A part of him wants so badly to hide from those knowing eyes, to just make a speedy exit and act like the past few minutes never happened, but it's... kind of a relief, in a weird way. Maybe it's the fact that Peter sees him and isn't reacting in disgust or dismissiveness, but concern. Kind of like... like some of the teachers who really tried to get through to him, before he dropped out of school.

It tugs at a little something in his heart. Maybe he never realized how much he's wanted this, no matter how much he tried playing the rebel.

"Um, well, I'm still alive--" Debatably. "--so..." He perks up, jokingly, "I cleared that hurdle, at least!"