( My reply got deleted so here goes my second attempt... Now on a computer. )
Her comment caused James to stop dead. Had his ears deceived him, or had she really said that? It was slightly surreal, for someone to be insulting him like this, as no one ever really would dare. He slowly turned around to face in her direction once again, and the look on his face was full of an anger that was unnatural for the present situation. It was like he was taking the insults to a level that was far too personal, as it was obvious that Ellie was just going at him for her own amusement. But for James, this was not amusing at all. In fact, it was a level beyond offensive.
"Well perhaps in your primitive eyes," he snarled, his glare strong.
He seemed like perhaps he was going to reply with some more barbed comments, but the arrival of a new person caused him to fall silent. His expression however, remained stony as he watched the newcomer. She seemed so smooth, so sure of herself as she addressed them all in a raspy voice. It was intriguing, and attractive. James hesitated slightly, before retreating to his usual expression of narrowed eyes, and a somewhat hostile look. It was his comfort zone, to give the world the cold shoulder, and to stay in a position where he was unapproachable by all.
"Estelle," he greeted, with a small nod of his head. His tone from before, when he had been nearly shouting at Ellie, was now replaced by a somewhat calmer, somewhat more welcoming voice. Of course he knew her - her appearance was unforgettable in itself, and her personality was unique enough to be impressionable. But he had never really held a long conversation with her, and he felt certain that she probably wouldn't even want to speak with him. Most avoided James like the plague, and it was not surprising, given his unapproachable expressions, added with his usually-unfriendly tone. Rather than this being upsetting however, it instead had little to no effect on him at all. He didn't honestly care what people thought about him.