Maybe it wasn't fair to make assumptions about Alice, but Alice had made her fair share of assumptions about him, too. She thought he didn't trust her, that he thought she was an awful friend. Hearing her say those things had made him feel as though he'd been pierced in the heart, like she thought him so malicious that he'd kept a secret specifically because he thought she'd go tell Professor d'Orsay or the house matron. No, the fact that she'd been so unwilling to understand the reason behind his initial reaction and listen to his explanation without taking offense was what sealed it for him. It had been accusation after accusation, with her twisting his explanations so that he looked bad. She didn't care about him or his feelings. She'd made it all about herself.

"I said things I didn't mean," he said, hoping he wouldn't have to come out and say exactly what he'd said. In truth, he meant what he'd said in the moment, but he regretted them escaping his lips in the heat of the moment. He didn't need her or want her help if she was going to be so unnecessarily mean about it. He still remembered the words "It was a betrayal" left her lips, how she'd made it seem as if he was being intentionally ignorant. That's what hurt the most. She'd wanted him to feel bad.

So he'd made her feel bad.

"I don't think she'll talk to me again." He could feel the tightness in his chest again, could hear the sadness in his voice. He'd loved Alice—not romantically, but not like a sister, either. She was a confidant. A friend. Someone who'd never made him feel bad for struggling despite her clearly superior intellect. Someone who'd helped him through every test, every paper with the patience of a saint. She'd cared about him, and he'd gone and lost that bond because of one single argument. "I'm sorry if it affects your friendship with her. Truly."

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Frowning in earnest now, Sloane was imagining what happened and she could only hope that her imagination was worse than what had actually happened. It pained her to see him so broken up about it and she knew what it felt like to be in his place. Sisse had cut through her pretty good and the scar was still there from the slice of the knife, but they'd come back around eventually and hopefully Cam and Alice would too.

"Yeah well, there were times I thought you wouldn't talk to me again either, so you never know." She'd actually ended some of their fights with that as the intention. Their arguments were always so heated and intense, and now she knew why, but Sloane especially had some some pretty harsh things and he'd managed to forgive her somehow. She'd pushed him and tried to walk away... at least twice, she'd sent him a nasty howler, called him names and quite a bit else. If they could come back from all of that, she had to hope that in the future that Alice and Cam's friendship would somehow survive this too.

Sighing softly, Sloane knew things would be tense again for a while, but she could handle it, already had and she'd probably be able to talk to Alice more readily (and when Alice wanted to) about the whole thing before Cam would be able to. "I'm sorry things go so out of hand." Sometimes she wondered if it was worth it, if they should just call it quits and that way there wouldn't be anything for anyone to be upset about, but Sloane knew there was no way she could go backwards now, not after the last few weeks and everything that had happened. It would all be for nothing if they just gave up now. Their own feelings had count for something.

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He'd thought he could fight his way out of an argument with Alice like he had in the past with Sloane, but it had only made things worse. The usually mild-mannered Alice had seemed to get even angrier as he attempted to reason through the emotional high of an argument, whereas Sloane could usually be calmed by reason and a little emotional appeal. But that made sense, right? "Well you're my Sloane," he said quietly, flashing her a small, sad smile, "I'd never not talk to you again." In fact, during their worst arguments he'd worried that it would be her who would never speak to him again. Alice was different. They had a deep bond, but their relationship dynamic was totally different from the one he shared with Sloane.

He reached over and patted her hand, the most contact he could manage without giving any prying eyes (which was now a concern he was bound to have) the idea that he was doing anything more than comforting his sick friend. "You don't have to be sorry. None of it's your fault," he promised, and meant it. It was Alice and Sisse who had taken things the wrong way, who had twisted him and Sloane's relationship into some grand scheme in their minds rather than it being what it was: two people who wanted to be together without making a scene of it. "I'm not about to be made to feel bad about this. I'll give her time, but I'm not sorry for arguing with her."

(He might have to apologize—one day—about how he'd ended the argument, though.)

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Sloane's cheeks tinted just a hint of pink at the comment and she hoped it could still be blamed on the low grade fever she kept getting. She was not one of those girls who blushed at the slightest compliment, but this time at least, she was very appreciative of the sentiment. It had gotten them in quite a bit of trouble already, but it also kept them going.

She was sorry though and she definitely had her fair share (read: most) of the blame. If she'd only listened to those silly girly conversations instead of tuning it all out and dismissed it as information she didn't need, some of this mess might have avoided. How it would have helped she wasn't sure, but maybe if she'd know about how Sisse felt... Well that wasn't fair either. Knowing ahead of time that Sisse also fancied Cam probably wouldn't have changed Sloane's feelings, at all, but she would have been able to be more sensitive somehow. Maybe. Sloane was about as sensitive as a freight train most of the time.

