Bette held the butt of the spliff in between her fingers and took a long, deep drag, holding it at length inside her lungs. She stared at the space where the other woman had been, feeling the cold of her movement away, not understanding what just happened or whether she was supposed to.

She went back inside after a while, returning to her papers before the weed kicked in and she had to put them aside, lying back with her head on the couch, suddenly remembering Marina’s cheesecake.

She jumped up, grabbing it from the fridge and wondering how Marina had known, she lifted one slice carefully from the box onto a plate and left the second slice where it was, gingerly taking a bite.

She crept outside and walked quietly across the courtyard, stopping in front of the doors to Helena’s place as she realised it was the closest she’d been. She knocked cautiously, seeing and hearing no sound from inside before she reluctantly set the box down on the floor and went back, leaving it there if she wanted it.

The following morning Bette awoke and went to the window again, just to see. Helena swam in the pool just like before, the box of cheesecake gone from the floor outside her apartment.

~

“I like her better already,” Alice announced, as Bette relayed the story of Helena’s weed from the night before,

“Do you think the blonde woman’s her dealer?” Dana asked, not remotely bothered about the weed herself but a little interested in Bette’s description of Helena’s strange attractive visitor,

Shane shook her head, “I doubt it,” she paused, “never met a dealer who wasn’t a scruffy looking hippie boy myself,”

Dana nodded, “Right,”

“It’s all just so ‘interesting’” Alice announced, stirring her hot chocolate furiously, “you should have a housewarming party!” she decided suddenly, “and invite her, oh Bette, what a great idea!”

Bette screwed up her face, unsure, “I don’t know Al, I think she’s kind of a recluse,”

“All the more reason to invite her …” Alice insisted, “It’ll be good,”

Bette had to admit she was torn, on the one hand wanting nothing more than to get to know something about her, what she did all day, whether she had a job to pay for the rather nice apartment she lived in and the recreational drugs she used. Whether there was anyone else significant in her life, the blonde woman perhaps, though Shane’s words from earlier passed though her mind reiterating that it wasn’t safe to assume everyone else was gay just because they were.

“Maybe she’s got some big, burly boyfriend and she’ll bring him,” Dana thought, “then you’ll regret inviting her,”

“I doubt it,” Alice replied, second in authority after Bette on the new strange creature in their lives, “she doesn’t seem the type,”

“So long as she brings weed, I don’t care,” mumbled Shane, implying that Helena could have three heads if she liked as long as pot was on the menu,

Bette shook her head slowly, “I dunno guys, I don’t think it’s a good idea,”

“What’s not a good idea?” Marina asked, popping over to bring them refills,

“Marina,” Alice pulled aside a chair and motioned for her to sit, “Bette’s having a housewarming party, will you come?”

Marina smiled, “I’d love to, when?”

Alice grinned and looked to Bette, who shrugged, “Um … Wednesday?”

“Great,”

“It’s at those little apartments down on the corner of Oakwood and West 3rd,” Bette added, noting a strange look that spread across Marina’s face, “what?”

Marina shook it off, “Nothing,” she hesitated, “sounds great, I’ll do my best to make it,”

Shane frowned as they watched Marina walk away, “Okay … is it me, or did she just give us the blow off?”

“She gave us the blow off,” Bette replied, “I wonder why?”

“Who cares!” said Alice excitedly, “it’s not Marina we’re doing it to meet!”

tbc …