[still talking in the same barely audible tone] Yeah, join the club. You think it's easy having my best friend suddenly come back without warning and trying to pick things back up right where we left them? After everything? It...it's like...

[stops trying because he doesn't exactly want to tell Axel he's maybe kind of sort of scared about how all of this is going to turn out, so excuse him while he takes a while to think up a lie. stupid experiment's hindering his bullshitting skills]