Comforting Gesture
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"He was an exchange student, okay, and he was looking at me funny like this. That kind of look that would freak anyone out. So I decided to ask. Nicely. Very nicely in fact, considering we'd just met and I had done absolutely nothing wrong. Nothing, even in retrospect, that could get him all defensive and start waving his fist around. But he did, and... Ryan? What are you doing?"
"Hm?"
"You're rubbing my arm."
Pause. "A comforting gesture, I believe?"
"You're treating me like some kid."
"No, this is what I do for Marissa when she's upset about her mom."
"I am so not Marissa Cooper. Can we at least agree on that?"
"Well, you were kinda talking like--"
"Dude! Oh, please tell me I'm not acting like Marissa Cooper. At all."
"Uh, okay. You're not."
"A little sincerity would be so much better, but never mind. I believe you."
"Okay."
"So maybe I shouldn't get on to the part where he punched me and left me on the floor, huh? 'Cause that I have to admit wasn't exactly very un-girlish."
"No, go on, I want to hear that."
"You know, Ryan, have you confessed to Dad about these little sadistic tendencies?"
Sigh. "Fine. Let's just get to the names so I can punch him back for you."
"As I said, sadistic tendencies. You weren't actually measuring how many pounds you could sell off my arm when you were doing that comforting stuff, were you?"
Eyeroll. "What do you think?"
"Good. Then you can continue doing it, 'cause I kinda like that."
"Oh."
"So. We were about to get into the bloody part, I believe."
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