"Hmm. But you also might not."

"...no I probably would," says Jackson.

"Why do you think so?"

"I'm not very good at not doing things people tell me to do. ...and he's nice."

"And Mason's not," he says, using a tone that could be construed as a question or as a statement.

"...no."

"What's new guy's name?"

"Brian," sighs Jackson.

"You could see Brian again," he suggests, "and see if he's really nice, and become his friend, and maybe you'll find you prefer him, maybe you won't, but this is moderate evidence that people can, in fact, be interested in you, if he was flirting."

"I dunno if he was really flirting or not."

"And if he wasn't you two might just be friends, and if he was you might find you prefer him to Mason..."

"But I can't cheat on him I don't know what he'd do."

"If you prefer Brian you could break up with Mason is what I meant," he clarifies.

"I can't do that!"

"Why not?"

"I just - I can't."

"That might prove to be a problem if you ever find out you do prefer not being with Mason to being with Mason," he points out.

"...yeah."

"It's also not an actual reason."

"I don't know what Master'd do if I tried it."

"...you think he'd try to—what, attack you or something?"

"I don't know! But if he wanted rid of me he could dump me and he hasn't so he must not want rid of me and wouldn't want me to break up with him!"

"You... do remember that relationships are supposed to be wanted by all members of it, right. People can't just start relationships on their own."

"...he didn't," Jackson points out, "you were there, remember?"

"I know, but that's a condition that's supposed to last for the entirety of a relationship, not just the start."