Nick ducked his head bashfully at Ella's words, "I tried to sleep in a shed. I've been messed up." Tried was the keyword, he hadn't slept at all. He wasn't sure he knew how to sleep without a pill and his shakes had started the night before.
Grinning a little at Joanie, "Joanie, right. I remember you." Peter was crowing happily inside his head. SMART GIRL! SMARTER THAN NIBS! SHE'S A LOST BOY! If he didn't stop soon, Nick was going to lose his mind.
He was going to suggest finding somewhere to go when the man introduced himself. Nick put himself between the man and the girls, as if he could actually protect them. "Hi," his awkwardness did nothing to help with this 'big bad protector' thing. "Uhm, we're going now, Mr. Lvov."