maximum effort

Noelle: [read]

Holden: Still want me to leave you alone?

Noelle: I don't know.

Holden: Okay, I'll leave you alone. Just know I'm sorry.

Holden: One more thing.

Holden: Are you mad at me?

Holden: I don't want anything. I was just saying.

Noelle: Right.

Holden: You've got my best friend. That trumps her.

Noelle: Yeah well.

Holden: Sorry.

Noelle: Listen, don't-.

Holden: That I messed up.

Holden: ...I meant that he won't mess up with you like I did.

Noelle: I know what you MEANT but

Holden: I kinda meant with you.

Holden: So, basically you two are stuck together becasue I can't give him the talk for messing up, which I doubt he will. Becasue he isn't like me.

Holden: We can just be clueless together.

Holden: Obviously. I'm /that/ guy that beats people up.

Noelle: Good deal.

Holden: I'm not into the whole love thing but I kinda get it.

Holden: Just know I can't exactly beat this guy up if it goes south.

Noelle: Hey, I don't know much more about it than you do.

Holden: Why?

Noelle: I don't know, it just does.

Holden: Like floating on the clouds or something.

Holden: Well lol. You know Bren so I had to ask!

Noelle: Up in the air.

Holden: Is that some weird lovey dovey stuff I will never understand?