[He feels a bit guilty for blurting that out, especially when Veronica seemed so surprised to hear it. He knew she didn't mean anything by it; she was just a genuine sort of person, but who wasn't going to get a little hot under the collar if a pretty girl was saying things like that?!

Really though, he had to get that under control. It was only going to worry her and he couldn't afford to think of anyone like that. It would just get him all tore up inside for no reason.

He had to wait a moment, as she got the last word in, until she came back with a magazine. Gave him a second to chew over his words, but in the end it just made him increasingly flustered. Damn.]

N...nah, it's fine. Sorry I said anythin'. It doesn't bother me, I'm just-- I'm not used to to hearin' stuff like that.

[Not anymore at least.

He rubs the side of his neck and dodges eye-contact. Being raised in the Joestar family, his father just... didn't look kindly on that sorta talk.]

You don't gotta put yourself out tryin' to make me smile or nothin'. I like ya fine enough already.

[They were just starting to set up the lighting rigs, big white umbrellas on sticks and reflectors and everything that went with it. Made for something a little easier to watch than trying to meet his friend's eyes.]