Snippet #1825164

"And I expect your assignments first thing Monday morning," Conor's teacher instructed before adding cheerily, "Have a nice weekend!"

Conor felt his blood boil. Mr Graveton was one of the only people that could really rile him. Conor liked to think of himself as a pretty cool guy; not really irritated by much. But, Mr Graveton was one of those people who just annoyed you a little bit more everyday eventually you just hated him.

Conor reached under his desk to retrieve his bag and hauled it onto his lap. He pushed his pens and books deep into his bag and pulled the zip across. It wasn't long before he was out of the classroom and striding down the halls of his high school. He was certain he must break the world record for 'speed of exit from a classroom' almost on a day to day basis. Thankfully it was a Friday, meaning as soon as he left school he had two days of totally unoccupied time to do whatever he wanted. Though, he already knew what he'd spend his weekend doing; painting. He'd had a talent since he was little and one day he hoped to make a career out of it, much to the dismay of his parents, teachers and elder brother. He'd been told it was a pointless, penniless endeavour, but Conor was determined not to give up on his dream so quickly.

He stepped out of the school grounds onto the street, preparing to make his way home by bus. It wasn't a cold evening but it wasn't warm either. But the sky was very clear and the sun shone down brilliantly on him. As the bus pulled up, Conor decided at the last minute to walk. It wasn't so far to his house, besides, he loved to walk through the park and it was a Friday so he had plenty of time.

He began walking in the direction of his house through the streets of New York. It was only a twenty minute walk, if that and he felt his mind begin to drift away as he followed the familiar route. Despite trying to force his mind to think of happy things, it came to rest upon his younger sister, Jessica. Last night he'd heard her sneak in at about four am, stumbling and out of it. He knew full well his mother was perfectly aware of the situation in hand but chose to simply turn a blind eye, even covering up for Jess so she could keep up the perfect facade for their father that she was coping faultlessly as a mother to his children. But, to be honest, Conor was worried about Jessica. He'd always felt protective of her, after all; she was his little sister, he was supposed to. As a child, he'd always stood up for her, no matter what. And as she grew up, he'd acted as a shoulder for her to cry on over her latest high school drama as their father and brother were both cold and detached and his mother far too self obsessed to care for her over emotional teenaged daughter. But, now, Jessica was gradually slipping away from him too and he wondered how long it would be before everyone in that big house had completely lost themselves but him.

As he reached the park he withdrew himself from his thoughts to enjoy his favourite part of the city. Looking around him, everything seemed as it was last Friday when he had last walked through. He swapped directions to follow a slightly more enclosed path that would still bring him out the same way. It was there that he saw the girl.

She was sat alone on a bench, set aside from the path, glancing around in wide eyed wonder. Her chestnut brown hair fell in loose curls down her back and her brown eyes were neatly in proportion with the rest of her pale face. Conor had to admit, she was beautiful. But she looked so confused an out of place, gazing around in her dated cream wrapped robe.

Instinctively, Conor felt his body move towards her to try and offer assistance, but he hesitated. Maybe he should just keep himself to himself instead. She looked lost enough as it was without him scaring her. But as soon as he thought he had made the decision to leave her alone, another glance at those wide, lost eyes was all it took to convince him otherwise, once again.

He approached her slowly and cautiously, as not to startle or scare her.

"You look lost," he said gently, taking a seat next to her on the bench, "Are you okay?"