were the expert."  

Helena’s exasperation dissipated some of her good humour.  

"Even I know that!  Of course it would never work; we’re too alike; too controlling; nothing in common except Tina; far too much history; good as friends; better as enemies," Helena sing-songed until her head reminded her that it was too early and too painful for hushed whispers let alone sing-songing.  

"Look Alice I’ll meet you later.  You can pull me apart then…"

"…I don’t know – brunch, lunch, later.  I have to go.  I need sleep and maybe a glass of water and a couple of aspirin."  

Helena shifted the phone to her other hand in hope that her head would hurt less if the sound came from the other side.  It didn’t work.  Preoccupied with her own pain she was late in realising that Alice was angling for a visit.

"No you don’t need to come round here,"  she exclaimed.  A few more seconds of abuse and Helena resigned herself to her fate.  

"Okay…so you do need to come around here.  Alright.  Anything you say Alice just please give me another two hours in bed.  Please."