@expopular
“Worried about me?” He’s trying to laugh it off, act as if Elliot even suggesting that he’s worried is some form of a joke. It’s not like he’s used to having people be worried about him, or at least, if they are, he doesn’t know anything about it. “Elliot, there’s no reason to be worried, I’m fine. I’m about as okay and fine as a person could get.” What a liar he is.
Dustin could try to laugh it off all he wanted - it didn’t erase the concerned crease between Elliot’s eyebrows. He could also claim that he was fine - it didn’t affect the fact that Elliot could clearly see he wasn’t fine. But Elliot wasn’t going to push the boy.
“If you say so,” he said, a soft smile lay on his lips, “but if you ever change your mind, you know... you know you can talk to me, okay?” For a teenage boy, he knew it probably sounded ridiculous.