"I wasn't going to get hurt! And I didn't!" he defended, balling up his fists and bending his arms at his sides. "Besides, I already told you: it was really sudden, and I didn't have time to tell you about it! If I did, I would have, honest!"

Maybe not so honest. Maybe he would have gone without telling him, really. Because he knew Cress would react this way. But for as long as they were having this discussion like this, that was his excuse.

"Anyway, keep it down! I'm trying to tell you a secret, you know." As he spoke, he slowly fell into a hiss rather than a full-on yell. "I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but I'm gonna tell you because... Well, you're you!"