When the other's voice responded to him with concern he felt guilty... He was making the man who had so many other concerns worry about him. "I'm fine, don't worry about me. You should be focused on having a day with Brock all to yourself." He said, trying to make his voice sound light and cheery. However, as he was about to say more he heard the soft voice in the background, and while he couldn't wholly make out what Brock was saying, he did get enough to feel even worse. He chewed his lip, he could probably just force his way threw the day and join them, but he wasn't sure if being miserable all day while trying to put on a cheery face was the best idea either. He didn't want to make a mistake, he didn't want to have anyone worrying about him... Yet, he was still doing just that.<br/><br/>When Chris began talking to him again he parted his lips to brush off the apology and the offers for help again, but after a moment he changed his mind on what he wanted to say. "Don't worry about it, I feel bad disappointing him." He murmured before continuing. "But really, you aren't pressuring me at all to spend time with you both. To be honest, I really was pretty excited, I haven't been out on a picnic in ages." He gave a soft laugh, but he really felt embarrassed and awkward talking like this to someone older than him even if only by a few years. It felt like he was just being a kid.<br/><br/>"I guess I was a little too excited." He then started again, regaining his usual persona and managing a slightly apologetic tone. "I was so off in my own world that I slipped on one of the stairs to the apartment building and landed right on my butt. I was hoping that I'd be fine by the time we went, but I'm pretty sore and don't think I'd be much fun hobbling around with you both like an old man." It was a lie, but not an unbelievable one, though he knew that now he'd have to be careful not to run into a situation where he'd have to use the same one again any time soon. Still, it did cover the bases, and also would ensure that even if he was still aching tomorrow he had a lie to fall back on.<br/><br/>"Can you apologize to Brock for me? And let him know that I want to hear all about it tomorrow at school?" He asked, trying to hide the honest disappointment in his voice behind his apologetic tone. It would have been fun going out with them, he was sure of that, and he would have liked to be someone that Chris could talk to, even if just about some foolish little small talk while Brock played. "And... Maybe next time I can invite you both on a picnic instead?" He asked a bit sheepishly. It was probably rude to say that when he was canceling like this, but... Well, he was sure that while he was sitting home today he'd still be finding himself thinking about it.