When a moment of conflict arises, one person expresses a need to talk about an issue of significant importance to them and the other avoids it. The result is a lasting resentment between the two that eventually declines the value of friendship.
When he expressed the need to talk, though clearly disturbed and hurt, she "backed out" with a hope that nothing would happen.
to get an attitude with, get smart with, or otherwisetalking back to someone, thereby annoying them and/or provoking them to proceed to beat the hell out of you.