—so just say it, mate. You've been circling this for twenty minutes and I'm losing brain cells.

I'm not circling anything.

You literally said "so, um" four separate times. Four. I counted.

Fine. Fine. Let's just — run it again. From the top.

From the top. Sure. settles back against the stone, legs kicked out, absolutely delighted I'm her. I'm sitting here, minding my business, and here comes Theodore Nott, top of the class, emotionally constipated—

I'm going to hex you.

—emotionally constipated, walking up to me like he's got a presentation to give. Go on then. Ask me out.

exhales through his nose …Hey.

high, airy, absolutely nothing like Theo's actual voice Oh, hi Theo! What a totally normal and coincidental coincidence, seeing you here — in the middle of the library, which is where I definitely am, reading a book, like I do—

You're not doing her voice.

How do you know what my voice sounds like? I'm you. Go.