Helena turned to Dana and said mournfully, "I’m Helena bloody Peabody. That ought to be worth something, don’t you think?"

Frowning, Alice said forcefully, "It is. Billions of dollars in ransom."

Dana scowled at Alice, saying, "That’s not very encouraging, Alice. Don’t you think you should say something nicer?"

Alice shrugged, saying defensively, "I’m being serious, Dane. Peggy asked me to remind Helena not to say her full name in public. She’s literally worth billions of dollars. And this guy looks like he needs the cash."

Dana shot a worried look toward the cabby, who was now muttering under his breath at Alice, and questioned Alice nervously, "You mean somebody might try to kidnap Helena?"

Helena, now leaning her head between her legs said miserably, "Bollocks. Mother would never negotiate. She’d see me shackled before she’d part with a nickel."

Feigning disappointment, Alice said dryly, "I guess I’ll scrap my plans to kidnap you, then."

A delightfully undignified giggle escaped the heiress and Alice looked over to find Dana still looking uneasy.

Alice asked, "What’s the matter, babe? You don’t think anybody’s gonna try and kidnap the Hellcat, do you?"

Mournfully, Helena said, "You don’t want to be friends with me. I understand. There are dangers, I suppose. And you probably don’t want Alice to be around me because she could be caught in the crossfire."

Alice barely stifled a laugh and even Dana appeared amused. "Of course I want to be your friend."

Grinning, Alice added, "Who do you think you are, Helena, the president?"
——————————————-

Dana woke frowning to a cool, empty bed. Alice was nowhere to be found and the tennis player pulled the sheet up around her bare upper body as she surveyed the room.

Climbing from bed, she pulled on one of Alice’s t-shirts and a pair of sweatpants before she cleaned up quickly in the bathroom and then headed to the kitchen.

Next to a vase of fresh flowers, which Dana inhaled with a smile, there was a note addressed to her.

Smiling, Dana read Alice’s words aloud. The note was brief and basically apologized for Alice’s absence that morning. She’d gone to Lenore’s hotel to see her off and then the band was getting together to practice for their approaching studio sessions. She’d signed the note with a small heart and then her name.

Dana made a quick breakfast from some of the things she’d bought with Alice then went back to the bedroom and put on her running shoes.

She thought about knocking on Helena’s door but decided the brunette needed her sleep. She had been playing almost ceaselessly over the last few weeks and after the night before, Dana decided it would be a kindness to let the driven young woman relax.

Forty five minutes later, Dana was at her dorm room showering. Shane was asleep in her bed, alongside a young woman with long red hair.

Hiding her embarassed smile, Dana had briefly wondered if it was the same redhead from their art class before deciding she was entirely too tall and then heading off to the bathroom.

—————————–

Alice tapped away absently at the piano, unaware of the scrutinizing look that one of her bandmates was giving her.

She nearly jumped when Jude called curiously, "Al, what is that song? Why haven’t you played it before?"

Alice looked up sharply, saying, "I dunno. It doesn’t have a name." And it didn’t yet. But it did have some lyrics. They weren’t written down anywhere, but the melody had been in Alice’s head since she met Dana. The words were coming daily.

Jude grabbed a guitar and said, "Keep playing, Al. Just keep playing it."
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