Re: lakeside mansion; hugh c./dietre a.
Dietre accepted the water, not because he was thirsty, but because eating or drinking gave him an excuse not to talk for a moment. The few times he had worked up the nerve to go to some sort of social gathering he always ended up drunk because of this. Luckily for him, Hugh hadn’t offered any alcohol. Dietre never intended to get drunk during these outings (not really), it just sort of happened every time.
Hugh’s comment about trying to not make friends struck a little too close to home for Dietre. He felt defensive, guilty, and embarrassed all at once. His gaze darted away and he mumbled, a little sullenly, “...I’m not actively trying not to…” But maybe he was. Just a little.
As much as the truth stung, he knew Hugh wasn’t trying to make a jab at him. And he knew it was his own fault that he had no friends, no matter how much anyone might try to tell him different. So, he took a sip of water to wash away the bitterness, and when he spoke again his voice was soft, almost apologetic as he asked, “Have you really made many friends lately?”