"Henriette?" His voice was deep and masculine. She felt obliged to answer somehow but her tongue had run away with her sanity.

She nodded, took a deep breath and answered, "Erik?"

He nodded, smiling. I wonder what she was thinking about.

"Pleased to meet you." She mumbled, turning her head and staring back at the floor. I hate Angie so much.

"And you, I'm guessing that Angelique girl dragged you along?" I love that girl for bringing you.

Henriette rolled her eyes, "Dressed me up like a doll, painted my face, fussed over my hair and drew blood on my wrists trying to get me through the door."

Erik laughed. God he has a nice laugh! Henriette thought, shocked at herself. She was usually so normal around boys.

"I suppose Andrew did the same for you." Please inform him I am eternally grateful.

"Not quite." He chuckled, "He tricked me into coming. It was either this or the forfeit."

"Do I want to know what the forfeit was?"

"No."

They both laughed, Henriette imagining what weird forfeits a friend of Angelique's could come up with. They talked and neither mentioned the others mask.

----

At some point during the night Angelique and Andrew parted from a gaggle of friends and it was Andrew to first notice the change in their two guests.

"Look." He pointed, they were laughing and chatting animatedly, (what Henriette lacked in mouth movement she made up for in hand gestures) and both of them looked happy.

"Oh gosh!" Angelique giggled, "What a change, I didn't think she'd actually enjoy herself here. You should have told me you were bringing Erik!"

"Why?"

"So I could warn Henri you silly billy! She's going to kill me for leaving her with Mr Tall dark and handsome over there." Angie giggled, "Come on, we better leave them two it. If your Erik is anything like Henriette we'll be pushing up daisies if we interrupt."

----

The night dragged on but Henri and Erik were in a world of their own. They some how dropped all defences and it wasn't long before Erik knew everything about Henri and Henriette knew everything about Erik.

Henriette knew that Erik could do slight of hand magic and play piano, Erik knew Henri could sing – but didn't. Henriette knew Erik was a designer by profession and owned a small firm, Erik knew Henri worked at the zoo as a vet-come-zookeeper and specialized in exotic animals and birds of prey. Henriette knew Erik was afraid of spiders; she laughed at him and told him she loved spiders and nicknamed the one in the zoo Angie. Erik found out that Henri was ticklish and teased her mercilessly, earning them an odd look from Andrew, and so the night progressed.

Eventually Angelique came and sat beside them. "Come on Henri we've got to go. Can you give me a lift? I shouldn't really drive…" she grinned and Henri felt like poisoning her. Excuse me but I am talking to a smart, funny, handsome guy and you just interrupted. Please fuck off.

"Yeah sure Angie, you can wear the helmet."

"Helmet?" Erik felt like he should get a conversation going again to stop this gorgeous young girl from leaving.

"Got to have a helmet for a motorbike." Henriette grinned, "What you think I wear these trousers for fun?"

Erik stared; Oh my god the mysterious girl rides a bike. I have got to get her number NOW. "What sort of bike?"

"A big shiny black Yamaha." She grinned, holding out her hand "Come on I'll show you."

Erik had just taken the proffered hand when Andrew came up behind him. "Hey Tall dark and crazy, you are free. I'm off."

NOOOOOOOOOO! Erik was screaming in his head, he didn't let go of Henri's hand. He pouted, "Can I go with the lovely ladies to see the bike first?"

"No… we're going to miss the taxi if you don't hurry up."

Likewise, Henriette would not let his hand slip out of hers. When he took it she noticed he was wearing black fitted leather gloves, and his hands were big and manly. She nearly collapsed and if Andrew hadn't arrived she would have been stuck for conversation. As it was she didn't need to talk, Angie was talking for her.

"It's okay, I'm sure you two will meet again sometime." She winked at Andrew who laughed, "Come on Henri lets go."

Before she knew it her hand had been yanked out of Erik's and she was being dragged away. She looked longingly back at Erik who was wearing a similar lost expression and staring at his hand. Andrew put his hand up on Erik's shoulder and Erik shook him off, turning round and shouting at him but Henriette couldn't hear, she was already out of the door.