Madonna

“Mandy Brocklehurst, are you giving me dating advice? Tell me more, I mean after all, you did bag Wayne,” though, if she was being honest, it was something she’d never understand. Opposites attract? Was Mandy secretly sweet? Was Wayne secretly more like Mandy? Lily could never deny that she didn’t really understand romantic love, she didn’t understand the appeal of coupling up now, of them getting even more attached to each other when she knew how easy it was to cut the cord of life and lose someone. ADDING an attachment? That could’ve been avoided? She didn’t get it. 

Maybe she could ask Mandy. Though, she doubted that would go over well, she thought, pleasantly surprised to see Mandy had gotten under the desk with her. So, maybe she did have a playful side – even if it was more a necessity for survival than it was Mandy going along with her antics.  Inspecting the room, seeing the charms come to an end, pops, glitter, sequins and confetti – her work there was done. Realizing how tired she was, her chaotic urge quenched, her anger fizzled out for now, she sighed, finally looking at Mandy. 

“Well, I mean, NOT REALLY. I should go probably plan the next party or something with Stephen or go beat up Megan but she’s probably sucking face with Morag somewhere, so. And you? You’ve got nothing better to do than to troll the halls like a … troll?”

Rolling her eyes, Mandy didn’t bother filtering her words. It wasn’t a mercy she performed often, especially not where people like Lily were concerned. As fun as the girl was at parties, there was something more feral than wild about her these days, something slightly unhinged and dangerous. Almost as if she was a ticking time bomb, waiting to go off. When that happened, Mandy intended to be far far away. “Well, someone has to.” 

Tutting, Mandy didn’t bother hiding her disdain. “None of those things sound better. Slightly less dangerous maybe. Although I’ve been to your parties.” Tone softening at the end, she allowed her lips to twinge upwards ever so slightly. “And they’re pretty chaotic.” The sort of distraction people needed in times like these. The sort that spelled trouble. Stiffening at the insult, Mandy shot daggers in her direction. “I’ve been doing something productive.” The end didn’t need saying, it was implied enough. Unlike you. “And then you called me in here. And now we are. Curled up under a desk like...” The comparison evaded her. “You seriously need a hobby.”

WHEN: 25 January 1997, 22:13 WHERE: Hufflepuff common room WHO: @brcklehursts

The party had gone on for quite a few hours already, though Wayne made it a case to remain hydrated and to pace himself. He still remembered the Slytherin party (and the hangover the next morning) vividly and decided to control himself and make sure he didn’t get to the same point.

He had spent some time with friends, played a few games and truth-or-dare and spin-the-bottle, only playing for short amounts of time before moving on to other conversations.

These parties were a nice distraction from the otherwise stressful happenings of the world outside the walls of Hogwarts, and Wayne was happy to have the chance to relax and live a semblance of normal student life.

From a distance, he saw Mandy and his heart stopped for a second - just like the first time he truly noticed her from afar. She was facing away from him, getting herself a drink, but even the back of her head was enough to conjure a smile on his face. Without a second thought, he crossed the Hufflepuff common room, wrapping an arm around her waist and holding her close. He gave her a kiss to her shoulder.

“I love you,” he muttered for the first time, just loud enough that she alone could hear him. “I know you might not be ready to verbally express it as well, and I understand. I just want you to know how important you are to me.”

I love you. She’d thought she’d known what happiness was. She’d thought she’d known what it was to feel joy. She’d thought she’d known love inside out, that a childhood romance with Anthony had been enough education. She had been wrong. For the first time, Mandy Brocklehurst was admitting her own fallacies. She felt as if the sun was shining inside of her, pointing outwards. Bursting at the seams, Mandy spun around, wrapping her arms around Wayne’s neck.

Everything was perfect.

(Well. In her fantasies, they weren’t surrounded by drunk rowdy teenagers. She had imagined it to be...more intimate. Pillow talk, perhaps? But she wouldn’t quibble with the details. Not tonight.)

All she had to do was say it back. To speak the truth. Because it was true. She, Miranda Brocklehurst, loved him. She loved him. She loved him. She loved him. In spite of and because of - everything. 

Leaning in closer, Mandy planted a delicate kiss on his lips, slowing them down. “Wayne Thaddeus Hopkins. I - “ Across Wayne’s shoulder, Mandy spotted a familiar flash of red hair. Sally-Anne. 

