Nemo wasn't telling her anything she hadn't already told him. Respect and friendship had always run hand in hand with them, ever since their very first meeting. Back when everything was simple and made sense. Back when they were first years and —

Nemo's confession came through her racing thoughts loud and clear, but her brain felt as though it was ten steps behind. He loved her and she loved him. And that was the premise of their friendship wasn't it? Friends loved one another, didn't they? Penny loved Elsie, too, though perhaps not as intensely as she loved Nemo. But would did he mean by friends or nothing at all? Was those the only two options? Penny gripped the counter behind her as her knees wobbled beneath her.

Friends or nothing at all or ... ? They couldn't court, could they? Nemo was too young to do any of it formally, and Penny was nearly a spinster. Not that she had ever held any intentions of marrying — not really anyway. Merlin, what was she supposed to say? Her mouth opened and closed as her thoughts struggled to make sense of any of this. Merlin, he loved her. He loved her, and —

Before she could formulate a reply, Penny fainted, her body collapsing into a heap.