Buffy flinched like she'd been stabbed and took a step back, wrapping her arms around herself. She felt cold, lonely... She stared at his back for a long moment. She wondered if she did this on purpose, pushed people away subconsciously because she was so afraid. He knew better, but she'd been so sure she was right. Or maybe she was afraid to trust that he'd known better. It didn't really matter, did it? She'd messed everything up, and now he didn't want a thing to do with her.
"I'm sorry," she said again, backing up and nearly stumbling on the stairs since she'd been too focused on him and any reaction he might have. Maybe he'd turn around and just hold her and everything would be okay, but that wasn't ever how things worked, was it? "I-I'm really sorry," she stammered before turning around and bolting up the stairs.