The Walls Are Way Too Thin [Rhys]

[juniper minerva mcgonagall]

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September 8th, 2016

The searing pain of the bubblegum pink potion that splashed practically all over her right leg was almost gone now, though a permanently green magical scar remained in its place. Juniper was to stay in the Hospital Wing under observation to see if it would stay as it was or change. She immediately freaked out at the notion that the green mark could spread over more of her body, making a rather bold statement that she'd prefer to have her right leg amputated if it came to that. Madam Pomfrey called her silly for even thinking that was a possibility, correcting her that it was to see if it would shrink, as such things sometimes did after a period of time. So far it was impossible to tell with the bandage that currently covered it, as the entire surface area of her right calf had been covered in an elixir that neutralized the acid burns from the spilled potion and simultaneously helped grow the skin back. Trying to understand how medicinal potions and magic worked made her brain short out in the same way that her classmates probably did whenever she went on about Transfiguration topics.

Moaning about her leg didn't win her any prizes with Madam Pomfrey though, who had reminded her multiple times that she had seen much, much worse and this was child's play at best. The threat of sending an owl up to the Headmistresses office put the fear of Grindlewald in her though, and she immediately shut-up. Aunt Minerva was not the type she wanted to disturb over something as paltry as a little permanent stain on her leg. Like it sucked, obviously, but there were a lot of more important things than dealing with her. If this had happened in say, first year, she could expect a visit. But not now.

With her 'injured' leg propped up and the rest of her body tucked nicely under the covers, Juniper stared across at the opposite wall. It was just her and Madam Pomfrey, which was honestly quite boring. At least until she heard the door to the Hospital Wing and the matron tottering over to whoever had just entered. Not trying to eavesdrop but also curious about what was going on, she craned her neck to see if she could catch anything that the nurse was saying to the student that had come in.

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[rhys alexander greyback]

come over here

and sit next to me

September 8, 2016
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Rhys didn’t think it was actually possible to see stars. Or maybe they were just spots in his vision. Either way, his head hurt, and he felt dizzy. The taller boy, who also happened to be a Beater on the House Quidditch team, had knocked him into a suit of armor. This caught the attention of a Professor, though. By that point, Rhys had been knocked down several times. That same Professor helped Rhys to the Hospital Wing. His hands hurt, and his knuckles were bruised. At some point, a kick had knocked the wind out of him. It usually wasn’t this barbaric of an incident, but Rhys had very stupidly tried to use his newfound height to his advantage—which had not worked at all. And the angrier he’d gotten, the less he had focused on his defense.

Naturally, detention had already been issued. Rhys had started this. Technically. But he had been provoked, and his temper had gotten the best of him. If Rhys made it to dinner later, he was sure he’d hear an earful from Nell about missing Potions for fighting again. But for now, he just wondered if he had a concussion again. ”Again, Mr. Greyback?” Madame Pomfrey gave him a quick look over, her tone almost bored at this point. She looked at his hands and his face, where it was beginning to swell and bruise mostly on one side of his face. He winced at the proximity of her hands. The Professor left, and Madame Pomfrey handed him a potion to drink, one that Rhys hated since it had a strange smell of old meat, but Merlin did it to clear up swelling and bruising quickly. It did nothing for the pain, however.

”I’ll be back with your usual, have a seat there.” As they walked down the long row of empty beds, she pointed to the one bed next to another student. Looking up, he saw a curious face behind glasses looking at him. Rhys looked at Madame Pomfrey as if to say, ‘really?’ and she gestured again with her hand. As if receiving the worse beating of his life was enough to make for a terrible day, he had to sit next to his year’s most infamous know-it-all until he was checked for any broken bones or other injuries. She walked away, and Rhys chugged the horrible potion, grimacing even though his face hurt before throwing his rob on a chair with his tie and dropping onto the bed, sitting up. It didn’t take long for his face to look normal, not that he particularly cared in this mood. But Rhys already felt awkward that he wasn’t here alone and with an immediate neighbor. But while he saw her legged propped up out of the corner of his eye, he was focused on his hands and feeling his side where he was sure he had a bruise.

