She was beginning to wonder if her physical appeal was in fact a curse, shutting her out to the very real connections with kind-hearted people because of her necessary defensive structures toward aggressive pursuers.

The phone rang just as her eyes were stinging from her lack of sleep. Bette’s head jerked up toward her phone on the counter, and paced over toward it.

Private number.

Bette rolled her eyes, smiled, and picked up the phone.

“Who is this?”

“Helena.”

Bette smiled and looked down at her bare feet. “Yes, hi.”

“Can we address each other by first names, seeing as we’re in private now?” Helena teased, lying fully onto her bed with a devilish grin behind her tone.

Bette could sense that if she gave the word, Helena would shift her voice down a few notches and start pleasing herself over the phone. Something about Helena oozed of her sexuality, and Bette was both interested and jealous of the quality. Bette felt that her voice oozed of professionalism at all times. Not nearly as exciting.

“Nothing to say to that?” Helena asked, rolling onto her back. “I chose a place. Herald’s. How is that?”

“I don’t know any of these places. That’s why I had you choose. Remember? I really did just move here.”

“Ooh, that was true? So … I could show you around?”

“Not like that,” Bette smiled despite herself – worried that Helena’s aggressive interest would indeed be too much for her tastes. “I’m not new to women. Just this city.”

“You sound like a virgin,” Helena teased back, knowing exactly what she was doing. Any powerful, beautiful women she had gone out with before had fallen for a similar formula. They had to feel somewhat deflated in order to be romanced properly. However, even given Helena’s confidence in the game, she found that she felt guilty for it with Bette. She had real feelings for Bette, and the scoff she heard on the other end had her back-tracking her claim. “Er …”

“Excuse me?”

“Uh … I  mean … I’m sorry.” Helena confessed, uncomfortable with the word. “I … was … well, I’m used to playing games. But I’m trying to change.”

“What games?”

“Never mind,” Helena sighed, rolling onto her stomach again. It was very difficult not to do what she felt would win Bette over. It was always difficult to fight to the strange appetite she had for cruel teasing and dangerous adventure. The way she had been raised into adulthood left much to be desired – including any real, committed relationships. “So what do you say to Herald’s?”