He doesn't know what she's talking about but he can't imagine that any of what's causing her so much distress is truly her fault. Running away, changing her name, making up a whole new life--to Spencer, that sounds like self-preservation. It sounds like a way to survive. Whatever had happened, she may blame herself, which he can very much relate to, but that doesn't make her guilty of anything. Her eyes are full of pain when she looks up and he has to work to keep from flinching, wondering if he's ever looked like that. He's haunted, that's a truth he can't deny, but he's had help; and if he can help Raleigh get that look out of her eyes, he'll do whatever he can.
He tries not to let his gaze linger on her foot, though he still isn't sure whether it's worse to see people struggle to avoid asking him about his bruises and injured hand altogether or to be direct about it. Curiosity is inevitable and both of them are well aware of that for more reasons than just their most recent traumas.
"I try to be," he answers, letting her get closer even though he stiffens just a bit. "Besides, it's truly the least I can do after you let me unload so much on you last week. Not that I'm keeping score, I--" He shakes his head, frustrated that he can't seem to find the right words to explain himself. He knows she would never say he owes her anything, and he doesn't feel like he does because as far as he's been learning, a true friendship doesn't work that way; but he wants to do right by her because she's done the same for him and perhaps that's not it's supposed to work either but it's where he's at right now.
"I've got fresh bedding," he says, signaling the cab he sees nearing them. "Do you like ice cream? I don't have any right now but Joel, he bought me my favorite, it's coffee-flavored. If you don't like coffee-flavored, that's all right, I can get you whatever flavor you like. Oh, there's a TV that I'm pretty sure still works in one of the empty rooms, if you want to use that one. When J-- When I'm alone in the house, it's easier to fall asleep with the background noise."
He's rambling but he's afraid that if he stops, he'll have to acknowledge the fact that the second reason he wants to go so out of his way for Raleigh is because he couldn't be there to stop whatever had happened to her in the first place. If he can make it up to her now, even if she doesn't realize that's what he's doing, maybe he'll be able to rest a bit easier tonight.
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He tries not to let his gaze linger on her foot, though he still isn't sure whether it's worse to see people struggle to avoid asking him about his bruises and injured hand altogether or to be direct about it. Curiosity is inevitable and both of them are well aware of that for more reasons than just their most recent traumas.
"I try to be," he answers, letting her get closer even though he stiffens just a bit. "Besides, it's truly the least I can do after you let me unload so much on you last week. Not that I'm keeping score, I--" He shakes his head, frustrated that he can't seem to find the right words to explain himself. He knows she would never say he owes her anything, and he doesn't feel like he does because as far as he's been learning, a true friendship doesn't work that way; but he wants to do right by her because she's done the same for him and perhaps that's not it's supposed to work either but it's where he's at right now.
"I've got fresh bedding," he says, signaling the cab he sees nearing them. "Do you like ice cream? I don't have any right now but Joel, he bought me my favorite, it's coffee-flavored. If you don't like coffee-flavored, that's all right, I can get you whatever flavor you like. Oh, there's a TV that I'm pretty sure still works in one of the empty rooms, if you want to use that one. When J-- When I'm alone in the house, it's easier to fall asleep with the background noise."
He's rambling but he's afraid that if he stops, he'll have to acknowledge the fact that the second reason he wants to go so out of his way for Raleigh is because he couldn't be there to stop whatever had happened to her in the first place. If he can make it up to her now, even if she doesn't realize that's what he's doing, maybe he'll be able to rest a bit easier tonight.