"I shouldn't have though," Briseis told her, guilty, eyes down, still blushing red. "Especially when you were just saying what a safe place I had made for you."
Briseis looked at Helen finally. "I-" she licked her lips. "I do have feelings for you, and maybe I shouldn't have kept that from you but... I don't want to lose you," she whispered, trying not to tear up. "I really did mean it when I said you're my best friend, and I don't have any ulterior motives about that. This was just... I just forgot myself for a moment. Please, I don't want you to think I'm only spending time with you because I'm interested in you romantically. That isn't the case, I swear." She took both of Helen's hands in her softly. "I want to be that safe place for you. I want to be someone who you can always be comfortable with."