Alexa didn’t spend the night with Helena that, after another sexual liaison she drove home to get her things together for her trip and let her friends and family know she was leaving.

Alexa knocked on Rachel’s  bedroom door when she got home.  She was as expected half way through Desperate Housewives, something they traditionally watched together with chocolate chip ice cream.

‘So the wanderer returns,’ said Rachel.  ‘Where have you been?’

‘At Caroline’s, you know my friend from the hospital, she had me over for dinner.  There’s something I need to tell you about Rach.’

‘What?’ asked Jayne.

‘I’m going to America tomorrow.’

‘What?  Are you serious?’ asked Rachel.

‘Well I had to meet Dr Pax today for my pastoral interview and he invited me to be a part of the student group taking over Helena Carrington’s work here.  It means spending two weeks in California, someone dropped out apparently.’

Rachel raised her eyebrows.  ‘Why would he ask you?’ she asked.

‘I don’t know, he saw me at the meeting, maybe Helena mentioned how we went to dinner with her or something.’

‘That’s so unfair! I was at the dinner too but her brother did say she fancied you…maybe she wants to get you over to her house and try to turn you.’

Alexa faked a laugh.  ‘It’s a very expensive way to go about it.’

‘Are you really going?’ asked Rachel incredulously.

Alexa shrugged.  ‘Yeah, I mean it’s a free trip to America.  I wish you could come too, it’s crazy I know.’

Ally shook her head.  ‘You’re crazy Alexa, you have been all week, ever since that dinner you’ve been obsessed with work or out with work friends and now this, it’s like you’ve morphed into someone else, someone I can’t read..’ said Rache; and left the room.

Alexa followed her.  ‘Rachel I haven’t it’s just been a strange week.’

‘Alexa it feels like more than that.  We’ve spent the past four years seeing each other through everything college and life has to throw at us, all the best things I’ve done you’ve been a part of and all the worst things that happened I ran to you.  We’ve travelled half way round the world together every summer.  The point is I’ve always felt like I really knew you and now something in you has changed and I feel like I’m missing something, like you’re hiding something.’