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From the tone of Madam Pomfrey's voice, it was quite easy to tell that the entering student was a repeat visitor of the Hospital Wing. Juniper didn't catch the name though, but it didn't take long until the two of them walked in her direction, the nurse telling the new person to take a seat in the bed next to hers. The second she saw that it was Rhys Greyback, she understood everything. From the state of his face, it was pretty easy to tell that he'd been in a fight. Again. Which is why Madam Pomfrey was so nonchalant about the whole thing. That also explained why he hadn't been in Potions earlier, which was the entire reason she had the potion spilled onto her in the first place. She clenched her jaw as she watched him take a seat in the adjacent bed and drink the entirety of the potion that he had been given. The visual change in the swelling was practically immediate, a vast difference in what her own healing potion had done to her leg (at least with the color of it).

"Maybe you'd learn to not get into fights if you actually let everything heal the way it's supposed to," Juniper muttered from behind her blanket. It was hard not to be completely swallowed by the Hospital Wing beds at her size. They always felt like they were made for giants. "Is this why you weren't in class?" she added quickly. Merlin, if she had a stick that was long enough to jab him in the side from the safety of her bed, she would right about now. The only problem with that was that she wouldn't be able to escape with her leg still healing. This sucked. While the spilled potion was ultimately the fault of Ollivander and Oliveira, it only occurred because the idiot next to her went and got beat up. "Who'd you lose to?"

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[rhys alexander greyback]

come over here

and sit next to me

September 8, 2016
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Rhys was looking in the opposite direction when he heard the voice. The voice made him instantly roll his eyes, and he sat back, grimacing in a bit of pain. The bruising always cleared up quickly, which was nice so that the last five people who didn’t already stare at him in the Castle didn’t start now. Finally, he looked over, seeing her leg propped up. Had she broken a bone? Rhys couldn’t tell with all the bandages, and their injuries were never exactly advertised. Blue eyes glanced and lingered before moving back to her face, where she was looking at him, waiting for answers.

”Obviously.” Rhys merely responded that the more often he visited, the more he swore that Madame Pomfrey took her time with him. As if the pain was supposed to make him learn. But people seemed to forget a werewolf’s high threshold for pain. Rhys wasn’t keen on conversation, but McGonagall kept asking questions. ”That troll Bagman and those overgrown gnomes that follow him around.” Honestly, the older boy resembled a troll in posture and intelligence, but he could throw a punch, throw people around, and swing a bat. It didn’t matter that many of the current fifth years had surpassed him in their courses.

Madam Pomfrey returned a few more potions. Various remedies to help heal the various ailments, though she made him stay overnight the last time he’d knocked his head this hard. He hoped this time was not the case, but he was still dizzy. ’You know what to do, Mr. Greyback.’ She gave Rhys an unamused look before walking away, leaving Rhys with McGonagall. After he’d drank the other two, Rhys wished that he had at least a book, but sitting alone was always less awkward. Glancing over, he looked a the bandages on her leg again. ”Finally opted for that peg leg McGonagall?” The worst she could do was correct him, as was her specialty, and Rhys was too annoyed to care.

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Juniper couldn't decide if she was uncomfortable with the lingering gaze of Rhys Greyback when he flicked between making eye contact after she spoke up and her leg. His eyes were piercingly blue, something she'd never noticed before in class. Probably because she was too busy trying to do class work and avoid literally anything and everyone that was distracting. She really wanted to argue with him about how losing a fight was pretty lame especially when they had magic at their disposal, but it made sense once he said it was Bagman and his goons. The thing about that trio though was that it took a real idiot to get beat up over and over again by them. Even she knew to avoid them, as did every first through sixth year. It had always been that way around them. One of the grunts had knocked her books out of her hand once back in her third year, in which she swiftly kneed him in the nether regions. It paid off being the youngest of three. Fending for herself had to happen at some point or another. But three against one definitely didn't help Rhys out at all.

