[Allison shakes her hand briefly, but firmly, suddenly realizing that she should have been paying attention with the damn gloves and all. For the moment, she blames it on the pain and the fatigue.

Instead, she rolls her eyes, still smiling wearily.]

It's not a lie, not to Scott. He just has a habit of seeing good in everyone...even if it's tiny. Like...a cluster of cells tiny.

[She pauses to measure out the tiniest space she can between thumb and forefinger, hoping to make the other girl relax. She's just so uncertain now, so tense, and there's something about it that's really bothering her. She hides it, though, as her smile turns curious.]

So, are you and Scott...close? [In the back of her mind, something is latching onto the truth. The rest of her is blind to it, ignoring it, because she's already in enough pain. She just put this behind her, and she's just not strong enough to have to face it again quite so soon.

Daneca's unease bothers her. She doesn't know why. And she won't know why, so long as she doesn't have to say it...or hear it...]