Connor's Tale - A Jonnor story

Chapter 6 - The beginning

"I didn't talk to Jude in math that first day, I don't think he really talked to anyone" Connor said.  "I did watch him in math class and he seemed to be listening to the teacher, but honestly we were starting a new section so I was paying attention.  I like math, so when we do something new, I tend to pay attention so I was focusing more on the work than anything else.  Though I do admit I did sneak a look at Jude a couple more times during class - mostly to try and figure him out.  You know why he moved here, what he liked, that kind of stuff."

"Uh-huh" Taylor smiled "just typical boy stuff." Daria didn't quite snort, but it definitely wasn't as ladylike as she preferred though she was still smiling when Connor looked at her with a "how could you" look on his face.

"Sorry" Daria said, "but really?  Don't think most guys our age would have done that."

"Are you a guy?  How do you know what we do" Connor asked them? "It is totally normal guy stuff." But even he could not keep the ends of his mouth from curling up in a small smile as he said it.  He knew that none of his friends at that time would have thought that, but believing it was normal behavior was almost a reflex.  It was tough to admit it, even now.  Looking at the girls, he saw both of them giving him the "look".  "Fine, it wasn't.  But at the time, I believed it was and told myself that it was totally normal.  I told myself that about a lot of stuff" he said softy.

Taylor once again felt for her friend.  She prided herself on her intelligence and ability to see others as they truly were and while she may have correctly seen the connection between Jude and Connor, she was starting to realize that she had really misjudged Connor in general.  If she had known him better, would she have still made that stupid decision?

"After math I went to my next class" Connor continued "heading out with the guys, as we were going to history class.  I did watch Jude but he was still packing up when we left, so I didn't think much about it.  I don't remember seeing him at lunch that first day, so I don't know what he did but I do remember looking to see if he was going to be in any of my other classes.  And when I was going to science, I saw him walking in the hall towards my class.  I decided to say something."

Flashback to Jude's first day at Anchor Beach

Connor saw the new kid, Jude, looking at the paper in his hand and looking at rooms as everyone moved between the halls as they headed for their next class.  He figured that he was lost and Connor decided to help out.  "Hi!" Connor said coming up to the shorter boy who looked up at Connor with a nervous, slightly scared expression.  Connor was surprised, the smiling boy who he saw in class was gone and this one looked like he expected Connor to hit him. "I'm Connor - you were in my math class this morning, you're new right?"  Connor smiled at the other boy "how's your first day going?"

"It's okay" the brown hair boy "but I am not sure where my next class is."

"Let me see" Connor leans over and looks at the paper in Jude's hand and sees that Jude's next class is science - the same as him! "Hey you're in my science class - c'mon I'll show you the way." Connor smiles at the smaller boy standing next to him and is rewarded by that shy smile.  "Thanks" Jude replies.

They boys walk along the hallway to class and Connor looks at Jude "So did you just move to San Diego or what?"

He notices the sudden change in Jude's shoulders as the slump down and he lowers his head and looks at his feet "Uh, no.  I have been here for a while."

"Really, sorry I just assumed since you started after school had started that you must have just moved here" Connor replied.

"Actually I am a foster kid.  My sister and I just got placed with a new family so I got moved to this school."