"nothing," whispered Howard not lifting his head from between his knees, to not let Corey see his tear stained face, "tired." he didn't like to lie to people and especially not to corey -who had been so good to him in the past. "just tired." he lifted his head up to the dog when it was sufficiently dry and looked into it's eyes with his red ones, worn out from silent crying giving him the effect of tiredness. "Dogs don't feel sympathy..." whispered Howard hushidly to Magnus, not knowing -or caring- if corry could hear him or not he looked up to Corey, "shouldn't you be with the rest? one outcast shouldn't keep you away." he looked tentatively into Corey's eyes. 'just go, just go, just go' he repeated in his head over and over again not wanting to engage himself in meaningful conversation after Riley. "I'll be at the party Cor, if that's your concern, you know I wouldn't miss an initiation.", he was still looking into Corey's eyes, his own pleading to be left alone, the sting of tears returning to his eyes. Howard stood up and started away from Corey, down the street, "I'll be there." he called back hoarsely "I just need to do something." he didn't actually need to do something, he just wanted some alone time.