"What should I wear?" Helena asked Angel. She barked.

Angel was staying pretty small, but she was adorable as ever.

"Green or pink?" She asked. Angel nudged the green shirt.

"Yeah, I thought so too."

………………………

"You look nice." Mark said.

"I want your scarf." Helena said.

"Well, I'll ask my mom to make you one." Mark said. "Maybe she'll get so involuved with it, that she'll forget to call me."

"Aw, you shouldn't say that." She said.

"Look at you!" Mark said. "Your mom is living across the contry and-"

"And I happen too still have a credit card." Helena said. She pulled out a blue Visa. "Since I am making almost no money, we'll charge it here."

"But-"

"Mark, she won't miss it." Helena said.

Mark was having such a good time that he forgot the he was soppoed to be scared. Usually the girls went to flock Roger, and Mark just recored it on film. Then the horrific events of last Christmas came back to him. He saw how easily someone could die, and didn't want to see it happen to someone Mark loved.

"So anyway, I told my sister to go to hell, and I haven't heard from her since." Helena said. "What a bitch, can you belive her?"

"No." Mark said quietly.

"I mean, every year it's the same thing, your too short, your boobs are too small, you need to fix your nose!" She was frusterated. "I mean, my nose isn't BROKEN."

"Yeah." He said.

"Why aren't you listing me?" She asked.

"I am." Mark lied.

"And what is my sister's name?" Helena said.

"Uh, Rose-"

"Its Susannah."

"Whatever." Mark said harsly.

"What's wrong?" Helena asked.

"Nothing." The harsh tone felt strange on his lips.

"Are you mad?"

"No."

"Did I say something?"

"No." Mark heisitated. "Well its just…"

"What?" Helena was dyeing for information.

"Everthing that's going on," Mark said. "My film, Roger's gigs, I mean we're actually bringing money."

"That's a good thing though." She said.

Mark put his hand over Helena's. "I just don't think this is going to work out."

Helena ripped her hand from under Marks. "Well then." She said. "Have a nice life." As she stormed out of the Life Café.

She had patience for her writing, her crafts, her paintings, whatever. But she had no patience with people. Helena couldn't put herself in someone else's shoes not matter how hard she tried. She couldn't feel syphathy, or emathy or anything.

In the end, people would be friends with you, or they would piss you off. Nobody was ever really in the middle.

………………….

Dear Carrie

I'm sorry for all of the sorrow and grief I caused you. You know that I would never ever do something to hurt you, which is why I filed the abuse papers. I know that you feel that I did you wrong, but I couldn't sleep at night knowing that you are in danger. I needed to get you out of the house. If anything ever happened to you, I'd die myself.

You are like the daughter that I wish I had. I never would want to lose your friendship, and I hope I never have to. You are practically my best friend. I hope that your baby is okay, and that both of you are getting along well.

Carrie, I can swear one thing and one thing only to you. I will get enough money, and I'll move to a nicer area. I will adopt you, no matter how many jobs I have to take on. I can promise you that, and hunt me down if I break it. I love you and there will always be room for you at my house. I'll call.


Collins.

…………………

"Your home early." Mimi said.

"Where's Roger?" Mark asked.

"Studio."

"When will he get back?"

"Soon." Mimi looked around. "Where's Helena?"

"How am I soposed to know?" Mark snapped.

"Geez, I just asked a question." Mimi said.

Mark slumped on the couch. "My date went bad."

"How?"

Mark told her the whole story.

"Mark, why are you scared?" Mimi asked.

"Well, after what happened last year, I mean, I didn't want-"

"I'm right here, and I'm okay." Mimi said.

"I know." He said.

"Why don't you go find her?" Mimi said.

"For what?"

"To tell her your sorry you nimrod!" Mimi told Mark, beginning to get very frusterated.

Mark started laughin. "Did you just call me a nimrod?"

"Shut up."

" I can't belive you called me a nimrod!" Mark said.

"Well, since I'm done entertaining you, its your perfect chance to GO FIND HELENA!"

Mark was still laughing. "Okay."

He went down the stairs, and then realized he had no idea where Helena was. As he stepped outside, Mark heard the creaking of the fire escape, and Mimi shouted, "She likes to ride in Centeral Park!"

"Ride what?" Mark asked.

"Horses, nimrod!" Mimi said with a laugh.

"Thanks!"

……………..

Helena was riding her favorite horse Raisin, around the lit arena. She was giving herself and Raisin a workout, and the pressure to be perfect on the back of the white horse gave her something to focus about.

Mark showed up and sat on a bench. When Helena brought Raisin back in, she saw him. She sighed, and hooked Raisin to the posts and started cleaning him up.

"What?" Helena snapped. "I'm busy with Raisin. Raisin will love me no matter what."

"I'm sorry." Mark said. "I was an idiot."

"What you did at dinner was lame." She said.

"Babe, I'm really sorry." Mark said. "I just thought I'd be better off without anybody, because then I wouldn't be able to get hurt."

"But its awful loney by yourself." Helena said. "Who smacked sence into you?"

"Mimi."

"And what did she say?"

"Actually she called me a nimrod."

Helena laughed. She fluutered her eyes closes, and Mark kissed her gently on the lips. She dropped the stuff she was holding, and wrapped her amrs around Mark. Finally, she broke away, and said, "Can we go some where more privete?"

"Hey, Raisin," Mark said, "Mind your own buisnuss!"

Helena petted Raisin.

"Babe?" Mark asked. "Do you have AIDS?"

"No."

"Good."