"Not a total failure, then," he said with a sheepish look. "But I could have told you that without any lines, I guess. It shouldn't really count for full marks." He had started to settle into the idea that she seemed genuinely interested - unless she was just extremely enthusiastic indeed, the way she was looking at him (or not), sitting, touching his hand ... it was something, anyway. He wouldn't have pretended to know her well enough to say exactly what, but it felt good.
"But then, you've probably had proper readings loads of times, if the two of you have been friends since school." He paused to drink some of his tea - it was getting a little cool, but he honestly didn't mind at all. "I suppose it's not a bad habit to get into. It seems like it must be fairly - grounding."