"I'm sorry," he said then, scowling at having missed the point of what she was saying, due to his own silly insecurities. But her insecurities were much the same: he'd never told Lily how he felt for fear that she'd laugh in his face. In fact, he hadn't even the nerve to ask Sappho out until after he knew for certain that she would say yes. (Well, ultimately, at any rate. She denied being his secret admirer for a bit after he'd asked her out, but he couldn't fault her for that. He probably would have done the same thing.) "If it's any consolation," he continued, now in a whisper, "I understand. I don't think I'm good enough for you, either. Though knowing you find me so attractive makes me feel confident and strong." He shrugged then and sighed. Was he simply doomed to say everything wrong?