[ eliot hums. ] I could say the same for you of me. But.

But that doesn't mean I don't try to understand. Since I know it's important to you. Because I love you.

[ though his hold doesn't slacken, he feels his heart ease up. he still feels like mike is there. watching. ready to say anything at any moment, so just make it hurt. twisting the knife had always been easy for people eliot had let in. but he doesn't want to stay here. it's too dangerous. there's the river. and quentin. and all these things they're seeing, hearing, feeling that aren't really there. ]

Hey. Let's go home, okay? I. I don't. I didn't like the way you were looking at the river.