FicWad

Chapter Nine
In which everyone demands a kiss

"I know you like her."

Severus's deep voice broke the morning's silence. Draco paused as he mounted his broomstick.

'How to answer?' he mused. 'Of course I bloody like her? There's no way I bloody like her? Does it really bloody matter now that Potter's bloody with her?'

"Go to bloody hell," Draco retorted, taking off into the air and releasing his sparkling Snitch.

Severus took off after him, controlling the urge to knock him off his broom. "Stop being a thick-headed chump, Draco," he shouted, scowling at the back of his rapidly retreating figure.

The Christmas holidays were long over, and all students had come back to Hogwarts enthusiastically looking forward to the first Quidditch match of the year. The Quidditch season had started late to adjust to all the new exchange students, and Slytherin was playing this to their advantage by putting off their usual first match against Gryffindor and getting in as much training time as possible for their new team members from Beauxbatons.

It was just as well, thought Severus, shaking his head at Draco's unfocused grab for the Snitch. Gryffindor would have steamrolled them if Draco continued being distracted from his role of Seeker and Captain.

Severus grimaced as he thought back to that eventful Christmas day. How could Ginny just melt in Potter's hands like that?

Draco had eventually found out (in the worst kind of way, Severus thought) from the rumours being whispered around the student body. And now it was as if Draco and Ginny were making up for the friendliness they'd experienced during Christmas, by avoiding each other as much as possible, and barely speaking when they held their morning duelling sessions. It was getting on Severus's nerves.

He'd always known Potter was an interfering snot with an ego as big as his father's, why didn't anyone else see it?

Severus frowned to himself and was just about to yell at him again when his gaze met an empty sky. Ignoring the sound of the breakfast gong, Severus flew down slowly towards the broom shed, his gaze sweeping the ground below for a familiar glint of blonde. He landed lightly on his feet, preparing to enter the small building when he paused, his sharp ears catching a muffled conversation from within.

"-And that's what I've heard," came an expressionless voice.

"Well, what of it?" replied another voice, higher than usual. "It doesn't really matter anyway."

"Of course," said the first voice bitterly. "Why should it matter? And especially to me."

There was a long pause and Severus gave in to his curiosity and edged closer to the door.

The second voice began once more in a pleading tone. "Draco, I...it's just that...oh, please don't...please, look at me."

"Why should I?" spat Draco in undertones. "You were right the first time, /Ginny/, it doesn't matter at all. I don't know why we're even having this bloody conversation because it /doesn't fucking matter/."

There was a slight pause as Ginny recollected herself. "Draco," she said softly. "I can't just let this go. You don't know how long I've been waiting-"

"Of course I know how bloody long you've been waiting!" snapped Draco suddenly. "And that's why I can't believe you're just going to...to run back to him now that the stupid git has just realised you're not hanging onto his every word anymore."

"I am /not /running back to him!"

"Liar," spat Draco. "Get close to one unlikely person and you run."

"I have no idea," seethed Ginny, "-what you are talking about."

"Of course you wouldn't!" shouted Draco angrily. "You are the most stupid, blind, thick-headed person I know-"

"SHUT/ UP/!" yelled Ginny back. "That's all you ever do! Insult me! Tell me I'm stupid! Constantly put me down! HARRY would never-"

"HARRY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOU!" cut in Draco with a snarl, making Severus nearly jump out of his skin.

With years of practise, Severus silently sneaked a glance around the corner. Ginny was standing stock-still with an expression of wretchedness on her white face, while Draco stood opposite her with his jaw set and an expression of utter anger coursed throughout his.

"And you would know?" she said quietly, her voice radiating poison. "You, Draco Malfoy/, who sneers at the mention of half-bloods, house-elves, or Knuts. You hate /everyone/... How can you lecture me on affection? How can /you tell me that Harry doesn't care about me?"

"Oh, fuck /off/," snarled Draco back, not attempting to deny any of Ginny's accusations. "You wouldn't know love if it spat in your /face/."

Ginny gave an inarticulate growl of rage. "Stop acting so fucking superior, Malfoy!" she yelled back. "You don't know anything about love! You don't even-"

Draco thrust his face an inch from hers. "I would know love," he cut in, with a curl of his lip. "If it slapped me in the face."

Ginny's breath hitched in her throat. "What are you implying?"

