"No," Clarisse says, because it's the truth. But after a small pause, she adds, voice stiff, "This wasn't your fault. You don't owe me anything."

She pokes at her eggs with her fork some more but doesn't eat them. "Look, I'll get over it. I just need a little time. Then we can..." She exhales roughly through her mouth, blowing an errant strand of hair off her cheek. "Figure out how to be friends or... something."

Again.