It occurred to Jack that maybe he hadn't thought this through that well. So now he had two options - give up the charade that he hadn't really meant as a charade in the first place, or let it go and have Kelly spreading scandalous rumors about him around the school. Forever.

"...The kind of guy who's joking," he replied, deciding after a moment to take the lesser of two evils. He laughed nervously, eyes following Kelly as he knelt in front of him with the handkerchief. "You know. Jokes? Ever heard one? You were trying to get on my last nerve so I decided to get on yours. That's all."