Sacha could hear Hannah and Shelly kissing from where she was in the sitting-room. It hadn't taken them long to move beyond the shy phase - only a few hours, really. Now here they were, kissing within ear-shot. At least they weren't doing it for no reason: "See you soon, sexy" Sacha heard Shelly murmur, and then more kissing, and then the sound of the front door opening and closing.

Then footsteps, growing gradually louder. "Things sure seem to be going well with Shelly" Sacha said as Hannah entered the room. She didn't need to turn around: she already knew the expression Hannah would be wearing.

"I know!" Hannah agreed. "What's that all about?"

"So I assume we're going to see her again tomorrow night?" Sacha asked.

"I guess so" Hannah said.

"Well" Sacha sighed. "That will be nice."

"Could you make dinner for us?" Hannah asked.

"What, for you and Shelly?" Sacha replied indignantly, a little disbelieving of Hannah's nerve.

"And for you, too" Hannah explained. "She'll bring wine. She works in a bottle-shop."

"How convenient for you!" Sacha still hadn't turned away from the T.V. she wasn't really watching.

Hannah jumped down onto the sofa next to her. "Do you like her?" she asked Sacha eagerly.

"Does it matter?"

"A bit!"

"I already told you" Sacha said. "She seems nice. I haven't exactly seen much of her this last week."

"But she's been around every night!"

"I know."

Hannah exhaled heavily. She recognised Sacha's demeanour. "God" she said in a fed-up tone, "now what are you pissed off about?"

"Who says I'm pissed off?"

"Who says you're not?" Hannah replied. "I mean, what, am I supposed to consult you when I get a girlfriend now?"

"You did" Sacha pointed out. "At length, as I recall."

"So what the fuck's the deal, then?" Hannah demanded.

Sacha thought for a moment, deciding if she could be bothered arguing or not. "Nothing" she said eventually. "I'm just a bit taken aback."

"By the speed?"

"Sure." Sacha tuned the sound on the T.V. up.

"I thought you hated this show" Hannah frowned.