“Fancy bumping into you here, “ Helena smiled warmly.

“I guess it’s a pretty small world, huh. “ Bette shrugged good heartedly.

Helena looked so much more gorgeous than Bette had remembered. Lithe and graceful, she was tall with sun-kissed skin and wavy dark brown hair hanging loosely over her shoulder. She seemed to exude a raw sensuality.

“Yes, it is. “ She smiled again.  “ So how have you been? “

“I’ve been… Ow!”  Bette yelped in pain. She turned to glare at Alice who had stomped on her foot.

“Are you alright? “ Helena asked, perplexed with Bette yelping in pain out of the blue.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you for asking. “

“Ahem!” Alice harrumphed in a self important manner, hinting Bette to introduce them to the British.

Bette initially wanted to ignore her friend but quickly changed her mind, afraid that Alice would do something embarrassing.

She rolled her eyes at Alice then she gestured, “Meet Helena. Helena, meet my friends… “

“Hi Helena!  I’m Alice, she’s Shane.” Alice interrupted Bette, excitedly introducing herself to Helena.

“Hey. “ Shane nodded with a smile.

“Hi.” Helena smiled brightly, “Nice to meet you both.”

Now that Bette had done what Alice wanted her to, she was going to continue her conversation with Helena. But before Bette could say anything…

“So Helena, are you from England?” Alice asked curiously, while Bette glared at her.

“Yes, I am.”

“Cool!”

Seeing that Alice was done asking questions, Bette decided to give another attempt to continue the conversation that she was having with Helena.

Then again, Bette was wrong. Alice would never ever be done with her questions.

“So, are you here on a vacation?”

Why do I even bother, Bette sighed as she thought to herself.

Shane, on the other hand, was trying hard to stifle her laughter. The interaction between Alice, Bette and Helena was too amusing.

“Well, actually, I’m going…” Helena paused in mid sentence upon hearing the loud honking of a car outside The Planet.

She looked out for a moment. “I’m terribly sorry you guys, but I really have to go. “ She said, giving an apologetic smile.

“It’s okay.” Bette forced a smile to hide her disappointment. Why did she have to leave so soon? She barely had a conversation with Helena, especially when Alice kept interrupting.

“It was really nice meeting you both.” Helena smiled at both Alice and Shane. “And Bette, it was good to see you again.”

Bette nodded, “Yeah, you too.”

“You know, Bette would love to have your number, to call you up and hang out sometime before you leave.” Alice suggested playfully, at the same time, knowing that Bette really wanted to spend more time with Helena, in other words, she was very sure that Bette had a thing for Helena.

Bette looked nonplussed. She didn’t know how to react – to thank Alice or to scream at Alice for saying that.

“Say yes, you dummy.” Alice mumbled, nudging Bette.

“I… Uh… Yeah.” Bette said, slowly regaining her confidence, “It would be nice if we could hang out again sometime.”

Helena smiled, “Yeah that would be lovely.”

“Great! Here’s a pen.” Alice exclaimed excitedly, handing Helena a pen instead of Bette’s cell phone.

“Thank you.” Helena said politely. “Now, just let me look for a piece of…”

“Paper?” Alice inquired. “Forget about paper and save the trees! Just scribble your number down onto Bette’s palm or something.” Alice grabbed and pulled Bette’s hand to Helena.

Helena laughed amusingly and asked, “Are you sure you don’t mind me writing on your hand, Bette?”

“No, not at all. Maybe if you’re lucky, you might find some old physics notes there.” Bette said jokingly.

Helena chuckled at Bette’s comment as she penned her number down unto Bette’s palm.

Just as she was done, the loud honking of the car started again. “Now, I really have to go.” Helena said, returning the pen to Alice.

“I’ll see you soon then.” Helena said with a wave as she headed out.

Bette waved and watched Helena walk out of The Planet.

“You so have a thing for her, Porter.” Alice teased.

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do. “

“No, I don’t.”

“Shane, what do you think?”

“Yep, Bette. You so have a thing for her.”

“Ahh… The wise one has spoken.”

“Whatever. I don’t even know if she’s gay."

"I think she’s totally gay. Shane?"

"Gay alright."

"Hah hah. Bette and Helena, sitting on a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G…"

"Oh Alice, grow up."

TBC?