Hollow | BxBxBxB

-34- Clouds

Connor awoke the next morning still feeling just as shit as he had done before dozing off. For the rest of the day yesterday he'd just isolated himself in his room only coming out for meals, the meals themselves had been okay, Owen wasn't in them because it was his first day. Today that would be changing though.

The new boy still scared Connor to death, when he'd first arrived at Golden Eagle he'd expected all the boys there to be like Owen. Cold, rough and violent. Yet he'd been surprised by how friendly they were, so that led him to trust a newcomer by default assuming they'd be just as friendly, how wrong he'd been.

Trotting down the stairs Connor took his usual place at the table, everyone else was already there. Slowly Doctor Mercury served the bowls and plates out beginning the meal in the usual fashion.

Connor began to chip away at his cereal taking it spoonful at a time, he was very conscious of the speeds everyone else was eating and didn't want to end up being last again. Glancing nervously around he noticed Owen practically glaring at him.

Giving the new boy a small smile Connor tried to focus on himself, but he could feel the blondes gaze resting upon him like an animal stalking it's prey.

"Simon you burn toast every time I swear" Alex complained.

"It's called toast for a reason" Simon countered with an amused shrug.

"Do you put this in a volcano or something?" Alex asked with a cheeky grin.

"Do you seriously think there's a volcano here?" Owen snapped from across the table.

"It's called a joke" Liam shot back staring in hostility at Owen.

"Really Sherlock?" Owen muttered.

"A bit like you" Liam grumbled clearly pissed off. Doctor Mercury stared between the boys before speaking.

"How did everyone sleep?" He asked clearly trying to change the subject and diffuse the situation.

"Shit, all I could do was worry about dear Connor here and his anorexia. I was so scared he'd hit a breaking point and kill himself in the night" Owen said in a mockingly sweet voice making Connor tense up. He was extremely relieved the other boys already knew about his struggles otherwise that would've been a down right outing.

"I- I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me" Connor answered softly as him and Liam exchanged a glance, the remark had clearly set Liam off again. his protective streak was really coming into it's element thanks to Owen.

"That's really kind of you Owen. However you don't need to worry about other patients, focus on yourself as a priority yeah?" Doctor Mercury told him clearly taken in by Owen's fake kindness.

Connor stared down at his plate feeling his cheeks burning, he hated being the topic of conversation.

"You can do it" Riccardo whispered from beside him gently squeezing his hand from under the table. Connor glanced back at him his eyes wide, it didn't feel like he could do it.

"C-can I eat somewhere else?" Connor asked abruptly, this seemed to surprise Alex who stopped eating and glanced up at him in concern.

"Try staying in here first" Doctor Mercury answered firmly.

"I have" Connor responded quietly.

"Okay, do you want me with you?" He questioned. "Or one of the boys?"

"I'll go" Riccardo immediately offered, Doctor Mercury nodded standing up and showing them the way to the other dining room. Connor had never been in it before. It was a lot smaller than the main one, there was just one circular wooden table in the centre of the room. If you weren't looking you wouldn't have even noticed the door for it it was so hidden away.