"I know," Summer said, softly, as she felt any attempt at finding an even keel slip away from underneath her. Because she knew what words were next on her lips, and they felt like something that shouldn't be said, especially not now, with this conversation. They'd be true, though, even if maybe not like that. Or maybe a little, but she wasn't ready, she didn't want that right now, anyway, and it could make things so much worse, more mixed signals then even hey I need space, let's go to prom together.

And the worst part if all of it was that it was the only thing she could think to say.

She could just not say anything.

Or she could just say something that was almost the same, more disingenuous, s the truth but not the whole truth, but far, far less volatile. Was it being a coward, or just being smart?

"But I like you, Stark," she said, "so it's okay."