Draco glared at her and turned to leave. "/It doesn't matter/," he spat. "/God/, I'm through with this."

Ginny grabbed at his shoulder, the anger on her face melting into tense anxiety. "Wait! Why can't you just be happy for me? Why do you have to ruin it?"

Draco shook off her hand and whirled upon her. "Don't you think it's funny," he said through gritted teeth, "-that Potter should suddenly take an interest in you after three years of disregard?"

Ginny clenched her fists, shaking her head at the glaring Slytherin.

"Don't you think it's funny," continued Draco scathingly, " -that after you spend time with his worst enemies, after you turn to his worst enemies instead of him, after he realises that his worst enemies are actually getting the better of him for once; he suddenly decides he wants you back? Don't you think it's even /slightly /funny? I do. I think it's fucking /hilarious/."

Draco gave a short mirthless laugh and caught Ginny's hand just as it flung to hit him in the face.

"Are you saying he's jealous?" shouted Ginny, her wrist shaking in his grip. "Because he's not! He's not that sort of person!"

"Believe what you want," he muttered, meeting her flashing eyes with his own. "But I think he's mad with rage at the sight of his own Ginny Weasley fraternising with the enemy."

Ginny drew a deep breath and was the first to break the glare. "Don't touch me!" she yelled, yanking her hand from Draco's steely grip.

There was a long pause and Severus had to strain his ears to hear Ginny's next comment.

"You don't know Harry," she whispered. "You don't know him like I do, he would never-"

"You don't even know /yourself/," Draco spat, looking away.

Ginny drew back as if she was slapped, the tenseness in her face rising once more. Draco made no sound as Ginny fled quickly from the broom shed, not noticing the silent, black-haired boy around the corner.

*

"Hey Gin', why the long face?"

Ginny glanced up into the twinkling eyes of Philip Woodley and sighed heavily. She hadn't spoken to Draco since their argument, and even though it had been over a month ago, she still caught herself dwelling on it.

"I don't know." She grimaced, her previous topic of thought surfacing once more. "But of course, I don't know anything, do I?"

Philip took the armchair beside hers and observed her through brilliant green eyes. "You know a lot more than most people."

"Nothing that matters," said Ginny, bitterly. "Everyone else seems to know what's going on, but not me, not ever."

There was a long pause before Woodley spoke. "Maybe you know exactly what's going on, but you just can't accept it."

Ginny looked at him quickly but Woodley was looking away, his face masked in shadow. She tried to decipher those soft words but gave up and started absent-mindedly examining her fellow fourth year in minute detail. She supposed if he did slick back that hair... and had a perpetual look of scorn... perhaps he would...

Ginny tore her eyes away, angry at her mind for always going back to him.

"There're a lot of things hard to accept," Woodley continued, as if a long pause hadn't just elapsed.

"Like what?" said Ginny heavily, tearing her eyes away from his angular jawbone.

Woodley just gave her an odd look. "It's different for different people," he muttered.

"What about you?" Ginny pressed, glad for the distraction. "D'you-why are you saying all this?"

"I'm just saying," Woodley said shortly, "-acceptance is the first step towards happiness."

"That's an odd theory," remarked Ginny. "But it depends on what you're accepting though."

"No," replied Woodley softly. "It doesn't."

"But what if it's something stupid?" argued Ginny, surprised Woodley wasn't grinning for once. "Or something incredibly unfair, or what if it's something completely horrible?"

"Well, I suppose you have to try harder," Woodley argued back. "But ignoring it will get you nowhere."

"Acceptance will get you nowhere!" Ginny declared, wondering how she'd never seen this side of her friend before. "If you don't like something, then fight it. You've always got a choice."

Woodley stared at her awhile, eventually cocking a blonde eyebrow at her. "I can see now why people call Gryffindors stubborn and pig-headed."

Ginny grinned, relieved the mood had lightened somewhat. "Yeah well, some things are worth fighting for," she said with a smile.

Returning her smile, Woodley settled back into his armchair. "Yeah," he mumbled. There was a brief pause when he snapped his fingers suddenly, making Ginny look up.

"Sorry to bring this up," began Woodley, slightly embarrassed, " -but I was supposed to be talking to you about Draco Malfoy..."

But Ginny had frozen, her scowl replacing her amiable expression as soon as she heard that name. "There's nothing to talk about," she said at once.

