Patty, Abby and Holtz were sitting around the table. The carcass of a pizza lay in front of them. Holtz happily finishes the last slice.
"Where is Erin?" Abby asked. The other two shrugged their shoulders, Erin was supposed to meet them there well over an hour ago, she had text saying she was running late and to save her a slice, but that hadn't happened. Holtz had been at the firehouse since the small hours of the morning working on modifications for the proton packs, she had been starving. Holtzmann jumped of her seat and grabbed the box full of crusts.
"Holtzy is gonna take the trash out". She said in an odd off key voice.
"I wish you wouldn't do that. It`s so weird." Patty interjected. Holtz flashed her a signature gleaming white smile that showed off her dimples. Holtzy giggled and went into her "Holtzy sorry" routine. Patty rolled her eyes and shoved her towards the door. Holtz skipped down the stairs and out onto the street. She started to hum the latest 80s tune that was stuck in her head under her breath. This week it was Reflex by Duran Duran, last week it was True by Spandau Ballet. Holtz dumped the box in the dumpster and proceeded to wipe her hands on her multicoloured capri pants. She was just about to head back inside when she heard a familiar voice.
"Okay sir you take care." Holtz`s ears pricked up, she pushed her head forward and saw Erin walking away from a homeless guy and up the steps of the firehouse. The man was sitting with some food in his hand and a new warm blanket around his shoulders. He was smiling.
"Shit." Holtz muttered under her breath, she tucked a stray blonde curl behind her ear and began to walk home. Holtz`s apartment was close to the firehouse, which was a good thing considering the amount of times she worked late. New York was scary at night, the shorter the walk the better. She ran up the steps to her apartment and shut the door behind her.
"Shit, shit, shit." She whipped out her phone and texted Abby.
Gone looking for metal, see ya tomorrow.
She turned her phone off in case she was called in. She needed time for Erin to forget about the homeless man in case it reminded her of something Holtz didn't really want her to remember. It was better this way; the past didn't need raking up. They would be okay without her for a day; the modifications she made meant the proton packs were more powerful than ever. They wouldn't miss her. Holtzmann and Erin met briefly way before the day Erin came into Abby`s and Holtz`s lab at the Kenneth P. Higgins institute, only Erin doesn't remember. Holtz wanted to keep it that way. The day that Erin came into her and Abby`s lab Holtz almost fell of her chair. But then Erin looked at her if that was the first time she had laid eyes on her. Holtz went along with it thinking Erin was just being polite. Erin wasn't just being polite, she honestly didn't know who Holtz was, and Holtz thanked the gods for a free pass.