So Sloane wasn't angry that he'd been unsubtle—or, at least, she wasn't letting on that she was mad about that. He'd never forget the tightness in his chest that he felt when Alice walked up behind him while he was stroking Sloane's arm. It was like being caught with his hand in the candy jar. He hadn't meant to be so public with that simple display of tenderness, but he hadn't been able to help it while he watched her struggle in her sleep.
What he would have to explain was the circumstance of the fight, though.
"She ran away, just like Sisse did," he explained, folding his arms across his knees protectively. "She got all worked up because I asked her not to tell anyone. It was an instinctive reaction. I didn't know she was right behind me." He never thought she'd go rat them out to a professor, but he didn't think it was too unreasonable to ask her not to tell Ned or Calla (or Merlin forbid, Maddy).
"I told her I hadn't wanted her to know because of how Sisse thought we'd betrayed her. She told me it was a betrayal." That was what hurt so much. Alice was so logical and loyal, and to think that she thought he'd betrayed her even after presenting all the facts burned a hole in his heart that he wasn't even sure Sloane could cause. He'd always trusted her to simply understand him as she always had, and she'd turned on him. Yelled at him. Told him to leave her the bloody hell alone. He felt his lips slip into a frown as he looked back towards Sloane.
"She wouldn't see my reason—or she didn't think it was good enough. I got snappy and she ran off," he admitted, resting his chin on his arms as Sloane had a few minutes ago. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you." He hadn't been able to find it in him to tell the truth while Sloane had other things to worry about; but now that she was going back to her dorm with Sisse and Alice, he supposed he couldn't hide it anymore. "I hope she doesn't take it out on you. Wouldn't be surprised if she did," he apologized, the last part coming out in a resentful mumble.
What he would have to explain was the circumstance of the fight, though.
"She ran away, just like Sisse did," he explained, folding his arms across his knees protectively. "She got all worked up because I asked her not to tell anyone. It was an instinctive reaction. I didn't know she was right behind me." He never thought she'd go rat them out to a professor, but he didn't think it was too unreasonable to ask her not to tell Ned or Calla (or Merlin forbid, Maddy).
"I told her I hadn't wanted her to know because of how Sisse thought we'd betrayed her. She told me it was a betrayal." That was what hurt so much. Alice was so logical and loyal, and to think that she thought he'd betrayed her even after presenting all the facts burned a hole in his heart that he wasn't even sure Sloane could cause. He'd always trusted her to simply understand him as she always had, and she'd turned on him. Yelled at him. Told him to leave her the bloody hell alone. He felt his lips slip into a frown as he looked back towards Sloane.
"She wouldn't see my reason—or she didn't think it was good enough. I got snappy and she ran off," he admitted, resting his chin on his arms as Sloane had a few minutes ago. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you." He hadn't been able to find it in him to tell the truth while Sloane had other things to worry about; but now that she was going back to her dorm with Sisse and Alice, he supposed he couldn't hide it anymore. "I hope she doesn't take it out on you. Wouldn't be surprised if she did," he apologized, the last part coming out in a resentful mumble.