Woodley cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I was just going to ask whether you could talk to him-"

"No."

"-and try and convince him-"

"No."

"-to-sell-shirts-to-the-Slytherins." Woodley garbled out, before Ginny could interrupt once more.

"No... Wait, what?" said Ginny, taken aback.

"For the play," mumbled Woodley, looking as though he was regretting something.

"Oh..." repeated Ginny, her brow clearing as she remembered that they had agreed to sell t-shirts to try and raise money for their play's props. "Er...don't worry about it... I'll sell them to the Slytherins."

"You?" said Woodley, rather sharply. "Why you? You know Slytherins don't-"

"It's OK," said Ginny confidently. "I'm...er...sort of friends with some of them...erm... Over Christmas we...er...talked."

"That's a lot of 'er's'," said Woodley jokingly, though his eyes seemed narrower than usual. "Sure you can cope?"

Ginny laughed. "Of course!" she declared. "Come on! Let's go sell a few now, everyone'll be at lunch."

*

"Kiss me, I'm famous," said Harry Potter wryly.

Ginny blushed and hurriedly tried to wave the sparkling letters away with her wand. "Sorry," she mumbled. "But they're all pretty bad...if that helps..."

Harry covered his newly purchased t-shirt with his robes. He grinned at her. "It's pretty clever. Did you bewitch them yourself?"

"I helped," replied Ginny, grinning uncertainly back. "They all have custom blurbs that appear on the back when the person puts them on...they're supposed to relate to that particular person. It's supposed to be for Valentine's Day next week."

"Right," remarked Harry, looking over her shoulder in amusement. "/Kiss me, I'm sweet/?"

Ginny blushed once more as Harry read out hers rather loudly. "Harry! I'm only wearing it for publicity..."

Harry smiled at her and nudged his best friend. "Hey, Ron, buy a shirt?"

"What?" said Ron distracted, pulling himself from a usual argument with Hermione. "Shirt? Why?"

"I'll buy one," offered Hermione, glaring at Ron but smiling at his sister. "I can't wait to see the play, Ginny. I almost wish I'd stayed in Muggle Studies."

"Here you go." Ginny smiled back, peeling off a plain white t-shirt from the pile and handing it over. "Seven Sickles?"

Hermione counted out her money and asked for another.

"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed, as a white shirt was thrown in his direction. "What'd you do that for?"

"You can pay me back at the common room," she said smugly. "I'm almost certain yours will read: /Kiss me, I'm wrong/."

Ron scowled as he bit into an enormous sandwich. "Well, I know yours will say: /Kiss me, I think I know everything/," he said irritated.

"You don't actually have to put them on," said Ginny. "Just sort of drape it over your backs."

Ron gave his sister an ugly look.

"Well, come on, Ron," said Hermione sweetly. "Let's see if I'm right...or rather, if you're wrong."

"You first," he said grumpily, looking at Harry for support.

"Yeah, come on, Hermione," responded Harry. "It can't be worse than mine."

The three Gryffindors moved around to read the phrase on Hermione's shirt as she threw it over her back.

"/Kiss me, I'm brilliant/," Ginny read out, laughing at Ron's look of annoyance.

Hermione blushed slightly. "Bloody brilliant, eh, Ron?"

Ron muttered something under his breath that sounded like 'dodgy messages', and flung his own shirt over his back ungraciously. "What does it say?" he asked grumpily. "And don't let Hermione read it out."

But Hermione had pounced on him as soon as the letters had appeared, beating Harry and Ginny to it. Ron waited for a triumphant exclamation but it never came.

"What's this supposed to mean?"

Hermione's voice sounded puzzled.

"Er...I think I better go prepare my books," said Harry hastily, avoiding Ron's eyes but grinning at Ginny before he left.

"Harry!" yelled Hermione, annoyed. "We've got class with Hagrid next!"

"If you've had a good enough gloat," said Ron, turning around. "Will you tell me what the bloody shirt says?"

"It must be defective," Hermione said in a superior voice. "As it doesn't make sense."

"Um," said Ginny.

"What does it say, Gin'?" asked Ron, rolling his eyes.

Ginny ignored him and called to a girl sitting on the other side of Hermione. "Lavender, would you like to buy a t-shirt?"

