Before Hannah could answer, Shelly hurried across the room and hooked her arm and said "Not in here", and led her out of Sacha's room.

"Stop it!" Hannah said irritably. "You don't have to drag me."

"I'm serious, Hannah" Shelly said when they were back outside the room, and Shelly had shut the door. Her voice was still low: like a hiss, it seemed to Hannah. "Don't you think of these things? Listen, I have to say this to you but I have to. It's like - it's like you have half an idea. It's like you do half a job."

"Oh that's bullshit!" Hannah interjected. But she didn't offer any further defence of herself.

"I don't think it is" Shelly said. "You talk a lot about how much you like Sacha, how nice she is, how she's the best housemate you've ever had, but - talk's easy, Han. When it comes to the crunch how do you back it up? I think it's too hard for you. Sometimes I swear for all your talk it's . . . it's just lip service."

"All this just because I didn't shut a window!" Hannah said incredulously. "I mean what's the point, your mind's obviously made up. I don't think this argument needs both of us to be here, do you?"

"It's not just about the Sacha" Shelly said, trying hard to maintain her patience and level her voice. "And it's not just about the window. It's your whole attitude, Hannah. Sometimes, I swear to god, it feels like you don't care about anyone but yourself. Not really."

"Like when?" Hannah demanded.

"Like - look, are you really gonna make me name specific examples?"

"I think you should be able to come up with one" Hannah said. "If you're gonna accuse me like that."

"It's not an accusation -"

"Well then what the fuck is it, Shelly? Helpful advice?"

"Yes!" Shelly said gratefully, leaping on the phrase. "That's exactly what it is. Helping you to be a better person. Just a little bit better."

"Helping me be the kind of person you want me to be."

"You're already the kind of person I want, Hannah. You're you. And I love that. But - it's not all good, and that worries me. It really worries me. 'Cause you can't go on living in a bubble."

"Ha!" Hannah scoffed. "This house is a fucking bubble. But it's my bubble, you're just a guest here, so don't fucking come in here and start heaping this shit on me."

"So - what, you want me to leave?" Shelly asked. "Hannah, is that what you want?"