That smile disappeared at her compliment, but only because he was feeling self conscious then. "Well... I mean... this is better then sitting in my room feeling sorry for myself because my friend thinks I'm a pitiable case..." and my brother ran off and got himself killed, but he didn't add that part.
He tried to nibble on more pizza and somehow he managed to get a few more bites down. He wasn't a big eater, never really had been despite being a 'boy'.