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[not averting his eyes] No!

[ and there's some more shock ] You're clearly looking at my crotch!

I'm [pulls his hand away] looking at my hand which happened to be near - your crotch. [somehow, that didn't help]

[ he just sits there, even though every instinct is telling him to bolt ] What was your hand doing near my crotch?

I scratched my eye! And then I set my hand down and your leg was there and you've been so erratic I didn't want to fling my hand away and then it was just, comfortable.

[ Riley just kind of stares at him because, really - what would someone say in this situation? ]

Look, I don't know what's going on here, if anything. But, you're really nervous around me ever since last night.

'If anything'? [ Riley looks away, still at a loss for words ] I'm sorry, I just... [ heavy sigh ] I don't know what's going on with me.

Look, I know I'm not a girl and the Ken doll that you are isn't exactly share-guy but I am here if you need anything. But it seems like any physical contact that happens causes you to convulse.

[ glances back at Xander ] I appreciate that, but... My head's a mess these days. ~~And somehow, this is making it worse.~~

[sits forward] Understandably. My head's a mess too. Just last night I had you basically ontop...of...me.

Is that what this is about? The linger, heavy-breathed whatever?

[ he looks away again, opening another beer and taking a long swig before he nods ] Yeah, that's what it's about.

OK. [nods, taking a long swig before moving to sit on the table in front of Riley] What's bothering you?

[ he shakes his head, elbows moving to his knees as he looks at his hands ] I'm not real sure.

OK. Let's divide and conquer. Was it the contact or how you felt about the contact and who's more surprised than me for acting all okay with this...

[ miserably covers his face with his hand ] I can't do this, Harris. It's too... [ a breath, then: ] Why are you okay with this?

It's too...what? We're grown men. The Matrix is on. Our man points are overflowing. And, I don't know...why I'm okay with this... [lies, lies, lies] Why are you not? [deflect! deflect! deflect!]

Don't forget about the beer...

It's not who I am. I'm all about the women. [ finishes off his beer and reaches for another ] It's just too different, too... strange.

Right, beer!

...Nothing's happened. [sighs] And just - not to rub salt in those wounds but guys who say "I'm all about the women?" -- yeah, been there. [he pauses] The summer after high school I went on this road trip, this self-discovery see all 50 states thing. And yes, they broke the news to me about Alaska and Hawaii considering I was in my Uncle Rory's Cad. Anyway, car broke down in Oxnard and I had to wash dishes at the Fabulous Ladies Nightclub. One day one of the dancers was sick and one thing led to another....anyway, I was there all summer and, and the bartender befriended me. And, and the guy kissed me. And it was before I left and it didn't change my life but -- sexuality is, what, who we feel attracted to? [he was confusing himself] OK, I think, my point...being -- you had what, two relationships? I've had one real relationship. We're young and -- we're young. And because of that we're -- we haven't had the chance to -- so it flopped with Buffy and that's...and I had Anya but, what, our hands brush, you fall ontop of me -- is that really DefCon one?

[ Riley just sits and stares at Xander as he rambles, trying to keep up. He wants to interject somewhere, but he doesn't know where, or what to say. ]

You kissed another guy? [ okay, totally not the point, but Riley needs to take this one step at a time ] No, it's not DefCon one, it's just confusing. I... [ he covers his face again, wondering if the moment could get any more awkward and embarrassing for him ] I think I am attracted to you.

[ and this is Riley, practically squirming in his seat with embarassment, wishing he could just leave the room, if not the planet ]

[he might not have seen that exact thing coming but, he doesn't hate the news, and yeah, he's kissed another guy before, that being the only guy he has kissed and then, what else can he say?]

You are?

[ dropping his hand, Riley lifts his head and looks at Xander, and that was about all he could take ] I can't - [ with that he stands, beer bottle still in hand as he moves past Xander and heads for the door ]

[he stays seated, watching him, sighs, is he going to turn around?]

[ pausing at the door, his hand on the doorknob, Riley looks over his shoulder ]

[Xander stands, slowly moving around the couch towards him]