"I've already bought one from Philip Woodley," she replied, giggling with Parvati but glancing briefly at where Hermione was looking and giggling even harder. "Look what Ron's says." She poked her best friend.

"What are you giggling at?" demanded Hermione. "All it says is 'Kiss me, I'm large'-it doesn't make sense at all."

"What?" exclaimed Ron; whipping the shirt from his back and going slightly red. "Er...have to go prepare...books..." he mumbled.

"We don't need books!" yelled Hermione after him. "Honestly/, what's /with everyone today?"

"Um," said Ginny once more, feeling it was high time she should also leave.

"Kiss me, I'm large/," said Hermione to herself. "I'm large? What does that have to do with /anything/? How is Ron large? I know that his ego is enormous but what else could it be describing if it wasn't-/oh..."

Lavender and Parvati burst into a fresh fit of giggles at the sight of Hermione's face.

"Um..." she mumbled, flushing even redder than Ron had. "Er...my books...must go and...er...see you, Lavender, Parvati."

Hermione practically fled from the table, not even thinking of her forgotten t-shirt lying beneath Ron's hastily dropped one.

Lavender Brown turned to a blonde-haired boy sitting opposite her. "What does yours say, Seamus?" she asked in deep interest.

Seamus gave Dean a disgusted look, and Ginny finally decided to move over to the Slytherin table as it seemed as if no one had been near any of them yet.

"Er...hello, Higgs," she murmured, brandishing her t-shirts bravely.

"What d'you want?" growled Blaise Zabini, who was sitting next to the eating sixth year.

"Hullo, Weasley," said Terence Higgs amicably, waving his fork at her. "What is it?"

"Er...buy a shirt for our play?" she asked, her confidence going up as Higgs drained his goblet and reached into his robes pocket.

"Yeah, I've heard of these," answered Higgs, ignoring Zabini's stunned look and dumping a pile of silver in her hand. "Keep the change."

"Thanks," said Ginny clearly, enjoying the sudden shocked silence in the hall as Terence Higgs flung back his robes and pulled on his newly purchased shirt over his bare chest.

'Kiss me, I know how to have fun' flashed on the back of his shirt in sparkling silver letters.

"Come on, boys," he yelled to the rest of the Slytherins, though suddenly noticing the band of goggling girls at the table opposite. "Er...be right back, Weasley," he said, and strutted off to the Hufflepuff table.

Very soon Ginny was surrounded by a dozen or so Slytherins-most of which she had danced alongside with on that eventful Christmas day.

"Er..." she said weakly, gawking as all the boys around her followed Higgs' example by shucking their robes from their shoulders to hang down by their waists, and clustering around her bare-chested.

Ginny slowly became aware of a low murmur that had started up in the Great Hall, which gradually grew into a mass of hysterical giggling. Resisting the urge to giggle alongside of them, Ginny solemnly watched her pouch of money swell larger and her pile of t-shirts slowly decrease in size.

"Ginny," she heard a familiar voice exclaim. "What are you doing?"

"Hullo, Severus," she said cheerfully, but then noticed the alarmed expression on his face as he worked his way through the crowd. "What is it?"

"I thought you were getting attacked." Severus scowled, forgetting who he was for an instant. "Pucey! Get that shirt back on!"

A reckless-looking sixth year who was waving his white shirt around responded by whacking Severus in the back of the head with it. "Good one, Snape!"

Fortunately (or rather unfortunately for most of the girl population in the room) a few professors left their seats to intervene with all the gratuitous nudity going on at the Slytherin table.

"Er..." said Ginny lamely. "D'you want to buy a t-shirt, Severus?"

"Fine," muttered Severus, scowling at no one in particular when Professor Garwood came up to where they were standing.

"I'll buy a shirt," Garwood offered, though glaring at a Slytherin who was attempting to take off his shirt once more. "Here you are."

Ginny took the silver Sickles obediently and handed her a t-shirt, looking curiously at Severus who had turned a dull red. "Severus, are you OK?"

Severus muttered something incoherent and grabbed his shirt hurriedly.

"Come on, let's see what it says!" Ginny said enthusiastically, looking from the Professor to Severus with a strange expression. "Just sort of drape it over-yes, like that."

