[ It certainly won't - if anything, going by that smug smile on her face, it's gone and made things even worse. ]

Heehee. That's good to know. There was me thinking I'd been too mean to you.

[ But then her expression softens. This time, when she hugs him again, her fingers thread through his hair and she cradles the back of his head as she pulls him against her. ]

... I meant it, you know. I really don't know for sure if I can be... her. And that's my fault, not yours. I've always gotten it wrong every other time I've tried to love someone like that. I don't know how to do it. But...

[ Her arms tighten around him a little. ]

I want to try. I want to see if maybe I can get it right this time. Even if neither of us can say it, I...

[ Her voice shakes a little on the way out. ]

I've always wanted someone to... it didn't even need to be love. I just wanted someone to tell me that they accepted me. Even though I'm like this.