Rona walked across the café and sat down at the table at the far wall, opposite the dark-haired girl who Mal and Alain had been talking about.

"Hi" Rona said. "Mind if I sit here?"

The girl frowned. "Seems a bit of a redundant question now."

Rona smiled and held out her hand. "I'm Rona."

The girl didn't take her hand, but looked her up and down as if to figure her out. "Well there you go then" she said, and took a sip of her tea.

Rona paused for a moment. "D'you mind if I ask your name?"

"No, I suppose not."

"Oh, right. So . . ."

"Sacha."

"Oh! Hi Sacha, nice to meet you." Rona held out her hand again, and this time Sacha took it, though warily.

"So listen" said Rona, encouraged. "I don't mean to bother you, but my friend over there -" she waved at Alain, who blushed slightly and turned back to Mal. "- was wondering whether you'd like to come over and join us. He saw you sitting over here all by yourself, so . . ."

"So . . .?"

"Well, so he thought you might like to join us."

Sacha frowned again. "Why might I like to do that?"

"Well, I don't know, it's just . . ."

Sacha sighed. "Look, if you're that desperate for company you can bring your friends over and sit here. I'll be leaving soon anyway."

Rona smiled (Sacha didn't). There was a shout from Alain, suddenly emboldened: "Hey Rona, your coffee's here!"

"Well bring it over here, you lazy bastard! Come and sit over here, you two."

Sacha looked over the top of her glasses at the other customers in the café, and took another sip of her tea.

"This is great!" grinned Rona.

"Oh yeah" said Sacha, and rolled her eyes when Rona wasn't looking.