‘Maybe,’ Alexa said. ‘Anyway,’ her voice was businesslike now, ‘I don’t think we can stay here until the ground floor has dried out. I’ll email Elias in a minute and tell him what happened. With a few details omitted, obviously. Might not bother telling him about the damage to either door for now, and I think if we just foot the locksmith’s bill ourselves, then we can avoid him finding out about the front door. We can pay to get the attic door fixed ourselves, I guess? And then I suppose I’m going to have to go and stay at my dad’s.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘I’m sure Jack can stay at his sister’s. Do you reckon you could stay at Kayleigh’s, or something? I’d invite you to stay at Dad’s but I think it would be a bit of a squeeze,’ she added, awkwardly.

Ellen stared back at her. She couldn’t work out if Alexa was still cross. She didn’t think so. But it still bothered her that they’d now be separated for weeks, giving Ellen no chance to gradually make amends.

‘Oh God, of course – don’t worry,’ Ellen replied, hastily. ‘Yeah, I’ll just text Kay. There’s always room on her uncomfortable sofa bed for one more.’

‘Someone will need to wait in for the locksmith. We need to get the front door fixed before we can leave the house. Otherwise, someone might steal everything we own.’

‘Yes. Which would clearly be a tragedy.’ Ellen gestured to a bag stuffed full of The Flowdown leaflets that she was supposed to have stuffed through doors in south-east London a few weekends ago. Instead, she’d gone to the pub and left a pile in the ladies. ‘I can do it – wait in for the locksmith. I’ll just go to Kayleigh’s a bit later. No problem.’

‘Brilliant,’ Alexa replied, politely. ‘Thank you.’

‘No worries.’ Ellen attempted a joke, ‘About time I did something useful today.’

Alexa smiled. A small smile, but a start.

25. Ellen

Lee Two Wheels Good

Hey, sorry I left quite early yest

Had to get up for cycling

How was the rest of your night

Ellen

Got drunk, got home, got more drunk, got locked in an attic

Kayleigh

Oh my goddddddddd

What even happened last night

Have just ordered McDonalds straight to bed

Only ronald can save me now

Ellen

OK Kay

So I have had. Quite. A. Morning.

Appreciate is now like 2pm

Anyway, bit complicated to explain but any chance I can come stay at yours???

Long story short our house is flooded

Kayleigh

Wait rewind wtf flooded??

But yeah babe no problem

Just get an uber here we can watch a film in bed

I’ll save u a mcnugget (i got 40 don’t judge me)

Ellen

OK amazing THANK YOU

Just gonna get some stuff together and have to wait for a locksmith