Ellie twitched when the kid spoke, and gave him a nasty glare, shoving her hands into her pockets, one hand curling around her switchblade. "Like you're any better."

Where The Dodger was trying to be smooth and friendly, Ellie saw blackmail--the threat that if she didn't come with him, he would tell the truant officers. Ellie bared her teeth in a mockery of a smile.

"Not interested." Ellie tried to keep walking.

The paranoia was probably misplaced, but Ellie didn't want to get mugged or worse because she followed some kid with a nice smile who just approached her like that.