“Yes…” She said quietly with a forced smile.

Augusten smiled, “Alright then, Giovanni and I would be heading over to have a chat with Mr. Parmentier.”

Both Ted and Helena smiled politely as they watched the two older men walk off.

Ted turned to look at Helena who’s eyes were starting to well up. He knew that something must have had happened between her and El.

“We broke up last night.” She choked.

“I’m sorry…” He moved in to give her a hug. Sometimes he hated how their affluent parents had such high expectations of them.  

“Bette met someone.” Helena croaked.

“I’m so sorry…” Ted mumbled, he knew that this was coming. He rubbed her back gently as she cried.

Helena pulled away and wiped away her tears.

 “It’s so silly of me to cry over something like that.” She said with a forced smile. “My father probably wouldn’t even remember wanting to meet El.”

“Helena, what are you talking about?” Ted let out a sigh. “I understand that you want to make your father happy but what about yourself? When are you going to do something for yourself? Your happiness counts too, you know?”

“Ted… Please…”

“No, Helena. Please. When are you going to do something to make yourself happy?” Ted paused. “We both knew that El wasn’t the right one for you. We both knew that you weren’t really truly happy with him. We both know that Bette is the one for you and the one that you will be happy with. Why are you fighting it then?”

“Because Bette is a she.” Helena said through gritted teeth. She could feel the familiar sting in her eyes.

“It doesn’t matter if the person that you’re in love with is a she or a he. What matters is tha…”

“No, Ted. It does matter. It matters to my father. It matters to my parents. I would be a big disgrace to them.”

“Are you saying that your happiness doesn’t matter at all?” Ted asked, looking right into her eyes.

Helena looked away, wiping that stray tear on her cheek.

“Yes or no?”

“Yes.” She muttered softly.

Ted let out a sigh of frustration. He couldn’t believe how stubborn Helena could be sometimes.

“Helena, look at me. Please?” He asked gently.

She looked up and into her best friend’s eyes as she tried not to cry anymore.

“Look Helena, you’re my best friend and one of the nicest, kindest and sweetest person I’ve ever known. And, I just don’t understand why you are trying so hard to fit in when you are born to stand out?” Ted said sincerely. “I just want you to be happy. And I’m sure that I’m not the only one. Your parents would want you to be happy too. I know that they love you for who you are. You are their precious daughter and nothing can change that, not even the fact that you’re gay.” He paused, taking out the handkerchief in this back pocket to wipe away the tears on her face. “So please, stop trying to be someone else and be yourself.”

Helena was touched by the words of her best friend. Whatever Ted had just said made perfect sense and he was right. It was time to stop running away from the problem. But the only thing was, it may have been a little too late. Now that Bette was already gone.

Almost as if Ted could read her mind, he said, “It is not too late. Go look for Bette and tell her how you truly feel.”

“But…”

“Judging by the way she looks at you, trust me, it’s not too late.”