"I'm here, because, you know." He sighed heavily and buried his face in her hair. "It's important, isn't it?" Inhaling her scent, he paused. "You smell sort of ... familiar." He snorted. "But not like you usually do. Does that make sense?" Laughter bubbled in his chest. It was all just so hilarious. But it also wasn't. It was deadly serious.
He tilted his head and leaned in to let his lips brush her neck. "I'm sorry," he murmured, against her skin, "You know that? I'm so very sorry. I mean it. For what I said. But I was so angry when you wouldn't let me take you to the ball." This sobering thought made him pull away. He was being presumptuous. She had turned him down to the ball. He'd misinterpreted everything. They were just mates after all. She didn't feel the same way about him. His face was etched with misery as he took a slightly unsteady step backwards and away from her. "Sorry. I forgot myself. I just came to apologise. I'll go now."