C14

She hesitated to answer for several seconds before looking back at me and giving me a forced smile before whispering hesitantly, "Because it's not true." She responded honestly as she glanced out the window for several moments before turning back to meet my gaze and responding more confidently, "Macro, I understand what you're saying, and I'll admit that it sounds logical, but... Alice and I are just friends." She explained softly as she tried to assure me with reassurances that sounded suspiciously similar to the ones she gave me when I first met her. "If I'd known beforehand about the truth of your intentions then perhaps things might've been different." She muttered sadly before continuing, "But you promised to let me choose who I date after being dumped by Jessica, so..." She trailed off as she shrugged helplessly.