[. . . WOW THOSE ARE SOME SERIOUS JUDE PINGS SHE'S GETTING HERE. he had already passively reminded her of the young man she had so come to admire and trust back home, but that. . . well. that resonates with her far more than anything else had so far]

[her hand had meandered back up to his head, but it pauses as she blinks at him, a bit surprised]

. . .

Better, is it? As though. . . they bring out the best parts of you? As though they make you want to strive to be the kind of person they can admire?

[granted, that's what Jude made her want to be, but the sentiment is the same]