Her words flashed before her eyes. The letter. The confrontation. The insinuation of guilt. Defiantly, Mandy sought to push it away. This wouldn’t ruin this evening. She wouldn’t let her father’s do that. 

Another voice piped up. They’re not the ones lying. You are. 

Smile frozen on her face, Mandy attempted to recreate the moment. It was just the two of them. Just the two of them. Just the two of them. “You are the best surprise and my favourite person. When I think about how I want the rest of my life to be I just...I think of right here, right now - when it’s all so...good. Nothing can ruin that. Right?” Don’t ruin it Mandy. Don’t ruin it. Don’t. Ruin. It. “Because, Wayne Thaddeus Hopkins, you should know that I - “ Frustrated, she shook her head. “I - “ Sally-Anne’s words, ingrained in her mind. 

She couldn’t lie to him. Not in this moment.

There was an uneasiness inside him that he couldn’t quite shake. When he and Mandy had made plans for tonight, there had been a note in her voice that hinted at the evening being one neither would enjoy. Now,  looking at his girlfriend, listening the the clipped tone of her voice as he sat himself down at the foot of his bed, he knew that the inkling he had earlier was right. It wasn’t going to be a pleasant talk.

He knew that he and Mandy needed to have a conversation; they had been putting it off for weeks, and he had bitten his tongue more than once around her lately. Things had been…tense. Off. There had been a shift in their relationship, and Anthony couldn’t really pinpoint the exact moment he felt it, but he was fairly certain he knew what caused it.

He hadn’t meant to get involved with the DA; it just kind of happened, after Michael had dragged him and Terry to the meeting that day in Hogsmeade. He had heard Potter speak, and suddenly he felt like he had a way to learn how to protect those he loved, to fight back against whatever came next.

“Yeah,” Anthony said, motioning for Mandy to sit next to him. “I think we should.”

His heart ached in his chest at the distance between them. It wasn’t physical. The past few weeks had created a rift between them, and it felt so wrong. This was the girl he planned to love forever. The one who stole his heart and had kept it safe ever since he was thirteen and terrified to kiss her. As much as he dreaded having to hash out the complexities of their beliefs and where they stood, despite how uncomfortable it would inevitably be, he was sure they’d be so much stronger, so much better off for airing it all out and working through it. Together.

“I guess there’s no ignoring the hippogriff in the room any longer, yeah?” he asked, a nervous smile on his face as he met Mandy’s eyes.

God, even when he was breaking her heart, she still loved him. There was such a kindness to him, the sort of tenderness that she had always found lacking in herself. It hadn’t been a conscious plan - to find in a partner what was missing in herself - but somehow, it had worked out that way. She had thought they were a match to take on the world, complimentary and blended together, a power team of sorts.

Still, she was Mandy Brocklehurst. She had learnt to stand on her own two feet. She’d learn again and be just as powerful in the process.

Weakly - and in direct contradiction to the expressed wishes of her mind - Mandy smiled. “I wish there had never been one in the first place. I thought that - never mind.” No point in reliving dreams. And then, after a pause. “You know how much I hate Care of Magical Creatures.” To leave the first statement standing alone invited too much...tension. Too much blame. Too much guilt. The time for arguments were over. Clearly, neither of them thought this was worth salvaging.

It had to be the first time Mandy Brocklehurst had changed her mind about anything - and anyone.

She only wished he so clearly hadn’t changed it about her.

“I know I can’t change your mind about joining...it. And you know how I feel about it.” Namely the fact that it was stupid, bound to land him in trouble - and in detention with Umbridge to boot. Mandy wasn’t blind. She saw the scars on Potter’s hand - and wanted no part in it. On Anthony’s behalf, too. You were supposed to protect the ones you loved, weren’t you? But what did you do when they didn’t listen? “I don’t want to hate you. Or you to hate me. Or to fight. Or argue. I don’t want this to be messy.”

“So - “ There was far too much sentimentality in her voice for her liking. She almost trembled with it, a leaf in the wind. “- We should break up.” 

