A shiver makes its way down Helena’s spine, stopping her in mid-sentence.

Helena: Um….I think….I think I need to leave the both of you alone for the remainder of the evening.  

Helena quickly removes herself from the table, over Leigh’s lap and away from the both of them.  Too many emotions have hit Helena all at once, including fear and lust.  Carmen turns to Leigh, who looks concerned now.

Carmen: Stay here, okay?

Leigh: Okay…

Carmen stands and walks towards Helena who is beginning to make her way towards the exit.

Carmen: Helena!

Helena stops and turns around.  Carmen reaches out with her left hand, taking Helena’s right hand.  Carmen appears remorseful.

Carmen: Look, Helena…I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.

Helena looks down…and then flushed with emotion back at Carmen.

Helena: What is it that you want?  I’ve tried to help you….I don’t know what else to do.

Carmen: ….How do you really feel about Leigh.  Tell me…

Helena is silent as she cannot express the feelings in words at the moment.  Carmen closes her eyes and walks closer to her.  They’re face to face as their noses nearly touch.

Carmen: Please tell me…

Helena’s voice begins to shake.

Helena: I want to see her happy with someone….and I want the same for you.

Carmen: And that’s it…?

Helena: There’s no room for anything else.

Carmen: You know what really sucks…?

Helena shakes her head as her jaws begin to tremble.

Carmen: After everything you’ve done…for me…for Leigh…for other friends…it really sucks that at the end of the night, there aren’t any waiting arms for you.  And there’s something….really wrong about that.

Helena: …Once upon a time, I would have been more than willing, but….too much has happened.

Carmen: Think of what’s happened to me…in just the last month I’ve been engaged and stood up.  And now I’m dating someone that I like a lot…and my feelings are out of control.  And the thing that gets me through is knowing that I have that comfort of being in someone’s arms when I wake up again.  Don’t you want that, too?  Because right now, me and Leigh both want that for you.

A tear begins to form and run down the right side of Helena’s face.