“Helena, dammit, we have to teach you to shoot frontwards!” Alice laughed as Helena tried, once again, to run backwards toward the makeshift basketball hoop in Alice’s living room. Running in reverse had joined shooting in reverse, making Helena the most interesting player to watch during Saturday’s lesbian pickup basketball game. 

“I’ve always got Bette.” Helena said breathlessly, tossing the ball behind her. It almost made it in, but Alice came up behind it to help with the rebound. “I’ve got her to keep the others off of me.”

Alice burst into laughter, doubling over—she had certainly seen the consequences of playing ball against Helena. “Bette nearly fucking killed that woman!” She shouted.

“I know.” Helena raised her eyebrows suggestively. “It was pretty sexy, wasn’t it?”

“Ew.” Alice suddenly remembered something.

“Ew what?” Helena asked, retrieving the basketball.  In actuality, it was a small red ball, more like a dodgeball.

“We’ve both…” Alice gestured to the two of them, “you and I…”

“Slept with Bette.” Helena finished, rolling her eyes. “Yes, I know, the incestuous lesbian community. Well it happens. And don’t you dare use that disgusting term.”

“Sloppy…” Alice began, smirking.

“dammit, shhh!” Helena pressed a finger lightly to her friend’s lips, trying not to laugh as well. “That’s just gross…and very sexist…did you know…”

Just then, the phone rang shrilly, interrupting Helena’s scheduled lecture.

Alice picked it up, but a look of surprise followed her quick greeting.

“its for you?” She said, a question in her voice. Helena hadn’t lived with Alice for months.  Besides, the voice sounded slightly familiar to Alice.

“Catherine?” Helena felt as though ice water had been poured down her back. Catherine’s voice coldly explained that she needed to meet with Helena. “I thought that…I see. She didn’t…fine. Where?”

Alice stared incredulously at Helena as she hung up the phone.

“What the fuck did she want?” She asked, throwing the dodgeball across the room.

“I have to go.” Helena said. “She wants to discuss…well, apparently we have unfinished business still. I have to face this.”  She threw off her shirt as she made her way to Alice’s bathroom.  “Can I shower?”