His attention had turned to her leg though, and as much as she tried to flip the blanket over it, she failed. "No." Juniper responded firmly. "Your partner spilled her entire cauldron onto me because she was too preoccupied being grouped with Sarah." Staring across to him, Juniper debated whether or not to spare him the gory details. Quickly, she decided it was worth it to tell him everything because it was still sort of his fault for not being there. "It dissolved right through my pant leg and gave me magical burns." If she was allowed to pull the bandages off, she'd probably show him for added shock value. "And Madame Pomfrey thinks the whole area will stay permanently green. So thanks for getting your face punched in."

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[rhys alexander greyback]

come over here

and sit next to me

September 8, 2016
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Everybody seemed to share the same sentiment regarding Rhys and the fights he inevitably ended up in. But what everybody failed to understand was that Rhys did what he could to avoid them. It was easy to walk around, eyes watching the floor before him or taking a slightly different route to class. It helped if he was walking with friends, and he secretly wondered if they were just a tiny bit scared of Sarah. The problem was that they pushed and prodded and heckled and simply waited for Rhys to blow up. His temper had always been a bit of an issue as a child. But he didn’t talk much about his early life to anyone, except maybe Sarah. How could they understand?

Juniper was quick to respond. Rhys almost looked apologetic when she mentioned the burn and permanent green scar left behind. He had a scar himself from when he’d been bitten as a child. Werewolf bite scars didn’t heal. But he failed to see how was somehow the cause of this. ”Nell?” Rhys asked. Partner in potions meant either Nell, Renfri, or Sarah. If Nell was anywhere near Sarah, it was due to the luck of their last names appearing alphabetically. Oh, Merlin. ”And this is my fault, how?” Rhys gave her a look as if he was waiting for the rest of her explanation because, so far, it wasn’t logical. But even Rhys felt a little bad about her predicament. But comforting wasn’t exactly a skill he was known for. After a few moments, he spoke again. ”Scars aren’t so bad, you know.” Rhys experimentally touched his face and flinched. The potion to deal with the pain had still not kicked in yet.

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"Yeah, Nell. Paired with Sarah." Juniper clarified. Anyone stuck with Sarah was going to have a bad time, and while she had been thankful at the start of class to not be the unwilling victim this time around, she still ended up being it by proxy. How the cauldron actually spilled was still sort of a mystery to her, but it happened nonetheless. And she didn't even want to get started on how they royally screwed up the concoction, because it was not supposed to eat straight through fabric and skin the way it had. Obviously there was no telling if Rhys's presence actually changed the outcome of the spilled potion or not. Had he been there, maybe the pairings would have ended up the same way, or maybe he would have been the one to knock it over with Nell.

"Because you would've kept her attention the entire time? She sort of freaked when she found out she had to be paired with Sarah. I thought she'd be fine with another werewolf since the two of you are dating." There was absolutely zero foundation to the claim Juniper laid out, aside from the fact that she didn't actually know and was mildly curious about it. The two of them were certainly close during the classes that they were all in. Her own social interactions were severely limited by her own doing, so who was boinking who in broom closest s was way beyond her knowledge. Maybe they were just friends. Again, another thing she didn't really have.

"They are when they turn your entire leg green," Juniper countered. She was going to be forced to wear pants year round or find other solutions in keeping it covered if it remained. So many clothing options she'd never wear to begin with were now completely off the table. And goodbye to ever going to the beach again. How could she explain that to a muggle? A tattoo? She was beyond frustrated by it already, and Rhys's proclivity for pain and permanent marks wasn't reciprocated by her at all. "You should care more about your body. Especially your face." Especially his eyes.

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[rhys alexander greyback]

come over here

and sit next to me

September 8, 2016
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Oh, Merlin, just as he had suspected. Nell was one of the most intelligent people Rhys knew, but it was all somehow balanced by her anxiety around people like Sarah. He didn’t quite understand it. Especially since sometimes people acted that way around him, though maybe he was far less intimidating when he played the part of a punching bag for troll-sized seventh years. But his head suddenly turned toward McGonagall, confusion evident in his eyes. ”What?” Dating who? Sarah? Nell? Definitely not. While Rhys maybe have spent those first couple of years happy someone, especially a girl, was nice to him, he’d outgrown that already.

