But then will get in an Uber

What’s your address again

?

Kayleigh

17 morgan street e3

Plz bring me a diet coke when you come i finished my milkshake

Linda

Just checking you’re still free on 23 August for Auntie Nora’s garden party? She’d love to see you. Dad and I will be setting off from home about lunchtime, so could give you a lift. Drive takes about 45 minutes – traffic permitting. Love Mum x

PS are you still a vegetarian? Will have to let Nora know.

Ellen locked her phone, turned it over on the bedside table and left it to charge. It was April and Ellen had absolutely no idea whether she was free in August. Moreover, she had been vegetarian for about three weeks when she was fourteen. She rolled on to her side and lay curled up, her mind blank. The hangover that had ebbed all day – such a long, merciless day – licked at her insides again. She hoped that Alexa really had forgiven her.

She heard the front door bang again. She rolled her eyes, and groaned. Before she could get up, there was another knock on the door.

‘Yes,’ she called out, tersely, hoping it wasn’t one of the firemen, then propped herself up on her elbows so she could see the door.

Jack pushed it open, slowly. He was hugging himself, his teeth chattering slightly. His trousers were still sopping wet and his feet were still bare, hairy toes wiggling on the carpet. ‘Hi,’ he said, softly.

Ellen extended an arm to reluctantly welcome him into her bedroom.

Jack darted into her room, glancing furtively behind him as he entered. He closed the door. He was breathing as though he’d just finished a jog around the block.

She sat up properly, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. This better be good.

‘Um – OK,’ Jack started, unpromisingly. He caught her expression and seemed to steel himself. ‘Look, Ellen, I’m sorry about the Twitter thing. I didn’t’ – he took a deep breath – ‘it sort of got a bit out of hand. I mean, no one usually cares about my Twitter.’ He glanced at her, hazarding a small smile, which Ellen, in spite of herself, returned. ‘But at first, I just hoped it would maybe help to get us out of the attic. And then, well, when people started liking it … and then more people saw it and then … well. I liked it, I suppose.’ He glanced up again. ‘Everyone thought I was funny and …’ He trailed off.

Ellen watched him, hopping from one foot to the other, damp still spreading up his thighs. She exhaled through her nose and rolled her eyes.

He looked anguished.

‘Oh, for God’s sake, Jack – it’s fine,’ she said, suddenly utterly over the whole thing. ‘Look, you got us out, didn’t you? In the end.’

Jack smiled uncertainly, as though he was still waiting for a blow to land.