"I would be in my cabana at the Hotel de Cat, and there he would be. Amid all the fireworks on Bastille Day, all I could see what that... Chuck Bass-tard." Blair Waldorf ,Gossip Girl

You're my best friend -The Once

***

"Helix!" A voice calls out bringing me to my senses and causing me to pull away. I let out a deep breath of relief thankful for the interruption. I'd almost kissed Helix. It was the second time we'd ever met and yet I almost kissed him, either he was really good at seduction or I was a bigger fool than I realized.

"Hey Leo," Helix says reaching out to greet the guy.

'Excuse me, I need to use the restroom," I say to Helix and leave heading to the restroom needing to be away from him to get my senses back in order.

Once in the restroom, I slap myself lightly twice and walk over to the sink. Seriously Hestia? Seriously? I shake my head and turn on the tap. I let the water run over my arms and glance at the mirror the feel of the water against my hands reigniting my sense and reminding me of whom I was and why I shouldn't be here.

"I heard Helix is here," I hear a girl say as she walks in on the phone. I raise my eyes and look at her from the mirror.

"He looks smashing hot. I'm going to do the world a favor and try going home with him tonight," she says and giggles as she walks into a stall.

I clean my hands with a paper towel and head back out. My eyes fall on Helix leaning close to a girl and whispering something to her.

Jen's words flow back into my mind.

He is extremely hot, rich, and smart. However, Helix doesn't date, he flirts but he never ever commits. Like EVER. You're a girl who'd hope for more, you can't keep up with him Hestia

I smile to myself. She was right and I was wrong. Helix was experienced in these things I wasn't I couldn't keep up with him as evidenced by my coming so close to kissing him.

This guy was an expense my heart could not afford. I let out a deep breath and turn headed for the exit.

                The next day after class i head over to Kard hospital where I had just gotten a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant for the transport tea, also known as a CNA. My job entailed taking patients to their appointments. I had done my orientation and was officially starting today with my on the job training. I hadn't heard from Helix since i left. I had texted him stating I was leaving, but never got a response. i wasn't sure if he was mad or too "busy" with his "friends" to reply but he never did and I tried not to be bothered that he didn't care to reply.

After arriving and asking the receptionist for assistance in informing my manager I had arrived I walk to a seat where the Receptionist asked me to sit and wait to be picked up. While I wait, I go over my instagram posts and reels. 

"Hestia Raymond?" I hear a light male voice call out and look up from my phone.

"Yes," I say getting up and pause as I take in the face of the guy in front of me.

"Steven, Steven Ritch?" I ask slightly unsure.

"Hestia Raymond?" He says his eyes gleaming.

"Oh my goodness!' I exclaim and quickly place my hands over my mouth as folks around turn to look at us.

"I thought it was you, but I wasn't sure," Steven says moving in for a hug and pausing as I lean back reflexively.

"I'm sorry, I don't do hugs," I say cringing in realization of what I'd just done.

"Wait, for real?" he asks with a look of disbelief to which I nod with a look of apology and guilt. I used to be a hugger, but not anymore.

"I'm sorry," I say realizing he didn't know this.

"Dude what? Why are you apologizing? I should be the one apologizing for trying to swoop in for a hug without first asking if it was okay," he says adding, "I'm so sorry,"

Anyone else and I'd feel awkward, but Steven was different. I knew Steven and hence knew he truly was not offended by my refusal and genuinely felt bad for not having asked first.

"It's totally cool Steven, I mean I used to be the biggest hugger," I reply to which he smiles and nods.

"Fact! I'll be your trainer for today. Come on let me show you my base, or should I say our new base?" He says to which I chuckle. "The Base" Was what we called his garage each time we hung out years back. See Steven was one of my closest friends from High School. He left in Junior year to Europe, and we lost contact. Hence, I truly was happy to see him again.

"Goodness Hess, I've missed you," he says calling me the nickname he'd created for me. The nickname that still elicited a smile from me.

"When I saw the name, I thought it might be you and was hoping it was. So glad it is!" he says to which I nod extremely glad at the turn of events. Who'd have thought I'd meet Steven here.

"I had no idea you were back," I say as we step into the elevator.

"I returned three years back,"

"Wow and you never thought to reach out?" I say slightly hurt.

"I'm truly sorry Hess, so much happened these past few years," He lets out a deep breath that makes me curious. "But that's beside the point, we've reconnected and I'm never letting you out of my sight again Hestia Raymond," he says to which I chuckle. Yup, he's still Steven, Golden tongued Steven, with words that made you think he liked you if you didn't know any better. However I did, this was typical Steven being a nice hearted person he genuinely was and nothing more.  I break into a grin at the thought of all the girls whose hearts he stole with his unconscious tongue.

"What?" He says looking at me.

"I'm just thinking you haven't changed much," 

"Well you have. You've become more beautiful!" More beautiful, meaning I was before, this was Steven, always sweet with his words. I break into a grin, wait till I tell Blair her crush is back! Blair always had the biggest crush on Steven, but I'd never tell him that. Sisters over bros always!

"So are you in college right now?" He asks to which I nod.

"Stars University," I state.

"Woah, that's awesome,"

"You?"

"Pre-health, SJSU"

"Nice! You'd absolutely make a great doctor!"

"Look who's talking, you'd make an even better one," he says to which I smile awkwardly.

"What are you studying?" He asks.

'Psychology,"

"Nice, I almost went for psychology too," He says.

"Oh, for real? Nice," I say as we pass through a door to a room he explains is the staff room.

"You can use this computer or any of the computers around to log in to see your runs or check your work email," He explains once we step into the room. He walks to the far end and grabs an iPhone. "This is what we use for our runs," He explains and hands it over to me.

"Maddie told me she sent some things to your email she wants you to acknowledge today," he says showing me how to log in. Once I do, he shows me through the systems.

I finish acknowledging the emails and then log into the phone. My name shows up on the system as idle and he explains how it works.

He then leads me out of the office to the employee only area. There was a large lounge with two tv's and a reception as well as a mini store he explained was for employees to buy snacks if they didn't want to go to the general restaurant. This was one specifically for employees.

He leads me to the locker room where he explains employees change and keep their personal items. I pick a locker and I'm about to leave when he stops and takes a picture of it.

"Always take a picture, you have no idea how many times you'd think you know where you locked your stuff only to realize you don'. It happens to everyone," Steven explains.

"Speak for yourself we're not all dumb idiots, that's uniquely you," A voice says causing us to turn around in shock to see who said such rude words. 

"Helix?" I say shocked to see him here.

***