The chest of drawers is jammed, so I have to wiggle the bottom drawer when I'm trying to put away my clothes. It finally opens halfway, but something's caught at the back of the drawer. I reach blindly under the dresser, and find a paperback novel with its front cover torn off from getting stuck in the drawer. I flick through the book, trying to identify it, and a card falls out from between the pages. I assume at first the card is just a bookmark, marking a particular page, because on this page is text underlined and highlighted, the line, "I'm sick to death of this particular self. I want another."

But then I pick up the card again, and see it's a get well soon card. I flip it open.

"Dear Matt, good luck with your surgery today. We're all thinking of you. S."

"Matt, we love you! Wishing you a speedy recovery xoxo Kitty."

"Dear Matt, you got this, bro. Hang in there! Speedy recovery then we'll be back on the pitch in no time! Love Harper."

"We know you'll come out on TOP!!! Love you, you big hunk, love and kisses, WILL X."

"Matt, good luck. We'll be right there for you when you wake up. x Edgar."

"Thinking of you today, hope it all goes well! xx Charlotte."

I tuck the card back into the ripped book, and place the book back in the drawer. I wonder what Matt's surgery was. The words of the others are all so thoughtful and bursting with love. So what has happened since then to make Matt leave?

Will is lying on the sofa in the living room, drinking tea and reading an orange Penguin paperback. I put the kettle on.

'Will, mind if I borrow a tea bag?' I say.

Will takes a while to look up from his book. He places the paperback flat on his chest, over the four names printed on his t-shirt, and looks me over before saying, 'we all share tea. It's in that big jar. The one that says, "Tea".'

'Do you want one?'

'Oh yeah, go on then.'

When I've made my tea I drop down onto the arm of the sofa next to Will's head. He's reading The Beautiful and Damned, but as soon as I sit down he sits up and pats the sofa beside him. I slip down onto the seat, and pass him his tea.

'How's your room?' he asks.

'Getting there.'

Possibly he can sense there's something I want to ask him, because he stays silent and watches me sip at my tea.

'Why did Matt leave?'

Will leans his head back and looks up at the ceiling instead of facing me as he says, 'Kitty doesn't want us to tell you.'

I frown. 'Kitty's never kept anything from me.'

Will raises an eyebrow.

'She hasn't,' I insist. 'Kitty and I are practically sisters. She would never lie to me.'

'Okay,' Will says. 'She said you haven't been as close recently.'

'We haven't,' I admit. 'But we're still like sisters.'

'Well, she told us not to tell you,' Will says.

'Can you tell me anything?' I ask. 'Why'd he leave?'

'He just didn't want to be here anymore,' Will says. 'I don't want to talk about it. Kitty doesn't want me to.'

'Has he left London?'

Will sighs. 'I'm sorry. I just don't think I should say anything.'

'You can at least tell me if he's still in London,' I say.

Will looks irritated, and I realise I'm pressing too hard.

'Fine, don't worry,' I say, taking a big swig of tea. Will picks up his book again and flicks back to his page.

I sit in silence until I've finished my tea, and then stand up. 'I'm going for a walk.'

'Enjoy,' Will says. He's focused on his book again, and doesn't look at me as I get my coat and leave.

The rain has stopped but it's still wet and cold outside as I walk along the high street, across the road and to the park. The grey sky casts a bleak outlook over the bare trees of the green. A few people walk their dogs, while the rest rush past, holding their coats tightly to their bodies, wanting to get out of the chill.

I wander aimlessly across the green, through streets, stepping over puddles. It starts spitting, slightly. Not enough to pull my umbrella out, but enough that my coat is slightly damp.

I gravitate towards Westfield, because it's indoors and it's a place of familiarity. Inside these walls everything feels normal. People are everywhere, with shopping bags and pushchairs, striding towards their destination or strolling past shops.

I find Waitrose, and wander through the aisles, orienting myself before grabbing things I'll need. Salmon fillets, salad, greek yoghurt, muesli, and fruit. Then I see the baking aisle, and I realise if I want to win over my flatmates, I should bake something. When I get to the checkout, most of my items are sweet. Raspberries, buttermilk, cream.

It's raining again, so I race back to the flat, clutching my Waitrose bags. I'm flustered and exhausted by the time I get back, with the bags digging into my fingers. Just as I'm struggling to find my keys the door to the flat opens, and Harper emerges. I almost don't recognise him, with his black hoodie up, but then he shoots me that warm grin of his.

'Jane!' he says, beaming at me. Instantly he grabs the bags from me. I'm conscious that I must look like a drowned rat, but Harper doesn't seem to mind. He helps me bring the shopping upstairs, waves goodbye, and bounds down the stairs again.

Will is still on the sofa, and he watches the exchange silently, and then goes back to reading while I unpack my groceries. Then I set out the baking ingredients.

'What are you making?' Will says.

'Raspberry lemon cakes,' I say. It takes me a moment to work out how to use the oven, but I set it to 180 degrees and line a cupcake tray with butter.

I hear footsteps on the stairs, and then Sylvie is in the kitchen. She barely seems to register me as she puts the kettle on. This is a completely different Sylvie to the one I met on Friday night. Her hair is wrapped in a patterned scarf and she's makeup free. She has freckles that were completely covered when I last saw her. The only thing that hints at the Sylvie I met is the matte fake nails shaped like talons.

She takes a watering can from on top of the cupboard and fills it with water, then wanders around the room, watering plants. Some of them she dusts lightly with water, some of them she soaks through.

'How long did you stay out last night, girl?' Will asks.

'Six,' Sylvie says.

She turns back to the kitchen and seems to see me for the first time. I'm stirring lemon juice and buttermilk into flour.

'Hi,' Sylvie says, narrowing her eyes. 'What are you doing?'

'Making cupcakes,' I say.

Sylvie glances back at Will, shrugs, and then joins me in the kitchen. She makes tea and a bowl of cereal, then drops onto the sofa next to Will to eat.

'So you and Charlotte went out after work?' I ask.

'We all did,' Sylvie says.

'Where did you go?' I ask. 'Where's good?'

'Ended up at Fabric, as per,' Sylvie says with a scoff. 'But we were hanging in this cool place in the West End until they kicked us out. Did you see your mate Taylor works there, Will?'

'Yeah, I talked to him,' Will says. 'He's dating Simon G. now. So weird.'

'I thought he literally just broke up with Simon K.,' Sylvie says.

Will shrugs.

I hear the front door open, and then Kitty is here. I'm relieved, because I was starting to feel like a stranger here.

'Hey!' Kitty says. 'You're making cupcakes! Ah, guys, Jane's baking is the best. You're going to be blown away.'

'I'm going to get fat again,' Will says, but he laughs.

• Author's Note •

Okay, tell me, who is curious about Matt? Do you have any theories about why he left or where he went?

And now I have another question for you, of course! Jane is an excellent baker, so my question for you is...

What's your favourite sweet baked treat?

p.s. don't forget to vote, thanks so much!

elle xx