Alice wrenched her arm from his grasp with more force than she believed herself capable. Not only had he just been comforting Sloane with those same hands, but being touched by him confused her on her best days. During their trip to London Alice thought him touching her meant he cared for her, not that he was just trying to politely steer her through traffic. She always thought it meant more than it did, which she would heal from eventually (she was healing from distancing herself from Edison, wasn't she?). But, Merlin knew the realization stung like a slap in the face. Reality always did hurt, didn't it?

She had no response for him, none that would be productive anyway. She was running because causing a scene was sure to get them all in trouble, because her feelings were hurt, because everything was changing and she had never coped well with change. All things Cameron bloody Gillenwater wouldn't understand her to be capable of. Alice was always the stable one of them, after all, the one to turn to when in need of practical advice. Having a very public meltdown because he both destroyed her crush and doubted her as a friend wasn't practical. It wasn't sane or logical.

"You really think so little of me that I would risk your and Sloane's expulsion?!" She seethed, wholly unable to stop the hurt lacing through her tone. She kept her tone low, so the other students nearby couldn't ovethear, but still maintained as much physical distance as she could. "I'm that awful a friend, now?"