"You're a late person, aren't you?" Flora frowned at the analogue clock on the dashboard as Atem navigated the western suburb streets.
It was Eight-forty-five. Krystal's invitation had said seven.
"Sometimes." Helia replied. Flora refrained from exhaling heavily.
Late people drove her insane.
"Don't you have to meet with clients and be in court at specific times?" She asked. "Surely you can't be late for appointments?"
"I compensate."
"How? You make excuses? Buy gifts?"
Helia flicked her a got-it-covered look. "I set my electronic reminder to go off thirty minutes before time. I also set my watch seven minutes early."
"You don't get mixed up?"
He turned the wheel. "Never."
Flora thought about pointing out how crazy it all sounded. Then again if she had a right to be herself, she guessed he did too. This trail wasn't supposed to be about right or wrong, but rather the grey area in between. Not that she didn't have any real faith that two people as different as her and Helia were could find enough space to make a go of marriage.
Minutes later they found parking space within walking distance from Krystal's single-storey brick house. Flora got out of the car wearing a cheetah print loin cloth with a matching halter top. Helia got out as well wearing only a cheetah print loin cloth.
As Flora and Helia walked to the house, the brunette asked, "How do I look?"
"Very sexy." Helia smiled. She blushed slightly.
Looking at Helia she had to admit that he looked sexy considering that the only part of him that was covered was his member.
Reaching the door, Helia knocked. The door opened to reveal Krystal wearing a Pocahontas outfit.
"My John Smith couldn't make it." She acknowledged Flora briefly. "Mind if I borrow yours?"
"The name is Helia Knightly." He reminded her politely.
"Helia Knightly. Of course." Krystal's white moccasins and endless tanned legs made way as she gestured them through into her party.
"Care for a cup of my special fruit punch, Helia?" Krystal asked.
Helia's smile managed to be both dazzling and thin. "I am sure Flora would enjoy one too."
Purely for Krystal's sake, she gave Atem a private smile. "We did work up quite a thirst this afternoon, didn't we, honey? You know with the activates."
Helia's brows lifted. It was first in surprise, then in approval. He didn't need any more encouragement.
"Darling, you promised not to mention that once we got here." He turned to their hostess. "Thank you, Krystal. Punch would be great. I am rather dry."
As they moved off, Krystal stopped and held a hand out to Flora. "Coming?"
"No, thank you. Helia looked so forward to catching up with you, Krystal." She blew a kiss to him. "I will see you later."
Above a knowing half-grin, his eyes shot playful draggers as Krystal dragged him.
Left alone, Flora inhaled the aroma of the hot finger food doing the rounds, and then looked around at the crowd. Rearranging her peignoir and smiled. Helia was the kind of man most women dreamed about. He was completely and irrevocably masculine. He was confident to the point of arrogance but she felt an attraction to him. Flora couldn't help thinking that Helia felt the same way about her.
From behind, a set of hands swept over her eyes and Flora jumped. She pulled them off and spun around to see a girl with red hair hidden beneath a thirties style black wig.
"Bloom!" She said.
Bloom circled her. "Yes girl, it's me. Oh my gosh, Flora. Look at you! Looks like you lost a lot of weight."
Flora smiled. "I haven't seen you in years. How have you been?"
"I am doing pretty well." Bloom smiled. Placing her hand on the brunette's shoulder, she indicated to Krystal and Helia. "Do you see guy with Krystal? He is so handsome."
"Yes, he is." Flora smiled.
"He is not as handsome as Sky though." Bloom remarked. "Flora, he is so checking you out. The way he is looking at you, it's like he is in love with you."
Flora looked at Helia to see him gazing, sweetly at her. She blushed. "You think so? Helia is amazing and I am in love with him."
Bloom looked puzzled. "He is your boyfriend?" Flora nodded. "The way how Krystal is drooling over him, it would look like she has a thing for him."
"She doesn't have a chance." Flora tried to believe that. The question of if Helia really loved her still lingered in her mind.
A few seconds later the two saw as Helia glanced towards them with a cup of water in his right hand. Reaching Bloom and Flora, Helia handed the brunette the cup.
"It smelt like the punch was spiked. I hope you don't mind water." Helia stated.
"No, I don't." Flora shook her head, taking the cup. "Helia, this is my old friend from college, Bloom Peters."
"Hello Bloom." Helia extended his hand to her. "I am Helia Knightly, Flora's boyfriend."
The brunette blushed. She didn't think they put a title on their relationship.
Her heart felt like it skipped a beat. 'I love Helia but does he really love me? If I didn't get pregnant, would he still want to be around me? Would he look at me as an irreplaceable treasure? Would he truly see me as anything more than the mother of his child?'
Helia carried Flora out of her deep thought with a simple kiss on the lips.
She gladly returned it. It lasted for only a few seconds before they parted.
Bloom saw as Flora and Helia gave each other a loving smile. She saw and now knew that the two loved each other deeply.
