[shifts anxiously and pulls a hand out of his pocket to palm at his face. every time she does or says something to remind him she just keeps chipping away at whatever it is thats holding him together]

You're not her. You know that. I do too. I'm not asking you to be anyone you're not, here. If we're being totally honest, I don't want you to be. I want you to be the furthest damn thing from her you can possibly be.

[he doesn't sound the same with her. his voice is harder, and he's not as interested in protecting her feelings or keeping in her good graces. part of it is because he still doesn't trust her, yeah, but mostly it's because it'd just be easier if she didn't like him]

I have to deal with the fact she's gone. So do the rest of them. It ain't your fault you got dragged here, and it sucks you got put in the middle of this. But give them some time to adjust, that's all I'm saying.