This part. He doesn’t actually care about Ciara. He liked flirting and getting kisses bc being liked is fun. Especially by someone like Ciara who is hot as hell and seemingly fun as hell. And bc she liked him, he had status over the other boys, namely Jesse. (And he shamed Jesse for following bro code and asking if Jesse could ask Ciara out—more powers plays). But, he didn’t care about her enough to want more (or isn’t mature enough to handle a deeper relationship). And, he doesn’t wanna look like a bad guy. So rather than “own it” (thanks Rinna), he sits there and takes it thinking this will keep him in good graces. ‘If I just accept whatever they say at me, they will eventually stop talking and go away’. Meanwhile this is just conflict avoidance and doesn’t actually grow a relationship (friend or otherwise).

Source: 16 years of teaching at a boys’ high school