He doesn't buy it at all. Her smile slips a little, losing the effort that she made to keep it so well in place. He doesn't understand. He vouches for the good nature of the people at the school, and she can't help but want to correct him.

"It's not anything like that. You've been really kind--I know you're not a bad person. This just... isn't something you can help or avoid, and I don't want to burden you with it." Her smile is still there, faint but frozen in place, like she doesn't know how to fully drop it anymore. She gives a small helpless shrug.

"I'll be okay. I promise. It'll pass."