Afternoons spent lounging about the dormitory with Lisa were Sally-Anne’s favorite. They were a peaceful, welcome escape from the darkness that reigned over the rest of the castle, so much so that today Sally-Anne had lingered even after Lisa was forced to leave for class. She found herself wandering the room, delaying her inevitable departure for as long as she could, allowing her attention to be caught by anything her eyes landed on. This was how she ended up reading the letter on Mandy’s nightstand — Sally-Anne knew it was an invasion of privacy and she did try to stop herself, but the moment she saw that it was from one of Mandy’s fathers, her curiosity got the best of her. After all, she’d been friends with Mandy all these years and still knew next to nothing about her family.  

After just once glance at the letter, Sally-Anne’s worries that she was behaving improperly dissipated into entirely different concerns. Her eyes skimmed Mandy’s father’s words: So many suitable pureblood matches… shocked you haven’t found a boyfriend yet… a few suggestions for you to consider….. Her brows furrowed. There had to be a reasonable explanation for this. It was Mandy, she was a good person, she loved Wayne, there had to be an explanation. Sally-Anne set the letter down when Mandy entered the room abruptly, but her mind was still whirring so fast she barely registered anything the girl said. 

“Mandy, does… does your family not know about Wayne?”

So much for that. Cursing herself for leaving the letter on the nightstand (if it hadn’t been Sally-Anne, no doubt it would have been Lisa - a girl who had never learnt to keep her nose out of other people’s business) - Mandy immediately moved across the room, projecting a picture of calm as she sat next to Sally-Anne in the bed. It was all a big misunderstanding. There was nothing nefarious in keeping a secret or two - was there? It was the best thing for all of them. Sally-Anne would see that. 

Delusion was one hell of a powerful drug.

“...No.” Mandy had never been one to beat around the bush, even when it came to delicate matters. Preempting the Hufflepuff’s shock, horror and confusion, she continued before Sally-Anne could interject. “No. They don’t. But - “ I have a good reason? Well. She did. Her father’s wouldn’t approve. They had always expected....the best for her, demanding standards she herself couldn’t cling to. “Look, we don’t exactly have a good relationship. Actually, it’s pretty terrible.” She felt like spiders were crawling across her skin, her bones trying to work themselves outwards. There were few things she despised more in this world than having to delve into her past. “If I tell them, they’ll tell me to break up with Wayne. And I - I really don’t want to do that Sal.” Softer now, she met her eyes. “Not when it’s so good. There’s no need to ruin things.”

Beaming, Mandy nodded.“Hi! This is a great party, you really out-did yourself.” Her mood quickly changed when she heard her question. Tensing at Sally-Anne’s sudden presence, every fibre in Mandy screamed in protest, urging herself to laugh off the intrusion and carry on as before. Confrontation was fun - but not when you were the one underneath the spotlight.  “I haven’t had the chance yet. This really isn’t as big a deal as you think it is.”

Send ⚡+ A DARE for my muse to complete in truth or dare.

Thrown by the question, Mandy narrowed her gaze - trying to figure out her intentions.  Batting off the question playfully, Mandy laughed. “Come on Parvati. I have a boyfriend. I’m immune to the charms of others.” Shooting a glance at Wayne, something inside of her stiffened, a small piece of doubt. “But - since I’m a sucker for rules. Kevin Entwhistle for sure. He had those Quidditch muscles going for him. Even if Morag is a better captain.” 

“Oh, absolutely. You’d think someone so … pretentious would know a thing or two about basic hygiene, but alas.” Morag didn’t consider Draco Malfoy as real competition, not any more. In all honesty, she wasn’t too worried about any of the other Seekers. Fay was good, but lacked technical skill, and the Hufflepuff Seeker was good … but not as good as her. As long as her Chasers did their jobs well and they scored enough points — well, they’d easily win every game. “Your confidence is worth everything.” A cheesy thing to say, and Morag gagged dramatically to make it less serious. She did mean it, though. “I’ll blow you a kiss.”

Morag sat up as Mandy talked, her face filled with happiness for her friend until she mentioned her parents. “He’s a good one. He’s a very lucky guy, to have you love him.” She thought for a moment, then, before shaking her head. “And no. That doesn’t make you a bad person. If I’d had a choice, I’d probably have kept things about Megan and I quiet.” But with two siblings in the castle, that hadn’t even been an option. “I mean … not wanting that conversation, wanting things to keep being good? That’s not a bad thing. This is between you and Wayne and not you and your parents and Wayne and you. And, you know, it’s probably best to tell them in person. You have time.”

