Rona's mind was put at ease over the matter of Matt and Hannah, but she was still given pause for thought on another matter: that of Hannah and herself. Miranda had been right about that: they weren't as close now as they used to be. There was no getting around it. And yet Rona didn't understand why it should be so: had anything happened to them? Had they fallen out? No, they'd just drifted apart. They were like the captains of two ships: each had thought that her vessel was tied to the other, but neither of them had bothered to check.

But it wasn't too late. It could be resolved. Now that she thought about it, now that she approached the issue head-on rather than skirting around it, wishing to pretend that it didn't exist, she could tackle it. Maybe she wouldn't be successful, but she could at least try. She picked up the 'phone. Her fingers still remembered where all the buttons for Hannah's number were.

"Hello, this is Sacha." Rona had momentarily forgotten that Sacha and Hannah lived together, and it was a shock to hear Sacha's voice. She'd become accustomed over the years to hearing the voices of Hannah's succession of housemates, but they'd all been fairly anonymous girls and Rona had never spoken at any length to any of them. Well, apart from that one who Hannah had thought she might be in love with for about five minutes, but she didn't last long. Went back to Canada or something. But - Rona knew Sacha! She felt, genuinely, like she knew Sacha better than Hannah did. She could remember introducing them. It was weird, them being housemates. It made Rona do a double-take.

"Hello?" Sacha repeated. "Anyone there?"

"Oh, yeah, hi it's Rona" Rona said. "Sorry, 'phone was playing up." She had no idea why she said that: she felt foolish, making up such a weak excuse.

"Oh, hi Rona! How's things?"

"They're good, they're good. Is Hannah there?"

"Yeah, she's around somewhere. I'll go find her."

"Oh - and how are you?" Rona added hastily, suddenly remembering her manners.

"Good thanks" Sacha said. "I'll go get Hannah for you." There was a scuffle as Sacha put the 'phone down at her end; a few moments later it was picked up again and Hannah said:

"Hello?"

"Hi Hannah!" Rona said happily. She wondered if it sounded to Hannah like she was trying to force it.

"Rona? Is that you, mouse?"

"Yeah it's me! Didn't Sacha tell you?"

"Ugh." Hannah dropped her voice low so that Rona had to cover her free ear with her hand to hear. "She's not telling me much at the moment" Hannah said. "We had an argument the other night. That girl can hold a grudge, I tell you. Hang on, I'm just gonna take the 'phone into my room. I don't want her to hear me talking about it."

"An argument?" Rona said, more curious than surprised. "What about?"

"Hang on." Rona heard Hannah's footsteps clanging down the line. Then a door shut. "I was just asking her how come she never brings anyone home" Hannah said.

"That's it?"

"Basically."

"And she's still not talking to you?"

"It's freaking me out a bit" Hannah said. "She hasn't even made a pot of tea in the last three days! She just makes cups and takes them to her room!"