"No, too late now, I've been deeply wounded by your harsh words," Marcus says, biting down on a grin he can't quite hide. He isn't going to give up on her, not any time soon, but he also knows there's no help to be found in pushing too hard. Instead he pushes to his feet, just in time to see said freshman with the giant glasses go speeding by, the tall, curly-haired boy running after him, and he inclines his head in their direction.

"Duty calls anyway," he says. "Shall I tell Dan you say hello?"