I know that! [Snappy because they had this conversation before and he didn't want to be reminded of that, especially not at a time like this. He gripped onto his upper arms tighter.] But, it's different when those days are snatched right out from under your feet like this. It's jarring as fuck. I don't feel ready to leave them yet... I wanna go back!

...'Cept I can't. [His head slumps over, knuckles losing their forceful grip.] Even if I went back... Something tells me that if I was willing to throw away something as important to me as the Crazy Diamonds in favor of locking myself up inside that damn hellhouse of a school... I had to have had a good reason. Something's not right with that picture. It's all messed up. Get what I'm sayin'?

[There's a faint tremble in his arms that can be felt through their shared contact.]