[ It feels strange to be the one trying to meet his gaze for once, is what they think, while they watch him dart his eyes away. Is this what he feels like when they avoid his gaze? They watch him carefully, finding his words and his behavior equally surprising, equally confusing. ]

That's what you're worried about? Me "ending up" liking him more than you.

[ Cairngorm takes extra care to seem genuine here, their tone cool and even as opposed to their usual challenging dryness. How could they act haughty when they're surprised to even hear this from him? The pieces are starting to come together for them, a little bit, even if the find the idea of confident, popular Lupin feeling insecure over them rather bizarre - as bizarre as it had been the last time, at the greenhouse when he'd mentioned his jealousy of Phos. ]

Where is that even coming from? I've barely talked with him.

[ How are they supposed to "end up" liking him more just from that? They sound more confused than anything else - of course they don't like Sholmes more than they like Lupin. Just looking at things logistically, that much should be no question, their sureness of the permanence of their feelings for Lupin aside. ]