That tiny feeling is too easy to ignore by self-doubt and endless excuses: whether inner prejudices, misconceptions, reading too much into details, letting her own demons free over any stranger even remotely catching her off guard. Sometimes someone merely approaching her was enough.
But... What an odd thing to say, she thinks. The small exchange between them. Then, this, what could be a mere statement. Laurie processes the words, still and in silence. A little too long not to radiate a level of uncertainty or suspicion. She had become too cautious outside, an outcast, unsure and too self-aware how to interact with the world that hadn't felt safe for a while.
She inhales deep and heavy, through the nose.
"Oh, yeah?" Exposed teeth with a tight grin, and a chuckle at the end of the response. Fitting expressions for slight amusement - or, nervousness. The green hues have been tracking and scanning him the entire time, but only once in a while she makes a proper contact to the darker pair. He is right, observant: her chest feels heavier, and she tries the best to ignore it.
" You can tell just by looking, huh? So, h o w has it changed?"
how dark eyes fixate, nearly unblinking. the statement comes from his mouth in some morbid humor, one that holds truth -- johnny can smell it. there's always been something 'bout FEAR, 'bout NERVOUSNESS that changes one's heart. the pool of sweat, occasionally, gave it away. this girl? she was not as easy to read, but he can smell it. the corners of his lips turn upward, to something seemingly polite. at least, it was, to johnny.
ā weeeeeell, ā johnny starts in a sing-song voice, eyes squinting as he gives a look over, again. ā as humans do, a person likes to sweat when their heartrate increases. body odor, even when pleasant, can give it away, ā johnny speaks, simply. experience. ā sweating is a natural response to the change. weakness, fatigue ... those are more signs. i've seen some go pink in their pretty lil cheeks, too, ā on cue, his smile widens. cheeky to match the discussion. johnny's head cocks to the side, his facial features relaxing.
ā just some things i've picked up when talkin' to people, ā a pause, he lets out a soft laugh. breathy. barely exists, if you don't listen close enough. ā you don't notice? or are ya just not the type? ā