"I know I don't have to. It's not like I'm quitting Riftwatch or anything." She can do whatever she wants. Within reason, or whatever. And having beef with somebody has never really stopped her from hanging around them before.

It's not out of fear of confrontation that Clarisse doesn't want to overstay, it's out of the shittiness of being around Abby making it feel like her heart's getting ripped out and stomped on. Which Abby can't help, but which Clarisse can't snap her fingers and stop, either.

Clarisse swallows a couple times. "It's just... hard, you know? To listen to you talk to me like a stranger." She doesn't want to namedrop Ellie just for the extra pity, but thinks maybe doing it will make Abby understand more, at least a little. "I was finally getting my shit together after Ellie disappeared, and then I lose everyone else at the same time. 'Specially you."

Not a physical loss. But it feels like it.