Kind of hard not to have that mindset, when your entire life had revolved around how much you weren't wanted around. And the few times someone did, it turned out they would either betray you, were manipulating you, or didn't have autonomy in the matter.

(Although she still liked to think that...some of what she and Arthur had was genuine, but it was impossible to ever know for sure).

The look she gave Kamala was complicated and troubled, especially when she couldn't blame anyone for keeping their distance when she considered what happened to people who got close to h--

Wait.

Was there an I think you're cute in there??

Eleanor opened her mouth to say something, stop herself, and closed it. She tried again, with pretty much the same result, no doubt making herself look even more fish-faced than normal.

But she finally managed to get a hold on something and finally get the words out.

"I..." She breathed out, relaxing a little under that hand on her shoulder and giving Kamala a tentative, wary smile. "Agree. I've never really done a whole lot of 'hanging out'"--if she had the cultural context for finger quotes, she would be using them heavily--"before..."

Hee next breath was sort of a laugh.

"I know, I know. I'm really good at hiding it, too. But..." She smiled at Eleanor, a little wryly. "No getting anything by you, huh?"