Part 11

Now that her head was cleared, Helena ventured back into the party to continued to meet, greet and mingle with the guests. Shane was deep in conversation with Paris, Lindsay and their crew. Tina was charming various old men in the industry who found their libidos being aroused by the sexy blond. Bette stayed back on the patio and watched the crowd dynamics from a safe vantage point.  Helena scanned the room and could not find Dylan or her shadow Chelsea. She made her way to the restroom to relive herself and check her make-up. When she opened the door she was stunned to find herself looking into the mirror at the face of the woman she had spent the night evading.

Dylan smiled beamed brightly. Her eyes lit up to see Helena’s face in this, of all places. The irony was not lost on either of them. Dylan commented as she continued to look at Helena in the mirror. “You look incredibly beautiful tonight.”

Helena thanked her and added, “You look very nice too. That suit fits you well.”

“Thank you. Chelsea picked it for me. I’m clueless about these things.”

“I see. She’s never far from your side.”

There was an awkward silence that followed. Dylan turned around to face Helena and broke the ice by asking, “Were you going to avoid me all night? Don’t we think we could have civil conversation in public?”

Helena looked into Dylan’s dark brown eyes. Her eyes were always so expressive. These were the eyes that previously lead to the capture of her heart. She couldn’t bear to look too long at them and quickly looked away.

Dylan took a step towards Helena, “Can’t we be civil? Why won’t you look at me Helena? Please look at me.”

Helena struggled to remember she needed to move beyond this point where she was emotionally. She shook her head and responded, “Dylan, when I look at you I feel pain. It is hard to see you again after all this time.” She paused briefly then confessed. “I am still in a lot of pain over you.”

Helena felt her composure falling away and turned to leave the restroom. Dylan quickly stepped in front of her to block her exit. “Helena, you are not the only one in pain. I agonize daily over what happened. Please, at least talk to me, hear me out. Just let me try to explain.”