Claire felt her jaw tense, though she wasn't completely aware of the reason. Fright, probably- a marrow-deep kind of fear that buzzed low in her veins like electricity, reacting to this place through sheer gut instinct. She'd felt it thickly back in the hotel, but her initial defense was always deflective sarcasm.
Sarcasm wasn't going to work here. That's what her gut was telling her.
"I've never been real good at the whole 'friends' thing," she admitted. The confession itself wasn't as difficult as she expected it'd be- maybe because of the fear. She sensed he was telling her a raw truth in that she needed friends. She responded in kind. It was, essentially, a plea for help.