"Ah you are too cute, Ian!" She ruffled his hair, giving him her most generous smile. Ian couldn't help but blush slightly, but inwardly, he wondered what she meant by cute. Did she mean that his manner was attractive because he was sweet, or did she mean that he was cute in the way a little kid or a little brother would be cute. If the latter was so, then he was going to be even more depressed today.
"Are you just complimenting us to transition between subjects?" Kaycee asked him. She sounded hurt when she said so and he instantly felt bad. He hurriedly spoke.
"No! Not at all! At least, well, yes, that was part of it, but I think you're both really pretty, honestly. You're," he began. Then he watched her reach down for her heel and he felt himself get distracted with the angle she was in before she fell down. He mentally kicked himself and offered her his hand.
"I don't think they're used to you laughing with them," he noted from the way some people shifted uncomfortably and stared at her strangely.