”Dating Nell?” At this, he laughed a little. Wasn’t that amusing. Rhys hadn’t ever dated anyone seriously. Who wanted that association with a Greyback? ”She’s a friend, that’s it.” He corrected. At the same time, he almost wanted to roll his eyes. It was like the conversations he overheard in the common room or hallways. Apparently, it was illegal for a girl and a boy to be too close of friends without something more. There was more he could explain there, but he wasn’t particularly keen on hearing Juniper’s opinion on how Rhys formed friendships. He gave her an amused look. This was possibly one of the longer conversations they’d ever had, and she wasn’t that third year he still pictured in his head anymore--minus the same glasses, he noted. But Rhys missed these changes all around him when he was busy staring at the floor in front of him.

McGonagall had a point. One’s leg turning green wasn’t ideal, but it was by far not the strangest thing ever seen in their world. Plus, she had something even better—her name. Who cared if her other leg was yellow or purple in that case, she was still a McGonagall which meant more. ”Nobody is going to say anything.” Rhys remarked, slightly annoyed at her whining. ”Not while the Headmistress is around.” Crossing his arms, he pushed himself to sit up further, clenching his jaw since muscle stiffness had settled in. But then he looked suddenly. While Rhys had a comment usually ready—Claire was easy practice for such things, he didn’t have one for this. Clearing his throat, he fidgeted with the cuff of his uniform shirt. Once upon a time, there had been a button there. ”Didn’t think anyone cared about my face…” Rhys muttered, waiting a second before checking the previous sensitive spot under his eye—at least the potion was working now.

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So she called that one incredibly wrong, sort of as expected. She found it funny to watch the way he reacted to it though, as if such a thing would never be possible. Trying to understand how friendships worked was difficult at times. The few students that had attempted to approach her over the years were always met with the same serious claims about how she only cared about class work and that anyone who couldn't keep up didn't deserve to stand next to her. Nell Ollivander had been one of the ones that tried to reach out numerous times, so maybe the spilled potion was a slight after all. The Slytherin girl wasn't stupid. Methodical would be a more apt term, a plan that only the likes of Juniper's brain could conceive and place into the series of events that had unfolded. "Sorry for assuming. I guess when her only options are you, me, or Sarah, that leaves only you." It was no surprise that no one ever wanted to be partnered with her, mostly because she'd do all the work without making any small talk. In her opinion, her class partners should be thankful for that. All they had to do was copy down her observations and notes at the end of class. It was easy participation and in-class credit.

Oh how she wanted to argue with Rhys about his comment. Of course people would say something, especially the ones that didn't know she was a McGonagall. As much as she liked to think her name was important, it really only was to her. Being related to the Headmistresses only won her points in the eyes of the older professors. Everyone else just thought she was using it for a step up in the world, which couldn't be further from the truth. Merlin, students still got into fights over blood purity. A magically burned green mark on her leg was more than free game. Madame Pomfrey had returned in the interim, handing her another glass jar. 'This will help with the skin regrow as well,' the older woman explained before practically forcing Juniper to drink it in front of her. She held her gagging back long enough for Madame Pomfrey to disappear from view again, making an involuntary lurching motion the second it was safe to do so. "If it gets too messed up, you'll have to drink vile stuff like that," she explained, wiping at a bit of dribble on her lip left over from the potion. "And I doubt she has a potion to fix eyes like yours."

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[rhys alexander greyback]

come over here

and sit next to me

September 8, 2016
juniper minerva mcgonagall

It had been quite some time since Rhys had come face to face with a rumor about him. They existed, of course, but had taken all of first year to adjust. But there was still a part of him that was a tiny bit self-conscious now. Did it really look like that? Nell was a good friend, and they had been all this time. It was the same with Sarah, although it was more werewolves sticking together and having each other’s back when they could. In double classes with Hufflepuffs, he could also count on Renfri to be there. Merlin, he needed more male friends, obviously. But as Juniper so kindly pointed out, he was the least worst option for Nell, apparently.

