I watch as Alice stands up and makes her way over to Helena.  “I love you too Helena and I am your friend.  I guess I haven’t been a very supportive one lately.  I’m sorry.”  She wraps her arms around Helena, who while keeping her arms crossed over her chest leans into her embrace and whispers thank you into her best friend’s ear.

After a few seconds Alice releases her grip, taking a step back.  She begins speaking as if I’m no longer in the room.  “Let me just say one last thing to you regarding Dylan and then I promise you I will not say another word to you about her, Okay?”  Helena looks over to me, thinking I might react.  All I can do is look away from her down to my hands.

“I hope for the sake of your heart and your happiness Helena, that you’re right about her.”  Turning her head in my direction, finally acknowledging my presence, she glares at me with a look that would have killed me if she had the ability.  “And you, Dylan, better hope for the sake of your own well being that Helena’s right about you.”

“Alice, please….would you stop?”

“I’m sorry Helena, but I think that you’re wrong.”  Throwing her purse over her shoulder, she heads to the door.  Before leaving, she turns back to Helena.  “I am your friend Helena and I will be there for you when you need me to be.”

(meanwhile)

Kit was busy cleaning the counter as Tina and Bette walk into the Planet with Angie.  “Bette, I need to use the bathroom.  Can you take Angie and I’ll be right back.”

“Okay Tee, I’ll grab us a table.”  Bette finds Shane sitting at a table by herself.  “Hey Shane, mind if we join you.”

“Oh hey, Bette.  Hi there, Angie.”  Shane motions for Bette to sit down and then looks at Kit still cleaning the counter.  She turns and gives Bette, who is settling Angie in a booster seat, a smile.  “Where’s Tina?”

“She’s here, just using the bathroom.  Is Alice here? We are supposed to meet her for a late lunch.”

Shane looks back to Kit, then towards the office, and back to Kit again, none of it going unnoticed by Bette.  “Yeah, she’s here.”  Smiling awkwardly at Bette now Shane nods her head up and down quickly. “She’s here.”