Morag bit down on her lip, shrugging a little. She was still filled with doubt. Her family’s house may have never felt like home the way Megan did ( or Sue and Mandy, for that matter ), and yet she grieved losing it. “I just wish it didn’t have to be this way.” But what was the use of that? “That’s stupid and childish, I know. I just — I don’t know. Tavish barely talks to me any more. It’s all fucked, and I know that they’re wrong and that there’s … so much wrong with my family, and that I’ll probably be better off, or something, but you know.” She shrugged. “They’re my family.”

Playful, Mandy did her best to keep her her tone light - seeking to drag happiness from her best friend. Morag had a tendency to get so...lost in herself. And never in the bright parts. As her friend - one of her best friends - it was her duty to shine light on the shadows and to pull her back to the surface when she began to drown. To do whatever she could in making Morag’s life easier. She owed her that much. “Wow. You’re a stud. I’m beginning to get a little hot under my collar.” 

Warmth spreading across her chest, Mandy let out an uncharacteristic giggle - so...light as she bathed in her own happiness. “I mean, he doesn’t know yet. I just...what if he doesn’t love me back? Pretty impossible, I know - but still.” She was a catch. Objectively, she knew that. And so did nearly everyone at Hogwarts. But Wayne wasn’t like that. He looked for what was real. He could never fall for the ugliest parts of her, the ones she presented as strengths. What if she wasn’t what he was looking for? Grateful for the lack of judgement from Morag, she sighed. “Right. I mean - there’s no rush. It’s not like we’re getting married.” She left the rest of the conversation unsaid - the secret that she never wanted to tell them, that she wanted to exist in these two different worlds for as long as possible. “I just don’t think either of them would get it. And it’s been...so long now - that it’s becoming...odd that I haven’t.”

Reaching out, Mandy wrapped an arm around her best friend, drawing her close - and letting her know she was there for her in a way that touch only could, beyond words. “I know. Maybe it won’t be - one day?” The realist in Mandy wanted to add that leopards never changed their spots and all-sorts of unhelpful advice, but this time, she managed to keep her tongue in check. “It’s okay. Don’t let anyone make you feel ashamed for that - like a few people in our year I could name.” Lisa, in particular. Sure, she had needed a thing, so she had monopolised judgy - but still. Just because smart, beautiful, adorable and poetic were taken by the dorm, didn’t mean she needed to take that. “You’re not a heartless bitch. You can’t just shake them. I’d be freaked out if you could. That isn’t you.” Squeezing her shoulder, Mandy pulled her in closer. “You’ll figure out where you’re supposed to be. I know you will Mor.”

Sue smiled sadly and reached for one of Mandy’s hands. “I know. I can still wish though.” If she had her way, she could hex Mandy’s dads and take Mandy away from them. She didn’t know a lot about them, but she knew she didn’t like them. She couldn’t like them, no matter how much they and what they stood for meant to Mandy. 

Sue intertwined their fingers, squeezing her best friend’s hand tightly. “Yeah, but we have to talk about depressing things. Just because they’re sad doesn’t mean they don’t exist and not talking about it just makes us unprepared.” She took a deep breathe. You can do this. It’ll be fine. Your best friends and she loves you. “I just don’t want us to keep acting like everything is okay when it’s not.”

Forgetting everything that came before - Sue’s comforting words, her hand squeeze, seven years of history - Mandy immediately pounced on the first sign of discontent, unable to help herself. Reeling in equal parts disgust and fear, she withdrew inside herself immediately. Her voice, when it came, felt...small. Vulnerable. She hated these parts of herself - and maybe even Sue, a little bit, for drawing them out. “...Who says things aren’t okay?”

Her mind flashed to worst case scenario. Sue didn’t want to be her friend. (Why?) Sue had found someone better? (Unlikely). Sue was in love with Wayne??? (Literally the most unlikely thing, but hey, anything was possible). And then it hit her. Voice low, she leaned back in, scarcely louder than a whisper - as if the walls might be listening. “Did Stephen say something?” She hissed, remembering that night at the Slytherin party all those months ago.

even seeing mandy now made terry practically recoil - originally it had just made him annoyed and seethe at the thought of whatever had transpired between her and anthony. (did terry actually know who was at fault for what? no - but it didn’t matter. anthony was always top priority, even if he was in the wrong.) now, though - knowing what he’d done - mandy was just a reminder of the guilt that had been eating away at him.

terry raised his eyebrows. “you know - spoil it? in that you tell me what happens in the book so it’s not as exciting for me to read it? have you never heard that phrase before?” he pointed out, before shaking his head. “never mind, that’s not important.” he was about to nod at her suggestion, but anthony would’ve been at the same table - and he didn’t know how perceptive he’d be. “uh, how about you just give it to morag, and i’ll get it from her. we have a - a book swap going on anyways, i’m sure she’ll want to read this too.” 

