Startled. Afraid. Jimmy flinched a hand up to cover his face from Alex's tantrum and the flying glass that broke across the tree. Jimmy watched it in horrified motion as the blurred glass gave a last glint in the night's light before it sharded itself. Jimmy neverminded the sting he felt in two parts of his bare arm. They were small and burned like the probing of tiny glass, but he knew they weren't lethal or even all that serious. What he hadn't meant to do- and instinct had forced him- was stagger back and nearly trip over the sitting log. It's one probing branch, worn and aged by surf and wind, pressed and twisted just above his knee. He grunted in annoyance.
By the time Jimmy lifted his eyes and dropped the arm with small, seeping wounds, the billywig had taken flight and was away in the cold night. The roar that Alex gave next- and the smashing of knuckles against the tree filled Jimmy with more fear- but stronger with anger. It bit hard and hot into him and he was about to shout at the chaos and Alex to cool his shit. But in the night he could see the seeping blood of his best friend's knuckles. He could feel it tickling at his own arm and for the first time he looked at the backside of his limb to see the damage. It was light, but still disturbing. He decided to leave it alone for the moment.
Alex ranted. Jimmy listened. His lips stiffened. He wanted to cry- the small, boy-like remnant of his personality was scared and hurting. The friend part wanted to rush to Alex seeing him bleed and cry. But he stood there and flexed his fists. He felt another prick in his palm and against his thumb, and when he looked, his palm had a thin smear of blood from yet another tiny shard. That one he plucked away angrily.
"I know what girls and purebloods did to you." Jimmy said with a tremble. His voice betrayed his fear. "But these girls and those purebloods didn't do anything to you but try to help- or when you popped off, I'm guessing they did their jobs. I didn't see anyone being an arse to you. Anyone. You were the one being rude. Not them."
Jimmy's features winced at a second sight of blood from Alex. It was taking everything to not to to him and try to fix him. It made his voice even more hollow and soft. He sounded like a scared boy, uncertain and wispy. "I-I-I always knew you had good in you, it's why I like you so much. But you let your temper ruin everything. S-so until you get over this and let the good part come out and apologize to everyone..."
There was a hurt pause, an audible swallow in Jimmy's throat. He swiped at his eyes then they rolled wet. He just had to force himself to say it. He knew no other way to get through to Alex. "Then... I-I can't hang out with you. Until you do. You promised me you wouldn't do this and now you've broken it twice."