They sit together at the table, eating pizza, just like they used to.
"Right. First things first, we need to ring your nana." Glancing at Sharice's face, she heads off her protestations: "I know that you don't want to, but we need to let her know that you are safe; she is bound to be worried about you, and I can't let her sit there thinking that you've run away again."
"She doesn't care about me, she hates me."
"No, Sharice, she doesn't. She's grieving, and she's lonely, and she's taking it out on you because she's got no one else. She has to know that you're ok. Now are you going to ring her, or will I?"
"I'm not ringing her."
Disappointed in her stubbornness, Zoe raises her eyebrows and picks up the phone.
Sharice rolls her eyes and goes into the kitchen.
Two minutes later, she comes back. Zoe is still at the table, head in her hands.
"What did she say?"
"She's glad that you're safe. She's worried about you."
"Yeah, right."
"Sharice, she does care about you, you know. She's had so much to cope with over the last few weeks, -"
"What, and I haven't?"
"I'm not saying that. You're both angry and hurt, but deep down, that doesn't change how you feel about each other, not really"
"How the hell would you know? We haven't spoken for ages, and you haven't seen me for over a year, Zoe"
"I know that, but I looked after you for two months! More, if you count before you actually lived with me, and we had a bond, didn't we? I know how scared you were when your mum died. I know that you love your grandparents, and that you felt safe with them. And I know how lonely you must be feeling right now. But you have to talk to her!" Half guilt, half frustration, she stands up, "You can't leave it like this, Sharice, it's not right for either of you!"
"I don't need you telling me what to do! You were supposed to help me out, not try and force me back home at the first chance you get!" Suppressing a bubble of emotion, she half runs into the spare bedroom and slams the door, the noise reverberating round the flat like a gunshot.