"Hey Rona" Mal said down the 'phone-line. "I had an awesome time last week, with you and Miranda."

"Yeah, I know, you told me."

"But seriously, though."

"What, last time you weren't serious?" Rona teased him.

"No, well . . . Yeah, but I'm saying again: you know, 'cause I want you to know. I had an awesome time."

"Thanks Mal, that's sweet of you to say."

"So what's up?" Mal asked her. "Hey, I can't talk for long, I can see my tram and people stare at me when I talk on the 'phone on the tram. It freaks me out."

"Okay, well I'll get straight to it. I'm having a bit of a get-together on Saturday -"

"Night?"

"Yeah"

"Aw, shit, I can't. I'm sorry. The 'Fractals have a gig."

"What? Mal, you didn't tell me!"

"It only just came up" Mal lied. "I didn't have time."

"When's it start?"

"We're second band on, so, like, ten I guess?"

"Well why don't you come out beforehand? Or afterwards?"

"I'd better not" Mal said. "There's two other bands and Eric gets really upset if we don't hang around and watch them to 'support the other bands on the bill' or whatever."

Rona scoffed. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, it's a hassle. I mean I like listening to bands too, man," Mal said, now complaining to an imaginary Eric, "but not always."

"Well maybe when the last band's finished you can come join us" Rona suggested.

"Okay, yeah, maybe. Cool" Mal said.

Rona heard a coppery bell sound. "That your tram?"

"Yeah."

"Okay well I better let you go. And next time tell me when you've got a gig on!"

"Yeah, I was gonna!" Mal protested.

Rona said goodbye and hung up, and scrolled down her 'phone's contact list to see who she had to call next. The next name after 'Mal' was 'Matt'. She stared at the name for a long time, she couldn't say why, and when she moved beyond she was only able to do so by adopting an attitude of cold indifference.