Life has been hectic...so sorry all for the delayed update!


Running up her wooden staircase Helena fell back against her bedroom door with a pounding chest. What was she doing? She couldn't be Helena and HG could she? Would just a little more of this game really hurt?

Quickly Helena scrounged through her drawers filled with her male counterpart's paraphernalia and soon she was dressed in a pair of brown trousers, shirt buttoned tight to the neck, bow tie and a black waistcoat. There was no time for the corset and she had to administer her own moustache but sure enough in less than ten minutes she managed to dress herself to become the dapper HG Wells.

Leaning across her bathroom sink the writer took a gulp of cold cooling water from the faucet and tied her hair up tight as she looked into the mirror. Helena swallowed the large lump in her throat, calmed her shaking hands and took the plunge back into the unknown world that was Myka Bering.
...

As Helena entered her library she watched the pretty English teacher run her fingertips along the bindings of the HG Wells section of books. The curly haired brunette was breathtakingly beautiful. Feeling guilty for staring unannounced Helena coughed causing the pretty teacher to turn her way.

'Mr Wells. You startled me. ' Myka held a hand to her chest.

'I'm sorry I didn't mean to.' HG stepped tentatively forward. 'What do you think? ' The writer gestured around the book lined walls of the grand room.

'I've never seen anything quite like it. Not in a home anyway! Maybe London's great library.' Myka laughed lightly. 'You must have thousands...you can't possibly have read them all? '

'No ' Helena grinned. 'Every time I buy another I chastise myself for not having read a few more. My collection seems to be growing and I never have time to catch up with myself. I love reading of an afternoon though, whenever I get a free one at least.'

'Mmm. Me too.' Myka hummed her agreement. 'There's nothing better than finding a secluded spot in the park and reading to one's self for an hour or two with a bottle of ginger beer.'

Helena imagined herself sat behind Myka in that secluded spot in the teacher's imagination. Arms wrapped around the pretty brunette from behind Helena would nuzzle her nose into Myka's curly hair as the teacher read out loud to them both. Helena could hear her heart pounding so loud she was positive Myka must have felt it too. 'That sounds perfect.' HG managed to croak out the words through a nervous breath.

'Maybe I could come to one of your readings one day?' The brunette blushed her perfect shade of pink.

Helena fought the urge to play with her locket beneath her tight collared shirt. How did Myka make her feel so on edge? 'I would like that very much. I'm reading tomorrow actually, at the church down the road if you fancy joining me?' Helena mentally slapped herself. Not another HG date. She must not keep up the charade, she couldn't, not just for her own sake but for Myka's.

The teacher beamed before the dark haired writer could retract her comment. 'I would love to. What time? '

HG gulped. 'Eleven. Don't feel you have to...'

'I would love to Mr Wells. More than anything. Thank you.'

HG nodded and led the way onwards through the high ceilinged library. 'Let me show you the rest of the collection.'

Book after book, shelf after shelf the teacher and writer buried themselves in discussions about authors, philosophers and great explorers as deeper they went into HG's literary chamber.

'It's amazing to finally meet someone as enthused as I! A women also makes a change.' HG leant over their biggest pile of books they had collected and grabbed an old Shakespeare play from the side.

'You say that funny.' Myka wrinkled her nose.

'I did?'

'What do you mean a woman also?!'

'Oh.' Helena back peddled and started to steer in the other direction. 'It's just so rare to have a discussion of this kind with a woman.'

'So you think a women is not fit for educated talk sir? ' Myka teased her new friend.

'On the contrary. Please trust I feel quite the opposite.'

'Your sister must be very bright though. I can't imagine growing up with you she would be anything but just as intelligent. Smarter probably to get around her big brother.' Myka teased again unware of the guilt she caused poor Helena to feel in the pit of her stomach.

Carefully HG picked her words. 'She is my equal in every way.'

Myka noted the sincere tone the writer adopted. She thought he must care for his sister very much.

'She looks like you.'

'Oh she does? 'HG flicked through the book in her hand nonchalantly.

'You're like twins. She's very beautiful. Her husband is very lucky. '

Intrigued by the turn of conversation HG couldn't help but indulge the pretty brunette. 'She is not married.' The writer caught a look cross the brunette's face.

'Her suitor then. She must have someone.' Myka challenged.

'Nope.' HG shook her head intrigued.

'That's a shame.' Myka mused. 'She will make a fine catch for someone one day I'm sure.'

'I hope so.' HG really did mean her reply. 'Anyway enough talk of her. You shall make me jealous.'

Helena wondered if that was a tinge of a blush flushing across the brunette's cheek.

'Have you ever read 'Twelfth Night'?' HG held the book in her hand to Myka.

'Of course!' The teacher snapped up the book and started flicking through the slightly worn pages. 'It's my absolute favourite. Twins lost at sea , hidden identities, a comedy of errors, I like Mr Shakespeare's comedy far more than tragedy.'

'It's my favourite too.' HG grinned and wondered how many more similarities she would find between them.

'Ah…now this is my favourite bit.' Myka jabbed at the page in question, cleared her throat and began to read…. 'Make me a willow cabin at your gate, And call upon my soul within the house; Write loyal cantons of contemned love And sing them loud even in the dead of night; Halloo your name to the reverberate hills And make the babbling gossip of the air
Cry out 'Olivia!'

Helena knew the exact place in the play Myka had just recited very well as it was one of her own favourite moments too. Viola the main female character in the play was dressed as a man and trying to woo Lady Olivia for her boss the count Orsino. However, uwittingly in this moment Olivia falls in love with Viola dressed as the male character Cesario instead. Helena shook her head; how very apt.

'Why is that your favourite bit?' HG probed a little.

'It's just so sweet and funny all at the same time. It's beginning of the misunderstanding I guess. The start of the awkward love triangle.' Myka bit her lip. 'I think it's fascinating how Olivia falls for another woman so completely innocently. She has no clue that what she's doing is wrong and Viola is completely oblivious of what she has done.'

'What's so wrong about it?' HG could feel her back stiffen.

'Well two woman can't be in love with each other.' Myka half hesitated. This was a topic of conversation she wasn't quite so comfortable with.

'I think you are wrong Miss Bering.' Helena stood deciding that enough was enough. She was clearly barking up the wrong tree with the pretty English teacher.

'I'm sorry sir I hope have not caused offence?' Myka touched her friend's elbow lightly.

'None at all.' HG shook her head vigorously. 'That bit you like in the play. It's Helena's favourite part too.'

'It is?'

'Yes.' Helena stared into Myka's deep green eyes a sadness turning the corners of her own coal like irises.

'Are you ok?' Gently the teacher let her hand trail up the writer's back as she wondered what HG meant by the reference to his sister.

'I suddenly feel a little tired actually. Do you mind if we conclude our tour for the day?' HG pulled away from the teacher's delicate touch.

'Of course not. I would hate to impose. Thank you so much HG for inviting me into your home like this.' Myka leant even further forward and inched closer to the writer.

Helena wavered on the spot. Did Myka expect more from her, did she want more?

When HG didn't make a move Myka turned her head and gathered her things. 'I'll show myself out. Thank you again so much. I'll look forward the reading tomorrow.'

Slightly confused the teacher left the writer's grand home her mind spinning with thoughts. One moment the writer was so attentive, flirtatious even and the next he seemed to withdraw and go cold. She couldn't quite figure out the dark haired man's intentions.

Pursing her lips Myka wrapped her scarf tightly around her neck and stalked off into the bitter city winds adamant that at the book signing she would find the answers to give her the piece of mind she needed.