During his own free study period after history, Connor had headed towards his mother's classroom, hoping that she hadn't left yet. Thankfully, she was sitting at her desk, sorting out lesson plans for whoever would be covering her classes. She looked up at him, smiling, and called him over. He forced a half smile and sighed, pulling the strap of his bag further up his shoulder.

"Everything okay?" her smile faded as she noticed his expression. "Connor..."

"I told her, mum," his voice broke as he stood against the door, not daring to step much closer.

"Please tell me you didn't, Connor," she walked towards him, her face paling.

"Don't. Just don't."

"How did it go?"

"She hates me; hates me with a fervent passion."

"I told you not to tell her, didn't I?"

"I didn't want my life to be dictated by yet more lies! Especially after last week."

"Ah... well, we can't change the past now, can we?" she placed her hand on his arm comfortingly. "You've told her now, and I can't change it..."

"I just... I thought I'd stop feeling like I'm a bad person; that I'm not heartless and that even though I did something crappy, I'm not a crappy person-"

"Connor-"

"It's still just the same. I deserve to feel this guilty! I deserve to feel like I've ruined the only good things I had in life; because I have!"

"Connor Mulgrew?" the recognizable voice of Sonia, the school secretary could be heard from down the hall. "Mr Byrne wants to see you in his office. Oh, and Mrs Mulgrew! He was going to call you in, but if you're here, he wants to speak with you too."

...

Imogen sat in the room outside of Michael's office, awkwardly staring at the ground as she awaited Connor's arrival. As much as it felt like she was betraying him a little, she knew that it was the best thing she could have done. She was sick of letting him be responsible for ruining parts of her her life, and if she'd got in trouble for harbouring the truth, it would most definitely count as one of those occasions. Her head shot up as the door creaked open, her heart pounding nervously about how the boy would react.

He slid through the door, his mother and Sonia following behind him. Silently, he took a seat on the other side of the room. Just one look at her, and he knew fine well why he was there. The thick ball of anxiety working its way up his oesophagus made him feel nauseous, and his stomach churned familiarly with the guilt that made its way through his system. Imogen looked over momentarily, although she didn't waver from her confirmation that she'd done the tight thing.

"Christine?" Michael sighed, signalling with his head for her to join him in his office.

Without the comfort of his mother, Connor felt completely and utterly alone. Normally, the introverted kid would thrive from the isolation, yet now his heart was pining for some form of company that didn't include someone shouting at him, lying against him, or ultimately betraying him completely. His throat tightened as he watched his mum speaking with the head teacher, trying read what they were saying.

"Why?" the words slipped out of his mouth, as if he had no control over his words. "Why did you tell him?"

"Why should I let you drag me down?" Imogen uttered in response. "I told him for me. Do you think I want to risk not getting into university or being able to get a good job just because you got angry and started a fire?"

Sonia would've stopped them, but her lack of authority and frankly, her slightly apprehensive nature prevented her from doing so.

"They wouldn't do that-"

"Something like harbouring the truth about a criminal offence could be put on my permanent record. Why would I risk that for you? You have to come clean in there."

"I'm sorry-"

"Sorry? This won't be sorted over a measly little 'sorry'! You need help! You need to sort yourself out!"

"And how am I meant to do that when I'm just going to get shoved into jail? And even if I'm not, my future will be ruined-"

"I-"

"It'll have been ruined by you."

His words were cold, almost void of feeling. He just looked empty, his face pale and grey, and his jutting cheekbones seemed to protrude even more than usual.

"This is a good thing. Starting fires isn't a good coping mechanism- maybe they'll get someone to help you."

The silence filled the room, as they both watched the two adults talking in the office. Neither of them were able to properly judge the exact tone of the discussion, so when they finally unearthed after what felt like hours, both of the pair had their eyes fixed on them with anticipation.

"Connor, would you please join us?" Mr Byrne called him in.

...

"I need you to admit to starting the fire," Mr Byrne stated calmly. "Or else there is no case."

"I..." he stared at his hands. "If I admit it, I'll be charged, right?"

"I've not called the police yet. I do not see the point in threatening your future, when the case is completely settled already."

"T-... Thank...Thank you," he managed to force out, sighing with relief.

"But," his heart rose in his chest at the word. "Your mother and I think you'd benefit from some time in the Pupil Referral Unit. Whilst it would act as a suiting punishment for what you did, I think it's the best thing. You've been struggling with some issues lately, and I think it's obvious from how you've been performing in class that it's all getting too much for you."

He didn't even dare to protest. How could he, when he was being given such a huge second chance? He knew that if he carried on like he had been, he'd be failing every single one of his exams at the end of the year, and completely thrown away the need for Mr Byrne's concern for his future. He had been silenced, not sure whether to speak.

"I-I'm..." and for the first time in a while, he let them see him fall apart; and boy did he break. "I'm so sorry."

"Come on," Christine smiled nervously towards him, trying to cheer him up a little. "Everything's going to get better from now on."

"C-can... Can we just go?"

"I'll get Sonia to change you to absent," Michael noted.

"I need to go to my locker before we go," Connor turned towards his mum. "Go wait in the car."

...

Shoving his books into his bag, Connor just wanted to go home already. He kept his head down, half tempted to cover his face with his hood so as not to be noticed.

"Connor!" Imogen called after him.

"I-I... I need to go," he tried getting the books out of his locker faster but his plan to make a quick getaway was brought to a halt when they crashed down onto the floor.

"What happened?"

"Mr Byrne isn't telling the police. The case is over. Nobody is getting charged. He doesn't see the point."

"For definite? I-... I won't get in trouble from the police for knowing?"

"Of course not."

"I'm sorry, okay? I just needed to put my needs above yours for once."

"I... I don't care that you told him."

"I don't hate you, you know."

She smiled at him, for the first time in what seemed like months. In that moment, all he wanted was for them to be back to how they'd been before. The realisation that this idea was nothing more than a fantasy, he threatened to crumble again, and had to remain silent to stop the tears from spilling over. Imogen took a step back, realising that he was a little unsettled and sighed.

"Before we can even think of solving things with us, I think you need to sort what's going on in your life first."

"I know."

"I'm sorry, okay? I was angry; and I had every right to be! You caused the accident that could've ruined my life; but now that I think about it, the fire ruined yours more than it did mine."

"What life?" he laughed half heartedly. "I'm sorry, you know. I'm really sorry."

"Can we be friends for now?" she grinned. "And then see what happens?"

"I'd like that," he sighed, leaning in to the hug she was offering.