In her embarrassment, Elsie had simply sped though trying to scoop up at many pops as she could to get them back in their little basket, that she hadn't noticed another pair of hands helping. It wasn't until an all-too-familiar voice broke through the embarrassment that she looked up, clearly startled. The teasing tone that had once caused a warm flutter of recognition in her chest now cut right through, leaving her winded. She winced at how casual he sounded, like nothing had happened, but he seemed to have caught himself and that hurt even more. The dull ache that was ever-present suddenly felt like a fresh wound as she tried to collect herself.

This was bound to happen, they still lived in the same town after all, and Elsie had given herself many a pep talk about how this would go, but none of them had ever prepared her for this. Once upon a time, in what felt like another lifetime entirely, running into one another unprompted and unplanned would have been the best possible surprise in her day; now she was heartbroken all over again, cracked and hurting. What on Earth did she do now, already teary-eyed and blushing? Was there any way to escape this with some semblance of grace?

"Thank you," She managed sincerely, albeit quietly, as she straightened up and put the last few lollipops in her hands back into their basket. She moved to collect her own shopping, knuckles white around the handle as she floundered on what to do next.