[ another heavy sigh. though his body does seem to drop into a more relaxed posture with the exhalation. as if he'd been poised for something worse. ]

I don't think I'd be able to live with myself if I just left you to your own devices like this, tame 4 or not. [ alex rolls his eyes a little at this, exasperation at his own troublesome good samaritan habits. it's the first distinctly teenage boy thing he's done thus far. ]

What do you mean by 'all things considered'? I would have thought someone you knew would have been preferable to a complete stranger.