"Thanks so much for having me; it was a great pleasure to meet your family Laurelle."
"Of course Connor, feel welcome any time okay?" she smiled at Connor, he noticed the sympathy in her smile, he really didn't want to see it, he hated pity.
"Thank you and I will do."
The woman walked out the room after the last to say bye to Connor, however Troye was still at the door to say goodbye.
"I'm really sorry about them Con."
"No please don't stress Tro, they didn't know. I'm fine, I swear."
"As long as you okay I guess. See you tomorrow."
"Yeah see you Tro." The pair hugged, a little longer than the usual platonic hug would last, neither questioned it. Connor appreciated it. In a way he felt safe in Troye's arms. They eventually let go, Connor giving Troye one last smile and turned and left out the door of the Mellet house. Troye went back up to his room, he then looked out his window, he could see Connor walking down the street up to his home, again Troye saw him go to the side of the house instead of the front door. Troye was becoming more and more curious as to what was going in the walls of Connor's home and he couldn't help but feel as if it was something bad.
Connor went in through his window, it was now very late. He had been dreading leaving Troye's home, he knew that Kate would give him a mouthful over not being there to do his chores. He put down his bag, he then went up the stairs, the lock was in fact broken, Connor was afraid, and he knew he could not fight back. He just could never think of hurting her, he still saw her as his mother's sister. And Connor never wanted to let down his mother, even if he had to go through both physical and emotional pain. However the guilt of feeling like he was responsible for what happened to his family was still there. He felt like Kate hurting him was something he deserved.
He went back down the stairs and found anything heavy to place in front of the door. After feeling satisfied that the door couldn't be opened, he went to the bathroom to take a shower, brush his teeth and get into bed. Connor still found it difficult to fall asleep that night, but a certain pair of blue eyes put him at ease just thinking about them. So after about an hour of tossing and turning Connor fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
He woke up to his alarm again the next morning, surprised that he had just had a full night of rest. He didn't know if was because he fell asleep with a full stomach, or if was just happy to have someone who seemed to genuinely care about him. He put on a blue sweater, jeans and his black converse. He then went into the bathroom to brush his teeth and style his hair and then went to get his back pack. He still had half an hour before school, so he decided to walk to the park to have a bit of a thinking session, realising the park was a place where almost no one seemed to go to. So it was basically now Connor's new thinking spot. He left again out his window, still fearing Kate would get hold of him, and he walked to the park. The morning was bright and pleasantly warm. Connor for once felt slightly more at peace about his situation, slightly happier and not feeling as if the universe was totally against him.
He got to the same bench as always and sat, watching the fountains water flow. He stayed there, just thinking, till he had ten minute before school started. It was now Friday, Connor couldn't make up his mind if that was a good thing or not. School was yet another place he could get away from home and he didn't know if he could stay out of Kate's rage for an entire weekend. He just left it, not wanting to give up his unusual happy mood. He got up and set for his walk to school.
