‘I’m sorry Lena’ she whispered.  ‘I was such a bitch this morning.  Do you hate me?’

Helena turned around and pulled Alexa down into her lap.  She traced a thumb across her lips and then kissed her full on the mouth.  ‘No I hate myself for being flippant with the things that matter to you.’

Alexa suddenly hugged Helena tightly.  ‘I don’t even care anymore.  I thought you might want me to leave.’

‘What?’ Helena laughed at the thought.  She’d spent her morning pissed at Alexa and her afternoon realising her own mistakes but not at any point had she wanted to end their time together.  ‘Alexa we had a little fight that’s all.  It happens.’

Alexa realised she had been melodramatic but this relationship (well sort of) stuff was new to her and she still couldn’t get over the power gap between them.  Helena was everything she wasn’t older, rich, experienced, out and all those things made her feel like the inferior partner that could be dropped at any time.

‘This isn’t a dirty little secret for me and when I get back I’m going to find a way to tell my friends about me and about the time I’ve spent with you, sooner rather than later, okay?’

Helena nodded and pushed back a strand of Alexa’s hair.  ‘This isn’t about me.  You do what you’re ready for and you’re right I forget how lucky I am living in this microcosm.  It is tougher for you to be honest than it is for me.’

Alexa nodded in acknowledgement and kissed Helena again.  ‘How was work?’

‘Okay but apparently I’m totally transparent to my staff.  I walked in, slammed the coffee on the desk and Ed my PA says, fight with the lovely Alexa?  I didn’t even know they knew I had a new girlfriend never mind your name…..’

Alexa looked hesitant as Helena moved to kiss her and she called her on it.

‘Don’t worry Lex, only Ed knows, Fiona and the other students don’t have a clue.’

Alexa shook her head.  ‘Forget that, did you just call me your girlfriend?’

Helena kissed Alexa again wondering how to answer.  She knew what she’d said, she didn’t want to take it back, she was tired of pretending this was meaningless and finite to her when she wanted so much more even if she wasn’t sure how they could achieve that yet.  ‘Wait,’ Alexa giggled as Helena tried to deepen the kiss. ‘Did you mean it, am I your girlfriend?’