Although Shane herself never showed, leaving Bette to play adjudicator between Alice and Dana’s squabbles until Dana called it a night and went home, taking Alice reluctantly with her.

Bette paid the cab driver and climbed out, seeing no signs of life in their quiet neighbourhood. She let herself through the gate and began walking up the path towards her apartment, turning back only when she didn’t hear the gate clasp shut behind her,

“Hi,”

Bette jumped, scared at first then merely startled once her eyes adjusted to the dim streetlights and she recognised the figure of the woman who lived opposite,

She held out her hand, saying it again, “Hi there, I’m Helena,”

Bette smiled, shaking her hand curtly, as if a different person stood in front of her than the one she’d been watching all week, as if had she not acknowledged it herself, there’d be a chance Bette might not believed it,

“Late night run to the store for smokes …” Helena explained, holding up her purchase as a way of filling the silence,

“Hi,” Bette answered, delayed, “I’m Bette, I just moved in,”

“Last weekend,” Helena nodded, “I saw,”

She said nothing about ignoring Alice’s comment, nothing about her hermit like existence over the past five days, living a persona so unlike the one who stood in front of Bette then, smiling and gracious and offering up a friendly introduction.

And because of that fact it was Bette who faltered over her words, Bette who stuttered and forgot to say anything remotely interesting or insightful like where she’d been out to or would she like to pop over for a coffee one day.

Helena smiled at her and began to walk away, holding the packet of cigarettes up like a shield or an excuse,

“Don’t suppose you …?” Helena asked, wondering if she’d care to partake,

Bette shook her head quickly, not sure why, she quit two years ago under Alice’s strict instruction, but that didn’t stop her dabbling every once in a while with Shane,

“Well then,” Helena added, “I’ll see you around … Bette …”

And with that she was gone, disappearing round the back into her own apartment and leaving Bette, standing perplexed in front of hers.

She let herself inside and rushed through, leaving the lights off to maintain the secrecy of her standing there. She waited and watched, seeing the doors slide open as Helena stepped outside and took up her usual position on the table top with her feet up against one stool.

A billow of smoke surrounded her as she lit up and Bette felt herself exhale with a sigh of relief.

She was back, perhaps she’d swim again in the morning and now it would be different, because now Bette knew her name.

tbc …