Evening with friends

The summer evening makes reddish stretch marks on the otherwise dark blue sky as Alex looks out of the apartment window for the umptieth time in the past ten minutes.

He and Cassandra (Cassie) are waiting to take one of their long-term friendships up to a new level. But the guests are late.

Ten o'clock was agreed to rendezvous at their apartment, but no sign of their friends. Are they coming at all? Are they having second thoughts?

Tired of waiting in the hot sweltering summer evening and anxious with the possibility of a huge disappointment, Alex decides to do something to take his mind of Orsi and Nigels' tardiness.

So while Cassie prepares some last minute snacks, Alex turns away from the window with the sun-scorched scene and ...