He made a funny face and wiggled his feet. "Mum gave them to me for my birthday," he told her. "I don't think I'd wear them out in public, but here they function sort of like slippers."
"Thanks," he said rather shortly. He was relieved for the topic change, though he winced when she brought up the reason he'd asked her over.
"Well," he said quietly, taking a deep breath and sighing deeply. "I don't know how to say this..." he trailed off, unable to meet her eyes. Instead he focused on the weird, bright colors of his socks.