Severus craned his head to look at the back of his shirt, knowing that once Ginny saw the words he would be free from that bloody Professor's intoxicating gaze. "What does it say?" he demanded, wondering why Ginny had gone a very bright red and was trying to restrain a huge giggle.

"Er..." she said.

"Ah," said Professor Garwood, looking as though she was trying to hold back a laugh.

"/What/?" Severus demanded once more, sounding rather like Ron did.

Professor Garwood coughed and then noticed a light-haired Slytherin coming towards them, "Ah, Mr Malfoy, come to buy a t-shirt?"

Draco sent her a brief look and then suddenly noticed Ginny. "I came to get Severus," he answered, tearing his eyes away from Ginny's confused gaze. "We've got Care for Magical Creatures."

"Draco," Severus said loudly, "-read the back of my shirt, what does it say?"

Draco looked at him as if he was an idiot. "You're not even wearing it! Take it off and read it yourself."

Severus gave him a withering look but did what the Slytherin had said.

"/Kiss me, I'm sexy/," read out Draco anyway, much to Snape's horror. "Jeez, Severus, what'd you go and buy a shirt like that for?"

Severus started blustering a combination of insults and swearwords when Professor Garwood coughed once more.

"I must get back to the staff table," she remarked to no one in particular. Then, as if noticing them all for the first time, "Well! See you three at the Duelling Club tonight." The Professor nodded at the trio, catching Severus's eye and making him flush further.

"Are you OK?" asked Draco, smirking at his best friend.

"Shut up," he said faintly, then in a stronger voice. "Get a bloody shirt and let's get out of here."

"I don't need a shirt to proclaim my sexiness to the world," scoffed Draco, ignoring Severus's snort.

"They don't all say that," explained Ginny. "They adapt to that particular person."

"Oh," said Draco, momentarily shocked at Ginny's lack of hostility in her tone. But then again, he thought wryly, maybe she just wants to sell me a bloody t-shirt.

"What does yours say?" Draco asked finally.

Severus eyed the two of them, wondering whether they were going to talk to each other properly for the first time in a month.

"It's stupid," said Ginny quickly, shoving a t-shirt into his hands. "That's seven Sickles."

Draco handed her the money slowly, giving her a sarcastic smile as she flinched at his palm brushing her own. "I don't have an infectious disease," he said clearly, ignoring Blaise Zabini's suspicious look.

Ginny said nothing but stood silently, as if waiting for something.

"Well, let's see what it says and leave," said Snape irritably, glaring suddenly at Zabini.

"OK," replied Draco, loosening his cloak's collar.

Ginny looked around the Great Hall. Lunch was already over and most of the students had started to leave. She looked back at Draco who was now fiddling with his top robe fastenings.

"You don't actually have to put the shirt on to read it," she said suddenly, looking him directly in the eyes and narrowing her own.

"Oh?" replied Draco, a hint of defiance in his voice as he shrugged off the black material from his shoulders, letting it fall to his waist to reveal his bare chest.

There was an ever so slight gasp from the nearby Slytherins, but Ginny stayed staring into the Slytherin's dark grey eyes, not allowing her gaze to travel downwards... not even if the whispers had interesting things to say about the upper body of Draco Malfoy.

"Hurry up and put your shirt on," she hissed angrily, suddenly aware that her voice was echoing.

Draco gave her the same sarcastic smile and eased his new shirt over his head quickly, magically managing not to ruin his smooth, slicked back hair. "You didn't care at all in the forest," he hissed back.

"Draco," said Severus warningly, putting a hand on the shoulder of the slightly smaller boy. "Continue this somewhere else."

"Shut up, Severus," muttered Draco. "So tell me, Ginny, why d'you suddenly shy away now that there's a simple change of setting?"

"I'm not shying away!" gritted Ginny, trying to keep her voice low. "I just told you to bloody put your shirt back on!"

"I'm not talking about that," muttered Draco angrily. "But as I said before, /you didn't care at all in the forest/!"

"We were swimming!" exploded Ginny.

"While we were walking."

I wasn't interested back then! "It was hot," she retorted aloud, instantly reprimanding herself for thinking that she was the least bit interested /now/.

"Well, I didn't see you taking your robes off."

"There's a reason for that!" exploded Ginny again.

"Fine," replied Draco, unabashed but turning to leave. "Talk to you next month."

