The sheepish sort of smile was enough of an indicator. Alannah frowned slightly, offering her what was meant to be an encouraging sort of a smile, but which probably fell short horribly. It was not as though she did not like Jacqueline, really. For the most of it, she could respect her as a person and be somewhat surprised at the sporadical mention from different sources of how the girl considered them to be friends, which was not ... well, not entirely off the mark, perhaps, but Alannah saved the term 'friend' for perhaps one or two people. But then that was a matter of perspective, as such. Some people were capable of trusting without reserve, and Alannah did not think she could really manage that, not least because she didn't think, entirely, that she was all that trustable herself.

"Hey Lan. Just one question. Or I guess it is really two. Are you mad at me? And if you are, will you ever forgive me? Because I don't want you to be mad. About the Braeden thing."

Alannah shook her head, probably about to say something to the effect of no, absolutely not, why would she be mad, and she had no right anyway, blah blah blah. The arguments were right there in her head, they were logical enough and they made a lot more sense than the reality thereof, which was what spilt out of her mouth instead, against her wishes. For it was not very nice, the truth thereof, and it made her feel like a complete fool. This interview was not something she would have voluntarily undertaken, she knew, for the truth of things was often so much uglier than the lie that she'd have offered now.

"I'm not mad, I'm just a bit shocked, though I know I don't have a reason to be shocked. I don't think you did anything wrong, though the look on your face right now tells me that you think you have something to be ashamed about. You confuse me; if you think you did something wrong, why did you do it in the first place? Forgive you? No. Because again, I don't think you did anything to be forgiven about, but you seem to think I have adequate reason to be angry, though I think that if you cared so much about that, you would not have done it in the first place. I don't care if you don't want me to be mad. I'm not mad, but that has little to do with you. But despite that, I can't help but feel a bit mistrustful and annoyed with you. I think it has changed whatever equation we had before, but you already know that."

(I know, wrong account. Sorry!)