Alain grinned as he, Mal, and Brent watched the two women explain to the three men who had taken their table that, in fact, they had been there first, and that they'd just gone to the bar, as evidenced by the drinks they held in their hands, and that - as the first woman pointed out - their bags and other personal effects were still at the end of the table. The men couldn't really argue with any of this, nor indeed could they take issue with the women's feminine charms, and they most graciously vacated the table. Would that it was larger, that it would seat five! But it wasn't to be.

"Are we gonna do this, man?" Alain asked Mal.

Mal took his time in answering. He was a little awe-struck. "Totally" he said eventually.

"Awesome." Alain nodded in appreciation. "How are we gonna do it?"

"What d'you mean?"

"I mean how're we gonna approach them? We gonna have a story? I like having a story."

"What kind of story?"

"Like - I dunno, like your mum just died or something."

Mal shook his head. "I don't like saying my mum died" he said. "I mean, what if I said it, and then she did die?"

"Okay, okay, fine. So you just broke up with your girlfriend. No, wait, your fiancé!"

"Aww, man. I don't wanna have to act all depressed! How come I've always gotta be the sad one?"

Alain rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. I'll be the loser this time."

"You know" said Brent, "for someone who's always boasting about how good he is with women, how come you have to make up stories to get their attention?"

"I don't have to make up stories" Alain replied. "I just like to. Chicks dig that shit. It's all 'romantic' and shit."

Brent sniggered. "So on Valentine's Day you - what, lie to your girlfriend? A nice, romantic, bullshitting session?"

"What?" Alain looked at Brent, irritated at the distraction. "Man, fuck Valentine's Day."

"Here's an idea" said Brent. "How about you just - go over there. You know, say 'hi'."

"Man, you're as bad as Rona. Why did we bring you along tonight, anyway?"

"Fine" Brent said. "Fine. I'll shut my mouth then."

Mal, meanwhile, kept watching the women.