Ness remained prone on the floor for a few moments after Julian freaked out and pulled back, scrambling to his feet with a grace she never would have assumed he could have managed. Of course, things like this were easier when you didn't overthink them. It was easier to crash a bicycle when you kept trying to think about everything you needed to do to keep the bike up, but once you knew, you just knew. These weren't the thoughts she wanted in her mind. She wanted to know what was wrong with Julian! He apologized twice, stammering a bit in between, and talking a mile a minute. After Julian and grabbed his sneakers, Ness finally hoisted herself up, taking only a moment to balance on her own - well, Terry's own - heels. She watched him quietly for a moment, the tension and awkwardness both almost tangible to her - and unfortunately, far too familiar. Had she done something to screw things up with Julian now, too?! She tried to dismiss the thought. She didn't need to break down in Terry's body in front of Julian, in Emma's body. There was too much wrong with that picture.
"Hate to break it to you," she said, voice not much more than a murmur, "but you're doing it, Julian. I guess "take it easy and don't think about it" should have been at the top of the list of tips." She tried to draw a smile from Julian, putting on her own one, but it just didn't feel right. Things were far too tense now, and even if she got a laugh, she was afraid it would just serve to make the situation more awkward. She'd had enough awkward to last her a lifetime already. Now that they were both red-cheeked in bodies that were not their own, Ness couldn't think how this could get any worse.
But then Julian was talking about, and... and not making a whole lot of sense. Feeling a little dizzy from the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind, Ness took a step back, leaning against the wall. She folded her arms, regarding Julian quietly. "I... You aren't making any sense, Julian. What are you talking about? Wanted to what? Help you? Because if that's it, then... yeah, that's what I meant. And this is how... I thought I could help. Is it not? Or are we on different pages?" She sighed, shaking her head. "That's what it feels like and... Julian, I just want to help. And understand." And now he was saying he missed her? What had Vanessa missed?? Confusion lifted up her eyebrows into a quizzical expression, one Terry's face made very well. She held her hand out, shaking her head. "Please don't go. Tell me what's going on. Please." Her voice might have been a bit different in Terry's body, but that pleading note in her voice was all too familiar, even to Ness. She didn't want Julian to leave on such a strange note, too afraid of losing her best friend. She'd lost him once, she didn't want that to happen again.