[ Ben's face is very flushed, by now, and he covers his burning cheeks with his hands. He ducks his head forward when Kieran very gently teases him, shaking his head and saying: ]

I'm sorry, I promise I'm not trying to brag or anything, I just - can't seem to stop talking about him.

[ Or thinking about him. Ben knows that he's infatuated. He's seen his siblings go through it, he's read about it in books, but he's never felt it before. He'd had no idea how potent it would be, how wonderful and distracting and terrifying all at once. ]

I'm not used to feeling like this.

[ Ben glances up to see that Kieran is smiling at him, that he doesn't just look tolerant or patient, but genuinely happy for him. Still clutching his own face, Ben says: ]

The only advice I was looking for, I guess, was - how to keep myself from screwing it up.

[ Happiness like this feels so impossibly fragile, to Ben. Like it can't possibly last. And he still values Kieran's opinion, Kieran's wisdom and advice. No matter whether Kieran himself believes he is qualified to give guidance. ]