Unfortunately, by having presented himself as an authority, Quentin is now being taken at his word. This means that every day from now on, Credence will consider himself a little more abnormal for never having so much as held hands with a girl.

"...how? You're - you know so much more than me."

For Credence, the problem is in appreciating that their age difference is less than that between, say, Modesty and himself.