Wrinkling her nose, Mandy shook her head and gave a small shrug. “Must be muggle.” Had she known better, she wouldn’t have replied - snatched the book for good and turning on her heels. The less time she spent engaging in conversation, the better. It wasn’t like she was ashamed of her tryst with Terry...it was just...he had been unintentional, not part of a plan. But not unexpected in the good way, like Wayne had been, creeping up on her. 

“That seems...overly complicated.” Frowning, her impassiveness soured. Peering at him curiously, the conclusion hit her straight in the face. “Avoiding me seems a little...immature.” Of course, she had been doing exactly the same - but Mandy was nothing if not a hypocrite when it suited her best, applying standards to others she didn’t in herself. “Don’t tell me you’re still hung up on what happened...God, ages ago now. I can’t even remember it.” A lie - but who was counting? “I expect you can, of course. I am rather exquisite, if I say so myself.”

Parvati sneered at the comment. She’d never been a fan of Harry’s, personally — his snubbing her at the Yule Ball to gaze stupidly at Cho Chang all night was an offense that still bristled her to this day, not to mention she’d always found him rather socially thick (plus his affiliation with Hermione and Ron, two people Parvati felt no love for whatsoever after the stunt they pulled against her best friend last year, but that was a whole different story). But her Inner Eye knew he was important, that he was the key to taking the Wizarding World out of this whole mess, so she had to have faith in him no matter how much she found his personality unappealing. “Shut up, Mandy,” she snapped. Through Lavender, she knew exactly the kind of person her best friend’s cousin was — and Parvati had no desire to be polite to people like her. “I don’t need you patronizing me.” Did she use that word right?

Bristling at Parvati’s retort, Mandy’s smile stiffened, hardening into something else all together. “Someone ought to.” Although she had never personally been slighted by Parvati, her association with Lavender was enough to condemn her. Petty, perhaps, to paint someone else with the same brush, but an utter necessity these days. Plus, she was idiotic enough to break the rules in such an overt way. “Let me guess - this is another one of those childish DA antics?” Was right up their street. As if painting a mural was going to change the course of the war. As if it was going to do anything but create more work for Filch. “I don’t think it looks much like him. But I get where you’re going with it.”

Any waking moment of Ernie’s not spent patrolling the corridors or working against the plagues of Death Eaters invading the castle was likely spent in the library. Unfortunately, contrary to his claims in fifth year, he no longer had eight hours to spare for studying. Despite everything going on, Ernie could not afford to fail his exams. The carnal need to prove himself worthy never left. Not even the Carrows could curse it out of him. His father expected a certain standard and he was determined to deliver, even if it meant getting little-to-no sleep most nights. He would survive; he always did. In the moment, as he wandered past the library shelves, all Ernie had to worry about was finding the book he needed for potions class. Catching the gold lettering out of the corner of his eye, the Hufflepuff reached out and pulled. The pressure from the other side surprised him, but not as much as locking eyes with Mandy Brocklehurst. “Or you could just let me take it? Uh, please?” Normally Ernie came prepared to argue his way out of things, but sleep deprivation got the better of him. 

Clocking the face and the robes, Mandy paused. Several years ago, she might have given the book up in pity - adamant that Hufflepuffs needed that extra push to get the same grades. (Where the wooly-headed stereotype had come from, she didn’t know). But these days, she wasn’t under those illusions anymore - acutely aware of the intellect of the badgers. It might not match her house - but still, way superior to Gryffindor. Which meant she wasn’t giving the book up without a fight. “Sorry. No can do Ernie. Slughorn will eat me if I don’t get this essay in on time.” Probably not true, considering she consistently came in the top half of the class, but he hadn’t picked her for slug club yet and well...she’d do anything to get in. Tugging harder, she narrowed her gaze. “I’ll drop it off when I’m done. Promise.”

