"Hey...hey." He reached for her hand and squeezed it. Girls crying made his heart hurt all funny inside. "Don't cry, sweetheart. I....I understand, I do. And I don't want to you to...not tell anyone about us. I really...Anne. I. I...care about you, so much. So much and, I... Thank you for telling me."
He swallowed hard, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Maybe you're right about the age thing, and...that can stay between us. Just between us, but. Anne? I want everyone to know how much I like you, how much I care about you."