”Right…” It was unclear if that was a compliment or not. But Rhys opted to err on the side of caution as his pride had already taken quite a hit that day. But when said aloud, Rhys realized how small his group of friends really was. Especially in his year when they would have most of their classes together. He had lofty goals, so his schedule was packed high with NEWT-level courses. Rhys turned to look at Juniper, about to remind her of how they had worked together a few years ago, and she’d corrected him rather savagely on something when Madame Pomfrey approached. At first, Rhys assumed the potion she carried was for him, but he didn’t recognize the color.

She watched Juniper drink the entire concoction though her displeasure was evident as soon as Madame Pomfrey left. But he was left merely blinking again. Nobody ever really commented on his eyes, nor did he think about them often. His father’s eyes. Rhys looked away a moment, feeling fidgety. ”I suppose not…” He mumbled. ”I don’t think they’d look good against green anyway.” Rhys looked back at her with a softer expression. Maybe it was too soon to make light of her injury, but she would certainly let him know. At least the Slytherin green he wore was minimal. She always had her nose in a book, though you could always see her glasses, Rhys had always thought they suited her.

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The aftertaste of the potion could only be described as a combination of metal and the soapiness that coriander gave her. Supposedly the more horrid the flavor the more effective it was for serious injuries. At least that was what she'd read once. Anything that smelled or tasted sweet was meant to attract and would probably be poisonous. Just like how some plants drew in their prey. Obviously Madame Pomfrey wasn't going to poison her as that would run directly against her job, but she liked to think that the nurse would have a way to make some of these concoctions taste a little better. Juniper had heard horror stories of Skele-Gro, and was happy that all of her bones were still together today. Having to down both that and whatever she'd just taken would absolutely leave a horrid after taste. That didn't keep her from trying to wipe her tongue off on the underside of her tie though. The next time Madame Pomfrey walked by, she was definitely asking for some water.

Initially she was confused by Rhys's comment. His eyes wouldn't look good against green? Her eyes weren't green. And then she realized he meant her leg and it's new life as an abstract art display. "I...well...my other one is normal still..." she answered, immediately flustered. Being stared at made her want to shrink deeper into her bed. There was no escaping those piercing eyes from where she was either. She didn't want to classify them as wolfish, because they absolutely weren't and neither was Rhys. Nothing in their six years of schooling together had ever clued her into thinking he was anything like what the stories about his father said. He was just another normal, boring classmate. With mesmerizing eyes.

"Be my partner in Potions from now on," Juniper stated abruptly. Merlin what was she doing? She was normally pretty direct, but not in this manner! "As punishment for causing all of this." Yeah that was definitely it. Totally wasn't because she'd be too distracted thinking about his stupid eyes going forward.

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[rhys alexander greyback]

come over here

and sit next to me

September 8, 2016
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Rhys watched as she stared back at him, confused. Processing his words. He actually didn’t think he’d ever seen her look perplexed. She always had the answer to whatever question the Professor asked. Crossing his arms, he could sit comfortably now that the potions were kicking in. At least there was one benefit to getting pummeled—painkillers. A light floaty feeling entered his head, but not terribly strong. But Rhys was still present, and he observed how Juniper stammered through her answer, her glasses sliding down her nose just slightly. And he noted the light shade of her eyes, different from his own, but then her voice entered his brain.

Wait, what?

’Be my partner—‘ Was what his brain registered. ”Be your—what—" Rhys cleared his throat. He felt the tips of his ears burning a little. It was a strange idea of punishment. ”So—er—Merlin, are you always this blunt?” This was not the conversation he expected today. It wasn’t embarrassment he was feeling exactly, though Rhys had never liked to be put on the spot. His brain was a tad foggy, but he was lucid enough to know that he had never had these conversations. Or rather, people didn’t with him. Leave it to the pretty girl who was way out of his league, even as the class know-it-all, to mess with him while they were both stuck here. ”Interesting choice for a punishment…” He muttered under his breath.

