“Is she as smart as you, does she make you laugh?”

“definitely. She’s I don’t know, Anna. I don’t know if I’m ready for someone like her, yet. You know?”

“Okay, Helena. Just enjoy yourself.” Anna smiled, reaching for her friend’s hands to sweetly squeeze them in reassurance. “You don’t have to rush into anything. The psychic didn’t say it was going to happen right away. It might be a while before anything happens.”

Helena nodded, and then returned the smile. The women stood, then, and hugged affectionately. Anna pulled away first, and grinned happily. Glancing down at Helena‘s current attire, she clucked her tongue, before taking in a deep breath. “It’s four o’clock you need to get ready.”

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” Helena‘s brow furrowed in anger and confusion.

“Uh heh let’s go find you something in ivory?” Anna pranced off towards the walk-in closet, and Helena had to smile. Rolling her eyes, but still smiling despite herself, she followed after her friend.

***

“Maybe I should have made it seven?” Helena called out to Alice, who was still in her bedroom, getting herself ready. “At least then, I would have only had to wait half an hour.”

“Keep your commentary to yourself, Dame Edna,” she heard in return, from the other room.

“That had better be a comment on my comedic ability, and not on my dress style.”

“Whatever lets you sleep better at night,” Alice replied, her voice growing louder as she moved from the bedroom into the living room, where Helena was sitting. When Helena glanced up to see Alice, she was taken aback by the sight in front of her.

Fresh faced, and glowing, was Alice Pieszecki in a complimenting sun-dress. The creamy fabric matched Helena‘s long skirt nearly exact, and the loose Victorian inspired belt hung on her hips in a manner that belayed innocence and sexiness in equal parts. Alice herself wasn’t paying much attention to Helena‘s examination, as she was trying to be as gentle with her ear lobes as possible, refraining from stabbing her ear with the elegant drop earrings her mother had purchased for her in Paris last year. Finally finding the hole, and putting the back on the final earring, she straighted, and did a bit of a modest curtsey.

Helena nodded approvingly, her lips pressed hard together to keep her mouth from dropping open in complete shock and awe. “You look gorgeous.”

“Stand-up, I want to see you in the full effect.”

Following her instructions, Helena stood up. Suddenly feeling a bit shy, she busied herself with invisible lint and wrinkles in her long, flowing skirt, not allowing her eyes to meet Alice‘s. Alice‘s whistle of appreciation, brought a blush to her face, and elicited a chuckle from her throat.

“Hello, dahling,” she said, seeming to channel Sally Bowles of “Cabaret” for a moment. This brought on a full out laugh from Helena, and Alice beamed at her friend. “You, my dear, are the gorgeous one.”

“Then we compliment one another perfectly. We’ll be conversation pieces for each other.”

Hooking her arm through Helena‘s, Alice smiled at that thought. “Yes, I could be like, ‘Look at Helena, doesn’t the light just catch her petals just right!’ And everyone will ooh and aww.” This caused another brilliant chuckle from the English lady, and finally, all awkwardness had disappeared. Helena felt that tonight was going to be a very good night. Even if the whole reception was boring, and predictable, the company of Alice wouldn’t be.

***

TBC