Simmering with rage, long contained beneath the surface of her skin and threatening to emerge in all its brutality and ugliness, Mandy paced across the dormitory - anxiously waiting for Anthony to enter. Things had been wrong between them for...months now. Ever since he had gone to that meeting in Hogsmeade. (She knew she should have insisted he took her out for lunch! What a burden it was, to always be right.) And now, it was all becoming too much. The eggshells she tread on were becoming deafening. 

Pausing as the door creaked open, the band around her chest tightened when she saw Anthony. Him. The first boy who had made her heart soar, who had given her butterflies when she thought she was too sturdy for such delicacies, who had been too afraid to ask her to the Yule Ball, but who hadn’t hesitated to kiss her back. Not that night. Not since then. But now, it was all falling apart. And Mandy would be damned if she was left with egg in her face, the pieces of their relationship broken in her hands. 

“Hi.” Stern, well-controlled...she could do this. “I think we should talk.” No small talk. No how are you? No pretending. She was dramatic. This would unfold like a work of fiction.

Hannah chuckled softly. “Maybe I should consider doing that. I’m sure I could steal one off of a cat.” The image cheered her up, if only for a moment. Her smile turned into a frown when Mandy asked about class, her stomach flipping, a sickening feeling of regret swirling in it like bile. There was some shame there, too — Hannah had never been much of a rule breaker before. But then her mother had died and she’d lost control over her studies and grown a deep pit in her being that demanded to be filled. “Yeah.” She turned to the owls, digging some treats from her coat pocket and letting a barn owl pick them from her spread out hand. “I — I couldn’t do it. I know I’m just making things worse by not going, but I couldn’t do it today.”

Although no one ever would have called Mandy soft, she wasn’t cruel either. Not normally sensitive to the cues of others, it was fortunate (for her, not Hannah) that the Hufflepuff’s inferences went off like a fog horn or lighthouse shining in the night. It allowed her to trim her tone, cut out any barbed jokes and show a little more kindness. They weren’t really friends, but Mandy had less than nothing against the girl. Instead, she shrugged - treating the whole thing as a casual everyday occurrence. “Doesn’t matter. The teaching isn’t exactly gold standard at the moment.” Pausing for just a moment, she continued. “There are better hiding places than here though.”

“I can’t believe you made me remember that we spent a year with Lockhart as a teacher,” Theo scoffs, pulling a face. Mandy brought out a more amusing side of him, caught up her theatrics. It was a nicer edge than constantly being on the defence. “Oh yeah? What do you need to be in touch with powerful people for?”

“At least he wasn’t an actual death eater. Or a werewolf.” Visibly shuddering at the thought, repulsion tasted bitter in her mouth. Remembering their trainwreck of a subject wasn’t a pleasant stroll down memory lane. There was a reason she gave it up at NEWT, despite her proficiency. “What reason wouldn’t you want to be in touch with powerful people? You might be content to float along with those cookie cutter, slightly emo, looks - but I’ve got brains and beauty and ambition.”

Sue sat down next to Mandy, leaning into the other girl’s touch. She knew they would be fine after this, she hoped, but a part of her still wanted to treasure this peace while it lasted. “I missed you over break. Christmas would have been so much more fun with you.” She wished Mandy had come over, although she knew her best friend went home every break. She wished she could have spent Christmas with the two people she loves most, could have fallen asleep between her two best friends without worrying about school and the DA and Death Eaters.

She wishes she could have had this conversation in the safety of home.

She blushed at Mandy’s question, shaking her head. “No. I-” Sue coughed and covered her pink cheeks. “No. I just wanted to talk to you about what’s been going this year.”

“Duh.” And then, a little wistful and more than a touch regretful. “But you know what my dads are like.” And she did, not as much as Morag - but far more than anyone else in the world, one of two Mandy had allowed to peer at her vulnerabilities. Once upon a time, there had been more - Michael and Anthony - and even Terry. But no longer. Sue and Morag were the only friends she had left - the only true friends - and Mandy would cling to them with all her might.

“Oh.” A sigh - and an inhaled breath, drawn in apprehension. The conversation hasn’t begun yet - but already, Mandy isn’t sure about its direction - or its destination. There’s a reason they don’t discuss these things, delicate diplomacy - and Mandy isn’t sure she wants to shatter that. It’s so perfect as it is. “Why?” She asks, forehead crumpling, peering at her best friend curiously. “It’s...depressing.”