"I've learned we can only control how we react." And she'd learned it the hard way unfortunately. It was hard in the moment when things were heated and uncertain, but they couldn't do much of anything about how everyone else was reacting; there was a reason they'd tried to keep it a secret. However, like Cameron, she maintained that they weren't explicitly doing anything wrong just risky. With potentially disastrous consequences. It was fine. They would be fine.

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Cameron remembered how he'd watched her blush earlier in the school year and wondered whether he was imagining it. He now felt a little vindicated as he watched her cheeks tint, knowing that he had the ability to make her feel that way. (If only they were in a position where he could do it more often. He prayed that she'd be well by Hogsmeade weekend, even though he knew the chances were slim.)

They would make this work, even if their friends decided to take it personally. Sisse had apparently gotten over it, and hell, maybe Alice would, too. He couldn't imagine going the next two and a half school years without speaking to Alice, even if it was against both of their wills. Even if she didn't, even if she wouldn't... well, he had other friends. What mattered was that he still had Sloane, and they would get through this because there wasn't another option. There was no way he could resume being close friends with Sloane when half his time was spent wanting to snog her, and losing her friendship wasn't an option.

"I'll admit I reacted poorly," he replied. He had and he would again if she wanted to go for a round two—but probably without the cheap shots. She hadn't deserved those. "But what's done is done, I suppose. I can't focus on that when I have someone else to worry about," he said, his frown deepening as his eyes scanned her body. She was sick as a dog, no matter how determined she was to act functional.

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The blush deepened under his gaze and Sloane looked away to cough, which thankfully gave her an excuse to do so. She wasn't used to it and frankly, if she allowed herself a brief little girly moment, it made her heart jump, just a little. It wasn't often she felt like this, but when she did feel like an emotional girl, it came on strong. Most of the time she was pretty good at remaining neutral around her friends, just another one of the boys (even when surrounded by all of her roommates).

Sighing again, she was desperate to ask just what he'd said, the question was on the tip of her tongue, but she managed to keep it to herself. He'd tell her if he wanted to. She wasn't even sure she'd shared exactly what she said to Sisse, but the feeling had been shared. It was such a mess and she hated that she was the cause of so much upset, but there was no going back now.

"I'm fine," She insisted, straightening up. She wasn't, not even close, but she didn't like being worried over, that made her feel guilty too and it wasn't pleasant. Sloane would give just about anything to go back to that one week where nobody knew and she wasn't sick; it seemed like ages ago, but it had been delightful. "Speaking of, let's head upstairs I need a comfier spot to sit." The rest had been sufficient enough to get her back to the tower without needing another and hopefully at a decent pace, not a crawl.

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Cameron stood up and offered a hand, eager to leave the conversation about Alice and their friends behind them. No more stressing about that. It didn't matter—not today. He would stand by his comment; Sloane needed attention and if he continued to burden her with problems, she was only likely to get worse. That's what his mother had always said.

"Let me know if you need to rest again." Or carry you, he might have added, if not for the knowledge that she would adamantly refuse. Sickness or not, there was no squashing Sloane's stubbornness. "Once we're there I'll harass a house elf for some cocoa, how about that?" A nice steaming cup of anything would be good at this point.

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Sloane took his offered hand a pulled herself up, giving his fingers a quick squeeze before letting go and wrapping her arms back around herself. She still felt a bit of a chill, but it wasn't as bad as it had been. She thought the nurse was a little pushy for insisting she was fine to the dorm, but Sloane didn't want to be stuck in the infirmary any longer either, so she hadn't fought it. Overall, she felt better but certainly not back to normal, not even close.

"That's a good idea." She smiled slowly. The subject could be dropped for now, but it was going to bother her whether he liked it or not. His problems were now, but extension, hers as well and she didn't like that he and Alice were so at odds. Problem was, she'd have to get in the middle to help solve it and she wasn't so sure either one of them would like it. Not to mention, Cam hadn't done anything when it had come to her and Sisse fighting; she'd have to drop it for now and hope they'd come around. She did want to hear Alice's side as well, but it could wait. She just hoped Alice didn't think she had to avoid the dorm because of her. Sloane held no ill will for her roommate, just like she hadn't for Sisse, but could understand wanting the distance

Staring up the stairs, Sloane tried to find the energy to get a little spring back in her step, but it just wasn't working. At least the pace wasn't a crawl anymore. "I might need a nap too." She chuckled.

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