[ Now it's his turn to have a rueful smile. ]

I dunno... I guess...

I guess I just don't get why you keep on running away from me.

[ Looking up at that and looking younger than his age. Just a kid trying to figure out what he keeps doing wrong where it concerns the person he loves.

Ducking his head again, though, and adding quietly: ] I'm sorry for trying to pick a fight. After you walked past me the other night... I called Alistair.

He said you'd need to get angry. But that you wouldn't. Not with all that guilt.