Apha nodded. It seemed like the best offer she'd get in terms of paying, so she readily agreed to it. 'Deal,' she said, smiling again, knowing she wouldn't have minded being the only buyer all night.

At the mention of her housemates, she rolled her eyes. 'Yes. Zere are four of us. Susanna and Chloé, who are around my age, and Cully, who is . . . nearly fifteen,' she said, mentally calculating the few days remaining until Cully's birthday. 'How about you? Is zere anyone you live wiz?'