Ginny opened her mouth to retaliate when she realised what Draco had just said. Severus nodded at her and strode after the young Slytherin, leaving a confused Ginny. She was just about to turn around when she noticed the back of Draco's t-shirt: '/Kiss me, I'm Draco Malfoy'/.

"Obviously it couldn't think of a strong enough word for /stupid/," she muttered to herself. "Or perhaps evil-git, or annoying-prat or-"

"Oi, Weasley," yelled a voice, interrupting her thoughts.

"What?" she snapped.

"What've you got next period?" the voice of Terence Higgs asked.

"History of Magic," she said with less hostility, wondering why this Slytherin sixth year was talking to her almost affably.

"Good," he said in satisfaction. "I've got Divination. Here, come with me."

To Ginny's surprise she was dragged suddenly from the Great Hall, up a flight of steps, and into an empty classroom. Her head whirling, she sat on one of the dusty desks as Higgs started to pace the room before her.

"OK," he said firmly, looking her up and down. "Firstly, the clothes have got to go."

"What?" yelled Ginny in alarm.

"Hmm," responded Higgs slowly. "Though maybe Malfoy goes for that pathetic sort of urchin look... I'll have to research this. OK, keep the clothes for now."

"Higgs," said Ginny, wincing at the familiarity. "What are you talking about?"

Terence Higgs waved his hands impatiently at her.

"Show me!" he exclaimed suddenly, pulling her to her feet once more. "How d'you walk? Go! Give me a demonstration!"

Ginny shook his hands off hers and slowly edged towards the door.

"No, no!" said Higgs impatiently. "You look so.../furtive. /You have to look calm...smooth...seductive."

Ginny stopped trying to creep out of the door and put her hands on her hips. "Tell me what you're talking about!" she demanded. "/Now/!"

"Good," said Higgs, sounding surprised. "Fiery is good, very good. I think we'll go on that."

"/Tell me/!" yelled Ginny exasperated.

Terence Higgs finally took notice of her cries and looked at her like she was an idiot. "You're going to seduce Malfoy," he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"What/?" exploded Ginny. "Why would you- you want me to do- /WHAT?"

Higgs sent her an insulted look. "If you don't want my help then you can just say so."

"/Help/?" yelled Ginny hysterically. "Why would I want any /help/?"

Higgs rolled his eyes. "You need help," he said firmly.

"So do you," retorted Ginny. "You're mental."

Something dawned on Higgs' face and he started to snigger.

Ginny glared at him. "What?"

"You're in denial!" he yelled incredulously. "You Gryffindors really are thick!"

"Shut up," said Ginny with dignity.

"You like Malfoy."

"I /don't/," she said sharply.

"Bloody Merlin!" yelled the sixth year. "Your shirt should read: Kiss me, I'm in denial! Give up! Accept it! You like Malfoy, and he's tripping over his robes to get you to realise it!"

Ginny was strongly reminded of Fred and George when Higgs talked, and tried to remember this as she had a sudden urge to punch him in the jaw again. "Fine," she said sarcastically, changing her approach. "Whatever you say, I don't care - but why d'you care then?"

Higgs crossed his arms. "I want you two together."

"What?" said Ginny incredulously, half-forgetting her anger and wondering if he was slightly mad. "/Why/?"

Higgs rubbed his hands together. "Revenge," he gloated.

Ginny sent him a somewhat relieved look. Now this was how a normal Slytherin should act, she thought to herself, scheming and gleeful. "Revenge?" she asked curiously. "Against whom?"

"Everyone," said Higgs, sweeping his arm around the room. "Your moronic brothers, Lucius Malfoy-just everyone in general. If you two get together, Hogwarts will be in /chaos/."

"I /don't think so," replied Ginny, cursing herself for sounding defensive. "And my brothers /aren't moronic."

Terence Higgs snorted. "Well, they're bloody annoying. Don't you find them finishing off each other's sentences all the time even slightly annoying?"

"I think Fred and George are quite clever," Ginny replied rather coldly.

"You would," sneered Higgs, then looking rather surprised. "You know, this is the first time I've helped a Gryffindor-not to mention a Weasley."

"Thanks awfully," replied Ginny, rolling her eyes. "But you're not helping."

"I suppose the first step is getting you out of denial," Higgs mused.

"I'm not in denial."

"But how? I've never worked with thick, na