"Thank you," he replied softly, smiling, very grateful this... Fabian didn't throw him off or shove him away or tell him to go away and that he wouldn't help. He then nodded and chanced a glance out of the corners of his eyes toward the creme-puff woman. She seemed to at least be momentarily halted, and he took that as his chance for escape, picking a direction completely opposite of her and steering himself and this boy in it. Casually, of course, so as not to attract too much unwanted attention or appear completely out of his mind.
"I'm Piper." He gave a friendly smile to Fabian. "It's very nice to meet you." He waited a beat. "At the risk of sounding banal, isn't it a lovely ball? Minus the beastly, creme-puff women, of course. It could definitely do without any of them."