Steaming Cup of Joe

He'd sit up slowly, feeling a few groans in his back from the rough landing. "Oh it's no problem, it happens. I'm just glad you're okay is all."

He'd give her a quick look over, just to make sure that there was nothing wrong himself. She seemed rather red but that was probably due to the running itself. He'd lay back, taking a deep breath, and relaxing on the grass as he looked up to the sky watching the clouds. "You sure you're alright?" He'd say glancing at her, looking into her eyes with a concerned face.

"oh...I'm sorry." Realizing the embrace was probably rather intimate for this girl, he hadn't put that into account. "I forgot, you don't do well with boys, right?"

He'd chuckle, "I don't know if you would be able to handle if we were to wrestle if you're embarrassed from me catching you." He'd say this in a joking manner, not trying to insult her in any way.

"Imagine what? Oh, well I could tell you were trying to leap at me, I didn't want you to hurt yourself so I turned around and caught you. I was thinking that I'd soften your fall." This was the truth, he hated it when people got hurt, if he could prevent it, he would.

He'd soften his tone with her. "I understand fully, that's how some people are raised. There's nothing wrong with being bashful. Some people find it adorable even, I was quite bashful till highschool. My personality did a few loops there actually, but you have nothing to be ashamed of." He'd give her a warm smile, he really did understand how she felt and he didn't want her to think he was belittling her in any way.

He'd smile a sad smile, he grew so much but the things he had gone through weren't all good, or all bad, some terrible like the Incident. "Things, some good, some bad, it's a part of life, we're molded by what we experience and go through."

He'd look up at the clouds, "You'll learn though, especially here, so many things to do and see, so many oddities and powers. Along with the norms of highschool." He'd smile a bit brighter, "So much to grow. I'm still growing too, you know? We never stop changing, I'm sure what happens here will change me in ways too."

He'd shake his head, getting all philosophical at a simple question. It was bad form, getting all deep unprovoked.

He'd laugh loudly, "Incredibly, I still am in some ways."

He'd turn to her, still laying don, "You know, I honestly don't know. In books and shows we have these strong and courageous heroes that can face anything. Being young, well younger and with a crush on some girl seemed impossible to me. It took forever for me to work up the courage to ask one out and not just collapse on the spot. I guess it's partly age and partly mental, there just comes a time when you know you gotta go for it."