AGATHA

The bleeding doorbell is ringing.

Why-

Another ring.

I groan and roll out of bed. I hit my head on the floor. I groan again.

I check the digital alarm clock on my bedside table, hauling myself up back onto the bed.

It's 1:06 AM.

Why?

How?!

Who's strolling around at 1 AM ringing people's doorbells?

I walk out into the front hall.

Another ring.

I answer the door even though it's a ridiculous time to call on someone, it's not like I was sleeping anyway, I was mostly just posting things on Instagram that I'll regret in the morning.

It's not morning yet, but this is a nice distraction from ruining my online footprint.

I slide the bolt on my door and it clicks open.

The doorbell rings again.

'I AM GETTING THERE, OKAY?' I shout through the small gap between the door and the doorframe.

I push it open.

Standing on my doorstep, dishevelled and wearing the most ridiculous pyjama bottoms I've ever seen, is Simon Snow.

I groan. I could be posting weird pictures of my face by now, but instead I'm having a midnight chat with my Normal ex-boyfriend.

'Are you okay?' Simon asks, looking aghast at my facial expression.

I laugh. Of course I'm not okay, Simon, you're only half bearable by daylight, when you show up on my door in the small hours I'm bound to look exasperated.

'What do you want?' I gasp out, knackered to the core.

Simon looks embarrassed and points at something behind me. Fantastic, now we're just playing charades.

'Use your words, Simon.'

He looks down.

'Where's Lucy?'

I'm so sleep-deprived that I answer 'your mother?'

Simon looks a bit confused and coughs, which only heightens the awkwardness. I'm too tired not to be awkward. It's either me sleeping or me defying all the rules of average conversation, you can't have your cake and eat it at this time of night.

'Your dog, Lucy?'

Oh, god, my dog. Of course.

I laugh. Because why is Simon asking about my dog at 1 in the morning? I ask him that through laughing.

'I can't sleep,' he offers as an explanation. That just makes me laugh harder.

Lucy trots into the doorway as if on cue.

'Give her back tomorrow, yeah?' I hand Simon the dog, because he won't leave until I do.

'Uh-uh.'

'Simon?'

'Yeah?'

'Nevermind...'