Angelique tapped her head. "Sexy isn't he? Shame about the mask."
Henriette turned and glared at Angelique. She would have liked very much to slap her but they were in the middle of the food court in the shopping centre so there was little she could do. "I hate you." She wasn't joking. The meaning dripped off every letter like poison.
"You could have called him back."
"I didn't get his number."
"Oh." Angelique suddenly realised her teasing comment had not been wise. Henri had been quiet all week, it seemed like she'd left all her personality at the party with Erik. She even dressed quietly, preferring black on jeans and her hair over her face. Sometimes Angie spotted tears in her eyes but they were always wiped away before she could say anything.
Angelique caught the death glare Henriette was giving her and sighed, "Okay okay, no more reading your thoughts and no more mentioning He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named I promise."
Henriette forced a smile, "I'm sorry, I just… It's so…" she sighed and shook her head, resting her chin in her hands.
Angelique moved around the table and put her arm around Henri, I wish Erik was here to comfort me. Angie smiled weakly. "I understand. Come on I'll drop you back at your flat."
Henriette nodded and they walked back to the car park in silence. When Angie started the engine Henri spoke first, "Thanks Angie. I'm being a bitch."
"No your not," Angie smiled, "You're just being sensitive old you."
----
Once Henriette was safely dropped off and settled down in front of a cheesy horror movie with a tub of Ben'n'Jerry's ice-cream. Angie went home and tried to design an outfit but she gave up quickly, ending up with her hand hovering over the phone. Finally she grabbed it and dialled it quickly before she could change her mind. It rang, and a clear cool voice answered it.
"Hello?"
"Andrew!" Angelique gasped, "It's me, Angie."
"I guessed, where's the fire?" Angie sounded worried and excited and Andrew was freaked out.
"How's Erik?" Angie was literally grinning at the phone now.
"Still not talking to me because I stopped him going to see Henriette's bike. Why? Angie what's going on?" Andrew asked frowning,
Angelique sighed, "Jesus Andrew you can be slow sometimes. We have to meet up some time. All four of us."
"Why?"
She felt like thumping him and had to thump her desk as a compromise. Cursing loudly she balanced the phone on her shoulder so she could cradle her bruised fist. "Because, you half-brained twit, we have to get them together again."
Andrew blinked a few times. "Ew."
"What now?" Angie was getting really frustrated he could tell.
"You're going to try and set them up. You know he's old enough to be her dad with a little stretch of the imagination?"
Angelique sighed, "That," she stated firmly, "Is not the point. Henriette is depressed and needs her masked man. You will bring him to her at the Moonlight café tomorrow at 6. Understand?"
Andrew sighed, there was no arguing with her now. "Fine. I'll be there but I can't promise you an Erik."
"You had better." She hung up, extremely pleased with herself and called Henriette to make sure she was free.
Erik sighed into his coffee and wondered if he should have gone out today. He knew there was a whole bunch of things he was meant to do but he had taken the day off work so he could mope around and play depressing piano music. He was in a ridiculous state of depression (sitting on the sofa with a coffee and watching an old musical) when the phone rang.
Thanks to the wonders of caller ID he knew it was 'Ass Hole'
"Hello Andrew. What the hell do you want?"
Andrew silently cursed his family friend as he spewed his pre-prepared excuse, "I felt like you were ignoring me so I called to ask if you wanted to make it up over coffee tomorrow at 6?"
"I hate going out for coffee Andy, can't we just talk here?" Erik sighed, he did not need this right now. What I need is Henriette. She was just so…
"Shut up Erik, you'll love this place and if you don't come out soon people will start to think you've died in your little hole." He laughed, Erik's house was 4 times the size of Andrew's flat at least. It wasn't an elegant thing on the outside but he designed the interior himself.
"Fine." He spat. Maybe it will take my mind off her.
"I'll pick you up and we'll walk together." He teased, batting his eyelids at the phone, grateful that Erik couldn't punch him through the handset. Erik hung up and threw the phone onto an armchair, flinging himself back into the pillows of the sofa and lying back. What the hell just happened? Did I agree to go out? He shook his head and stalked back the Studio and his beloved drawing desk where he began to sketch his masked beauty.