Shane grinned and said, "You bet."

Dana watched her go and wondered if it would be possible for her to sink into the background even further. Noticing a sliding glass door, she glanced around once and slipped through it onto the balcony.

It was cool outside, even for September, and she wished that she had a thicker jacket.

A crisp, British accented voice came from the corner of the balcony and Dana looked up in shock. She’d thought it was deserted.

"You look cold. Wouldn’t you rather step back inside?"

Dana smiled nervously as the woman moved closer. She had long, brilliant dark hair, stunning blue-gray eyes, and a gorgeous body. Dana jerked her eyes up to Helena’s face and said, "Oh, I’m fine. I’m waiting for a friend."

The woman took another step closer and said, "What a coincidence. Shall we wait together?"

Dana nodded carefully and sat down on one of the chaise lounges.

The woman took a sip of her wine and said, "I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Helena."

Dana looked up from her hands and said in surprise, "Alice’s Helena?"

The woman, younger than her poised and cool accent suggested, grinned goofily and it transformed her sophisticated, elegant features. "Alice’s Helena? I suppose I am."

Dana shook her head exasperatedly, "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply any kind of relationship. I just- I met Alice tonight and she said that you two were roommates. That’s all I meant."

Helena smiled at Dana’s genuine embarassment and said, "It’s quite all right. Alice is one of my best friends. So in a way, I am Alice’s."

Dana nodded, relieved that Helena seemed to be as approachable as Alice and Shane had said. "I’m Dana Fairbanks. I’m a friend of Shane’s."

Helena nodded as well, understanding filling her eyes. "Yes, yes. I had lunch with Shane the other day and she mentioned you. I’m sorry I didn’t make the connection sooner."

Dana waved her hands dismissively, "What connection? I hardly introduced myself."

Helena was grinning lightly and said after a moment, "I don’t mean to be forward or to pry, but I wonder if you might be the same Dana Fairbanks that plans to play tennis here at Berkeley?"

Dana looked up, surprised to have been recognized. Her tennis was sharply improving, and the scholarship to play at Berkeley had been a boon, but she was hardly recognizable outside the juniors circuit.