"I'm fine," Ben said uneasily. He wasn't, exactly, but he couldn't just come right out and say that. She'd want to know what had happened, which he couldn't tell her. Even if he did tell her what had happened with the Pettigrews it wouldn't exactly explain why it'd affected him this way. Ben wasn't sure he knew himself, and certainly couldn't articulate it.

He hadn't come here to talk about that, anyway. Or had he? It was hard to think now why he had come to Melody's bedroom tonight. Ben shifted his weight from foot to foot and tried to think of something else to say. After a moment of uncertainty, he moved to sit on the edge of her bed. His agitation showed in his posture; he perched like a prey animal ready to bolt at an unfamiliar noise.

"Just been thinking, I guess," he finally said vaguely.