Fresh air washed over her as she stepped outside. It was chilly, being morning, and she pulled her sweater closed around her. It was effective at clearing her head, loosening the irritation that had sparked in the infirmary room. Not completely, but enough to ensure she wouldn't snap.
Only then did she trust herself to speak to Evan again. She began by answering his question. “With Brandon. Cinnamon's gotten attached to Mari's little dog. They're almost inseparable now.”
She sighed and glanced over at him as they walked. “I'm not keeping anything from you. I don't know how you've gotten that idea into your head, but I've said everything I can say. Right now I'm frustrated,” she explained. “For a lot of reasons, but this is one of them. Like you told me in there: I don't need - or want - to be lectured.” It took her back to feeling as though she'd let him down. Like she didn't know how to take care of herself.
Leah watched the sidewalk pass in front of her feet. “I woke up this morning wanting to make the best of things, to try and get past what happened so that I didn't stress over it. I didn't want to argue, but if that's all we're going to do, we don't have to say anything at all.”