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Was her request really that strange? It seemed fair to want to be partnered with someone who went going to spill another potion on her or taunt her for the green mark on her leg. Nell would be too much of a nervous wreck, especially with the way she was freaking out in the classroom after it all happened. She felt more embarrassed for the other girl than the fact that everyone got to witness her pants and skin get eaten away by the potion. She also couldn't remember the last time she'd heard someone apologize that much. It was slightly annoying. With the way the class was, the only option left was usually Sarah. And Sarah was Sarah. No one wanted to be her partner because she was the equivalent to a boggart that could willingly and effortlessly beat you up. Even though Juniper was confident she could transfigure Sarah faster than the other girl could throw a punch, it wasn't worth testing out.

"My partner...and yeah. But I'm not usually nice about it," she admitted. In the short amount of time she'd been in the Hospital Wing today, she already realized that there wouldn't be anyone stopping by to check on her. No friends. No study partners. Just Madame Pomfrey out of obligation. Maybe Aunt Minerva if she wasn't busy, but Juniper wouldn't want her going out of her way if she was. It would be McGonagall-like unless it was serious. So far her leg was fine, and everything else functioned perfectly. Except her brain apparently.

"So? Is that a yes?" If their Potions professor came in to see how things were going, she was going to tell them immediately to try and get ahead of the next class's pairings. After everything she had to go through today, it was the least they could do for her.

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[rhys alexander greyback]

come over here

and sit next to me

September 8, 2016
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Rhys had wished that troll Bagman would have broken a bone or dislocated something again so Madame Pomfrey would have had the excuse to give him the strong stuff and promptly knock him out. Not that Rhys ever had the air of confidence about anything, but definitely not in this department. Merlin she was demanding, but he supposed that was expected for a McGonagall. Rhys had met the Headmistress probably twice over the past six years, and he’d been terribly intimidated each time. What had happened in that Potions class? Was Sarah going to be next in line? Demanding but with the threat of violence.

He looked back at her when she confirmed, an eyebrow raised. Not that he paid attention, but he’d never really seen her around too many friends let alone boys. Sure she was very pretty, far too pretty for the likes of him. Surprisingly that thought dropped into his stomach heavily, and he looked back forward. ”W-Why?” Rhys found himself asking, not that he’d planned on it. Jaw tight, he rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. It also reminded him he needed a haircut to handle the mess of curls on his head. ”Why me?” Another follow-up he had not planned, but now he just felt like the small, insecure boy he really was. But an annoyed one, who in Merlin’s name asked people such things so directly? ”You don’t want me for…that.” He mumbled.

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"Why not?" Merlin, it wasn't that big of an ask to partner up in Potions for the remainder of the year. All they had to do was share a cauldron and follow instructions together. Rhys was making it incredibly weird though with the way he was reacting to it. The potion hadn't messed her face up too, had it? Suddenly self-conscious, she dug through her bag and produced a small hand mirror. Removing her glasses to get a better look at everything, she was happy to see that everything was right where it needed to be. The last thing she needed was her nose moved to the left two and a quarter centimeters or one eyebrow a suddenly a different color from the other.

"Because you're clearly intelligent and know what you're doing," Juniper answered honestly. "I'm positive we have all the same NEWT courses, right?" Being the first full week of school, she was still getting used to seeing all the different faces in each class. Classmates from different houses suddenly being in subjects with her that she'd never had with them before was weird. Not to mention the increased work load. "I've never gotten the impression that you're stupid. Except for when you get in fights."

Content with her face being normal, she moved to put the mirror back, ruffling the sheets enough to cause her glasses to slip off and land on the ground between the two beds. Staring down, she already couldn't tell where they went. For being thick-framed and black, they should've been easy to spot. Had the slid under the bed? Perfect timing too, considering she wasn't allowed to move her leg at all right now. A summoning charm could work, but she didn't know where her wand had been placed after being brought to the Hospital Wing. That only left Rhys to help. "You don't happen to see them, do you?" she asked in his direction, his face suddenly a skin-toned splotch with an equal mess of brown on top of it. Granted, the hair was a mess even when she had her glasses on.

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