"Robert, is that you?"

He recognized the voice of his old friend immediately, "Yes. Hello Peter. How may I be of assistance?" He was only partially kidding - it was really the only reason he called most of the time. Robert was on his mid-morning break from classes and was glad to have someone to talk to, instead of trying to socialize with the rest of the teaching cohort.

"It's Kate, I was just on the phone with her for over an hour and I think she's lonely as it is Valentine's Day and she has no significant other. I don't mean to cause offence but I know you are in the same situation and I was wondering how to handle her when she calls back, which is guaranteed to happen."

It had taken Robert a moment to realize he was talking about Katherine, still not used to her being known as Kate to everyone except himself. He ran a hand through his hair, considering different ideas for how to help. If he was being truthful he had completely forgot about the significance of today until this conversation and it now made sense why all the students looked happy and bearing cards or gifts which had unsettled him that morning as he was used to them being sullen or downright rude.

"Peter, how about I phone and have a chat with her, that way you don't have to worry and I will have a friend to bask in loneliness with?" He hadn't spoken to her in a few weeks, bordering on months, and felt this was a good way to catch up.

"Would you mind? That might just work you know."

A security officer answered the phone which was something he had not thought about, he had also not asked whether she was at home or work - work was what they both did as much as possible and he would be shocked if she were moping at home by herself. "I was wondering if I could speak with Dr Solomon; Katherine that is, not Peter."

"I can go and see if she is free. Who shall I say is calling?"

"Robert Langdon. Thank you." A few minutes passed in which he only vaguely heard the football game that was on the guard's television.

Eventually he heard her not-so-chipper voice, "Robert, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Hi there, how are you today?"

There was a deep sigh from her end of the phone before she began to speak again, "Before you go on with the niceties, Peter called you didn't he?"

There was no point in denying it, she could always read him no matter how they were communicating. "He may have tipped me off. Honestly, I understand being depressed, we are the same."

"I bet you were with someone more recently than I was!"

"Irrelevant. Valentine's Day is for those you love, not one you met a couple of hours before." Neither realised that for the past few February 14th's they had ended up speaking together in some way and that his words probably should have set something of in them, but they had grown so accustomed to being content with their platonic friendship that there were very few pangs of feelings over a indirect line of speech any more.

"A couple of hours, new record for you isn't that? I've known you over a decade; I should feel ugly or something at not being wanted!" Their joking dialogues often progressed down this line so they read no more in to it, and they did enjoy finding out all about the other's relationship statuses.

"But Katherine, you know that is because I adore you and couldn't treat you that way."

"Charmer!" He could hear her smile down the line and wished he were there to see it. "Fancy flying over and getting wasted again? That is all I am in the mood for at this moment.

"Not really. And please don't do that alone, that will just make you look and feel worse."

"And you will lose respect for me?"

"I'm not sure what respect I have left for you." It was clear to them both that he didn't mean a word of it so she let him off with the low blow.

"You make me want to drink more now." They both began to laugh and sat in silence, not feeling that it was necessary to say more at that very second.

"Are you definitely okay Katherine?"

"Yeah, honestly Robert, my brother called quite earlier which I was mad over since I had just settled in work. He's probably lonely himself!"

"So... I'll see you some time soon I hope."

"I hope so too. Happy Valentine's Day Professor Langdon."

"Happy Valentine's Day, Dr Solomon."