‘Thankyou for a lovely day’ Helena forced herself to say and undid her seat belt, looking at Alexa sadly as she reached for the door of the car.

Alexa readied herself to watch Helena walk away the way she had many people in her life, she was well used to forcing herself not to get too attached to people, to keeping a barrier around her heart but this was different, this wasn’t some straight girl she’d developed a crush on this was someone who understood her, who listened to her, who made her feel, light, happy, like she could have the kind of life she’d longed for.

‘Helena wait,’ she heard herself say and Helena sat back down and took a look at her.

Alexa summoned her resolve.  ‘I know you don’t have much free time in your trip and you can be honest if this isn’t convenient but I’d like to see you again.’

Helena blinked, both surprised and thrilled by Alexa’s declaration.

She smiled at Alexa and bit her lip, resolve to leave things be between them rapidly crumbling.  ‘I really wish I could take you to dinner tonight but I have this crappy business function until 9 ish at least.  I don’t suppose…no..’

‘What?’ asked Alexa excited.

‘I just thought you might want to come over to my suite and meet me afterwards.  We can go for drinks when I get back or just stay in with the mini bar and dvds, they have this huge plasma in there..but this probably sounds totally boring to you.’

‘No Helena, that sounds great to me.  I’m not a big party girl, I like to go out but I like to stay in too, especially in the right company.  What time would you like me to come over?’

‘How about eight thirty?  I’ll try to get away early and you can let yourself in before I get there and order us some nice champagne and pick out the dvds if you like.’

‘Sounds perfect,’ said Alexa.  ‘Although I think I’ll tell my housemates I’m going out with some other friends friends.  Rachel’s eyes might fall out of her head if I told her I was going to spend the evening in your penthouse suite..’