Ellie had considered the last comment an apology -- I was wrong, -- but this still hits, and aches dully. What Clarisse said is probably still gonna stay with her a while. Sucks that you've tortured people and you feel bad about it.

"Thanks," Ellie says softly, the tension slowly ebbing from her shoulders, until she's just tired.

"I'd say it was a shitty day all around," she mumbles. "But there were parts of it I really liked, so. Can't write it all off."