[He counts the fact that Riley doesn't immediately turn tail and run as a win. She's still a trembling mess, still stumbling over her words and looking more like a frightened deer than the confident girl he'd seen shine through before.
He's not a teenage girl, or even a teenage boy at that. He won't presume to be her friend nor an adult to coddle and scold her. In truth, he doesn't know what that makes him. Just there, he supposes.
Without turning around, holding true to his word, he speaks.]
There is a fire in you, Riley. And I hate to see it so diminished by this place.
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He's not a teenage girl, or even a teenage boy at that. He won't presume to be her friend nor an adult to coddle and scold her. In truth, he doesn't know what that makes him. Just there, he supposes.
Without turning around, holding true to his word, he speaks.]
There is a fire in you, Riley. And I hate to see it so diminished by this place.