Oh, *****. Alice sighed. Dana was bewildered by her girlfriends swift change of mood and behaviour. She turned around to see what had caught the blondes eye. She was not overly pleased to see what it was.

Helena Peabody. She was so drunk she seemed to have trouble navigating herself towards the front door of the restaurant. She desperately tried to hide it but it was no use. The restaurant staff pretended they were temporarily blind. They knew who this was, and they had no desire to cause a scene and get a Peabody grudge against them. 

Oh, no… *****, Dana. They are totally gonna let her drive home! Alice said anxiously and Dana felt the romancing fly out the window.

–

Alice and Dana had managed to get Helena in to her car and decided that Alice would drive the heiress home and than call Dana to be picked up. Dana was very displeased with the fact that they had to end their dinner to help a person none of them really had any connection to at all and went home to sulk. Alice felt guilty for leaving Dana, but she would have felt even worse letting Helena out on the streets in her condition. That could only have ended in disaster. And she did feel that maybe she had a part in Helenas need to drink herself into a coma. Alice drove Helena home under silence. Though she was completely hammered Helena seemed to be able to control herself quite well. Alice almost jumped off the seat when the woman beside her spoke.

I have an advice for you; Alice. Helena said seriously. In a relationship it is always better to be the leaver than the levee. Alice could not help but notice that Helena did not slur at all. Because the leaver leaves, you know. And the levee just get left. Helena sighed sadly.

Isnt that from a Woody Allen movie? Alice was sure she had heard those lines before.

Right you are. Helena chuckled. She turned her head to look at Alice, her eyes trying to focus on the blondes face. Im always the levee. Always. She revealed. Now she had started to laugh, a quiet, sad laugh. This whole situation was giving Alice the creeps. Helena Peabody did not seem well. And Alice suspected it did not have so much to do with Tina Kennard as she first thought. My father, my mother, my brother, my wife. They all left me. Suddenly Helena let out a sob. And now my kids will have to leave me.

Alice felt completely clueless on how to act. She did feel a great deal of sympathy for the woman next to her now. She seemed completely heartbroken. Alice carefully put her hand on Helenas shoulder, pressuring it lightly, just to assure the other woman she was there. Helena tried to smile, but it just looked like a tortured grin.

Do you want to hear a song? Helena suddenly asked.

Yeah. Alice would be grateful to hear some music. Maybe that could help Helena take her mind off her misery for a while. Helena tried to push the play button but failed. Alice did it for her. Shrill tones emerged from the speakers and a sensual womans voice balanced it. Alice just noticed fragments of the song, and realized that this might not be the best way to make Helena think of happier things. whats the use in being a millionaire if I cant have you I can buy you but I cant make you love me, I cant make you care

Alice parked the car right in front of Helenas front door.

Thats a very sad song, Helena. Alice said quietly, not looking at the other woman.

It is, isnt it? Like me. Sad. Sad and pathetic. Helena laughed her heartbreaking laugh again. Alice turned around and released Helenas seat belt, jumped out of the car and opened the door on Helenas side.

No youre not. She murmured. Youre just hurting. Thats all. Alice let her hand slide down behind the dark haired womans back and carefully helped her from her seat. And she caught herself thinking it might be a while until she would be comfortably wrapped up in Danas arms again.

To be continued