Louie’s blush, which hadn’t quite faded, deepened. He wasn’t sure he trusted himself to respond to that statement honestly. It was theft... But admitting that wasn’t something his pride was ready for.

So he just nodded, and gave the other question some thought. “...Okay, hear me out: I don’t like being alone. I don’t know what to do with myself when I don’t have someone I can talk to, for one thing.” Besides, the silence have him far too much space to think - and to worry. “But when I’m with most other people... It’s not totally real. I mean- I’m not totally real, or not totally honest, I guess? I don’t know, it’s not like- I don’t think about it, it just happens.”

He sighed and slumped forward in his chair, defeated.