The needle lifted off the turntable.

"So?" Allie asked, looking up hopefully. "What did you think?"

Tony shrugged.

"Sounds like the kind of thing I would have listened to in my emo phase, you know?"

Allie laughed nervously.

"No, I don't really know... my emo phase lasted about a week and consisted of experimenting with black eyeliner and reading too deeply into Florence and the Machine lyrics. What about yours?"

"A year of bolemia and self harm," Tony grinned. A second later she regretted it. Over sharing again, nice one.

Allie made a non-commital sort of noise and stood up.

"Another drink?"

Tony checked her watch.

"Sure, why not."

Allie pursed her lips. She hoped Tony wasn't bored.

Shit, Tony thought. I hope that didn't sound like I was bored.

"What do you want?" She called.

"Surprise me," Tony called back.

She looked at her cupboard, thinking fast.

Alright, she thought. I'll give you a surprise.

From the fridge she took milk and squirty cream. From the shelf she took cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon and instant coffee. Adding hot water and warm milk and a splash of rum she found in the back of a cupboard, she finished the whole thing off with an impressive helping of cream, spices, chocolate shavings and a cinnamon stick. (She also topped up her camomile tea with hot water and added a cinnamon stick to hers, too.) She somewhat regretted using the mugs she had picked: hers was a David Tennant Doctor Who one, and Tony's had a doodle of two breasts and the words 'art student' written on it. But she told herself not to overthink it.

"Alright, here you go," she said, walking slowly back into the living room with the two drinks. Tony's eyes widened as she saw the steaming mug and towering cream that Allie was offering her.

"Wow," she said, impressed. "This is a surprise."

As Allie gingerly stepped over Tony's long legs that were stretched out on her hand made rag rug in front the radiator, Tony took a sip. It was glorious, like drinking sunshine.

"This is gorgeous," she told Allie, who positively glowed as she clutched her own mug.

"I just made it up," Allie said.

She smiled. Tony felt herself going hot. There was a bit of an awkward pause, then, because she couldn't stand the silence any longer, Tony suggested,

"Why don't you put that record on again? It was kind of nice."

"We don't fit in so we just head for the fringes, your universe of blue lip stick and syringes, your bedroom doorway with the bugs and the hinges, there's something happening that I don't understand..."

"Peeling off bandages to unfold his wings, the doctor said they'd have to stay on for another three weeks... fuck it baby, let 'em bruise and break, and bleed, let 'em bleed..."

"The kids are just getting started, they've only just learned how to howl..."

After another rendition of the album, Tony looked at her watch and sighed. It was a Tuesday, and she had to be back by eleven on Tuesdays. It was her Dad's night.

She stood up to leave.

"Thanks for the tunes, and the coffee," Tony said, and gave Allie a rare smile.

"N-no problem," Allie blushed. "Would you, I mean... would you maybe want to do this again some-"

"You'll have to come to mine next time," Tony said over her, clearly not listening. "I've got a banging record collection. Put your emo music to shame."

Allie beamed.